Hewasawake，longafterhisArabhosthadperformedhisusualdevotions，andbetakenhimselftohisrepose，norhadsleepvisitedhimatthehourofmidnight，whenamovementtookplaceamongthedomestics，which，thoughattendedwithnospeech，andverylittlenoise，madehimawaretheywereloadingthecamelsandpreparingfordeparture。Inthecourseofthesepreparations，thelastpersonwhowasdisturbed，exceptingthephysicianhimself，wastheKnightofScotland，whom，aboutthreeinthemorning，asortofmajordomo，ormasterofthehousehold，acquaintedthathemustarise。Hedidso，withoutfartheranswer，andfollowedhimintothemoonlight，wherestoodthecamels，mostofwhichwerealreadyloaded，andoneonlyremainedkneelinguntilitsburdenshouldbecompleted。
Alittleapartfromthecamelsstoodanumberofhorsesreadybridledandsaddled，andtheHakimhimself，comingforth，mountedononeofthemwithasmuchagilityasthegravedecorumofhischaracterpermitted，anddirectedanother，whichhepointedout，tobeledtowardsSirKenneth。AnEnglishofficerwasinattendance，toescortthemthroughthecampoftheCrusaders，andtoensuretheirleavingitinsafety，andallwasreadyfortheirdeparture。Thepavilionwhichtheyhadleft，was，inthemeanwhile，struckwithsingulardespatch，andthetent-polesandcoveringscomposedtheburdenofthelastcamel-whenthephysician，pronouncingsolemnlytheverseoftheKoran，Godbeourguide，andMohammedourprotector，inthedesertasinthewateredfield，’’thewholecavalcadewasinstantlyinmotion。
Intraversingthecamp，theywerechallengedbythevarioussentinelswhomaintainedguardthere，andsufferedtoproceedinsilence，orwithamutteredcurseupontheirprophet，astheypassedthepostofsomemorezealousCrusader。Atlengththelastbarrierswereleftbehindthem，andthepartyformedthemselvesforthemarchwithmilitaryprecaution。Twoorthreehorsemenadvancedinfrontasavanguard；oneortworemainedabowshotintherear；and，whereverthegroundadmitted，othersweredetachedtokeepanoutlookontheflanks。Inthismannertheyproceededonward，whileSirKenneth，lookingbackonthemoonlightcamp，mightnowindeedseembanished，deprivedatonceofhonourandliberty，fromtheglimmeringbannersunderwhichhehadhopedtogainadditionalrenown，andthetenteddwellingsofchivalry，ofChristianity，and-ofEdithPlantagenet。
TheHakim，whorodebyhisside，observed，inhisusualtoneofsententiousconsolation-Itisunwisetolookbackwhenthejourneyliethforward；’’andashespoke，thehorseoftheknightmadesuchaperilousstumble，asthreatenedtoaddapracticalmoraltothetale。
Theknightwascompelledbythishinttogivemoreattentiontothemanagementofhissteed，whichmorethanoncerequiredtheassistanceandsupportofthecheck-bridle，although，inotherrespects，nothingcouldbemoreeasyatonce，andactive，thantheamblingpaceatwhichtheanimal(whichwasamare)proceeded。
Theconditionsofthathorse，’’observedthesententiousphysician，arelikethoseofhumanfortune；seeingthatamidsthismostswiftandeasypace，theridermustguardhimselfagainstafall，andthatitiswhenprosperityisatthehighest，thatourprudenceshouldbeawakeandvigilanttopreventmisfortune。’’
Theoverloadedappetiteloatheseventhehoneycomb，anditisscarceawonderthattheknight，mortifiedandharassedwithmisfortunesandabasement，becamesomethingimpatientofhearinghismiserymade，ateveryturn，thegroundofproverbsandapothegms，howeverjustandapposite。
Methinks，’’hesaid，ratherpeevishly，Iwantednoadditionalillustrationoftheinstabilityoffortune-thoughIwouldthankthee，SirHakim，forthychoiceofasteedforme，wouldthejadebutstumblesoeffectuallyasatoncetobreakmyneckandherown。’’
Mybrother，’’answeredtheArabsage，withimperturbablegravity，thouspeakestasoneofthefoolish。Thousay’stinthyheart，thatthesageshouldhavegivenyou，ashisguest，theyoungerandbetterhorse，andreservedtheoldoneforhimself；
butknowthatthedefectsoftheoldersteedmaybecompensatedbytheenergiesoftheyoungrider，whereastheviolenceoftheyounghorserequirestobemoderatedbythecoldtemperoftheolder。’’
Sospokethesage；butneithertothisobservationdidSirKennethreturnanyanswerwhichcouldleadtoacontinuanceoftheirconversation，andthephysician，wearied，perhaps，ofadministeringcomforttoonewhowouldnotbecomforted，signedtooneofhisretinue。
Hassan，’’hesaid，hastthounothingwherewithtobeguiletheway？’’
Hassan，story-tellerandpoetbyprofession，spurredup，uponthissummons，toexercisehiscalling-Lordofthepalaceoflife，’’hesaid，addressingthephysician，thou，beforewhomtheangelAzraelspreadethhiswingsforflight-thou，wiserthanSolimaunBenDaoud，uponwhosesignetwasinscribedthe=realname=whichcontrolsthespiritsoftheelements-
forbidit，Heaven，thatwhilethoutravellestuponthetrackofbenevolence，bearinghealingandhopewhereverthoucomest，thineowncourseshouldbesaddenedforlackofthetaleandofthesong。Behold，whilethyservantisatthyside，hewillpourforththetreasuresofhismemory，asthefountainsendethherstreambesidethepathway，fortherefreshmentofhimthatwalkeththereon。’’
Afterthisexordium，Hassanupliftedhisvoice，andbeganataleofloveandmagic，intermixedwithfeatsofwarlikeachievement，andornamentedwithabundantquotationsfromthePersianpoets，withwhosecompositionstheoratorseemedfamiliar。
Theretinueofthephysician，suchexceptedaswerenecessarilydetainedinattendanceonthecamels，throngeduptothenarrator，andpressedascloseasdeferencefortheirmasterpermitted，toenjoythedelightwhichtheinhabitantsoftheEasthaveeverderivedfromthisspeciesofexhibition。
Atanothertime，notwithstandinghisimperfectknowledgeofthelanguage，SirKennethmighthavebeeninterestedintherecitation，which，thoughdictatedbyamoreextravagantimagination，andexpressedinmoreinflatedandmetaphoricallanguage，boreyetastrongresemblancetotheromancesofchivalry，thensofashionableinEurope。Butasmattersstoodwithhim，hewasscarcelyevensensiblethatamaninthecentreofthecavalcaderecitedandsung，inalowtone，fornearlytwohours，modulatinghisvoicetothevariousmoodsofpassionintroducedintothetale，andreceiving，inreturn，nowlowmurmursofapplause，nowmutteredexpressionsofwonder，nowsighsandtears，andsometimes，whatitwasfarmoredifficulttoextractfromsuchanaudience，atributeofsmiles，andevenlaughter。
Duringtherecitation，theattentionoftheexile，howeverabstractedbyhisowndeepsorrow，wasoccasionallyawakenedbythelowwailofadog，securedinawickerenclosuresuspendedononeofthecamels，which，asanexperiencedwoodsman，hehadnohesitationinrecognisingtobethatofhisownfaithfulhound；andfromtheplaintivetoneoftheanimal，hehadnodoubtthathewassensibleofhismaster’svicinity，and，inhisway，invokinghisassistanceforlibertyandrescue。
Alas！poorRoswal，’’hesaid，thoucallestforaidandsympathyupononeinstricterbondagethanthouthyselfart。Iwillnotseemtoheedthee，orreturnthyaffection，sinceitwouldservebuttoloadourpartingwithyetmorebitterness。’’
Thuspassedthehoursofnight，andthespaceofdimhazydawn，whichformsthetwilightofaSyrianmorning。Butwhentheveryfirstlineofthesun’sdiskbegantoriseabovethelevelhorizon，andwhentheveryfirstlevelrayshotglimmeringindewalongthesurfaceofthedesert，whichthetravellershadnowattained，thesonorousvoiceofElHakimhimselfoverpoweredandcutshortthenarrativeofthetale-teller，whilehecausedtoresoundalongthesandsthesolemnsummons，whichthemuezzinsthunderatmorningfromtheminaretofeverymosque。
Toprayer！-toprayer！GodistheoneGod-Toprayer-
toprayer！MohammedistheprophetofGod-Toprayer-
toprayer！Timeisflyingfromyou-Toprayer-toprayer！
Judgmentisdrawingnightoyou。’’
InaninstanteachMoslemcasthimselffromhishorse，turnedhisfacetowardsMecca，andperformedwithsandanimitationofthoseablutions，whichwereelsewhererequiredtobemadewithwater，whileeachindividual，inbriefbutferventejaculations，recommendedhimselftothecare，andhissinstotheforgiveness，ofGodandtheProphet。EvenSirKenneth，whosereasonatonceandprejudiceswereoffendedbyseeinghiscompanionsinthatwhichheconsideredasanactofidolatry，couldnothelprespectingthesincerityoftheirmisguidedzeal，andbeingstimulatedbytheirfervourtoapplysupplicationstoHeaveninapurerform，wondering，meanwhile，whatnew-bornfeelingscouldteachhimtoaccompanyinprayer，thoughwithvariedinvocation，thoseverySaracens，whoseheathenishworshiphehadconceivedacrimedishonourabletothelandinwhichhighmiracleshadbeenwrought，andwheretheday-starofredemptionhadarisen。
Theactofdevotion，however，thoughrenderedinsuchstrangesociety，burstpurelyfromhisnaturalfeelingsofreligiousduty，andhaditsusualeffectincomposingthespirits，whichhadbeenlongharassedbysorapidasuccessionofcalamities。ThesincereandearnestapproachoftheChristiantothethroneoftheAlmightyteachesthebestlessonofpatienceunderaffliction；sincewhereforeshouldwemocktheDeitywithsupplications，whenweinsulthimbymurmuringunderhisdecrees？orhow，whileourprayershaveineverywordadmittedthevanityandnothingnessofthethingsoftimeincomparisontothoseofeternity，shouldwehopetodeceivetheSearcherofHearts，bypermittingtheworldandworldlypassionstoreassumethereinsevenimmediatelyafterasolemnaddresstoHeaven？ButSirKennethwasnotofthese。Hefelthimselfcomfortedandstrengthened，andbetterpreparedtoexecuteorsubmittowhateverhisdestinymightcalluponhimtodoortosuffer。
Meanwhile，thepartyofSaracensregainedtheirsaddles，andcontinuedtheirroute，andthetale-teller，Hassan，resumedthethreadofhisnarrative；butitwasnolongertothesameattentiveaudience。Ahorseman，whohadascendedsomehighgroundontherighthandofthelittlecolumn，hadreturnedonaspeedygalloptoElHakim，andcommunicatedwithhim。
Fourorfivemorecavaliershadthenbeendespatched，andthelittleband，whichmightconsistofabouttwentyorthirtypersons，begantofollowthemwiththeireyes，asmenfromwhosegestures，andadvanceorretreat，theyweretoaugurgoodorevil。Hassan，findinghisaudienceinattentive，orbeinghimselfattractedbythedubiousappearancesontheflank，stintedinhissong；andthemarchbecamesilent，savewhenacamel-drivercalledouttohispatientcharge，orsomeanxiousfolloweroftheHakimcommunicatedwithhisnextneighbour，inahurriedandlowwhisper。
Thissuspensecontinueduntiltheyhadroundedaridge，composedofhillocksofsand，whichconcealedfromtheirmainbodytheobjectthathadcreatedthisalarmamongtheirscouts。SirKennethcouldnowsee，atthedistanceofamileormore，adarkobjectmovingrapidlyonthebosomofthedesert，whichhisexperiencedeyerecognisedforapartyofcavalry，muchsuperiortotheirowninnumbers，and，fromthethickandfrequentflasheswhichflungbackthelevelbeamsoftherisingsun，itwasplainthatthesewereEuropeansintheircompletepanoply。
TheanxiouslookswhichthehorsemenofElHakimnowcastupontheirleader，seemedtoindicatedeepapprehension；
whilehe，withgravityasundisturbedaswhenhecalledhisfollowerstoprayer，detachedtwoofhisbestmountedcavaliers，withinstructionstoapproachascloselyasprudencepermittedtothesetravellersofthedesert，andobservemoreminutelytheirnumbers，theircharacter，and，ifpossible，theirpurpose。
Theapproachofdanger，orwhatwasfearedassuch，waslikeastimulatingdraughttooneinapathy，andrecalledSirKennethtohimselfandhissituation。
WhatfearyoufromtheseChristianhorsemen，forsuchtheyseem？’’hesaidtotheHakim。
Fear！’’saidElHakim，repeatingtheworddisdainfully-
ThesagefearsnothingbutHeaven-buteverexpectsfromwickedmentheworstwhichtheycando。’’
TheyareChristians，’’saidSirKenneth，anditisthetimeoftruce-whyshouldyoufearabreachoffaith？’’
