knew only too well the influence of the leader's stand ard, while it remained untaken. Had he not seen his own forces beaten, only to return to make another fight for his banner and force the foe back? However, the words were hardly spoken before the tent went over, and with it the flag of the King. "Then the Sultan dismounted, and bowed himself to the earth, giving thanks to God, with tears of joy." Many of the knights were slain, the rest captured. And with their defeat went the loss of the Holy Cross, the saddest infliction of all, and which was to have echoes for many a year throughout the Christian world. "Covered with red gold, and adorned with pearls and precious stones," this sacred wood had been the inspiration of many a desperate charge and the means of changing many a forlorn hope into brilliant victory. But now it was in the hands of the unbelievers and destined to be their mock and sport. In despair the knights threw themselves upon the ground and made no further defense. Famished of thirst and driven to the last extreme of exhaustion they were driven like sheep to the tent of the conqueror. Never had there been such a complete disaster. Besides the most valiant champions of the Christian cause, there was the King himself a prisoner. Very few had escaped. Beside Raymond only the Prince of Sidon and Balian among those of the first rank. Gerard, prime cause of the disaster, the new Master of the Hospital, young Humphrey of Toron — he whose