volume one

HISTOKr or THE CRUSADES. 279
tory was for a length of time uncertain ;
but at last, says an
historian, the will of God was declared in favoiu' of the soldiers
of Christ. The Egyptian army liad lost its leader, and
was entirely routed ; five thousand infidels remaining on the
field of battle.
The enemy fled in such complete disorder that they abandoned
their tents and their baggage. As Baldwin was pursuing
them, his ear was struck by tlie plaintive cry of a
woman. He checked his war-horse, and perceived a female
Mussulman in the pains of childbirth. He threw his mantle
to her to cover her, and ordered her to be placed on carpets
laid upon the ground. By his commands, fruits and a skin
of water were brought to this bed of pain, and a female
camel furnished milk for the nourishment of the newlv-born
child. The mother was confided to the care of a slave, with
orders to conduct her to her husband. The latter, who held
a distinguished rank among the Mussulmans, shed tears of
joy on beholding a wife whose death he was lamenting, and
vowed never to forget the generous action of Baldwin.
Conqueror of the Saracens, the king of Jerusalem had
sent back his troops, and was reposmg at Jaffa, after the
fatigues of the war, when he learnt that the Mussulman
army had rallied, and was in fidl march to attack the Christians.
Baldwin, whom victory had rendered rash, without
assembling all his troops, went immediately to meet the
enemy, at the head of two hundred knights, and a few pilgrims
lately arrived from the AYest. IS'ot at all dismayed
by the number of the Saracens, he gave battle ; but, at the
first charge, the Christians were surrounded, and only sought
a glorious death, fighting by the side of their leader. The
king of Jerusalem, obliged to fly, concealed himself among
the long dried grass and bushes which covered the plain.
As the Saracens set fire to these, Baldwin with difficulty
escaped being biu-nt ahve ; and, after many perils, was glad
to take refuge in Eamla.
Night checked the pursuit of his enemies, but on the following
day, the place which served him as an asylum was
threatened with an immediate siege, and had no "means of
defence. Baldwin was a prey to the most distressing anxiety,
when a stranger, who had by some means got into the cit'y,
demanded to speak instantly with the king of Jerusalem.—