Saladin, still suffering from colic and fever, but so consumed with anxiety and eager desire to punish the enemy he took no heed of his physical weakness, kept his troops on the hills above the line of march of the Franks, watching like a hawk for the opportunity to take advantage of every favorable turn. Provisions had become extremely scarce and on several occasions, when the army made camp there was no bread at all. At others the prices had risen so high they were pro hibitive, but Saladin, with his usual reckless gener osity, appeased his men by lavish distributions of gold. Occasionally he was able to overcome the enemy's persistent disregard of his attacks, the ensuing conflicts resulting in losses on both sides, and finally, on the seventh of September, a major contest ensued near Arsuf, on the way from Caesarea to Jaffa. Saladin's object was to halt the rear portion of Richard's army, thus dividing this in two. The Sultan was everywhere, urging on his men, and the victory seemed to be with the Moslems, when some of the Knights Hospitallers, refusing to heed longer Richard's command to remain quiescent, turned unexpectedly. "I myself," wrote the Cadi, "saw their knights gathered together in the midst of a protecting circle of infantry. They put their lances in rest, uttered a mighty war cry, and the ranks of infantry parted to allow them to pass. Then they rushed out, and charged in all directions. One division hurled itself on our right wing, another on our left and a