and I will give you plenty of food until Pentecost. If at that time you can see that you will receive succor, well and good ; if, however, you see then that there is no hope of rescue, then you must surrender the city, and I will conduct your people safely to Christian territory, them and their possessions." It was an extraordinary offer under the circumstances, and it is not possible to believe that any one other than Saladin would have made the like, but the committee refused it. They could not, they said, surrender the city where the Savior had suffered His death, spending his blood for their salvation. When Saladin received their answer, respecting their courage and their devotion, he vowed he would never take the city other than honorably, meaning in open warfare. The report that Jerusalem was about to be besieged brought many accessions both to Saladin and to the Holy City itself. Throughout Islam the last recalcitrant forgot the cause of his opposition to the leadership of Saladin and sought to join his army, while thousands of Christians came to the city, either to help in its defense or to seek its protection. The city thus became greatly overcrowded, all the houses were filled to overflowing and large numbers had to camp in the streets. At the same time desperate efforts were made to bring in food and supplies, and to put the defenses in condition to withstand assault. Balian, the new commander, was not over hopeful of withstanding the triumphant Moslem army, and