noon
On reaching that city , Melikul Salih expended his remaining strength in rallying his army and strengthening the fortifications , and at the same time sent men to attack the Crusaders in their camp , to kill the Franks and cut off their heads , -- promising a golden besant for every head brought to him . The Arab cavalry of the Desert , and bands of horsemen belonging to that wild nation known as the Karismians , were employed on this service ; and the Crusaders found themselves exposed to dangers against which it seemed impossible to guard . As wild animals prowl around the habitations of men on the watch for prey , so around the Christian camp prowled the Arabs and Karismians by day and by night . If even at noon a soldier wandered from the camp he was lost ; and , in hours of darkness , sentinel after sentinel disappeared , and knight after knight was struck dead , as if by invisible hands . Every morning the Crusaders had to listen to some new tale of horror which made their blood run cold . Ere the Arabs and Karismians had carried alarm into the camp of the Crusaders , many of the warriors of the West had begun to suffer from the climate of Egypt ; and among others who were prostrated , was the old Earl of March . For a time he seemed likely to fall a victim to the malady ; but the natural vigour of his constitution at length prevailed ; and he had almost recovered , when a sudden inroad of the enemy exposed him to a new peril .