第39章

AmidthesecarelesswardersglidedthepunyformofalittleoldTurk，poorlydressedlikeamaraboutorsantonofthedesert，asortofenthusiasts，whosometimesventuredintothecampoftheCrusaders，thoughtreatedalwayswithcontumely，andoftenwithviolence。Indeed，theluxuryandprofligateindulgenceoftheChristianleadershadoccasionedamotleyconcourseintheirtents，ofmusicians，courtezans，Jewishmerchants，Copts，Turks，andallthevariedrefuseoftheEasternnations；

sothatthecaftanandturban，thoughtodrivebothfromtheHolyLandwastheprofessedobjectoftheexpedition，wereneverthelessneitheranuncommonnoranalarmingsightinthecampoftheCrusaders。When，however，thelittleinsignificantfigurewehavedescribedapproachedsonighastoreceivesomeinterruptionfromthewarders，hedashedhisduskygreenturbanfromhishead，showedthathisbeardandeyebrowswereshavedlikethoseofaprofessedbuffoon，andthattheexpressionofhisfantasticandwrithenfeatures，aswellasofhislittleblackeyes，whichglitteredlikejet，wasthatofacrazedimagination。

Dance，marabout，’’criedthesoldiers，acquaintedwiththemannersofthesewanderingenthusiasts-dance，orwewillscourgetheewithourbowstrings，tillthouspinasnevertopdidunderschoolboy’slash。’’-Thusshoutedtherecklesswarders，asmuchdelightedathavingasubjecttotease，asachildwhenhecatchesabutterfly，oraschoolboyupondiscoveringabird’snest。

Themarabout，asifhappytodotheirbehests，boundedfromtheearth，andspunhisgiddyroundbeforethemwithsingularagility，which，whencontrastedwithhisslightandwastedfigure，anddiminutiveappearance，madehimresembleawitheredleaftwirledroundandaroundatthepleasureofthewinter’sbreeze。

Hissinglelockofhairstreamedupwardsfromhisbaldandshavenhead，asifsomegenieupheldhimbyit；andindeeditseemedasifsupernaturalartwerenecessarytotheexecutionofthewildwhirlingdance，inwhichscarcethetiptoeoftheperformerwasseentotouchtheground。Amidthevagariesofhisperformance，heflewhereandthere，fromonespottoanother，stillapproaching，however，thoughalmostimperceptibly，totheentranceoftheroyaltent；sothat，whenatlengthhesunkexhaustedontheearth，aftertwoorthreeboundsstillhigherthanthosewhichhehadyetexecuted，hewasnotabovethirtyyardsfromtheKing’sperson。

Givehimwater，’’saidoneyeoman；theyalwayscraveadrinkaftertheirmerry-go-round。’’

Aha，water，say’stthou，LongAllen？’’-exclaimedanotherarcher，withamostscornfulemphasisonthedespisedelement；

howwouldstlikesuchbeveragethyself，aftersuchamorricedancing？’’

Thedevilawater-drophegetshere，’’saidathird。Wewillteachthelight-footedoldinfideltobeagoodChristian，anddrinkwineofCyprus。’’

Ay，ay，’’saidafourth；andincaseheberestive，fetchthouDickHunter’shorn，thathedrencheshismarewithal。’’

Acirclewasinstantlyformedaroundtheprostrateandexhausteddervise，andwhileonetallyeomanraisedhisfeebleformfromtheground，anotherpresentedtohimahugeflagonofwine。Incapableofspeech，theoldmanshookhishead，andwavedawayfromhimwithhishandtheliquorforbiddenbytheProphet；buthistormentorswerenotthustobeappeased。

Thehorn，thehorn！’’exclaimedone。LittledifferencebetweenaTurkandaTurkishhorse，andwewillusehimconforming。’’

BySaintGeorgeyouwillchokehim！’’saidLongAllenand，besides，itisasintothrowawayuponaheathendogasmuchwineaswouldserveagoodChristianforatreblenight-cap。’’

Thouknow’stnotthenatureoftheseTurksandpagans，LongAllen，’’repliedHenryWoodstall；Itellthee，man，thatthisflagonofCypruswillsethisbrainsa-spinning，justintheoppositedirectionthattheywentwhirlinginthedancing，andsobringhim，asitwere，tohimselfagain-Choke？hewillnomorechokeonitthanBen’sblackbitchonthepoundofbutter。’’

Andforgrudgingit，’’saidTomalinBlacklees，whyshould’stthougrudgethepoorpaynimdeviladropofdrinkonearth，sincethouknow’stheisnottohaveadroptocoolthetipofhistonguethroughalongeternity？’’

Thatwerehardlaws，lookye，’’saidLongAllen，onlyforbeingaTu

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