第8章

IamTheodorickofEngaddi-Iamthetorch-brandofthedesert-Iamtheflailoftheinfidels！Thelionandtheleopardshallbemycomrades，anddrawnightomycellforshelter；neithershallthegoatbeafraidoftheirfangs-Iamthetorchandthelantern-KyrieEleison！’’

Heclosedhissongbyashortrace，andendedthatagainbythreeforwardbounds，whichwouldhavedonehimgreatcreditinagymnasticacademy，butbecamehischaracterofhermitsoindifferently，thattheScottishknightwasaltogetherconfoundedandbewildered。

TheSaracenseemedtounderstandhimbetter。Yousee，’’

hesaid，thatheexpectsustofollowhimtohiscell，which，indeed，isouronlyplaceofrefugeforthenight。Youaretheleopard，fromtheportraitonyourshield-Iamthelion，asmynameimports-and，bythegoat，alludingtohisgarbofgoat-skins，hemeanshimself。Wemustkeephiminsight，however，forheisasfleetasadromedary。’’

Infact，thetaskwasadifficultone，forthoughthereverendguidestoppedfromtimetotime，andwavedhishand，asiftoencouragethemtocomeon，yet，wellacquaintedwithallthewindingdellsandpassesofthedesert，andgiftedwithuncommonactivity，which，perhaps，anunsettledstateofmindkeptinconstantexercise，heledtheknightsthroughchasms，andalongfootpaths，whereeventhelight-armedSaracen，withhiswell-trainedbarb，wasinconsiderablerisk，andwheretheiron-sheathedEuropean，andhisover-burdenedhorse，foundthemselvesinsuchimminentperil，astheriderwouldgladlyhaveexchangedforthedangersofageneralaction。Gladhewaswhen，atlength，afterthiswildrace，hebeheldtheholymanwhohadleditstandinginfrontofacavern，withalargetorchinhishand，composedofapieceofwooddippedinbitumen，whichcastabroadandflickeringlight，andemittedastrongsulphuroussmell。

Undeterredbythestiflingvapour，theknightthrewhimselffromhishorseandenteredthecavern，whichaffordedsmallappearanceofaccommodation。Thecellwasdividedintotwoparts，intheoutwardofwhichwereanaltarofstone，andacrucifixmadeofreeds:Thisservedtheanchoriteforhischapel。

OnonesideofthisoutwardcavetheChristianknight，thoughnotwithoutscruple，arisingfromreligiousreverencetotheobjectsaround，fasteneduphishorse，andarrangedhimforthenight，inimitationoftheSaracen，whogavehimtounderstandthatsuchwasthecustomoftheplace。Thehermit，meanwhile，wasbusiedputtinghisinnerapartmentinordertoreceivehisguests，andtheretheysoonjoinedhim。Atthebottomoftheoutercave，asmallapertureclosedwithadoorofroughplankledintothesleepingapartmentofthehermit，whichwasmorecommodious。Thefloorhadbeenbroughttoaroughlevelbythelabouroftheinhabitant，andthenstrewedwithwhitesand，whichhedailysprinkledwithwaterfromasmallfountainwhichbubbledoutoftherockinonecorner，affording，inthatstiflingclimate，refreshmentaliketotheearandthetaste。

Mattresses，wroughtoftwistedflags，laybythesideofthecell；

thesides，likethefloor，hadbeenroughlybroughttoshape，andseveralherbsandflowerswerehungaroundthem。Twowaxentorches，whichthehermitlighted，gaveacheerfulairtotheplace，whichwasrenderedagreeablebyitsfragranceandcoolness。

Therewereimplementsoflabourinonecorneroftheapartment，inanotherwasanicheforarudestatueoftheVirgin。

Atableandtwochairsshowedthattheymustbethehandiworkoftheanchorite，beingdifferentintheirformfromOrientalaccommodations。Theformerwascovered，notonlywithreedsandpulse，butalsowithdriedflesh，whichTheodorickassiduouslyplacedinsucharrangementasshouldinvitetheappetiteofhisguests。Thisappearanceofcourtesy，thoughmute，andexpressedbygestureonly，seemedtoSirKennethsomethingentirelyirreconcilablewithhisformerwildandviolentdemeanour。

Themovementsofthehermitwerenowbecomecomposed，andapparentlyitwasonlyasenseofreligioushumiliationwhichpreventedhisfeatures，emaciatedastheywerebyhisausteremodeoflife，frombeingmajesticandnoble。Hetrodhiscell，asonewhoseemedborntoruleovermen，butwhohadabdicatedhisempiretobecometheservantofHeaven。Still，itmustbeallowedthathisgiganticsize，thelengthofhisunshavenlocksandbeard，andthefireofadeep-setandwildeye，wereratherattributesofasoldierthanofarecluse。

EventheSaracenseemedtoregardtheanchoritewithsomeveneration，whilehewasthusemployed，andhewhisperedinalowtonetoSirKenneth，TheHamakoisnowinhisbettermind，buthewillnotspeakuntilwehaveeaten-suchishisvow。’’

Itwasinsilence，accordingly，thatTheodorickmotionedtotheScottotakehisplaceononeofthelowchairs，whileSheerkohfplacedhimself，afterthecustomofhisnation，uponacushionofmats。Thehermitthenheldupbothhands，asifblessingtherefreshmentwhichhehadplacedbeforehisguests，andtheyproceededtoeatinsilenceasprofoundashisown。

TotheSaracenthisgravitywasnatural，andtheChristianimitatedhistaciturnity，whileheemployedhisthoughtsonthesingularityofhisownsituation，andthecontrastbetwixtthewild，furiousgesticulations，loudcries，andfierceactionsofTheodorick，whentheyfirstmethim，andthedemure，solemn，decorousassiduitywithwhichhenowperformedthedutiesofhospitality。

Whentheirmealwasended，thehermit，whohadnothimselfeatenamorsel，removedthefragmentsfromthetable，andplacingbeforetheSaracenapitcherofsherbet，assignedtotheScotaflaskofwine。

Drink，’’hesaid，mychildren，’’-theywerethefirstwordshehadspoken，-thegiftsofGodaretobeenjoyed，whentheGiverisremembered。’’

Havingsaidthisheretiredtotheoutwardcell，probablyforperformanceofhisdevotions，andlefthisgueststogetherintheinnerapartment，whenSirKennethendeavoured，byvariousquestions，todrawfromSheerkohfwhatthatEmirknowconcerninghishost。Hewasinterestedbymorethanmerecuriosityintheseinquiries。Difficultasitwastoreconciletheoutrageousdemeanouroftherecluseathisfirstappearance，tohispresenthumbleandplacidbehaviour，itseemedyetmoreimpossibletothinkitconsistentwiththehighconsiderationinwhich，accordingtowhatSirKennethhadlearned，thishermitwasheldbythemostenlighteneddivinesoftheChristianworld。Theodorick，theHermitofEngaddi，had，inthatcharacter，beenthecorrespondentofpopesandcouncils；towhomhisletters，fullofeloquentfervour，haddescribedthemiseriesimposedbytheunbelieversupontheLatinChristiansintheHolyLand，incoloursscarceinferiortothoseemployedattheCouncilofClermontbytheHermitPeter，whenhepreachedthefirstCrusade。Tofind，inapersonsoreverend，andsomuchrevered，thefranticgesturesofamadfakir，inducedtheChristianknighttopauseerehecouldresolvetocommunicatetohimcertainimportantmatters，whichhehadinchargefromsomeoftheleadersoftheCrusade。

IthadbeenamainobjectofSirKenneth’spilgrimage，attemptedbyaroutesounusual，tomakesuchcommunications；

butwhathehadthatnightseeninducedhimtopauseandreflectereheproceededtotheexecutionofhiscommission。

FromtheEmirhecouldnotextractmuchinformation，butthegeneraltenorwasasfollows:-That，ashehadheard，thehermithadbeenonceabraveandvaliantsoldier，wiseincouncil，andfortunateinbattle，whichlasthecouldeasilybelievefromthegreatstrengthandagilitywhichhehadoftenseenhimdisplay；-

thathehadappearedatJerusaleminthecharacter，notofapilgrim，butinthatofonewhohaddevotedhimselftodwellfortheremainderofhislifeintheHolyLand。Shortlyafterwardshefixedhisresidenceamidthescenesofdesolationwheretheynowfoundhim，respectedbytheLatinsforhisausteredevotion，andbytheTurksandArabsonaccountofthesymptomsofinsanitywhichhedisplayed，andwhichtheyascribedtoinspiration。ItwasfromthemhehadthenameofHamako，whichexpressessuchacharacterintheTurkishlanguage。Sheerkohfhimselfscornedatalosshowtoranktheirhost，Hehadbeen，hesaid，awiseman，andcouldoftenformanyhourstogetherspeaklessonsofvirtueorwisdom，withouttheslightestappearanceofinaccuracy。Atothertimeshewaswildandviolent，butneverbeforehadheseenhimsomischievouslydisposedashehadthatdayappearedtobe。Hisragewaschieflyprovokedbyanyaffronttohisreligion；andherewasastoryofsomewanderingArabs，whohadinsultedhisworshipanddefacedhisaltar，andwhomhehadonthataccountattackedandslainwiththeshortflailwhichhecarriedrovingtribestorespecthisdwellingandhischapel。Hisfamehadspreadsofar，thatSaladinhadissuedparticularordersthatheshouldbesparedandprotected。Hehimself，andotherMoslemlordsofrank，hadvisitedthecellmorethanonce，partlyfromcuriosity，partlythattheyexpectedfromamansolearnedastheChristianHamako，someinsightintothesecretsoffuturity。Hehad，’’continuedtheSaracen，arashid，orobservatory，ofgreatheight，contrivedtoviewtheheavenlybodies，andparticularlytheplanetarysystem；bywhosemovementsandinfluences，asbothChristianandMoslembelieved，thecourseofhumaneventswasregulated，andmightbepredicted。’’

ThiswasthesubstanceoftheEmirSheerkohf’sinformation，anditleftSirKennethindoubtwhetherthecharacterofinsanityarosefromtheoccasionalexcessivefervourofthehermit’szeal，orwhetheritwasnotaltogetherfictitious，andassumedforthesakeoftheimmunitieswhichitafforded。Yetitseemedthattheinfidelshadcarriedtheircomplaisancetowardshimtoanuncommonlength，consideringthefanaticismofthefollowersofMohammed，inthemidstofwhomhewasliving，thoughtheprofessedenemyoftheirfaith。Hethought，also，therewasmoreintimacyofacquaintancebetwixtthehermitandtheSaracen，thanthewordsofthelatterhadinducedhimtoanticipate；

andithadnotescapedhimthattheformerhadcalledthelatterbyanamedifferentfromthatwhichhehimselfhadassumed。

Alltheseconsiderationsauthorisedcaution，ifnotsuspicion。

Hedeterminedtoobservehishostclosely，andnottobeoverhastyincommunicatingwithhimontheimportantchargeintrustedtohim。

Beware，Saracen，’’hesaid；methinksourhost’simaginationwandersaswellonthesubjectofnamesasuponothermatters。ThynameisSheerkohf，andhecalledtheebutnowbyanother。’’

Myname，wheninthetentofmyfather，’’repliedtheKurdman，wasIlderim，andbythisIamstilldistinguishedbymany。

Inthefield，andtosoldiers，IamknownastheLionoftheMountain，beingthenamemygoodswordhathwonforme-

Buthush，theHamakocomes-itistowarnustorest-Iknowhiscustom-nonemustwatchhimathisvigils。’’

Theanchoriteaccordinglyentered，andfoldinghisarmsonhisbosomashestoodbeforethem，saidwithasolemnvoice-

BlessedbeHisname，whohathappointedthequietnighttofollowthebusyday，andthecalmsleeptorefreshtheweariedlimbsandtocomposethetroubledspirit！’’

BothwarriorsrepliedAmen！’’and，arisingfromthetable，preparedtobetakethemselvestothecouches，whichtheirhostindicatedbywavinghishand，as，makingareferencetoeach，heagainwithdrewfromtheapartment。

TheKnightoftheLeopardthendisarmedhimselfofhisheavypanoply，hisSaracencompanionkindlyassistinghimtoundohisbucklerandclasps，untilheremainedintheclosedressofchamoisleather，whichknightsandmen-at-armsusedtowearundertheirharness。TheSaracen，ifhehadadmiredthestrengthofhisadversarywhensheathedinsteel，wasnownolessstruckwiththeaccuracyofproportiondisplayedinhisnervousandwell-compactedfigure。Theknight，ontheotherhand，as，inexchangeofcourtesy，heassistedtheSaracentodisrobehimselfofhisuppergarments，thathemightsleepwithmoreconvenience，was，onhisside，atalosstoconceivehowsuchslenderproportionsandslimnessoffigurecouldbereconciledwiththevigourhehaddisplayedinpersonalcontest。

Eachwarriorprayedereheaddressedhimselftohisplaceofrest。TheMoslemturnedtowardshis_kebla，_thepointtowhichtheprayerofeachfolloweroftheProphetwastobeaddressed，andmurmuredhisheathenorisons，whiletheChristian，withdrawingfromthecontaminationoftheinfidel’sneighbourhood，placedhishugecross-handledswordupright，andkneelingbeforeitasthesignofsalvation，toldhisrosarywithadevotionwhichwasenhancedbytherecollectionofthescenesthroughwhichhehadpassed，andthedangersfromwhichhehadbeenrescuedin。

thecourseoftheday。Bothwarriors，wornbytoilandtravel，weresoonfastasleep，eachonhisseparatepallet。

KenneththeScotwasuncertainhowlonghissenseshadbeenlostinprofoundrepose，whenhewasrousedtorecollectionbyasenseofoppressiononhischest，whichatfirstsuggestedaflittingdreamofstrugglingwithapowerfulopponent，andatlengthrecalledhimfullytohissenses。Hewasabouttodemandwhowasthere，when，openinghiseyes，hebeheldthefigureoftheanchorite，wildandsavage-lookingaswehavedescribedhim，standingbyhisbedside，andpressinghisrighthanduponhisbreast，whileheheldasmallsilverlampintheother。

Besilent，’’saidthehermit，astheprostrateknightlookedupinsurprise；Ihavethattosaytoyouwhichyonderinfidelmustnothear。’’

ThesewordshespokeintheFrenchlanguage，andnotintheLinguaFranca，orcompoundofEasternandEuropeandialects，whichhadhithertobeenusedamongstthem。

Arise，’’hecontinued，putonthymantle-speaknot，buttreadlightly，andfollowme。’’

SirKennetharose，andtookhissword。