The Knights Templars.

in _ r sabres ; the water of swords , the blood of O ¦ * ¦ *" arrows spurting forth from the bosom of the throng , deluged the earth like the floods of rain . The avenging sword of the true believers was drawn forth from its scabbard against the Infidel ¦

the faith of the Unity was opposed to the faith of the Trinity , and speedy ruin , desolation , and destruction overtook the miserable crew of baptism . " The Hospitallers hastened to the assistance of the Templars , but their efforts to break through

the wall of Infidels were unavailing . Many fell beneath their swords , but others sprang up in the places of the slain . About two miles distant lay the calm waters of Tiberias wooing them on , and , thirsty ancl fatigued , the Knights , as they

caught sight of its blue deeps , renewed their attacks . Every inch of the road was fiercely contested , and the ground was soaked Avith the blood

of the best and bravest of the Knights . The Templars and the Hospitallers were compelled to sound a halt , and to send to the King for succour . Upon hearing this , the Count of Tripoli , who UOAY knew the day was Saladin ' s , followed by a few of

his retainers , left the Christian army and rode off to the Saracens . Their ranks opened to receive him and he fled to Tyre . This desertion completed the dismay of the King . The troops he sent to the aid of the Knights were driven back upon the

main body of the army , which was thereby thrown into confusion . A panic seized upon the Christians , and the Templars and Hospitallers were left unaided . They accordingly fell back upon the spot Avhere the True Cross was borne by the Bishop

of Acre , and where the battle now raged fiercest . Saladin , in a letter written after the fall of Jerusalem , compares the Christians fi ghting around the Cross to moths circline- a candle . In the heat

of the fight the Bishop of Acre was slain , ancl the Cross fell to the ground . Thereupon it was picked up by the Bishop of Lidda , who attempted to escape with it , but was captured . This completed the rout of the Christians . "That vivifying wood

of the Cross of our Salvation , " Avrites Vinisauf , " on Avhich our Lord and Redeemer hung , and down whose shaft the holy blood of Christ flowed—the sign of Avhich is adored by angels , venerated by men , and feared by devils—under Avhose

protection our men have always been victors in war , alas ! is now captured by the enemy . This was the second indignity—since Chosroes , King of the Persians—which that Holy Cross endured for our sins . It had redeemed us from the old yoke of

captivity , aud now it Avas captured from us and soiled by the profane hands of the unbelievers . " Hoveden ascribes the death of the Bishop of Acre to the righteous judgment of God for , contrary to the usage of his predecessors , having greater

faith in worldly arms than in heavenly ones , he went forth to battle equipped in a coat of mail , ancl perished , being pierced by an arrow . Hpon the capture of the Cross , the Christians fled . John Terricus , who had been attached to

the person of the King , Reginald of Sidon , Balian d'lbelin , and some of the lesser barons and knights , cut their Avay through the dense ranks of the enemy , and fled , to the sea-side . The Avhole of

the Hospitallers were slain with the exception of the Grand Master , Avho escaped to Ascalon , but died the day after his arrival , from his wounds . Many of the Christians fled to the slopes of Mount Hittin , but fell victims to the Musselmen placed

there by Saladin to guard the passes . The Templars fought with their accustomed desperate bravery , refusing to surrender till they Avere all slain , or Avounded and taken prisoner . Gerard de Eidefort , Eenaud de Chatillon , and Guy de Lusignan fell

into the hands of the enemy . An Arabian historian thus describes the disasters of the Christians , " I saw the hills , the plains , the valleys , covered Avith their dead bodies . I saw their colours abandoned ancl soiled with blood and

dust . I saw then- heads cut oil , then- members dispersed , and their carcasses piled up like stones . Also , I saw two hundred famous warriors , whose strength was amazing , who had just marched forth Avith the mighty , guarded iu one place by one

Musselmau . All their courage was gone , thenpride crushed ; their eyes were fixed iu fear ancl trembling upon the ground . I called to mind , at the sight , the Avords of the Koran , Tho Infidel shall say , what am I but dust . ' Tho lying Infidels were now in the hands of the true believers . Their

King and their Gross were both captive that Cross before which they bowed the head and bent the knee ; which they bear aloft and worship with their eyes , for they declare it to be the same wood upon which their God , whom they adore , was

fastened . They had covered it with fine gold ancl precious stones . They carried it before their armies , and all bowed before it with respect . It Avas their first duty to defend it , ancl he who should desert it would never enjoy peace of mind

afterwards . The capture of this Cross was more grevious to them than the captivity of their King .