his squadrons, scimitar aloft, but she held up her hand and
stayed him.

"What do you hear, my niece?" he asked.

"I am come to save the lives of men through you," she answered;
"therefore was I born of your blood, and therefore I am sent to
you. Put up your sword, King, and spare them."

"Say, maiden, what ransom do you bring to buy this multitude from
doom? What ransom, and what gift?"

"The ransom of my own blood freely offered, and Heaven's gift of
peace to your sinful soul, O King." And with that outstretched
hand she drew down his keen-edged scimitar until it rested on her
breast.

Salah-ed-din awoke, and marvelled on his dream, but said nothing
of it to any man. The next night it returned to him, and the
memory of it went with him all the day that followed, but still he
said nothing.

When on the third night he dreamed it yet again, even more
vividly, then he was sure that this thing was from God, and
summoned his holy Imauns and his Diviners, and took counsel with
them. These, after they had listened, prayed and consulted,
spoke thus:

"O Sultan, Allah has warned you in shadows that the woman, your
niece, who dwells far away in England, shall by her own