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Theysoonformedadeepandconfusedmassofdismountedcavalryinfrontoftheirencampment，when，atthesignalofashrillcry，whicharosehighovertheclangourofthemusic，eachcavaliersprungtohissaddle。Acloudofdust，arisingatthemomentofthismanuvre，hidfromRichardandhisattendantsthecamp，thepalm-trees，andthedistantridgeofmountains，aswellasthetroopswhosesuddenmovementhadraisedthecloud，andascendinghighovertheirheads，formeditselfintothefantasticformsofwrithedpillars，domes，andminarets。Anothershrillyellwasheardfromthebosomofthiscloudytabernacle。
Itwasthesignalforthecavalrytoadvance，whichtheydidatfullgallop，disposingthemselvesastheycameforward，soastocomeinatonceonthefront，flanks，andrear，ofRichard’slittlebodyguard，whowerethussurroundedandalmostchokedbythedensecloudsofdustenvelopingthemoneachside，throughwhichwereseenalternately，andlost，thegrimformsandwildfacesoftheSaracens，brandishingandtossingtheirlancesineverypossibledirection，withthewildestcriesandhalloos，andfrequentlyonlyreininguptheirhorseswhenwithinaspear’slengthoftheChristians，whilethoseinthereardischargedovertheheadsofbothpartiesthickvolleysofarrows。OneofthesestruckthelitterinwhichtheQueenwasseated，wholoudlyscreamed，andtheredspotwasonRichard’sbrowinaninstant。
Ha！SaintGeorge，’’heexclaimed，wemusttakesomeorderwiththisinfidelscum！’’
ButEdith，whoselitterwasnear，thrustherheadout，andwithherhandholdingoneoftheshafts，exclaimed，RoyalRichard，bewarewhatyoudo！see，thesearrowsareheadless？’’
Noble，sensiblewench！’’exclaimedRichard；byHeaven，thoushamestusallbythyreadinessofthoughtandeye-Benotmoved，myEnglishhearts，’’heexclaimedtohisfollowers-
theirarrowshavenoheads-andtheirspears，too，lackthesteelpoints。Itisbutawildwelcome，aftertheirsavagefashion，thoughdoubtlesstheywouldrejoicetoseeusdauntedordisturbed。Moveonward，slowandsteady。’’
Thelittlephalanxmovedforwardaccordingly，accompaniedonallsidesbytheArabs，withtheshrillestandmostpiercingcries，thebowmen，meanwhile，displayingtheiragilitybyshootingasnearthecrestsoftheChristiansaswaspossible，withoutactuallyhittingthem，whilethelancerschargedeachotherwithsuchrudeblowsoftheirbluntweapons，thatmorethanoneofthemlosthissaddle，andwell-nighhislife，inthisroughsport。
Allthis，thoughdesignedtoexpresswelcome，hadratheradoubtfulappearanceintheeyesoftheEuropeans。
Astheyhadadvancednearlyhalf-waytowardsthecamp，KingRichardandhissuiteforming，asitwere，thenucleusroundwhichthistumultuarybodyofhorsemenhowled，whooped，skirmished，andgalloped，creatingasceneofindescribableconfusion，anothershrillcrywasheard，onwhichalltheseirregulars，whowereonthefrontandupontheflanksofthelittlebodyofEuropeans，wheeledoff，andformingthemselvesintoalonganddeepcolumn，followedwithcomparativeorderandsilenceintherearofRichard’stroop。Thedustbegannowtodissipateintheirfront，whenthereadvancedtomeetthem，throughthatcloudyveil，abodyofcavalryofadifferentandmoreregulardescription，completelyarmedwithoffensiveanddefensiveweapons，andwhomightwellhaveservedasabody-guardtotheproudestofEasternmonarchs。Thissplendidtroopconsistedoffivehundredmen，andeachhorsewhichitcontainedwasworthanearl’sransom。TheriderswereGeorgianandCircassianslavesintheveryprimeoflife；theirhelmetsandhauberkswereformedofsteelrings，sobrightthattheyshonelikesilver；theirvestureswereofthegayestcolours，andsomeofclothofgoldorsilver；thesashesweretwistedwithsilkandgold，theirrichturbanswereplumedandjewelled，andtheirsabresandponiards，ofDamascenesteel，wereadornedwithgoldandgemsonhiltandscabbard。
Thissplendidarrayadvancedtothesoundofmilitarymusic，andwhentheymettheChristianbody，theyopenedtheirfilestotherightandleft，andletthementerbetweentheirranks。
Richardnowassumedtheforemostplaceinhistroop，awarethatSaladinhimselfwasapproaching。Norwasitlongwhen，inthecentreofhisbody-guard，surroundedbyhisdomesticofficers，andthosehideousnegroeswhoguardtheEasternharem，andwhosemisshapenformswererenderedyetmorefrightfulbytherichnessoftheirattire，cametheSoldan，withthelookandmannersofoneonwhosebrowNaturehadwritten，ThisisaKing！Inhissnow-whiteturban，vest，andwideEasterntrousers，wearingasashofscarletsilk，withoutanyotherornament，Saladinmighthav
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