fiture of the Mohammedans, and the edification of all true Christians. The noble Mestoc, considered as one of the most im-portant and valuable of the hostages, received distinguish-ing marks of favor. He was lodged according to his rank, and enjoyed a freedom beyond that extended to the other prisoners, and thus Elsiebede obtained frequent interviews without giving rise to a suspicion of the relationship be-tween them. On the evening of the council of the chiefs, Salaman had managed, by means best known to himself, to hear all that passed, which he faithfully reported to Elsiebede. The following night, as Mestoc was quietly reposing un-conscious of the fate that menaced the Turkish prisoners, he was surprised by a visit from his niece, who, informing him of the purposes of the Christians, besought him to make his escape in a disguise she had prepared for the purpose. The noble Egyptian refused, but moved by her plead-ings, said to her, " Hadst thou a messenger by whom I might transmit a token to the Soldan—but no, the gray of night already foretelleth the dawn. It is too late. Had the Soldan valued the poor services of his servant, he had not left him to die by the hand of a christian dog. Allah be praised, Death is the key that opens the gate of Para-dise." Finding further importunity vain, Elsiebede with many tears took her departure, revolving in her mind other meth-ods of procuring a release. At early morning, the prisoners were conducted in mourn-ful procession through the gates of the city, by a great mul-titude of the most devout and warlike Christians, who, ac-cording to a contemporary writer, " marched forward with delight to retaliate with the assent of Divine Grace, by taking revenge upon those who had destroyed so many of the Christians with missiles, bows, and arbalests." A report from an unknown source was in circulation among the soldiers, that fresh promises of ransom had been received from Saladin, and that if the execution could be BERENGARIA OP NAVARRE. 245