Hewasawake，longafterhisArabhosthadperformedhisusualdevotions，andbetakenhimselftohisrepose，norhadsleepvisitedhimatthehourofmidnight，whenamovementtookplaceamongthedomestics，which，thoughattendedwithnospeech，andverylittlenoise，madehimawaretheywereloadingthecamelsandpreparingfordeparture。Inthecourseofthesepreparations，thelastpersonwhowasdisturbed，exceptingthephysicianhimself，wastheKnightofScotland，whom，aboutthreeinthemorning，asortofmajordomo，ormasterofthehousehold，acquaintedthathemustarise。Hedidso，withoutfartheranswer，andfollowedhimintothemoonlight，wherestoodthecamels，mostofwhichwerealreadyloaded，andoneonlyremainedkneelinguntilitsburdenshouldbecompleted。
Alittleapartfromthecamelsstoodanumberofhorsesreadybridledandsaddled，andtheHakimhimself，comingforth，mountedononeofthemwithasmuchagilityasthegravedecorumofhischaracterpermitted，anddirectedanother，whichhepointedout，tobeledtowardsSirKenneth。AnEnglishofficerwasinattendance，toescortthemthroughthecampoftheCrusaders，andtoensuretheirleavingitinsafety，andallwasreadyfortheirdeparture。Thepavilionwhichtheyhadleft，was，inthemeanwhile，struckwithsingulardespatch，andthetent-polesandcoveringscomposedtheburdenofthelastcamel-whenthephysician，pronouncingsolemnlytheverseoftheKoran，Godbeourguide，andMohammedourprotector，inthedesertasinthewateredfield，’’thewholecavalcadewasinstantlyinmotion。
Intraversingthecamp，theywerechallengedbythevarioussentinelswhomaintainedguardthere，andsufferedtoproceedinsilence，orwithamutteredcurseupontheirprophet，astheypassedthepostofsomemorezealousCrusader。Atlengththelastbarrierswereleftbehindthem，andthepartyformedthemselvesforthemarchwithmilitaryprecaution。Twoorthreehorsemenadvancedinfrontasavanguard；oneortworemainedabowshotintherear；and，whereverthegroundadmitted，othersweredetachedtokeepanoutlookontheflanks。Inthismannertheyproceededonward，whileSirKenneth，lookingbackonthemoonlightcamp，mightnowindeedseembanished，deprivedatonceofhonourandliberty，fromtheglimmeringbannersunderwhichhehadhopedtogainadditionalrenown，andthetenteddwellingsofchivalry，ofChristianity，and-ofEdithPlantagenet。
TheHakim，whorodebyhisside，observed，inhisusualtoneofsententiousconsolation-Itisunwisetolookbackwhenthejourneyliethforward；’’andashespoke，thehorseoftheknightmadesuchaperilousstumble，asthreatenedtoaddapracticalmoraltothetale。
Theknightwascompelledbythishinttogivemoreattentiontothemanagementofhissteed，whichmorethanoncerequiredtheassistanceandsupportofthecheck-bridle，although，inotherrespects，nothingcouldbemoreeasyatonce，andactive，thantheamblingpaceatwhichtheanimalwhichwasamareproceeded。