CHAPTER VIII. • I "Ab, never shall the laud forget How gushed the life-blood of the brave, Gushed warm with hope and courage yet Upon the soil they fought to save," BBYANT. THE eight days' truce was over, and Philip, recovered from his illness, again led the assault to the walls of Acre. Richard, also slowly convalescing, was borne to the scene of conflict, where he directed the operations of his warlike engines, offering a reward for every stone the soldiers dis-lodged from the tower Maledictum. The French had a machine of great power which they called " Bad neighbor," and the Turks, on their side, opposed to it a similar one named " Bad brother." These engines were plied day and night, and the tower became the scene of every variety of fierce attack and resolute defence, both by single combat and united effort. One morning a gigantic Turk, wearing the armor of Count Alberic, showed himself upon the wall in an attitude of defiance, when Bichard, who had yielded to the representations of the chiefs, so far as to refrain from personal encounter, seized an arblast and sent an arrow winged with death to the heart of the Infidel. The exas-perated Turks ran together to avenge his fall. The Chris-tians met them with equal alacrity, and a slaughter ensued which continued till the darkness of night separated the combatants. The Christians had commenced undermining the tower, and had proceeded to some distance under the wall, when they encountered a party of Turks who were mining for egress in the opposite direction. The noise of the digging and the uncertain light had prevented each from discovering the other, till the earth, suddenly giving way between them, the foes stood face to face, mattocks and shovels in hand. But when the astonished Turks saw that they had thus as- BERENGARIA OF NAVARRE. 241 10