CHAPTER XIV.
A RENEGADE.
IT was a sad day for Guy Muschamp and Walter Espec, when they suddenlyfound themselves deprived of the protection of the aged war-chief underwhose banner they had embarked for the East. However, they were not longwithout patrons. Guy attached himself to the Lord of Joinville, who washis mother's kinsman. Walter became squire to the Earl of Salisbury, andin that capacity joined the English Crusaders. In fact, Longsword,having heard from Joinville of Walter's adventure at Cyprus, took adecided liking to the young northern man, examined him as to hislineage, his parentage, and his education, heard the sad story of hisbrother's disappearance, and spoke words of such kind encouragement,that the tears started to Walter's eyes, and his brave heart was quitewon.
One day, soon after entering Longsword's service, Walter was standing atthe entrance of the tent occupied by the chief of the English Crusaders,now thinking somewhat sadly of the green fields and oak forests of hisnative land, now longing to behold some of the wonders of the Nile, whena man of forty or thereabouts, handsome and well-dressed as a Frank,presented himself, and bowed low.
'You are of the English nation?' said he, in French.
'Yes,' replied Walter, examining him with curiosity.
'And you serve the great English lord, who is called Longsword?'
'It is my pride to serve that famous warrior,' replied Walter, quietly.
'And I would fain speak with him if you could obtain me a hearing.'
Walter shook his head significantly.
'Before I can make such an attempt,' said he, 'I must learn who you are,and what you want.'
'My name is Beltran. I am a Frank by birth, but for nine years I havebeen an inhabitant of Egypt.'
'Nine years!' exclaimed Walter. 'By the Holy Cross, you must know thecountry well-nigh as intimately as the Egyptians themselves.'
'Much knowledge I do possess of the country, and of the wonders itcontains.'
'Well,' said Walter, 'I will put your knowledge to the test. Whencecomes this river, the Nile, of which so many stories are told? Is ittrue that it takes its rise in the terrestrial paradise?'
'In truth,' replied Beltran, 'I would I could answer your question toyour satisfaction. It is the report of the country that the Nile doescome from the terrestrial paradise. But nothing certain is known on thesubject. I have heard that the sultan has attempted to learn whence itcame, by sending experienced persons to follow the course of it.'
'Yes,' said Walter, eagerly.
'These persons, on their return,' continued Beltran, 'reported that theyhad followed the river till they came to a large mountain ofperpendicular rocks, which it was impossible to climb, and over theserocks fell the water. And it seemed to them that on the top of thismountain were many trees; and they saw strange wild beasts, such aslions, elephants, and other sorts, which came to gaze at them. And, notdaring to advance further, they returned to the sultan.'
'And this is all that is known?' said Walter.
'Yes,' replied Beltran. 'Where the Nile enters Egypt, it spreads inbranches over the plain. One of them flows to Damietta; a second toAlexandria; a third to Tunis; and a fourth to Rexi. About St. Remy's Dayit expands itself into seven branches, and thence flows over the plains.When the waters retire, the labourers appear and till the ground withploughs without wheels, and then sow wheat, barley, rice, and cumin,which succeed so well that nowhere are finer crops.'
'And whence,' asked Walter, 'comes this yearly increase of water?'
'I cannot tell, except that it comes from God's mercy. Some say thatthis overflowing is caused by heavy rains in Abyssinia; but many Arabsbelieve that a drop of dew falls into the river, and causes theinundation; and some declare they have seen it fall, like a star. Thenight when it falls is called the "drop-night." But certain it is that,were it not to happen, Egypt, from the great heat, would producenothing; for, being near the rising sun, it scarcely ever rains, save atvery long intervals.'
'Of a truth,' observed Walter, 'all this sounds strange to Englishears.'
'Where the river enters Egypt,' continued Beltran, 'there are expertpersons, who may be called the fishermen of this stream, and who, in theevening, cast their nets into the water, and in the morning frequentlyfind many spices in them, such as ginger, cinnamon, rhubarb, cloves,lignum-aloes, and other good things, which they sell by weight.'
'But how come the spices into the water?' enquired Walter.
'Well, it is the belief of the country that they come from theterrestrial paradise, and that the wind blows them down from these finetrees, as, in your forests, the wind blows down the old dry wood. Butsuch is mere surmise, albeit widely credited.'
'And the water of the Nile is deemed sweet to the taste?' said Walter.
'None in the world more sweet. The Arabs hold that, if Mahomet had oncetasted it, he would have prayed that he might live for ever, so asunceasingly to enjoy its sweetness.'
'And yet it seems so turbid to the eye?'
'True; but, when the natives drink of it, it is clear as crystal.Towards evening, crowds come down to get water, and especially women,who, on such occasions, are decorated with all the ornaments theypossess. You must understand that they come in companies, because it isnot deemed decorous for a woman to go alone. And marvellous it is to seehow they balance the water-pots on their head, and walk gracefully upsteep banks which even you--agile as you may be--might have somedifficulty in clambering up without any burden. Then they put into theirvessels almonds or beans, which they shake well; and on the morrow thewater is wondrous clear, and more refreshing than the daintiest wine.'
'On my faith!' said Walter, 'all this is so curious that, were it a timeof truce, I should be tempted to adventure up this river and behold someof the strange things of which you tell. But here comes my lord.' And,as he spoke, the Earl of Salisbury rode up, and, while Walter held thestirrup, dismounted.
Immediately the stranger stepped forward, and, humbling himself, withrespect offered Salisbury some lard in pots, and a variety ofsweet-smelling flowers.
'I bring them to you, noble earl,' said the man, in French, 'because youare cousin of Prince Richard, who is called Earl of Cornwall, andbecause you are nephew of the Crusader whose memory is held in mostrespect and dread by the Saracens.'
'Of whom speak you?' asked Salisbury, a little surprised.
'I speak of King Richard of England,' was the reply; 'for he performedsuch deeds when he was in the Holy Land that the Saracens, when theirhorses are frightened at a bush or a shadow, cry out, "What! dost thinkKing Richard is there?" In like manner, when their children cry, theirmothers say to them, "Hush, hush! or I will bring King Richard ofEngland to you."'
'On my faith!' said the earl, looking more and more surprised, 'I cannotcomprehend you; for, albeit speaking French, and wearing the dress of aFrank, you seem from your words to be an inhabitant of this country.'
'It is true,' replied the man, slowly. 'You must know that I am aChristian renegade.'
'A Christian renegade!' exclaimed Salisbury, with pious horror. And thenasked, 'But who are you, and why became you a renegade?'
'Well, it came to pass in this wise,' answered the man, frankly. 'I wasborn in Poictiers, whence I followed Richard, Earl of Cornwall, to theEast, and found my way to Egypt, where I have acquired some wealth.'
'But,' demanded the earl, indignantly, 'know you not that if you were todie while leading your present life, you would descend straight to hell,and be for ever damned?'
'In truth,' replied the man, 'I know full well that there is not abetter religion than that of the Christians. But what can I do? SupposeI returned to it and had to go back to France, I should assuredly suffergreat poverty, and be continually reproached all my days, and be called"Renegado! renegado!"'
'Even with that prospect you ought not to hesitate,' said the earl; 'forsurely it would be much better to suffer the scorn of the world thanawait your sentence in the day of judgment, when your evil deeds will bemade manifest, and damnati
on will follow.'
'Nevertheless,' protested the renegade, 'I had rather live at my ease,as I am, like a rich man, than become an object of contempt.'
'I cannot brook your presence,' said the earl, growing very indignant:'therefore begone; I can have no more to say to you.'
'Be not over-hasty,' said the renegade; 'for be it known to you, nobleEarl, that I have that to tell which it will profit you much to know.'
'Speak, then,' said the earl, hesitating, 'but be brief; for my patienceis not so long as was my father's sword.'
'It is of a rich caravan I would speak,' said the renegade, with aglance and a gesture of peculiar significance.
'Ah!' exclaimed the earl, pricking up his ears, and listening withevident interest.
'It is on its way to Alexandria, and will pass within six leagues ofDamietta within four days,' said the renegade. 'And whoever can capturethat caravan may gain an immense booty.'
'And how does this concern me?' asked the earl.
'My lord,' replied the renegade, 'I see not wherefore you should notseize the prize as well as another.'
'But how am I to trust your report? How am I to know that your intent isnot to betray me?'
'My lord,' answered the renegade, 'I am in your power. I will answer forthe truth of my story with my head; and, I promise you, I am as yetneither so old nor so weary of life as to hazard it needlessly.'
'One question further,' said the earl, who was by this time much excitedwith the prospect of a rich booty. 'How am I, being in a strangecountry, to find this caravan of which you speak?'
'I myself will be your guide,' replied the renegade.
'And wherefore do you hazard so much to put me in possession of thisprize, when, by doing so, you expose yourself to the enmity of theEgyptians, among whom you have cast your lot?'
'Well, my lord,' said the renegade, after a pause, 'I will be frank. Iexpect my share of the spoil; and, besides, I see very clearly that thisarmy of pilgrims is likely to conquer Egypt, in spite of all theresistance sultans and emirs may make; and, at such a time, I would fainhave some powerful lord among the conquerors to befriend me.'
'Ha!' exclaimed Longsword, smiling grimly,'I am now convinced.'
'Of what, noble earl?'
'Either that I must have the caravan or your head.'