CHAPTER XII.

THE COUNTRY OF THE SARACENS.

THE city of Bassorah is situated at the mouth of the river Euphrates, which is one of the largest in the world. It is like a sea of fresh water meeting another of salt. Great was the surprise which we inhabitants of the plains experienced when we saw this desert of water for the first time, this vast plain of shifting green which ebbs and flows, and on which white-sailed ships move and rock like camels.

We marched towards the town, looking for a place to find lodging, for we had no tent with us. Our course lay amongst ruins. The city of Bassorah, which was formerly so flourishing, has fallen greatly from its high estate. At last I caught sight of a lofty building, like a strong castle,

amidst the ruins, gardens, and clumps of palm-trees; about two miles distant, to the left of the building, the white wall of the town could be perceived. We marched in silence towards this structure, which seemed to us like the abode of some powerful lord, where we reckoned on asking for hospitality. Our horses with difficulty picked their way amongst the mounds of rubbish and the ruins of crumbling walls, passing under tottering arcades amidst plots of ground overgrown with wild fig-trees, when all at once a score of horsemen appeared from behind a wall, spreading out as they advanced in order to surround us. These men uttered hoarse and ferocious cries; their faces were swarthy, and long tufts of black hair escaped from the dirty white rags which were fastened with a band round their heads. They did not wear any kind of armour, not even a buckler, but only a long robe of cloth or coarse wool, with a hood at top of striped white and brown horsehair. They were armed with maces, lances, sabres, and swords. In their cloth girdles they wore curved daggers. If the men themselves were ugly and repulsive, their horses, on the other hand, were the finest in the world; elegant and graceful, with satin skins and quick, powerful action. Both men and horses alike were thin, wiry, and active, and seemed as hard as steel.

At the sight of this ferocious band, I understood that we should have to defend ourselves, and I at once assumed the command. I placed the two ladies and our pack-horses under shelter behind the ruins of a circular wall, and, addressing my men, I exclaimed in Mongolian,—

"Look out! have your bows ready! Retire, and get your backs to the wall!"

My orders were obeyed, as if I had been Djebe himself. One of our assailants advanced to parley, and shouted something to me in Arabic. As I did not know that language, I prepared to answer by sending an arrow through his body. But Raymonde called me,—

"They wish to come to an understanding with you," she said; "I know the Saracen language; do you wish me to act as interpreter ?"

"Yes, I do," I replied. "Come here by my side."

Raymonde took off her veil, and got up on a stone beside

me.

The Bedouin had no sooner seen her than he uttered a cry, and called his comrades. To my great surprise, Raymonde began to talk to them, and, coming down from the wall, walked towards them with every appearance of pleasure. They crowded round her, and bowed before her; several even kissed her hand or the skirt of her dress. We could not make it out at all, till Raymonde put an end to our astonishment by saying,—

"These Bedouins are Beni Salem Arabs, who were liegemen of my father, and vassals of Montréal. After Saladin had cut off my father's head with his own hand, the Beni Salem, who had defended Montréal in conjunction with our own men, emigrated from their country through fear of the vengeance of the Soldan of Babylon. The chief of these Arabs, Zobeïr here, was very much attached to my family; his wife was my nurse; he has just recognized me, and