spaceofgroundlargeenoughtoaccommodateperhapsthirtytentsaccordingtotheCrusaders’rulesofcastrametation，waspartlyvacant-because，inostentation，theknighthaddemandedgroundtotheextentofhisoriginalretinue-partlyoccupiedbyafewmiserablehuts，hastilyconstructedofboughs，andcoveredwithpalm-leaves。Thesehabitationsseemedentirelydeserted，andseveralofthemwereruinous。Thecentralhut，whichrepresentedthepavilionoftheleader，wasdistinguishedbytheswallow-tailedpennon，placedonthepointofaspear；fromwhichitslongfoldsdroptmotionlesstotheground，asifsickeningunderthescorchingraysoftheAsiaticsun。Butnopagesorsquires，notevenasolitarywarder，wasplacedbytheemblemoffeudalpowerandknightlydegrees。Ifitsreputationdefendeditnotfrominsult，ithadnootherguard。
SirKennethcastamelancholylookaroundhim，but，suppressinghisfeelings，enteredthehut，makingasigntotheBaronofGilslandtofollow。Healsocastaroundaglanceofexamination，whichimpliedpitynotaltogetherunmingledwithcontempt，towhich，perhaps，itisasnearlyakinasitissaidtobetolove。
Hethenstoopedhisloftycrest，andenteredalowlyhut，whichhisbulkyformseemedalmostentirelytofill。
Theinteriorofthehutwaschieflyoccupiedbytwobeds。
Onewasempty，butcomposedofcollectedleaves，andspreadwithanantelope’shide。Itseemed，fromthearticlesofarmourlaidbesideit，andfromacrucifixofsilver，carefullyandreverentiallydisposedatthehead，tobethecouchoftheknighthimself。Theothercontainedtheinvalid，ofwhomSirKennethhadspoken，strong-builtandharsh-featuredman，past，ashislooksbetokened，themiddleageoflife。Hiscouchwastrimmedmoresoftlythanhismaster’s，anditwasplainthatthemorecourtlygarmentsofthelatter，thelooserobe，inwhichtheknightsshowedthemselvesonpacificoccasions，andtheotherlittlesparearticlesofdressandadornment，hadbeenappliedbySirKennethtotheaccommodationofhissickdomestic。Inanoutwardpartofthehut，whichyetwaswithintherangeoftheEnglishbaron’seye，aboyrudelyattiredwithbuskinsofdeer’shide，abluecaporbonnet，andadoublet，whoseoriginalfinerywasmuchtarnished，satonhiskneesbyachafing-dishfilledwithcharcoal，cookinguponaplateofironthecakesofbarley-bread，whichwerethen，andstillare，afavouritefoodwiththeScottishpeople。Partofanantelopewassuspendedagainstoneofthemainpropsofthehut，norwasitdifficulttoknowhowithadbeenprocured；foralargestaggreyhound，noblerinsizeandappearancethanthoseevenwhichguardedKingRichard’ssick-bed，layeyeingtheprocessofbakingthecake。Thesagaciousanimal，ontheirfirstentrance，utteredastifledgrowl，whichsoundedfromhisdeepchestlikedistantthunder。Buthesawhismaster，andacknowledgedhispresencebywagginghistailandcouchinghishead，abstainingfrommoretumultuousornoisygreeting，asifhisnobleinstincthadtaughthimtheproprietyofsilenceinasickman’schamber。
Besidethecouch，satonacushion，alsocomposedofskins，theMoorishphysicianofwhomSirKennethhadspoken，cross-legged，aftertheEasternfashion。Theimperfectlightshowedlittleofhim，savethatthelowerpartofhisfacewascoveredwithalongblackbeard，whichdescendedoverhisbreast-thatheworeahigh_tolpach，_aTartarcapofthelamb’swoolmanufacturedatAstracan，bearingthesameduskycolour，andthathisamplecaftan，orTurkishrobe，wasalsoofadarkhue。Twopiercingeyes，whichgleamedwithunusuallustre，weretheonlylineamentsofhisvisagethatcouldbediscernedamidthedarknessinwhichhewasenveloped。TheEnglishlordstoodsilentwithasortofreverentialawe；for，notwithstandingtheroughnessofhisgeneralbearing，asceneofdistressandpoverty，firmlyenduredwithoutcomplaintormurmur，wouldatanytimehaveclaimedmorereverencefromThomasdeVauxthanwouldallthesplendidformalitiesofaroyalpresence-chamber，unlessthatpresence-chamberwereKingRichard’sown。Nothingwas，foratime，heard，buttheheavyandregularbreathingsoftheinvalid，whoseemedinprofoundrepose。
Hehathnotsleptforsixnightsbefore，’’saidSirKenneth，asIamassuredbytheyouthhisattendant。’’
NobleScot，’’saidThomasdeVaux，graspingtheScottishknight’shand，withapressurewhichhadmoreofcordialitythanhepermittedhiswordstoutter，thisgearmustbeamended-
Youresquireisbuttooevilfedandlookedto。’’
Inthelatterpartofthisspeech，henaturallyraisedhisvoicetoitsusualdecidedtone。Thesickmanwasdisturbedinhisslumbers。
Mymaster，’’hesaid，murmuringasinadream，nobleSirKenneth-tastenot，toyouastome，thewatersoftheClydecoldandrefreshing，afterthebrackishspringsofPalestine？’’
Hedreamsofhisnativeland，andishappyinhisslumbers，’’
whisperedSirKennethtoDeVaux；buthadscarceutteredthewords，whenthephysician，arisingfromtheplacewhichhehadtakennearthecouchofthesick，andlayingthehandofthepatient，whosepulsehehadbeencarefullywatching，quietlyuponthecouch，cametothetwoknights，andtakingthemeachbythearm，whileheintimatedtothemtoremainsilent，ledthemtothefrontofthehut。
InthenameofIssaBenMiriam，’’hesaid，whomwehonourasyou，thoughnotwiththesameblindedsuperstition，disturbnottheeffectoftheblessedmedicineofwhichhehathpartaken。Toawakenhimnowisdeathordeprivationofreason；butreturnatthehourwhentheMuezzincallsfromtheminarettoeveningprayerinthemosque，and，ifleftundisturbeduntilthen，Ipromiseyou，thissameFrankishsoldiershallbeable，withoutprejudicetohishealth，toholdsomebriefconversewithyou，onanymattersonwhicheither，andespeciallyhismaster，mayhavetoquestionhim。’’
Theknightsretreatedbeforetheauthoritativecommandsoftheleech，whoseemedfullytocomprehendtheimportanceoftheEasternproverb，thatthesickchamberofthepatientisthekingdomofthephysician。
Theypaused，andremainedstandingtogetheratthedoorofthehut，SirKenneth，withtheairofonewhoexpectedhisvisitortosayfarewell-andDeVaux，asifhehadsomethingonhismindwhichpreventedhimfromdoingso。Thehound，however，hadpressedoutofthetentafterthem，andnowthrusthislongroughcountenanceintothehandofhismaster，asifmodestlysolicitingsomemarkofhiskindness。Hehadnosoonerreceivedthenoticewhichhedesired，intheshapeofakindwordandslightcaress，than，eagertoacknowledgehisgratitudeandjoyforhismaster’sreturn，heflewoffatfullspeed，gallopinginfullcareer，andwithoutstretchedtail，hereandthere，aboutandaround，crosswaysandendlong，throughthedecayedhuts，andtheesplanadewehavedescribed，butnevertransgressingthoseprecinctswhichhissagacityknewwereprotectedbyhismaster’spennon。Afterafewgambolsofthiskind，thedog，comingcloseuptohismaster，laidatonceasidehisfrolicsomemood，relapsedintohisusualgravityandslownessofgestureanddeportment，andlookedasifhewereashamedthatanythingshouldhavemovedhimtodepartsofaroutofhissoberself-control。
Bothknightslookedonwithpleasure；forSirKennethwasjustlyproudofhisnoblehound，andthenorthernEnglishbaronwasofcourseanadmirerofthechase，andajudgeoftheanimal’smerits。
Arightabledog，’’hesaid；Ithink，fairsir，KingRichardhathnotan_alan_whichmaymatchhim，ifhebeasstanchasheisswift。Butletmeprayyou-speakinginallhonourandkindness-haveyounotheardtheproclamation，thatnooneundertherankofearlshallkeephuntingdogswithinKingRichard’scampwithouttheroyallicense，which，Ithink，SirKenneth，hathnotbeenissuedtoyou？-IspeakasMasteroftheHorse。’’
AndIanswerasafreeScottishknight，’’saidKenneth，sternly。ForthepresentIfollowthebannerofEngland，butIcannotrememberthatIhaveeversubjectedmyselftotheforest-lawsofthatkingdom，norhaveIsuchrespectforthemaswouldinclinemetodoso。Whenthetrumpetsoundstoarms，myfootisinthestirrupassoonasany-whenitclangsforthecharge，mylancehasnotyetbeenthelastlaidintherest。Butformyhoursoflibertyorofidleness，KingRichardhasnotitletobarmyrecreation。’’
Nevertheless，’’saidDeVaux，itisafollytodisobeytheKing’sordinance-so，withyourgoodleave，I，ashavingauthorityinthatmatter，willsendyouaprotectionformyfriendhere。’’
Ithankyou，’’saidtheScot，coldly；butheknowsmyallottedquarters，andwithintheseIcanprotecthimmyself-
Andyet，’’hesaid，suddenlychanginghismanner，thisisbutacoldreturnforawell-meantkindness。Ithankyou，mylord，mostheartily。TheKing’sequerries，orprickers，mightfindRoswalatdisadvantage，anddohimsomeinjury，whichIshouldnot，perhaps，beslowinreturning，andsoillmightcomeofit。
Youhaveseensomuchofmyhousekeeping，mylord，’’headded，withasmile，thatIneednotshametosaythatRoswalisourprincipalpurveyor；andwellIhopeourLionRichardwillnotbelikethelionintheminstrelfable，thatwenta-hunting，andkeptthewholebootytohimself。Icannotthinkhewouldgrudgeapoorgentleman，whofollowshimfaithfully，hishourofsport，andhismorselofgame，moreespeciallywhenotherfoodishardenoughtocomeby。’’
Bymyfaith，youdotheKingnomorethanjustice-andyet，’’saidthebaron，thereissomethinginthesewords，vertandvenison，thatturnstheverybrainsofourNormanprinces。’’
Wehaveheardoflate，’’saidtheScot，byminstrelsandpilgrims，thatyouroutlawedyeomenhaveformedgreatbandsintheshiresofYorkandNottingham，havingattheirheadamoststoutarcher，calledRobinHood，withhislieutenant，LittleJohn。MethinksitwerebetterthatRichardrelaxedhisforest-codeinEngland，thanendeavouredtoenforceitintheHolyLand。’’
Wildwork，SirKenneth，’’repliedDeVaux，shrugginghisshoulders，asonewhowouldavoidaperilousorunpleasingtopic-amadworld，sir-Imustnowbidyouadieu，havingpresentlytoreturntotheKing’spavilion。AtvespersIwillagain，withyourleave，visityourquarters，andspeakwiththissameinfidelphysician。Iwould，inthemeantime，wereitnooffence，willinglysendyouwhatwouldsomewhatmendyourcheer。’’
Ithankyou，sir，’’saidSirKenneth，butitneedsnot；
Roswalhathalreadystockedmylarderfortwoweeks，sincethesunofPalestine，ifitbringsdiseases，servesalsotodryvenison。’’
Thetwowarriorspartedmuchbetterfriendsthantheyhadmet；buteretheyseparated，ThomasdeVauxinformedhimselfatmorelengthofthecircumstancesattendingthemissionoftheEasternphysician，andreceivedfromtheScottishknightthecredentialswhichhehadbroughttoKingRichardonthepartofSaladin。
Awisephysician，skill’dourwoundstoheal，Ismorethanarmiestothecommonweal。
Pope’sIliad。
Thisisastrangetale，SirThomas，’’saidthesickmonarch，whenhehadheardthereportofthetrustyBaronofGilsland；
artthousurethisScotchmanisatallmanandtrue？’’
Icannotsay，mylord，’’repliedthejealousBorderer；I
livealittletooneartheScotstogathermuchtruthamongthem，havingfoundthemeverfairandfalse。Butthisman’sbearingisthatofatrueman，wereheadevilaswellasaScot-thatImustneedssayforhiminconscience。’’
Andforhiscarriageasaknight，howsay’stthou，DeVaux？’’
demandedtheKing。
ItisyourMajesty’sbusinessmorethanminetonotemen’sbearings；andIwarrantyouhavenotedthemannerinwhichthismanoftheLeopardhathbornehimself。Hehathbeenwellspokenof。’’
Andjustly，Thomas，’’saidtheKing。Wehaveourselveswitnessedhim。Itisindeedourpurpose，inplacingourselveseverinthefrontofbattle，toseehowourliegemenandfollowersacquitthemselves，andnotfromadesiretoaccumulatevainglorytoourselves，assomehavesupposed。Weknowthevanityofthepraiseofman，whichisbutavapour，andbuckleonourarmourforotherpurposesthantowinit。’’
DeVauxwasalarmedwhenheheardtheKingmakeadeclarationsoinconsistentwithhisnature，andbelievedatfirstthatnothingshortoftheapproachofdeathcouldhavebroughthimtospeakindepreciatingtermsofmilitaryrenown，whichwastheverybreathofhisnostrils。Butrecollectinghehadmettheroyalconfessorintheouterpavilion，hewasshrewdenoughtoplacethistemporaryself-abasementtotheeffectofthereverendman’slesson，andsufferedtheKingtoproceedwithoutreply。
Yes，’’continuedRichard，Ihaveindeedmarkedthemannerinwhichthisknightdoeshisdevoir。Myleading-staffwerenotworthafool’sbauble，hadheescapedmynotice-andhehaderenowtastedofourbounty，butthatIhavealsomarkedhisoverweeningandaudaciouspresumption。’’
Myliege，’’saidtheBaronofGilsland，observingtheKing’scountenancechange，IfearIhavetransgressedyourpleasureinlendingsomecountenancetohistransgression。’’
