was arrested by the canal of Ashmoun. on the south side of which the forces of Islam were stationed. Every emir of Syria had sent assistance to Melech, and the Latins were pre-vented from leaving their position, till the period of the annual influx of the Nile, when the Mussulmans opened their sluices, inundated their enemy's camp, cut off all communication with the sea-coast, and enclosed them like fish in a net. The tents and baggage were swept away ; the provisions spoiled, the terrible scourge that had de-stroyed the inhabitants of Damietta, appeared in the camp, and the humbled Christians made overtures of peace, promising to evacuate Egypt, on condition of being per-mitted to return in safety to Acre. The generous Melech Camel acceded to this proposal. Hostages were exchanged for the performance of the treaty, and the noble King of Jerusalem, together with his wife and their daughter, Violante, were among the number. The Sultan of Egypt received his guests with distinguish-ed honor, and provided for their princely entertainment in Cairo. As the sympathetic Latin chief took leave of his suffering followers, tears overflowed his manly cheeks. ""Why do you weep?" exclaimed the compassionate sultan. " I have cause to weep," returned the king, " the people whom God has given to my charge, are perishing amidst the waters, dying with hunger, or falling a prey to the pestilence." " Despair not," replied the noble Melech, " for what saith the proverb ? ' To everything there is an end,' therefore, mourn not, for misfortunes shall find a termination." He turned to his soldiers, and gave orders that the granaries of Egypt should be opened for their suf-fering foes. As the royal hostages approached the palace of the Sul-tan, they were preceded \y troops of vassals, called ap-paritors, who, sword in hand and with great clamor, led them through narrow and winding passages, where at every gate cohorts of armed Ethiopians, bowed with their faces in the dust before the Sultan, and welcomed his triumphant return, with the harsh dissonance of the Saracen drum, 322 HEROINES OF THE CRUSADES.