standing all the exertions of the infidels, and the Templars threw into it a strong garrison. Redoubled efforts were then made by Saladin to destroy the place. At a given signal from the Mussulman trumpets, " the defenders of Islam" fled before " the avengers of Christ;" the christian forces became disordered in the pursuit, and the swift cavalry of the desert, wheeling upon both wings, defeated with immense slaughter the entire army of the cross. The Templars and the Hospitallers, with the count of Tripoli, stood firm on the summit of a small hillock, and for a long time presented a bold and undaunted front to the victorious enemy. The count of Tripoli at last cut his way through the infidels, and fled to Tyre; the Master of the Hospital, after seeing most of his brethren slain, swam across the Jordan, and fled, covered with wounds, to the castle of Beaufort; and the Templars, after fighting with their customary zeal and fanaticism around the red-cross banner, which waved to the last over the field of blood, were all killed or taken prisoners, and the Master, Odo de St. Arnaud, fell alive into the hands of the enemy.* Saladin then laid siege to the newly-erected fortress, which was of some strength, being defended by thick walls, flanked with large towers furnished with military engines. After a gallant resistance on the part of the garrison, it was set on fire, and then stormed. " The Templars," says Ahulpharadge, " flung themselves some into the fire, where they were burned, some cast themselves into the Jordan, some jumped down from the walls on to the rocks, and were dashed to pieces : thus were slain the enemy." The fortress was reduced to α heap of rains, and the enraged sultan, it is said, * Capti aunt ibi ile Beatrix, Otto «le Sancto Amando militia* Templi Magioter, bomb neqnoooam euperbus et arrogane, epiritlim ftiroris habens in naribus, ncc Deum tiracne, nee ad homines habenareveremiom.—Witl Tyr. lib. xxi. cap. 29. Abulphanubje, Cbron. Syr. p. 380, Ml.