TheyarethepriestlysoldiersoftheTemple，’’answeredElHakim，whosevowlimitsthemtoknowneithertrucenorfaithwiththeworshippersofIslam。MaytheProphetblightthem，bothroot，branch，andtwig！-Theirpeaceiswar，andtheirfaithisfalsehood。OtherinvadersofPalestinehavetheirtimesandmoodsofcourtesy。TheLionRichardwillsparewhenhehasconquered-theeaglePhilipwillclosehiswingwhenhehasstrickenaprey-eventheAustrianbearwillsleepwhenheisgorged；butthishordeofever-hungrywolvesknowneitherpausenorsatietyintheirrapine-Seestthounotthattheyaredetachingapartyfromtheirmainbody，andthattheytakeaneasterndirection？Yonaretheirpagesandsquires，whomtheytrainupintheiraccursedmysteries，andwhom，aslightermounted，theysendtocutusofffromourwatering-place。
　　Buttheywillbedisappointed；Iknowthewarofthedesertyetbetterthanthey。’’
　　Hespokeafewwordstohisprincipalofficer，andhiswholedemeanourandcountenancewasatoncechangedfromthesolemnreposeofaneasternsage，accustomedmoretocontemplationthantoaction，intothepromptandproudexpressionofagallantsoldier，whoseenergiesarerousedbythenearapproachofadanger，whichheatonceforeseesanddespises。
　　ToSirKenneth’seyestheapproachingcrisishadadifferentaspect，andwhenAdonbecsaidtohim，Thoumusttarryclosebymyside，’’heansweredsolemnlyinthenegative。
　　Yonder，’’hesaid，aremycomradesinarms-themeninwhosesocietyIhavevowedtofightorfall-ontheirbannergleamsthesignofourmostblessedredemption-IcannotflyfromtheCrossincompanywiththeCrescent。’’
　　Fool！’’saidtheHakim；theirfirstactionwouldbetodotheetodeath，wereitonlytoconcealtheirbreachofthetruce。’’
　　OfthatImusttakemychance，’’repliedSirKenneth；
　　butIwearnotthebondsoftheinfidelsaninstantlongerthanIcancutthemfromme。’’
　　ThenwillIcompeltheetofollowme，’’saidElHakim。
　　Compel！’’answeredSirKenneth，angrily。Wertthounotmybenefactor，oronewhohasshowedwilltobesuch，andwereitnotthatitistothyconfidenceIowethefreedomofthesehands，whichthoumightesthaveloadedwithfetters，I
　　wouldshowtheethat，unarmedasIam，compulsionwouldbenoeasytask。’’
　　Enough，enough，’’repliedtheArabianphysician；welosetimeevenwhenitisbecomingprecious。’’
　　Sosaying，hethrewhisarmaloft，andutteredaloudandshrillcry，asasignaltothoseofhisretinue，whoinstantlydispersedthemselvesonthefaceofthedesert，inasmanydifferentdirectionsasachapletofbeadswhenthestringisbroken。SirKennethhadnotimetonotewhatensued；for，atthesameinstant，theHakimseizedthereinofhissteed，andputtinghisowntoitsmettle，bothsprungforthatoncewiththesuddennessoflight，andatapitchofvelocitywhichalmostdeprivedtheScottishknightofthepowerofrespiration，andlefthimabsolutelyincapable，hadhebeendesirous，tohavecheckedthecareerofhisguide。PractisedasSirKennethwasinhorsemanshipfromhisearliestyouth，thespeediesthorsehehadevermountedwasatortoiseincomparisontothoseoftheArabiansage。Theyspurnedthesandfrombehindthem-theyseemedtodevourthedesertbeforethem-milesflewawaywithminutes，andyettheirstrengthseemedunabated，andtheirrespirationasfreeaswhentheyfirststarteduponthewonderfulrace。
　　Themotion，too，aseasyasitwasswift，seemedmorelikeflyingthroughtheairthanridingontheearth，andwasattendedwithnounpleasantsensation，savetheawenaturallyfeltbyonewhoismovingatsuchastonishingspeed，andthedifficultyofbreathingoccasionedbytheirpassingthroughtheairsorapidly。
　　Itwasnotuntilafteranhourofthisportentousmotion，andwhenallhumanpursuitwasfar，farbehind，thattheHakimatlengthrelaxedhisspeed，andslackeningthepaceofthehorsesintoahandgallop，began，inavoiceascomposedandevenasifhehadbeenwalkingforthelasthour，adescantupontheexcellenceofhiscourserstotheScot，who，breathless，halfblind，halfdeaf，andaltogethergiddy，fromtherapidityofthissingularride，hardlycomprehendedthewordswhichflowedsofreelyfromhiscompanion。
　　Thesehorses，’’hesaid，areofthebreedcalledtheWinged，equalinspeedtoaughtexceptingtheBorakoftheProphet。
　　TheyarefedonthegoldenbarleyofYemen，mixedwithspices，andwithasmallportionofdriedsheep’sflesh。Kingshavegivenprovincestopossessthem，andtheirageisactiveastheiryouth。Thou，Nazarene，artthefirst，saveatruebeliever，thateverhadbeneathhisloinsoneofthisnoblerace，agiftoftheProphethimselftotheblessedAli，hiskinsmanandlieutenant，wellcalledtheLionofGod。Timelayshistouchsolightlyonthesegeneroussteeds，thatthemareonwhichthousittesthasseenfivetimesfiveyearspassoverher，yetretainsherpristinespeedandvigour，onlythatinthecareerthesupportofabridle，managedbyahandmoreexperiencedthanthine，hathnowbecomenecessary。MaytheProphetbeblessed，whohathbestowedonthetruebelieversthemeansofadvanceandretreat，whichcauseththeiriron-clothedenemiestobewornoutwiththeirownponderousweight！HowthehorsesofyonderdogTemplarsmusthavesnortedandblown，whentheyhadtoiledfetlock-deepinthedesertforone-twentiethpartofthespacewhichthesebravesteedshaveleftbehindthem，withoutonethickpant，oradropofmoistureupontheirsleekandvelvetcoats！’’
　　TheScottishknight，whohadnowbeguntorecoverhisbreathandpowersofattention，couldnothelpacknowledginginhishearttheadvantagepossessedbytheseEasternwarriorsinaraceofanimals，alikeproperforadvanceorretreat，andsoadmirablyadaptedtothelevelandsandydesertsofArabiaandSyria。ButhedidnotchoosetoaugmenttheprideoftheMoslembyacquiescinginhisproudclaimofsuperiority，andthereforesufferedtheconversationtodrop，andlookingaroundhimcouldnow，atthemoremoderatepaceatwhichtheymoved，distinguishthathewasinacountrynotunknowntohim。
　　TheblightedbordersandsullenwatersoftheDeadSea，theraggedandprecipitouschainofmountainsarisingontheleft，thetwoorthreepalmsclusteredtogether，formingthesinglegreenspeckonthebosomofthewastewilderness，-objectswhich，onceseen，werescarcelytobeforgotten，-showedtoSirKenneththattheywereapproachingthefountaincalledtheDiamondoftheDesert，whichhadbeenthesceneofhisinterview，onaformeroccasion，withtheSaracenEmir，Sheerkohf，orIlderim。Inafewminutestheycheckedtheirhorsesbesidethespring，andtheHakiminvitedSirKennethtodescendfromhorseback，andreposehimselfasinaplaceofsafety。Theyunbridledtheirsteeds，ElHakimobservingthatfarthercareofthemwasunnecessary，sincetheywouldbespeedilyjoinedbysomeofthebestmountedamonghisslaves，whowoulddowhatfartherwasneedful。
　　Meantime，’’hesaid，spreadingsomefoodonthegrass，eatanddrink，andbenotdiscouraged。Fortunemayraiseuporabasetheordinarymortal，butthesageandthesoldiershouldhavemindsbeyondhercontrol。’’
　　TheScottishknightendeavouredtotestifyhisthanksbyshowinghimselfdocile；butthoughhestrovetoeatoutofcomplaisance，thesingularcontrastbetweenhispresentsituation，andthatwhichhehadoccupiedonthesamespot，whentheenvoyofprinces，andthevictorincombat，camelikeacloudoverhismind，andfasting，lassitude，andfatigue，oppressedhisbodilypowers。ElHakimexaminedhishurriedpulse，hisredandinflamedeye，hisheatedhand，andhisshortenedrespiration。
　　Themind，’’hesaid，growswisebywatching，buthersister，thebody，ofcoarsermaterials，needsthesupportofrepose。Thoumustsleep；andthatthoumayestdosotorefreshment，thoumusttakeadraughtmingledwiththiselixir。’’
　　Hedrewfromhisbosomasmallcrystalvial，cuedinsilverfiligree-work，anddroppedintoalittlegoldendrinkingcupasmallportionofadark-colouredfluid。
　　This，’’hesaid，isoneofthoseproductionswhichAllahhathsentonearthforablessing，thoughman’sweaknessandwickednesshavesometimesconverteditintoacurse。Itispowerfulasthewine-cupoftheNazarenetodropthecurtainonthesleeplesseye，andtorelievetheburdenoftheoverloadedbosom；butwhenappliedtothepurposesofindulgenceanddebauchery，itrendsthenerves，destroysthestrength，weakenstheintellect，andundermineslife。Butfearnotthoutouseitsvirtuesinthetimeofneed，forthewisemanwarmshimbythesamefirebrandwithwhichthemadmanburneththetent。’’
　　*Somepreparationofopiumseemstobeintimated。
　　Ihaveseentoomuchofthyskill，sageHakim，’’saidSirKenneth，todebatethinehest；’’andswallowedthenarcotic，mingledasitwaswithsomewaterfromthespring，thenwrappedhiminthehaik，orArabcloak，whichhadbeenfastenedtohissaddle-pommel，and，accordingtothedirectionsofthephysician，stretchedhimselfateaseintheshadetoawaitthepromisedrepose。Sleepcamenotatfirst，butinhersteadatrainofpleasingyetnotrousingorawakeningsensations。A
　　stateensued，inwhich，stillconsciousofhisownidentityandhisowncondition，theknightfeltenabledtoconsiderthemnotonlywithoutalarmandsorrow，butascomposedlyashemighthaveviewedthestoryofhismisfortunesacteduponastage，orratherasadisembodiedspiritmightregardthetransactionsofitspastexistence。Fromthisstateofrepose，amountingalmosttoapathyrespectingthepast，histhoughtswerecarriedforwardtothefuture，which，inspiteofallthatexistedtoovercloudtheprospect，glitteredwithsuchhues，asundermuchhappierauspiceshisunstimulatedimaginationhadnotbeenabletoproduceeveninitsmostexaltedstate。Liberty，fame，successfullove，appearedtobethecertainandnotverydistantprospectoftheenslavedexile，thedishonouredknight，evenofthedespairinglover，whohadplacedhishopesofhappinesssofarbeyondtheprospectofchance，inherwildestpossibilities，servingtocountenancehiswishes。Graduallyastheintellectualsightbecameoverclouded，thesegayvisionsbecameobscure，likethedyinghuesofsunset，untiltheywereatlastlostintotaloblivion；
　　andSirKennethlayextendedatthefeetofElHakim，toallappearance，butforhisdeeprespiration，asinanimateacorpseasiflifehadactuallydeparted。
　　MidthesewildscenesEnchantmentwavesherhand，Tochangethefaceofthemysteriousland:
　　TillthebewilderingscenesaroundusseemThevainproductionsofafeverishdream。
　　Astolpho，aRomance。
　　WhentheKnightoftheLeopardawokefromhislongandprofoundrepose，hefoundhimselfincircumstancessodifferentfromthoseinwhichhehadlaindowntosleep，thathedoubtedwhetherhewasnotstilldreaming，orwhetherthescenehadnotbeenchangedbymagic。Insteadofthedampgrass，helayonacouchofmorethanOrientalluxury，andsomekindhandshad，duringhisrepose，strippedhimofthecassockofchamoiswhichheworeunderhisarmour，andsubstitutedanightdressofthefinestlinen，andaloosegownofsilk。Hehadbeencanopiedonlybythepalm-treesofthedesert，butnowhelaybeneathasilkenpavilion，whichblazedwiththerichestcoloursoftheChineseloom，whileaslightcurtainofgauze，displayedaroundhiscouch，wascalculatedtoprotecthisreposefromtheinsects，towhichhehad，eversincehisarrivalintheseclimates，beenaconstantandpassiveprey。Helookedaround，asiftoconvincehimselfthathewasactuallyawake，andallthatfellbeneathhiseyepartookofthesplendourofhisdormitory。A
　　portablebathofcedar，linedwithsilver，wasreadyforuse，andsteamedwiththeodourswhichhadbeenusedinpreparingit。
　　Onasmallstandofebonybesidethecouch，stoodasilvervase，containingsherbetofthemostexquisitequality，coldassnow，andwhichthethirstthatfollowedtheuseofthestrongnarcoticrenderedpeculiarlydelicious。Stillfarthertodispelthedregsofintoxicationwhichithadleftbehind，theknightresolvedtousethebath，andexperiencedindoingsoadelightfulrefreshment。HavingdriedhimselfwithnapkinsoftheIndianwool，hewouldwillinglyhaveresumedhisowncoarsegarments，thathemightgoforthtoseewhethertheworldwasasmuchchangedwithoutaswithintheplaceofhisrepose。
　　These，however，werenowheretobeseen，butintheirplacehefoundaSaracendressofrichmaterials，withsabreandponiard，andallbefittinganemirofdistinction。Hewasabletosuggestnomotivetohimselfforthisexuberanceofcare，exceptingasuspicionthattheseattentionswereintendedtoshakehiminhisreligiousprofession；asindeeditwaswellknownthatthehighesteemoftheEuropeanknowledgeandcouragemadetheSoldanunboundedinhisgiftstothosewho，havingbecomehisprisoners，hadbeeninducedtotaketheturban。SirKenneth，therefore，crossinghimselfdevoutly，resolvedtosetallsuchsnaresatdefiance；andthathemightdosothemorefirmly，conscientiouslydeterminedtoavailhimselfasmoderatelyaspossibleoftheattentionsandluxuriesthusliberallyheapeduponhim。Still，however，hefelthisheadoppressedandsleepy，andaware，too，thathisundresswasnotfitforappearingabroad，hereclineduponthecouch，andwasagainlockedinthearmsofslumber。