in case of the worst, to sell their lives
dearly. Meanwhile, the attendants of the ambassadors filled the chamber,
with alarm on their faces; and thither also Guy Muschamp and his fellow
captives found their way, closely followed by the aged Saracen, who
bowed himself before Bisset and exclaimed--

'In the name of God, save me!'

'Save you, Saracen!' said Bisset. 'On my faith, I cannot but think that
the man will do well this day who saves himself.'

'But,' asked the Saracen, 'do you not believe in a God, born of a woman,
who was crucified for the salvation of the human race, and rose again
the third day?'

'Assuredly, Saracen,' replied Bisset, regarding his questioner with a
curious eye: 'as certainly as I believe that I am now in the palace of
the caliph, and in greater danger than I pretend to relish.'

'In that case,' said the Saracen, 'place your hopes in your God; for, if
he was able to recall himself to life, he will not want the power to
deliver you from the evils that now threaten you.'

'On my faith,' replied Bisset, a little surprised, 'I must say that you
speak the words of wisdom were you twenty times an infidel; and, for my
own part, I would fain hope that God and the saints, especially good St.
George, will befriend us in our jeopardy.'

Meanwhile the noise and tumult caused by the Tartars, as they forced
their way into Bagdad, drew nearer, and shouts and shrieks were heard,
which left no doubt that they had entered the palace. Bisset thereupon,
grasping his battle-axe, took his post on one side of the door: the
Templar, sword in hand, stationed himself on the other. Neither spoke,
and such was the silence of those who were likely to share their fate,
that a pin might have been heard to drop. But though the carnage was
going on around them, they were left undisturbed; and they passed a
full hour in breathless suspense.

At length a loud shout intimated that the Tartars had penetrated to the
garden; and Bisset, wishing to tiring matters to a crisis, stepped
forward so as to make himself visible, and then retreated to his post.
Immediately twenty of the fierce Mogul warriors rushed towards the
place, and with loud shouts prepared for fresh carnage. But, when they
perceived the Templar and the English knight guarding the door with the
air of men who could not fail to prove terrible antagonists, they
hesitated, paused, and seemed to think that it was necessary to exercise
caution.

Now, this delay