in my possession a gift worthy of the Sultan's acceptance, and I ask permission to send it to him." El-Melek replied that the gift would be accepted, provided the King would accept one of equal value from the Sultan. He need not have made any conditions, for all this was just persiflage, which became evident immediately when the messenger intimated that Richard was considering sending some fine falcons from overseas, but they were weak at the moment and needed some birds or fowls to revive them. That is, Richard was looking for a few nice chickens for his table. El-Melek understood. However, Richard did send a Moslem prisoner later, whereat the Sultan decorated the messenger with a robe of honor. These visits were understood to be in the nature of espionage, and there is reason to believe the Sultan dressed the scene to his advantage before the messenger was permitted to enter the camp. But Richard held the whip hand and knew it. Slowly but unmistakably the resistance of the wearied garrison of Acre was lessening, and though the Sultan sought to distract the attention of the Franks by fierce charges upon their camp, the bull dog tenacity of the English king never relaxed. The Sultan, " restless as a mother weeping for her lost child, .. . his eyes full ôf tears, went from battalion to battalion, crying, ' On for Islam! 9 9 9 but all in vain. A letter from the doomed city told of the complete exhaustion of its defenders, who would have to capitulate, and would only ask for their lives from the victors.