the Franks makes it necessary to push the work with all possible haste. " This was a horrible time, during which terrible things occurred," wrote Beha ed-din. " Numbers were obliged to depart on foot, having no money to hire beasts to carry them." Some set out for Syria, others for Egypt. While the uprooting of the city was under way the Sultan received a letter from el-Adel describing an interview with Richard's ambassadors, who had come to him to discuss terms of peace. He had also had a talk with the son of Humphrey of Toron, who had suggested as the basis for peace that the Sultan surrender all the cities in the districts along the coast. Nothing illustrates better the state of Saladin's mind than the fact that he was willing to accept this suggestion. A short time before he had rejected it with scorn. But his resolution was at its weakest just then. His men were worn and weary of fighting and, what was equally depressing, they had been compelled to abandon much of their possessions. " Broken down by neediness," the Cadi said. Very likely, Saladin was doubtful just then of how much he could rely upon them. Otherwise he would not have replied to his brother to enter into negotiations, giving him full power to " make such terms as should seem best to him." It was not like the Sultan to surrender into other hands the final word. The enemy was busy repairing the fortifications of Jaffa — and enjoying the pleasures it afforded ; which, according to their own chroniclers, were not such as