As he spoke Wulf twisted his body out of reach of a third blow, and while Hassan staggered forward with the weight of the missed stroke, placed his hand upon the ground, and springing to his feet, ran backwards six or eight paces. “He flies!” cried the Saracens; but again Godwin said, “Wait.” Nor was there long to wait. For now, throwing aside his buckler and grasping the great sword in both his hands, with a shout of “_A D’Arcy! A D’Arcy!_” Wulf leapt at Hassan as a wounded lion leaps. The sword wheeled and fell, and lo! the shield of the Saracen was severed in two. Again it fell, and his turbaned helm was cloven. A third time, and the right arm and shoulder with the scimitar that grasped it seemed to spring from his body, and Hassan sank dying to the ground. Wulf stood and looked at him, while a murmur of grief went up from those who watched, for they loved this emir. Hassan beckoned to the victor with his left hand, and throwing down his sword to show that he feared no treachery, Wulf came to him and knelt beside him. “A good stroke,” Hassan said faintly, “that could shear the double links of Damascus steel as though it were silk. Well, as I told you long ago, I knew that the hour of our meeting in war would be an ill hour for me, and my debt is paid. Farewell, brave knight. Would I could hope that we should meet in Paradise! Take that star jewel, the badge of my House, from my turban and wear it in memory of me. Long, long and happy be your days.” Then, while Wulf held him in his arms, Saladin came up and spoke to him, till he fell back and was dead. Thus died Hassan, and thus ended the battle of Hattin, which broke the power of the Christians in the East. Chapter XIX. Before the Walls of Ascalon When Hassan was dead, at a sign from Saladin a captain of the Mameluks named Abdullah unfastened the jewel from the emir’s turban and handed it to Wulf. It was a glorious star-shaped thing, made of great emeralds set round with diamonds, and the captain Abdullah, who like all Easterns loved such ornaments, looked at it greedily, and muttered: “Alas! that an unbeliever should wear the enchanted Star, the ancient Luck of the House of Hassan!” a saying that Wulf remembered. He took the jewel, then turned to Saladin and said, pointing to the dead body of Hassan: “Have I your peace, Sultan, after such a deed?” “Did I not give you and your brother to drink?” asked Saladin with meaning. “Whoever dies, you are safe. There is but one sin which I will not pardon you—you know what it is,” and he looked at them. “As for Hassan, he was my beloved friend and servant, but you slew him in fair fight, and his soul is now in Paradise. None in my army will raise a blood feud against you on that score.”