Thousands of Muslims hammered through the dust towards the crusader army. Again and again they charged up, poured their arrows into the Christian host and wheeled away. For a while the sultan believed that he had his enemy cornered. This was certainly the most intense assault faced by the crusaders, and the discipline required not to react tested the knights patience to its absolute limits. Richard recalled the need for caution instilled into him as a youth. A shapeless pursuit would break his ranks and present Saladin with an opportunity to obliterate the crusader forces. The King had prepared a prearranged signal to charge... yet he did not get to use it: some English knights charged of their own initiative. So tense were the nearby units that they followed suit and hurled themselves after the enemy... Richard reacted immediately. Even though his plan was in ruins he was sharp enough to realise that a charge from only one section of the Christian army would likely be defeated and he too railed against the Muslims. The massive impetus of the crusader charge smashed into Saladin's troops and its impact was devastating. Lionheart himself did such deeds at that time, that all round him, behind and beside were the bodies of Saracens slaughtered. He behaved with indescribable vigour and courage into the mass of Turks, not turning tail for anyone, crushing all he met. It could justly be said of his blows that whoever encountered one of them had no need of a second. The centre of the Muslim army was punched back and the survivors retreated leaving a trail of slain soldiers. Some rallied, however, and these men offered fierce resistance and killed a number of knights. Another push by the crusaders inflicted further losses on the Muslims and by then the Christians had the field of battle to themselves. After the victory the crusaders reached Jaffa...headed for Jerusalem. While the Muslim casualties were nowhere near enough to break Saladin's strenght once again the sultan's aura of success had been breached.