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Page 432
and he was taken prisoner. Simon, growing quite adept at holding his sword between thigh and saddle, grabbed another loose horse and spurred after the King who was pursuing de Mauleon's captors. Richard split one and spitted another. Simon, somewhat impeded by the extra mount, brained one more with the edge of his shield. That was not so funny. What set all three off laughing was when the King slid his sword under his thigh and lifted de Mauleon into the empty saddle like a puppy by the neck of his mail.
The center of Saladin's force was irreparably smashed. Under the continued fire from the archers and the repeated charges right and left of the King's band, the Moslem army began to shred away toward the flanks. Before the panic touched the left flank, however, a new danger developed. One group found an unmended and undefended breach in Jaffa's wall and, reasonably enough, felt that if they took the city, Richard's position would become untenable. Leicester then repaid the King's service to him. His roar of discovery brought Richard with Simon, who was seldom more than a few feet from the King's left shoulder. They three with two archers from the city walls rushed the infiltrators and doomed that hopeful enterprise.
The day wore on. One horse and then another foundered. A Saracen crying truce made his way toward Richard during a brief lull in the fighting. Warily the King bade his men hold their hands, but there was no need for suspicion. Saladin's brother, inspired by Richard's prowess, had sent him two beautiful horses so that no bestial failure should interfere with him. Even then the Moslem leaders did not believe the Crusader's small force could hold out. Again they rallied and charged, and again they broke against Richard's stubborn footmen and his weary, bloody knights on their half-dead horses.
In the end proof brought belief. A tenth of the proud Moslem raiders lay dead on the field; perhaps triple

 
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