the next moment, placed it in his grasp. The tiger, excited by the noise made in this movement of the earl's, rose up, and plunged forward with its fore paws upon the sleeping youth, and took a mortal grip of his delicately formed person. As quickly, the sword of the earl had passed through its cheeks, between the jaws, and severely wounded the tongue, when the savage animal, with a nimble bound from the couch, forsook its youthful victim, and, with a bellow of pain, turned upon its assailant who had not had time to recover his sword from the thrust which was given with all his might, and who it instantly laid low upon the sands by a tremendous stroke of one of its fore paws.

The young Saracen was now roused, not only by the rough usage his person had sustained, but by the loud roar of the tiger, and as, in the greatest alarm, he raised his head from the couch, he saw, in the moonshine, the tiger over a prostrate body, whose, he did not distinguish, and he screamed aloud for help.

Sir Lionel, whose couch was a little ahead of the earl's, was, already, awakened by the belowing cries of the tiger, and directed his quickened glance to the light part of the tent, and, in dismay,witnessed the frightful struggle, of which it was then the scene. The moment after, saw him on his legs, spear in hand, with which he made a thrust against the side of the ferocious brute, so true and strong, that it instantly rolled over, and, with a roar, so piercingly loud that it awoke the inmates of the small encampment, fell dead, first curling up its legs, and, then, stretching them out, powerless in death, and extending wide its bleeding mouth, showed, conspicuously, a set of fearful tusks.

The young knight then raised up his friend, who was senseless and bleeding. By this time, the tent was surrounded by anxious spectators, one of whom brought a kindled link, and as its glare fell upon the bleeding body of the lifeless Pembroke, the Saracen page uttered a heart rending scream, and swooned away.

The cool night air, which now entered the

tent by puffs, restored the earl to life, and also the page, whose insensibility had not been observed in the general confusion which prevailed.

"Where is the Saracen page, is he safe?” inquired the earl, on recovering the use of his faculties.

"Here I am, Sir, and safe," exclaimed the Saracen page. "But, how is it that ye are bleeding? was it thee beneath the paws of the tiger?" which inquiry he made trembling with agitation.

"I am not much hurt by the encounter, good page," answered the earl. "Thy life was more in peril: look at thy right hand."

On examination, the back of the right hand of the page was found to be a little flayed, and looked inflamed, occasioned by the tiger's tongue. An explanation was then given, the particulars of which struck all with the greatest astonishment. No blame could be attached to the sentinels, for the venturesome intruder had stolen upon the small party, in the darkness, unperceived.

1

Greatly to every one's satisfaction, the Earl of Pembroke had not suffered any serious damage, the blood upon him being, principally, that of the tiger, nor was the Saracen page much bruised.

The morning, however, was far advanced upon the noon, ere the small party of Christians were in a condition to proceed on their journey, which they then continued through that day, rested the next night, and renewed it on the following day, towards the close of which, they again encamped for the night.

The evening was unusually calm and beautiful. Not a cloud was to be seen, but still the waning sun was seen through a light hazy atmosphere which was illumined with his rays, and which appeared a thin floating airy mass of the colour of gold. The face of nature was tinged with a glowing hue of reddish yellow. The splendour of the scene, which was unusual, even for the Asiatic clime, was enjoyed, in raptures, by the European travellers, who were seated in a circle, in front of their

VOL. II.

small cluster of tents, and, while they were taking off their wine, they were treated by the Saracen page, with an eastern song of romance, in a most pleasing and affecting style.

By degrees, the gay yellow of the evening, faded to a misty grey, and then night set in in darkness. All, save the two sentinels, now sought their couch, and total silence soon reigned throughout the small encamp

ment.

Their quiet was of short duration. A wandering tribe of Arabs, consisting of more than a thousand, surprised the sentinels, whom they disarmed, surrounded and filled the tents, immediately laid hands on all the arms, and made the Christians, who were deprived of all means of resistance, prisoners.

"Look to the spoils, comrades," said the commander of the tribe. "We will, afterwards, quickly dispose of the Christians. They shall have the full benefit of the example they set us, early in these wars, of instant vengeance upon the faithful. Some of ye bring out the pri