第97章 Wulf Pays for the Drugged Wine(6)

At the foot of the Cross, Rufinus, the bishop of Acre, still fought on bravely.Suddenly an arrow struck him in the throat, and throwing his arms wide, he fell to earth.Then the Saracens hurled themselves upon the Rood, tore it from its place, and with mockery and spittings bore it down the hill towards their camp, as ants may be seen carrying a little stick into their nest, while all who were left alive of the Christian army stared upwards, as though they awaited some miracle from Heaven.But no angels appeared in the brazen sky, and knowing that God had deserted them, they groaned aloud in their shame and wretchedness.

"Come," said Godwin to Wulf in a strange, quiet voice."We have seen enough.It is time to die.Look! yonder below us are the Mameluks, our old regiment, and amongst them Saladin, for I see his banner.Having had water, we and our horses are still fresh and strong.Now, let us make an end of which they will tell in Essex yonder.Charge for the flag of Saladin!"Wulf nodded, and side by side they sped down the hill.Scimitars flashed at them, arrows struck upon their mail and the shields blazoned with the Death's-head D'Arcy crest.Through it all they went unscathed, and while the army of the Saracens stared, at the foot of the Horn of Hattin turned their horses' heads straight for the royal standard of Saladin.On they struggled, felling or riding down a foe at every stride.On, still on, although Flame and Smoke bled from a score of wounds.

They were among the Mameluks, where their line was thin; by Heaven! they were through them, and riding straight at the well-known figure of the Sultan, mounted on his white horse with his young son and his emir, the prince Hassan, at his side.

"Saladin for you, Hassan for me," shouted Wulf.

Then they met, and all the host of Islam cried out in dismay as they saw the Commander of the Faithful and his horse borne to the earth before the last despairing charge of these mad Christian knights.Another instant, and the Sultan was on his feet again, and a score of scimitars were striking at Godwin.His horse Flame sank down dying, but he sprang from the saddle, swinging the long sword.Now Saladin recognized the crest upon his buckler, and cried out:

"Yield you, Sir Godwin! You have done well--yield you!"But Godwin, who would not yield, answered:

"When I am dead--not before."

Thereupon Saladin spoke a word, and while certain of his Mameluks engaged Godwin in front, keeping out of reach of that red and terrible sword, others crept up behind, and springing on him, seized his arms and dragged him to the ground, where they bound him fast.

Meanwhile Wulf had fared otherwise, for it was his horse Smoke, already stabbed to the vitals, that fell as he plunged on prince Hassan.Yet he also arose but little hurt, and cried out:

"Thus, Hassan, old foe and friend, we meet at last in war.Come, I would pay the debt I owe you for that drugged wine, man to man and sword to sword.""Indeed, it is due, Sir Wulf," answered the prince, laughing.