the army of Zenghi, and 'both were promoted rapidly. With the conquest of Baalbek in 1139 Ayub was made its governor, and here the infant developed into sturdy boyhood. It was no mean town in those days. The Heliopolis of the ancients, City of the Sun, had been important as a center of the worship of Baal, had been a Roman colony and contained much interesting architecture. It had also the reputation of being the coldest place, not only in Syria but of the known world. At least, one must draw that conclusion from the legend quoted by the people of Syria. " When men asked of the Cold, ' Where shall we find thee? ' the Cold replied,c In the Balka ' ; and when they further asked,É But if we meet thee not there?' then the Cold said, ' Verily, in Baalbek is my home.' " However, Saladin was not affected adversely by the severity of the climate, but grew up to be vigorous and hardy. After the death of Zenghi, his father decided it would be better not to get caught in the quarrel between his two sons over the succession, and when the Seljuk king of Damascus appeared before Baalbek, and there was no sign of aid from Mosul, he made the best terms he could, which included the grant of a number of small but prosperous villages and a comfortable residence in Damascus. Evidently he was able to impress upon the ruler his ability to be of service for presently he was made commander of the army. He was that, and in control of the city, when the troops of Nur ed-din appeared before the gates and demanded its surrender.