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CHARLES J. ROSEBAULT.
Saladin. Prince of Chivalry
page 118
guard. Death alone terminated this crazy effort. With two despatched, the peril seemed removed, and all breathed freely again, but they were mistaken. Outside the tent a third emissary of the Sheik was lurking, hoping to find them off their guard. He, too, dashed in presently, but was caught and despatched before he could reach the Sultan.
For once the latter was panic-stricken. The dauntless warrior, who could lead a desperate attack upon an outnumbering foe and look upon the varying fortunes of bloody battles with a clear eye and serene brow, was overwhelmed for the moment by the suddenness of the attack and the utter fearlessness and cunning of his assailants. What was the value of guards and sentinels if murderers could come thus to his tent unopposed? An inquiry was opened at once, and its results did not serve to lessen the cause for apprehension. These three assailants had been received into his bodyguard, the force composed of chosen warriors, whose individual records were supposed to have been thoroughly searched and their trustworthiness established. Saladin had the guard summoned and scanned every face, dismissing all he did not recognize personally, but even then he did not feel safe.
The entire world was in terror of the Assassins, and well it might be. From their fastnesses in the mountains of Lebanon the wielders of poisoned daggers and deadly drugs had made their way wherever they wished, carrying death to all condemned by their
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