Harold Lamb

“ The crusader jerked tight the buckle of his belt, turned to look at the signal that flickered through the darkness. Running to the garden wall, he stared out at the bay—at the torches that were thronging from the castle. The Mongols followed him expectantly, as dogs press close to the heels of their master.
Listening to the tread of feet in the alley, he gripped the hilt of Durandal and tried the blade in its sheath.
“By the splendor of God,” he said laughing, “there will be many to keep us company at the gate.” ”

“ Arslan had instructed them to watch by turns during the nights for the lighting of three fires on the ridge five miles away. This would mean that a detachment of Mongols had come down from the steppes, moving by night until this last day, when the horsemen would press forward, changing from pony to pony, outpacing the news of their coming.
“Ye know the plan,” exclaimed the stout little Mongol. “Subotai Bahadur will gallop down the highroad as a bat flits through darkness. When he sees the first hamlets of the city he will order the drums to sound. ”

“ Other cities had the Mongols taken in just such fashion, in the darkness.
“If he sees the signal he will return. But if he is taken by the emperor's men—” Arslan groaned and clutched his belt, trying to reason out what he should do.
The Mongols, after lighting the fires, would rest an hour, to make sure the signal was seen. In less than another hour they would be in the Chersonese. Arslan wondered how long the fires had been going before he saw them. ”