Of course, they were not consulted. War has never given much thought to the civilian, and even Saladin, considerate as he was, would have been surprised had any one suggested that the peaceable population of Ascalon had any rights in the matter. The governor of the town, one of Saladino mamelukes, was sent for and directed to assemble all the workmen and begin at once the difficult task of taking down the walls, for these were built for all time, and were reinforced with towers whose walls were as thick " as a lance is long." We have here a picture of a city whose life had been going along pleasantly and with reasonable security being suddenly given over to ruthless destroyers. Everything is disrupted as in the twinkling of an eye. The population which has gathered joyfully to hail the great Sultan learns that he is come not to heal but to destroy. Men who have rushed forward to acclaim are drawn to take part in the fearful work. From all sides rise lamentation and protest. Wealthy burghers find themselves plunged into poverty, for the torch will be applied to their costly homes and there is no one to buy their luxurious furnishings. Their business is done for, and their wares are a drug in a market where the buyers are few and every man is glad to sacrifice for one dirhem what cost him ten. The sheltered inmates of beautiful harems must go forth into the rough world in search of whatever refuge Fate may have in store for them. Nor is there time to dally and consider. The danger of interference from