a castle, where she was in danger of the most dreadful misfortunes:
and that if he obtained his liberty, and repaired to a wood near
Joppa, he would learn more. Alarmed at this dream, and incapable
of obeying the direction given by it, his chains became more
grievous than ever. But while his thoughts were occupied on the
means of obtaining his liberty, he received the agreeable news that
the confederate Princes who were warring in Palestine had paid his
ransom. He instantly set out for the wood that had been marked in
his dream.

For three days he and his attendants had wandered in the forest
without seeing a human form: but on the evening of the third they
came to a cell, in which they found a venerable hermit in the
agonies of death. Applying rich cordials, they brought the
fainting man to his speech.

"My sons," said he, "I am bounden to your charity--but it is in
vain--I am going to my eternal rest--yet I die with the
satisfaction of performing the will of heaven. When first I
repaired to this solitude, after seeing my country become a prey to
unbelievers--it is alas! above fifty years since I was witness to
that dreadful scene! St. Nicholas appeared to me, and revealed a
secret, which he bade me never disclose to mortal man, but on my
death-bed. This is that tremendous hour, and ye are no doubt the
chosen warriors to whom I was ordered to reveal my trust. As soon
as ye have done the last offices to this wretched corse, dig under
the seventh tree on the left hand of this poor cave, and your pains
will--Oh! good heaven receive my soul!" With those words the
devout man breathed his last.