CHAPTER XV.
CAPTURE OF A CARAVAN.
WHILE King Louis lay at Damietta, awaiting the arrival of Crusaders fromFrance and Syria, ere venturing to march into Egypt, the utmost disorderbegan to prevail in the camp. The armed pilgrims, left to inactivity ina delightful climate, under a bright sky, and surrounded by beautifulscenery, appeared once more to forget the oaths they had taken, andindulged in still worse riot and debauchery than when they wintered inCyprus. Gambling was their daily occupation; and the rattle of thedice-box was constantly heard through the camp. And men with the Crossof Christ upon their shoulders had the name of the devil continually ontheir tongues. Nor was this the worst. Vice reigned all around in itsgrossest form; and the saint-king complained mournfully to the Lord ofJoinville, that, within a stone's-throw of his own pavilion, houses ofinfamous repute were kept by his personal attendants.
At the same time, the jealousy between the French and English grew moreand more intense, and threatened disastrous consequences. In vain didLouis exert his influence to restrain the insolence of his countrymen.The English were constantly reminded of their inferiority as a nation,and exposed to such insults as it was difficult to brook. Bitter tauntsand insinuations of cowardice were unhesitatingly used to mortify theisland warriors; and men who had disobeyed their king's mandate, andforfeited lands and living to combat the Saracens, were, day by day,driven nearer the conclusion that they would ere long be under thenecessity of drawing their swords against their fellow-soldiers of theCross.
Of all the French Crusaders, however, none were so foolishly insolent asRobert, Count of Artois, brother of King Louis. From a boy the Frenchprince had been remarkable for the ferocity of his temper, and had earlysignalised himself by throwing a cheese at the face of his mother'schivalrous admirer, Thibault of Champagne. For some reason or other, theCount of Artois conceived a strong aversion to the Earl of Salisbury,and treated Longsword with the utmost insolence. And, though the Earlonly retaliated by glances of cold contempt, it was known that hispatience was wearing away, and it was feared that there would yet bebloodshed.
'By my father's sword!' said he, speaking partly to himself, partly toWalter Espec, one day after returning to his tent, 'I fear me that myspirit will not much longer brook the reproaches of that vain prince.Even this day, as he spoke, my hand stole to the hilt of my sword; and Ipanted to defy him to mortal combat on the spot.'
'My lord,' replied Walter, gravely and cautiously, 'I perceived that,albeit striving to be calm, you felt your ancestral blood boiling inyour veins. And, in truth, I marvel not that such should have been thecase; and yet----
'And yet----Well, speak freely. I listen.'
'Well, my lord,' continued Walter, 'I was about to say that it seemed tome the part of a wise man, and one so renowned in arms, not to deign toanswer a fool according to his folly.'
'Doubtless you are right,' replied the earl. 'And sinful, I feel, andcalculated to provoke God's vengeance, would it be to draw the swordagainst one marked with the Cross, and engaged, like ourselves, in thisholy war. Nevertheless, my patience may come to an end, as the patienceof better men has done in such cases. However, a truce to such talk forthe present; and see that, at daybreak, this renegade is ready to guideus on our expedition after the caravan; for I am weary of inactivity,and eager for change of scene.'
Accordingly, preparations for the expedition were made; and, nextmorning, Salisbury and his knights dashed away from Damietta tointercept the caravan that was reported to be on its way to Alexandria.For a time they waited patiently at a place where it was expected topass. But this mode of spending time was not much to the taste of menwhose spirits were raised by the novelty of everything around. Pantingfor action, Longsword left Walter Espec with a band of horse and Beltranthe renegade to keep watch, and, at the head of his knights, went off inquest of adventure.
"I cannot but think," said Walter, "our post is one ofdanger, if the guards of this caravan are so numerous as reported.Nevertheless, it shall never be told that, for fear of odds, I retreatedfrom a post which I had been entrusted to maintain."--p. 99.]
Hours passed; evening fell and deepened into night; and still neitherthe caravan nor the warriors who had determined to capture it madetheir appearance; and Walter and the renegade, for different reasons,began to entertain considerable alarm. As morning approached, however,one point was explained. In fact, a spy employed by Beltran reached therendezvous, with intelligence that the Earl's intention to attack thecaravan having been suspected, had caused the delay; but that, beingaware that he was out of the way, its guards were preparing to hastenforward at dawn of day, confidently hoping to pass without beingassailed, or to beat down any opposition that might be offered to itsprogress.
'On my faith,' said Walter, as he learned how matters were, 'I cannotbut think our post is one of danger, if the guards of this caravan areso numerous as reported. Nevertheless, it shall never be told that, forfear of odds, I retreated from a post which I had been entrusted tomaintain.' And he proceeded to place his men in such a position thatthey might elude the observation of the Saracens till close at hand, andthen rush out and take the guards of the caravan by surprise.
Meanwhile, day was breaking; and, in the distance, Walter and hiscompanions could descry the caravan, apparently guarded by a strongforce: and gradually the white turbans and green caftans and long spearsbecame more and more distinct. It was clear that, in the event ofSalisbury not returning in time, Walter would have to fight againstgreat odds; and the return of the earl in time to aid him now appearedso improbable that the squire ceased even to hope for his banners, andresolved to take what fortune might be sent him. Suddenly, however, asound--a whisper on the breeze, and the heavy tread of horses--reachedhis ears; and, gazing round, he descried a body of horsemen approachingin the opposite direction from which the caravan came.
'Now, may the saints be praised, and may we be for ever grateful!exclaimed Walter, with a joyful heart, as he closely examined the bannerthat approached; 'for here come my Lord of Salisbury and his men ofmight.'
In a few minutes the Earl reached the spot, and, rapidly comprehendingthe situation of affairs, prepared for action. But there was hardlyoccasion to strike a blow. No sooner did the English move towards thecaravan, and no sooner had the Saracens an opportunity of judging whatmanner of men their assailants were, than they halted in surprise, andgave way to terror; and when the Earl, on his bay charger, spurredforward, shouting his battle-cry, they only waited long enough todischarge a shower of arrows, and then fled like hares before thehounds. Routed in every direction, they left the caravan to its fate;and the English, pausing from the fray, found themselves in possessionof oxen, buffaloes, camels, mules, and asses, laden with gold andsilver, and silks and paintings.
'And now for Damietta!' said Longsword; 'for this is in truth a richprize; and let us not risk the loss of it by loitering on the way.'
And without waste of time--for a rescue was not impossible--they securedtheir booty, and marched with what speed they could towards Damietta.
'Sir squire,' said Lord Robert de Vere, riding up to Walter Espec, whoseconduct Longsword had commended, 'your position in the earl's absencewas not quite so pleasant as a bed of roses.'
'In truth, my lord,' replied Walter, thoughtfully, 'now that the dangeris over, I cannot but deem that you came just in time to save us fromdeath or captivity.'
'And you marvelled that we tarried so long?'
'Much,' replied Walter; 'and had given up all hope of your return.However,' added he, 'I perceive that your time was by no means wasted.'
'You speak truly,' said De Vere. 'Never were men more successful in anadventure. By accident, we found ourselves hard by the castle of somewealthy Saracen, and determined to seize it; so, overcoming allresistance, we took it by storm, and found therein much booty, and abevy of Saracen ladies; and, having given them to understand that theywere captives of our swords and lances, we are carrying them toDamietta.'
'On my fai
th!' said Walter, laughing, 'Fortune seems to bestow herfavours liberally on the pilgrims from England. No saying what greatexploits my Lord of Salisbury and his knights may yet perform! One daywe seize a castle and a caravan; another day it may be a kingdom.'
'And yet,' observed De Vere, the tone of his voice suddenly changing ashe spoke, 'I am seldom in solitude without experiencing a vague feelingthat calamity is impending.'
Now this adventure, successful as it appeared, involved the EnglishCrusaders in serious troubles. When Salisbury, on his bay charger, rodeinto Damietta, with the captive Saracen ladies and the captured caravan,the French were moved with envy, and did not fail to express theirsentiments in strong language. Perhaps the English did not bear theirgood fortune so meekly as they might have done. In any case, the Frenchgrew more and more exasperated; and at length the quarrel reached such astage that the French, availing themselves of superior numbers, hadrecourse to violence, and forcibly carried off part of the booty which,at great peril and with some labour, Longsword and his men had won.