e of their
own homelands, Genoa being at that time at the height of her prosperity
and greatness, but their joyful wonder found its match in that of the
inhabitants, whose astonished eyes saw so many fair-haired children
marching through their city, with banners and crosses carried high,
singing their splendid songs, and full of such grim determination to
rescue the Holy Land, a feat which experienced warriors had failed to
accomplish.

As the children marched through Genoa, changed indeed was the
appearance of their army; of the twenty thousand who had left the banks
of the Rhine under the leadership of Nicholas, there were only seven
thousand remaining now. Of the rest some were on their homeward
journey, some in new homes which they had found by the way, others were
lying in undiscovered graves in forest or on hillsides. Only the
strongest and most resolute of that great army remained, and in
consequence it was the flower of the youth of the Rhinelands, who
entered Genoa, rugged and healthy, though their clothes were worn and
faded, their feet bruised and bleeding, their faces burned by sun and
wind, and their expressions aged and saddened by experience.

The merchants left their desks, the children stopped their play, and
stared in wonderment, the grave nobles were moved to surprise, and the
mothers wiped their eyes as the army of blue-eyed youths marched by.

No sooner had the Senators extended the hospitality of the city to the
youths than they decided to retract it, for three reasons: They were
afraid of the effect on the morals of the city, which might be produced
by the entrance of seven thousand unrestrained boys--also they feared
that such a sudden addition to the population might produce a famine,
for situated as Genoa was, there was never any too great a quantity of
food. Also, most weighty reason of all, the German Emperor was at war
with the Pope and in the contest, Genoa was on the Guelph, or papal
side. To shelter German children then, even though on a Crusade, would
be to harbour foes and to care for a hated race which the Pope had
declared outlawed.

In consequence of these reasons the children were told that they could
stay only one night in the city, after all, except those who desired to
make it their permanent home, and abandoning their wild scheme, promise
to become good citizens.

But the youths laughed scornfully in answer--saying:

"We only _ask_ to rest one night. To-morrow you shall s