The Knights Templars.

dismay from the enemy , and to put on a semblance oj joy ancl confidence . The Templars , like men whose lives ancl deaths were in the hand of God , and whoso fate it might be to leave the morrow ' s field victors , or to be left dead on the plain , knelt clown and repeated their devotions to Heaven , after which they took an affectionate farewell of each

other , and , like children beside a father , they laid themselves down to slumber around the gallant De Eidefort , but ready at a moment ' s warning to spring into the saddle and charge the enemy . While the Christian army was depressed , the

Saracen camp rang with songs and shouts of merriment , for the partial success of the day ' s fight had an exhilarating effect upon their spirits , Avhile it clamped the Christians' ¦ and they , from the exhausted state of the Christians , looked for an

easy victory on the morrow . Saladin , to excite their fanatic ardour , went through the ranks of his army , inflaming them with his presence and speeches . " To-morrow , " he said , " is a festival for the true believers , for it is on Friday that

Musselmen offer up their prayers , and that Mahomet listens to the vows that are made to him . " His soldiers replied with loud cheers . Saladin then made his preparations for the morrow , placing archers ou the hei ghts , with four hundred charges

of arrows , and disposed his army so skilfully , that from the beginning of the conflict the Christians were surrounded .

At last daylight appeared—the signal for the complete destruction of the Christian army . Terror seized them when they found themselves surrounded on all sides , and they gave vent to their dismay in cries and lamentations . Saladin waited till the

sun was completely up before commencing the attack . From dawn , a strong wind blew great clouds of dust in the faces of the Christians , causing them immense annoyance . The Templars , at sunrise , sprang into their saddles , calm , silent ,

implacable , terrible . Not a muscle moved , as in battle array they waited in the van of the army to commence the attack . The condition of the Christian army could not escape the keen and experienced eye of De Eidefort . He saw that to

save their lives , and to make an effective stand against Saladin , it would be necessary to reach the lake . Clouds oF Musselmau cavalry guarded the intervening ground , but the Grand Master knew AA'hat his Knights were capable of performing , and he arranged them iu order , determining at fill hazards to cut his Avay through the ranks of the

enemy , and to open up , for the Christians , a passage to the , lake . At length De Eidefort gave the order to advance , which the Knights did at first slowly , but increasing in speed , till , like a thunderbolt , they broke upon the lines of the Musselmen , and in an instant they were splashed from helm to heel with the blood of their enemies . Never did

Saladin meet Avorthier or braver enemies ; and the light of the crescent paled , Vfhile its followers fell —smote to the earth as by an avalanche—before that gleaming wave of steel . Clad in complete armour , the sound of their advancing squadrons ,

like the loud humming of swarming bees , and animated by a flaming thirst for vengeance , the Musselmen fled before them , or fell to the ground , trampled into the earth beneath the iron hoofs of their chargers .

Saladin , on seeing his troops flee before the victorious Templars , ordered fire to be applied to the grass and small shrubs , which , on account of the drought and strong wind that prevailed , rapidly spread . The smoke blinded the eyes of the

Knights and their horses , while the flames surrounded them , setting fire to the mantles of the Templars , ancl scorching their chargers'' hoofs . This caused some confusion , upon Avhich Saladin ordered a large body of troops to attack them .

Undismayed , the gallant Templars continued the battle . Swords gleamed through the flames , and the Knights , rushing from behind masses of smoke ancl fire , precipitated themselves , lance in hand . upon the enemy . The spectacle which this

extraordinary sight presented appears to have fired the imagination of the Arabian authors . The tongues of flame , the thick smoke , the clang of battle , the glancing weapons , fill them with admiration , and . in vain seeking for an earthly parallel , compare

the fight to the Last Judgment . The thick smoke , through which might be dimly seen the rush of contending troops , the clouds of sparks swirling up into the air beneath the tread of the horses , the gleam of spears , aud the flames of the cloaks

of the Knights on fire , the yells of the combatants , the groans and shrieks of the dying , and the screams of wounded horses plunging madly in their death-throes , presented a spectacle alike terrible as it Avas sublime . " The sons of

Paradise , " says an Arabian , " and the children of fire then fought out and decided their terrible quarrel ; the arrows rustled through the air like the noisy wings of innumerable sparrows in flight ; the sparks flew from the coats of mail and the gleam-