and art bound to
maintain and guard it; we command thee by Mahomet, who gave it to us,
that their heads be cut off. We will hear nothing that they say, we
command thee to have their heads cut off." With that final decision
they filed solemnly away, leaving Francis, Illuminato and the Sultan
alone.

"Seigneurs," the Sultan said, "they have commanded me by Mahomet and
the law to have your heads cut off. This the law commands. But I will
go against the law, for else I should render thee a very poor reward
for having risked death to save my soul."

In a second interview he had with them he promised them possessions
and lands if they would only stay with him!

"Yes," said Francis, "if you will be converted, with your people I
will gladly remain." Then, a bright idea striking him, he went on--

[Sidenote: _Trial by Fire!_]

"Your priests will not talk with me, perhaps they would be more ready
to act. Have a great fire lighted, I will go into the fire with them,
and you will see by the result which faith is the surest and holiest."

When Francis had begun this speech there were a number of priests
standing round about, but before he had finished they had quietly
taken themselves off! The idea filled them with horror! The Sultan
perceiving their absence, remarked sarcastically--

"I do not think that any of _my_ priests are inclined to face flames
and torture for the defence of their faith."

Francis couldn't understand how anybody with a real faith could refuse
to have it tested! He offered to go into the fire alone, and if he
were burnt it was to be considered due to his sins, but if God
protected him, the Sultan was to own Him as Supreme. But the Sultan
would not hear of any such trial. He was amazed and astonished at the
absolute faith and trust of the man before him.

With this refusal Francis retired. He was followed by rich presents
from the Sultan, all of which were promptly returned. The Sultan
begged of him to take them for his Churches and Order, but Francis
persisted in his refusal, and seeing that there was no germ of real
religion in the Sultan's heart, he returned to the Crusaders' Camp.
He was heavy and sore in soul because he felt his mission to be a
failure.

[Sidenote: _Victory._]

But if he had failure in one direction, he had victory in another. The
news of his visit to the Sultan spread, and wherever he was, people
flocked to see and hear him, and recruits such as he had never
expected, beg