The old familiar story of the Children's Crusade told once again in a gentle, graceful fictional rendering. The period is the early 13th century. Stephen, a mystical child of ten, envisions in a troubadour, the person of Christ whom he believes has been sent to lead him with a group to recapture the tomb of Christ. Fantasy becomes actuality as the child lead 10,000 like him to the Holy Land -- only to be betrayed by Marseilles merchants to slave traders. Trapped -- sold into slavery --tricked into the temptation to betray their faith -- an appealing story, with the flavor of the times, its customs and legends as background. Possible plus sale to younger readers.