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CHARLES J. ROSEBAULT.
Saladin. Prince of Chivalry
page 111
went too far, especially Odo of St. Amand and his Knights Templar, and the watchful eye of Saladin, ever on the alert, even in the most perilous moments, for the surprise which overwhelms, saw the opportunity to turn upon the widely spread out enemy. Again leading one of his furious dashes, as he had at the battle with Seif ed-din, he charged the unprepared enemy who, thinking the day won, had encumbered themselves with the baggage left behind by the Saracens. The Franks were thoroughly routed, many were killed and many taken prisoners. The rest were in headlong flight. Seventy of the most notable knights were brought to Saladino tent, among them the overconfident Odo, Raymond of Tripoli, Balian of Ibelin, Baldwin of Ibelin and Ramleh, Hugh of Tiberias and the Master of the Hospitallers.
Two months later Saladin captured Castle Jacob, which King Baldwin had restored recently, against the protests of Saladin, as it commanded a plain which had long been regarded as neutral ground, where the flocks of the rival jiations had been wont to graze alongside each other while their shepherds fraternized. Saladin had offered a large sum to induce the King to desist, but without avail.
In the attack on this stronghold was illustrated the methods already described of forcing a seemingly impregnable fortress. The Saracens dug a mine under the wall and filled it with burning wood, expecting the expansion caused by the heat to force out some of the stones, but these were so thick and heavy the flames
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