ofjEjCTÊi-this time with the determination to bring this last serious menace to his dominion under control. From the point of view of his ambitions it is a pity that he did not remain steadfast in this purpose, and doubtless the failure to do so was the greatest mistake of his career. The intrepid Marquess of Montferrat had not been idle in the interval. Moats had been deepened and extended, until only the narrowest of land approaches remained for an invader ; the walls had been greatly strengthened, the storehouses filled with provisions, arms and men secured in abundance, largely through Saladin's unwise generosity in allowing these to go from the towns and fortresses he had captured. Tirelessly had Conrad labored to bring his defenses into perfect condition, and he was therefore well prepared to make the Sultan's siege a long and costly undertaking. Nor was the latter's usual good fortune with him this time. Most disastrous was the failure of the fleet he had caused to be sent from .Egypt to blockade the harborto obey his order to maintain strict vigilance. With supplies from the sea cut off by these vessels it would have been only a question of masking the city on the land side, for though the city possessed abundant supplies of food these could not have lasted indefinitely. But the commanding officer of the Moslem fleet was negligent in keeping the night watch, and the ships of the Marquess caught him unawares, capturing five and killing many Moslem sailors. After that the fleet