volume one

406
HISTOET OF THE CRUSADES.
intrepid warriors set foi-ward on their marcli under his
orders ; they surprised the Egyptian merchants who were
bearing back the treasures of India, by way ot the Bed Sea
and, preceded by terror, advanced in triumph, into a country
which had never before seen the Christians. Eenaud and
his companions had already reached the valley of Kabid,
situated ten leagues from Medina, when they were surprised
and attacked by a Mussulman army, which had been hastily
despatched from Syria. After an obstinate and sanguinary
combat, victory favoured the Saracens. Eenaud escaped the
pursuit of the conquerors as if by a miracle, and returned
with a small number of his troops to the castle of Carac.
Some of the prisoners were led into Egypt, where the sentence
of the cadis condemned them to the death of the
lowest criminals. Others were conveyed to Mecca, where
their blood was shed with that of the Aictims immolated at
the ceremony of the great Ba^-ram.*
These horrible executions did not satisfy the vengeance of
Saladin. AVhen he heard of the expedition of the Christians,
which he considered a frightful sacrilege, his anger
knew no bounds, and he swore upon the Koran to revenge
the insult offered to the Mussulman religion. The sultan,
whom the Christians already styled the scourge of God, reentered
Galilee \^-ith sword and flame, and advanced towards
the castle of Carac, constantly repeating the oath he had
taken of slaying Eenaud with his own hand. The Mussulmans
would have rendered themselves masters of the castle,
but for the bravery of one knight, who alone maintained the
drawbridge, and by a glorious death deprived Saladin of
this conquest. A Christian army was soon upon the march
to repel this attack of the Saracens. Saladin, despairing for
the present of wreaking his revenge upon Eenaud, laid
waste the lands on the banks of the Jordan, in the very face
of the Christian army, which did not dare to attack him.
After having several times renewed his attempts upon the
fortress of Carac, and given up to the flames Naplouse,
Sebosto, and several other cities, he at length consented to a
truce, and led back his army into Mesopotamia.
* Schahabbedin, Tabari, and Aboulfeda relate this fact at great
length.
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