334 THE HISTORY OF THE ORDER OF [book i.

so much—than lose Jerusalem. Here are wells,food and shade, but there would be neither. Thosearid solitudes would soon consume our army andhorses, and hunger and thirst and the burningheats of this season. The Saracens must soonremove, either to attack us at grievous disad-vantage,or to retreat from sickness and want offood and water; on which we could pursuethem, we and our chargers fresh and vigorous,and with that blessed Cross; for at present theSaracen numbers are in their favour, but then not.Then I swear to you, they’ll all perish in Jordan,or the lake, or by thirst, or our swords, or fall intoour hands prisoners.” Renaud to this, “ It is tointimidate us, that he has exaggerated theirnumbers; but at all events, the more the wood, thebetter the blaze!” Nevertheless, that soldierlyadvice of Tripoli’s engaged the majority to votefor biding, and Guy adopted that salutary intention . 1But when he was in his tent, the wily GrandMaster of the Temple shook his resolution by pro-testing that it would destroy the spirit of the armyto be lookers on at such barbarous deeds; andthat he, for one, and his Templars were resolved

1 Michaud: Hist., ii. 271.