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courtesy and begging that she would honour him by landing. There were, however, some experienced sailors on board who knew something of the person with whom they had to deal; and by their advice the presents and invitation were declined, and nothing was asked for but a supply of fresh water. Isaac Comnenus, furious at his scheme failing, replied brutally that they should have no water from him, and for fear they should take it he choked up the brook at Limasol with blocks of marble and columns, taken from ruined temples. The last block, however, had hardly been put in its place when a number of sails rose in sight on the horizon. These proved to be the rest of the English fleet, with King Eichard himself commanding it. He was making for Cyprus as a natural place of refuge, not knowing that the others were there before him and little dreaming of the sort of welcome they had experienced. The moment the news was told him, in a violent fit of passion he forced a landing with a body of his soldiers at Limasol, on which Isaac Comnenus in terror fled to the mountains. Where to find him and how to communicate with him was a difficulty, but Eichard at last discovered two monks, through whom he sent him a message threatening war and naming his conditions of peace. Isaac sent, in reply to this, to say that he would presently. meet King Eichard at Limasol and discuss the matter with him in person. He was as good as his word. He arrived in royal pomp, with every preparation for receiving a 132 IN AN ENCHANTED ISLAND

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