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Hewasawake，longafterhisArabhosthadperformedhisusualdevotions，andbetakenhimselftohisrepose，norhadsleepvisitedhimatthehourofmidnight，whenamovementtookplaceamongthedomestics，which，thoughattendedwithnospeech，andverylittlenoise，madehimawaretheywereloadingthecamelsandpreparingfordeparture。Inthecourseofthesepreparations，thelastpersonwhowasdisturbed，exceptingthephysicianhimself，wastheKnightofScotland，whom，aboutthreeinthemorning，asortofmajordomo，ormasterofthehousehold，acquaintedthathemustarise。Hedidso，withoutfartheranswer，andfollowedhimintothemoonlight，wherestoodthecamels，mostofwhichwerealreadyloaded，andoneonlyremainedkneelinguntilitsburdenshouldbecompleted。
Alittleapartfromthecamelsstoodanumberofhorsesreadybridledandsaddled，andtheHakimhimself，comingforth，mountedononeofthemwithasmuchagilityasthegravedecorumofhischaracterpermitted，anddirectedanother，whichhepointedout，tobeledtowardsSirKenneth。AnEnglishofficerwasinattendance，toescortthemthroughthecampoftheCrusaders，andtoensuretheirleavingitinsafety，andallwasreadyfortheirdeparture。Thepavilionwhichtheyhadleft，was，inthemeanwhile，struckwithsingulardespatch，andthetent-polesandcoveringscomposedtheburdenofthelastcamel-whenthephysician，pronouncingsolemnlytheverseoftheKoran，Godbeourguide，andMohammedourprotector，inthedesertasinthewateredfield，’’thewholecavalcadewasinstantlyinmotion。
Intraversingthecamp，theywerechallengedbythevarioussentinelswhomaintainedguardthere，andsufferedtoproceedinsilence，orwithamutteredcurseupontheirprophet，astheypassedthepostofsomemorezealousCrusader。Atlengththelastbarrierswereleftbehindthem，andthepartyformedthemselvesforthemarchwithmilitaryprecaution。Twoorthreehorsemenadvancedinfrontasavanguard；oneortworemainedabowshotintherear；and，whereverthegroundadmitted，othersweredetachedtokeepanoutlookontheflanks。Inthismannertheyproceededonward，whileSirKenneth，lookingbackonthemoonlightcamp，mightnowindeedseembanished，deprivedatonceofhonourandliberty，fromtheglimmeringbannersunderwhichhehadhopedtogainadditionalrenown，andthetenteddwellingsofchivalry，ofChristianity，and-ofEdithPlantagenet。
TheHakim，whorodebyhisside，observed，inhisusualtoneofsententiousconsolation-Itisunwisetolookbackwhenthejourneyliethforward；’’andashespoke，thehorseoftheknightmadesuchaperilousstumble，asthreatenedtoaddapracticalmoraltothetale。
Theknightwascompelledbythishinttogivemoreattentiontothemanagementofhissteed，whichmorethanoncerequiredtheassistanceandsupportofthecheck-bridle，although，inotherrespects，nothingcouldbemoreeasyatonce，andactive，thantheamblingpaceatwhichtheanimal(whichwasamare)proceeded。
Theconditionsofthathorse，’’observedthesententiousphysician，arelikethoseofhumanfortune；seeingthatamidsthismostswiftandeasypace，theridermustguardhimselfagainstafall，andthatitiswhenprosperityisatthehighest，thatourprudenceshouldbeawakeandvigilanttopreventmisfortune。’’
Theoverloadedappetiteloatheseventhehoneycomb，anditisscarceawonderthattheknight，mortifiedandharassedwithmisfortunesandabasement，becamesomethingimpatientofhearinghismiserymade，ateveryturn，thegroundofproverbsandapothegms，howeverjustandapposite。
Methinks，’’hesaid，ratherpeevishly，Iwantednoadditionalillustrationoftheinstabilityoffortune-thoughIwouldthankthee，SirHakim，forthychoiceofasteedforme，wouldthejadebutstumblesoeffectuallyasatoncetobreakmyneckandherown。’’
Mybrother，’’answeredtheArabsage，withimperturbablegravity，thouspeakestasoneofthefoolish。Thousay’stinthyheart，thatthesageshouldhavegivenyou，ashisguest，theyoungerandbetterhorse，andreservedtheoldoneforhimself；
butknowthatthedefectsoftheoldersteedmaybecomp
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