Chapter Xii.

feeling we must go to account for the heroism of these men . On earth they had no ties but those of the Order . Heaven was their home , and the more gallantly they fought while in life , the more honour awaited them beyond the grave . The defence cf their castles became thus most

obstinate . The strongest fortress in the jjossessiou of the Templars was that of Safet , a place held in particular veneration by the Jews , it being one of the four holy cities of the Talmud . The castle of the

Templars crowned the summit of a lofty hill . Along the precipitous sides were ranged the houses and churches . From the ramparts , according to Addison , the eye ranged over a rich prospect of luxurious vineyards and smiling villages , and

embraced a grand panoramic view of lofty mountains . Through the valley below rolled the waters of the Jordan . To the southward extended the vast blue

expanse of the lake of Tiberias ; and in the northeast might be descried the towering snowy summits of Anti-Lebanon piercing the skies . This strong and important castle commanded the greater part of Galilee . It had always been a check upon the

incursions of the infidel , and was considered one of the bulwarks of the Latin kingdom . Saladin was thus most anxious to possess himself of it , ancl his exertions for its capture were both strenuous and incessant . He carefully surrounded

it with a picked body of troops , under the command of his brother , Saif-eddin , completely cutting off all supplies . The time for the siege was , however , unfavourable . The season was not far enough advanced for military operations . The weather was broken . The tents of the besiegers were

blown down the slopes of the hill before the furious whirlwinds , while the heavy rains rendered the ground slippery and prevented the play of the military engines . The Templars , on their part , were not idle nor slow in securing the opportunity

of destroying their enemies . They constantly sallied forth upon the besiegers , destroyed their newly erected works , burned their engines , cut the soldiers to pieces , and by incessant and desperate midnight attacks , harassed aud alarmed

the whole Mussulman army . Saladin at length despaired of reducing the seemingly impregnable fortress at this time . He consequently converted the siege into a blockade , and departed for the purpose of attacking Antioch . He adopted the same tactics in approaching this formidable town , as he had used in advancing upon Jerusalem . He

divided his army .. into separate bodies , and despatched them under able leaders to ravage the whole , country on their march . His orders , so congenial to the tastes of his soldiers , were effectually performed . They drove away the cattle

and sheep of the Christians , which they collected together , with the captured booty , on the plain of Orontes , close to the banks of the lake Kades . Saladin then crosssd the vast mountainous ranges which extend between the Orontes and sea-coast ,

and appeared in arms before the walls of Tripoli , The smoke of blazing villages , and the fugitive inhabitants , had already heralded his approach to the citizens . Although doubtful of success , the Tripolese prepared to make a vigorous defence .

The preparations were so formidable that Saladin resolved to abandon his intention of besieging it then , as it appeared as impregnable and difficult to take as Tyre aud Safet . After carefully surveying the fortifications he directed his march

upon Tortosa , Gerard de Eidefort , who had been , anxiously watching the movements of Saladin , and finding the Sultan intended besieging Tortosa , threw himself into the strong castle of the Templars there , determined to offer the most desperate resistance . The fortifications of the

town were , however , of a most miserable description , the inhabitants were timorous and offered but a j . oor resistance ; and the Temj . lars , after a short but most desperate struggle , which they maintained single-handed , had to abandon the

town and take refuge behind the walls of their own castle . Again Saladin was to suffer defeat at the hands of Gerard cle Eidefort . Gainingpossession of the town , he called upon the Tenuilars to surrender , but he was only laughed

at by the gallant Knights . Enraged at being foiled on every hand by them , he exerted all the means in his power to take the castle . Munificent rewards were promised for the heads of the Templars , and incessant attacks made upon the

place . These attacks the Knights easily repelled . In turn they became attackers ; and in frequent sallies they routed tha Musselmen with immense slaughter . During one of these sallies the town was set on fire and burnt to the ground . The fire

was one of the most tremendous spectacles presented by the war . The great cathedral was of huge dimensions , and its roof was composed of immense cedar beams . While it was burning , thousands of infidels surrounded it , shouting and dancing in their enthusiasm , and returning thanks