"God wills it! God wills it!" And the unbelievers must have seen the Mount of Olives a sea of flashing steel, while the bulwarks of Zion rang with the shouting.
"Yes," Richard heard from Sebastian, bowing low his head, "this truly is the will of God! The hour of my deliverance from this evil world is nigh."
The ranks closed, and as the host marched down the slopes of Olivet, the priests sang, advancing:—
"Blessed City, heavenly Salem, Vision dear of Peace and Love, Who of living stones art builded, Art the joy of Heaven above, And with angel cohorts circled, As a bride to earth doth move!"
Then the whole army rolled out the mighty Gloria:—
"Laud and honor to the Father! Laud and honor to the Son! Laud and honor to the Spirit! Ever Three and ever One! Con-substantial, Co-eternal! While unending ages run!"
So the cliffs echoed back the singing, the Christian host moved onward, driving the last squadrons of the Egyptians inside the walls, and sending divisions southward to raise Tancred's standard over Bethlehem. All that day the Crusaders streamed over the heights of Emmaus, raising the song of Isaiah:—
"Awake, awake, O Jerusalem: break forth into joy: put on thy beautiful garments: for the Lord hath comforted His people: He hath redeemed Zion."
But Richard had driven Rollo close to the Gate of St. Stephen, mocking a cloud of infidel arrows, and on the walls directing the garrison, he had seen a figure in gilded armor he would have known among ten thousand. That night, if his vows against Iftikhar Eddauleh had been strong, they were threefold stronger now.