treaties or arrangements between the armies. It was el-AdePs son Richard made a knight with great ceremony as already related. Saladino affection for some of his nephews must have been deep rooted. When the news of the death of Taki ed-din, son of his brother Shahanshah, was brought to him, he sent for el-Adel, Beha ed-din and three of the emirs with whom he was most intimate, at the same time directing that all others, including the servants, should retire beyond ear-shot. Upon the arrival of those summoned he produced the letter containing the sad news. Up to this time he had maintained perfect composure, but now he broke into such paroxysms of grief that his company wept also, even before knowing the cause. Not until Beha ed-din reminded him that it was an offense to carry on thus because of an act of God did he cease his lamentations. Efforts to disturb his faith in his relatives were not wanting. On one occasion, when he was discussing with the Emir Alam ad-din the manner in which he had divided control of the provinces within his family, the emir replied : "Yo u believe that these bequests will be fulfilled as exactly as the orders which you give on going out to hunt, with the intention of soon returning. Are you not ashamed to see that birds have more foresight than you?" "How is that?" asked Saladin, laughing at the bluntness of the emir. " When a bird intends to make a nest for its young,"