country, after which he offered a compromise which Amalric accepted. The latter had left the country when Dargham heard of Shawer's negotiations, and fearful of what these might produce, sent a proposal to Jerusalem for a hard and fast alliance against Nur ed-din. Before Amalric could act on this Shirkuh was on his way to Egypt with a chosen force of Turcomans, Saladin leading the vanguard. Dargham was defeated in a battle at Bilbeis, and retired to Cairo, but both the Caliph and the army turned against him and he was finally killed by the populace. Shawer again became vizier and the ostensible object of the invasion was accomplished. Immediately he broke his promises. Shirkuh seized Bilbeis and the eastern province, placing Saladin in charge of the former, whereupon Shawer turned to Amalric, who was not slow in seeing the wisdom of getting Nur ed-din's army out of the country. If Nur ed-din was threatened by the union of Egypt and Christian Palestine, the latter would be so even more seriously if caught between Damascus and Egypt. The combined forces of Amalric and Shawer penned in the army of Shirkuh at Bilbeis, which was under siege for three months. Then Nur ed-din came to the rescue with a successful campaign in Palestine, compelling Amalric to return. On October 27th, 1164 terms were arranged. Shirkuh returned to Damascus to find Nur ed-din home from his victorious campaign, in which he had taken many important cities and a number of distinguished prisoners, including Bohemond, Prina