The fortifications of Acre had been carefully repaired under Richard’s personal superintendence;[744] and the other preparations for departure were so far advanced that one day sufficed to complete them. The two queens and the damsel of Cyprus were left in the palace, with the king’s treasure, under suitable guard. Bertram de Verdon and Stephen de Longchamp were appointed constables of the city.[745] Every man in the host was bidden to take with him food for ten days; the ships were already loaded up with the rest of the stores, and their skippers were instructed [Sidenote: _Aug. 21_] to sail close along the shore, ready to put in at intervals and supply the host with whatever it might need. “Thus they were to go,” says one of the pilgrims, “in two bodies, one by sea and one by land; for Syria could be reconquered from the Turks in no other manner.”[746] The total number of the Frank forces is reckoned by the same authority at three hundred thousand.[747] On Thursday August 22 they began to cross the “river of Acre” (the Belus, or Nahr el Namein, which falls into the sea just below the city) and pitch their tents between it and the sea.[748] A large proportion of them, however, had become already so demoralised by their stay in the city, now once more filled with all the luxuries and temptations of Eastern life, that they were [Sidenote: _Friday Aug. 23_] very reluctant to leave it; and it was not till the next day that Richard succeeded in getting the greater part of the host together in its new encampment, and himself followed it thither, having taken his position in the rear to guard against possible attack from the Moslems.[749] The detachment at Keisan was, however, too small to venture upon anything more than a harmless demonstration at a safe distance;[750] [Sidenote: _Sat. Aug. 24_] and it was altogether withdrawn next day, when Saladin, being now assured of the route which the Franks intended to take, disposed his army on the hills above Shefr’ Amm, ready to attack them on their march along the shore.[751] They seem not to have started till Sunday, August 25.[752] Richard led the vanguard; his English and Norman followers had charge of the great Standard which was surmounted by his royal banner and was to serve as guide and rallying-point for the whole host. The Frenchmen under the duke of Burgundy formed the rearguard. They soon found themselves in difficulties. The roads of Palestine had been originally good Roman ones; but by the closing years of the twelfth century even the highroads had become in many places little more than trackways. The transport corps, struggling through an awkward passage, fell into confusion; at the critical moment the Saracens swooped down, cut them off from the rearguard, and drove them towards the sea. One John FitzLuke spurred forward and told Richard what had occurred; “and the king with his meinie galloped back at a great pace; he fell