Boy Crusaders: A Story of the Days of Louis IX.

by John Henry Goldfrap

  CHAPTER XIX.

  THE CAPTIVE.

  AT the time when Guy Muschamp was dragged away as a captive to the campof the Saracens at Djedile, the emir Fakreddin sat in his pavilion. Itwas a marvellous tent, in the centre of the camp, and formed so as toresemble a fortified city, being divided into streets, flanked withtowers, and furnished with everything likely to contribute to the luxuryof an oriental. In an apartment, ornamented with gold and gems, the emirsat, face to face with a dark-browed Saracen chief, and playing atchess. But the game did not by any means monopolise the attention of thepersons engaged in it; for the companion of the emir was no lesscelebrated a person than Bibars Bendocdar, the chief of the Mamelukes;and between him and Fakreddin there was much discussion as to the bestmode of dealing with the enemies who menaced the empire with ruin.

  And who was Bibars Bendocdar? It is necessary that we should learn, inorder to comprehend the events that were ere long to startle and terrifythe nations of Christendom.

  At the time when Louis, King of France, undertook his Crusade, it wasthe custom, when two eastern potentates went to war, for the conquerorto sell the subjects of the vanquished enemy as slaves; and many ofthese, bought by merchants, were carried to Egypt, and sold to thesultan, who had them trained from boyhood to serve him as soldiers.Carefully were these young captives reared; and, when their beards beganto grow, they were taught to draw the bow and wield the sword. Afterbecoming expert in military exercises, they were admitted into thatfamous body, which Saladin the Great had instituted, and known asMamelukes. Their privileges were many. They were highly favoured by thesultan, wearing his emblazonments of pure gold, only adding bars ofvermilion, with birds or roses or griffins for difference, and acting ashis body-guard in time of war, and watching over his safety while heslept.

  It seems that Bibars Bendocdar was originally brought to Egypt as aslave, and, in course of time, enrolled as one of the Mamelukes. As suchhe rose rapidly. His ambition was intense; and, being both able andunscrupulous, he had no reason to despair of his ambition being one daygratified. No position, indeed, could be more favourable to a man eagerto emerge from obscurity to eminence, than that which he occupied; andhe not only succeeded in winning the confidence of the sultan, butcontrived to insinuate himself into the good graces of the soldiers. Intruth, this with him was no difficult matter. He had profoundly studiedhuman nature as it was exhibited around him; and he comprehended, aboveall things, the arts by which the hearts of fighting men are gained andretained, and the arts also by which military adventurers elevatethemselves to supremacy in a state.

  Besides, Bibars Bendocdar had other qualities likely to render him aformidable foe or a dangerous rival. He was skillful as a leader in war,courageous in conflict, cruel in the hour of victory, and remarkable forhis penetration, sagacity, and activity. Moreover, he professed greatfaith in the Mahometan religion, and had great faith also in his owndestiny. Such was the man who now watched events with the eagerness of agambler, and who recognised, not without satisfaction, the danger anddisorder, from the bosom of which a leader of courage and audacitymight, by rekindling enthusiasm and restoring order, elevate himself topower. He was about to prove himself one of the most formidable foeswhom the soldiers of the Cross had ever been under the necessity ofencountering.

  Into the presence of the Emir Fakreddin and Bibars Bendocdar young GuyMuschamp, drenched and agitated, was carried. Alarmed as he well mightbe, the squire exhibited a dauntless air and presented a bold front. Infact, his demeanour was such that the Saracen chiefs exchanged glancesof surprise.

  'Who are you?' asked Fakreddin.

  'My name is Muschamp, and I am a subject of the King of England.'

  'And what brought you to Egypt?'

  'I came to fight for the Holy Sepulchre.'

  'And,' asked Bibars Bendocdar, sternly, 'know you not that passage inthe Koran which says that they who make war unjustly shall perish?'

  'Saracen,' replied Guy, proudly, 'an Anglo-Norman gentleman does notregulate his conduct by the Koran.'

  'However,' said Fakreddin, waving his hand, 'it is needful that youanswer some questions as to the army of Franks, and that you answertruly.'

  'Saracen,' replied Guy, resolutely, 'I will not answer a question on thesubject.'

  'Fool!' exclaimed Bibars Bendocdar, impatiently; 'know you not yourdanger? Know you not that we can instantly order your head to be struckoff?'

  'Doubtless,' replied Guy. 'And, in that case, I die the death of amartyr, and go straight to paradise.'

  'Infidel!' cried Bibars, loudly; 'you know not of what you speak. Youwill have to account for your faith to the angels Munkir and Nakir.'

  'Munkir and Nakir!' exclaimed Guy, with an air of perplexity; 'beshrewme if I ever before heard of their names.'

  'You will know them soon enough, if you act not more discreetly,' saidBibars; 'for they are the two angels who interrogate the dead the momentthey are in the grave, saying, "Who is thy lord?" and, "Who is thyprophet?"'

  'On my faith, Saracen,' said Guy, compassionately, 'I marvel much that aman of your years can credit such pagan fables.'

  'Dog!' exclaimed Bibars. 'This to my beard! Ho! there, guards! Strikeoff this Christian's head, and cast his carcase to the fishes!'

  'No,' said Fakreddin, mildly, 'it is well that he should have time toreflect. Let him be kept as a prisoner till the morrow. He will then bemore likely to answer the questions asked of him.'

  Accordingly Guy Muschamp was led from the presence of the Saracen chiefsand shut up in a small apartment in the centre of Fakreddin's tent. Theposition was the reverse of pleasant; and he almost gave himself up forlost. Next morning, however, after he had eaten some food brought him bythe jailer, he was startled, first by a commotion in the camp, and thenby such a noise and tumult as if all the fiends had come thither fromthe infernal regions to fight their battles. Gradually, through the din,the ear of Guy recognised the clash of weapons and the rushing ofsteeds, and his suspense was agonising. For a time he endeavoured tomake out what was occurring; but this was in vain. At length the noiseceased; and Guy moved to the door with the intention of making adesperate effort to break it open. Somewhat to his surprise, he foundthat it did not resist. In fact, the jailer was gone and the campdeserted.