One night the sentinels saw a strange light appear upon the mountain retreat of the Sheik. Presently it was gliding like a wraith down its side to be lost among their tents. Then Saladin, awaking from troubled dreams, saw a strange figure glide out into the night. Rising quickly, he saw the lamps had been changed about and beside his bed lay the hot scones by which the Assassins were wont to indicate their visits. On a paper pinned to them by a poisoned dagger were written these words: " By the Majesty of the Kingdom! What you possess will escape you in spite of all, but victory remains to us. " We acquaint you that we hold you, and that we reserve you till your reckoning be paid." The Sultan's cries brought the guards running, and they were equally bewildered. In spite of all their pre cautions the Old Man of the Mountains had circum vented them all. He had found access to the pillow of the Sultan and might have worked whatever evil he chose. Only a miracle could explain this performance, and belief in this was strengthened when examination of the chalk and ashes revealed that while there were strange footprints, these all pointed away from the tent. Clearly the fiend was mocking their precautions, for he might just as well have left no prints at all. It all went to show they were helpless against his machi nations, and the next morning camp was broken and the army moved out so quickly the mangonels and other heavy equipment were left behind.