Boulag, seeing his army diminishing every minute, and wishing to preserve his soldiers for another battle under more favorable auspices, gave the signal to retreat. But that order was contrary to the law of Mohammed and his troops executed it very unwillingly. During this period of hesitation, Maugis, supported by his Cousin Renaud and his brothers, were creating havoc in the ranks of the confused enemy, until, finally, becoming panic-stricken, the Saracens took to flight. Boulag himself turned his back and fled, with Maugis in pursuit. The chief of the Saracens was mounted on an Arab horse of great speed, and Bayard, the magnificent horse of Maugis, had great difficulty in keeping up with him. But he persistently followed until the chase had kept up for three hours, and fully thirty miles had been covered at this terrific pace. The blood of Maugis was up and it was a pursuit of life and death. In the meantime every one thought that Maugis was lost. They searched for him everywhere, but he could not be found. They gave him up for dead and the whole army uttered cries of sorrow and despair. The three brothers of Maugis were inconsolable. Supported by her maidens, Yolande was removed, half-fainting to her chamber. It was in vain King Yon tried to reassure the brothers. Renaud, however, who never despaired, assembled two hundred soldiers, and accompanied by the king and the three brothers, followed in the tracks of the pursuer and pursued. [Illustration: OLD SPANISH HOUSES.] Meanwhile, Maugis had caught up with Boulag Akasir, who, trembling at the persistence of the pursuit, and infuriated withal, saw that he could not escape defending himself, and suddenly turned and struck at Maugis with his lance. Quick as the movement was, Maugis luckily saw it and with consummate skill parried the blow with such force that the weapon of Boulag was shivered in pieces over his shield. Profiting by the momentary stupefaction of his enemy, Maugis felled the horse of the Saracen to the ground, stunned by a blow of his sword. Boulag was himself stunned, but quickly arose to his feet and faced Maugis. He, however, with true chivalry, would not take advantage of his position, but descended from his own horse to do battle with him on equal footing, even courteously waiting for his opponent to recover his breath. Then there commenced a terrible conflict, a duel to the death, in which the furious strokes and parryings followed each other with lightning rapidity. But the brave Boulag finally fell to the earth sore wounded. In an instant Maugis was upon him and was about to give him a finishing stroke, when Boulag cried: “Grace! I pray thee!” “Dog of an infidel,” replied Maugis, “thou doest well to crave mercy, thou who hast never given!” “Sir knight,” pleaded Boulag, “I will give thee anything thou mayst ask of me, so long as my life be spared.”