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Have A Drink, Barbarossa
Get some of this water, King
June 10, 1190
Sixty-seven-year-old Frederick Barbarossa and his large German army (which included many knights) had reached the Saleph River. He was eager to drink as much water as possible from the river before continuing their journey to the other Crusaders in the Third Crusade.
Barbarossa was so thirsty that he began taking off from his brown horse and to the river. His second-in-command was startled by his King’s action.
‘‘My…King?’’ he slowly said while the army awaited further instructions.
Frederick Barbarossa ran like a madman to the Saleph River.
‘‘I’m coming to you!’’ Barbarossa shouted.
He continued running on foot with his heavy gold armor around his stomach until he heard a loud voice nearby.
‘‘Stop! Cease your running, human!’’
The words got Barbarossa to turn off his running jets and find out who spoke to him. He looked around and didn’t see any humans nearby. Only seven pigeons near a decently sized pond. He wondered where the voice came from.
‘‘Who goes there?!?’’ Barbarossa shouted.
‘‘Over here.’’ said the unknown person.
