The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1872-12-08
Morning Star and Catholic Messenger
NEW ORLEANS. SUNDAY. DECEMBER 8. lsi2.
F L O r [ N E,
PRINCESS OF BURGUNDY;
A TALE OF THE FIRST CRUSADERS.
By WILLIAM BERNARD MAC cARE. .
fContinued.t
Chapter XI.-The Dark Veil.

Chapter XX.-The Dark Yell.
Baghi Sian had escaped from Antioch. Dis
guised in the robes of q beggar, and mounted
upon mule. he was led by . ragged path
miles from the city. The pathw ay then drop
ped precipitously down into q deep, dark val
ley, crowded with trees, through which it
wound. in many q turn, until it at length
reached Q little lake, or rather well, supplied
bya thin. noisy stream. that came plashng
and foaming along the hill side. The small
lake or we'll spead out from the rocks down
which the stream descended to the distance of
abont thirty yards, and the depth of two or
three feet, and out of this shallow water there
arose hugo blocks of black rocks, which, to
those acquainted with tho locality, served as
an entrance to q cavern in the side of the hill.
but to which there was no access but by wading
Viewed from the pathway, there was no
mark or sign of any sort to indicate that there
was any place of conoealment behind the rocks,
the black, coal-1iks color of which gave to the
collection Of waters from whence they arose
the name Of "the dark we'll"
For three miles OF the road on which he had
the mind of Baghi Sian than how he might
secure his escape from Antfoch and the sh outs
and shrlek.,s which occasionally, came borne
1iety to speed upon his way. whilst the thought
Of the horrid spectacle OF Ibraham's norse
bearing the bleeding body, and legs of his
master, seemed to increase his terrors aud to
chill his heart with the new and hitherto I'M
known sensation of fear.
These feelings. however, gradually abated
the farther he sithdrs~ from tho city. and for
the Last two miles Of tho road new reflections
rose to his mind, and fresh subjects Of anxiety
began to engross his thoughts. The old man.
the magician, had paced at the head of tho
from the time they had oct forth, letting 70 the
bride rein, whilst SeIin walked close behind
him, and he remarked that the solemn Stiffness
broken by them, They never spoke to each
other nor to him, but no saw, or faucied he
saw, upon suddenly raising his head aud shak-
ing away the confusing thoughts that gather
edlik mist around his brain, that there
were secret signs passing between them.
Al length, and it was as if sudden flash of
took possession of him. What could be the
object Of these men in taking him away from
Antioehi What had he ever done of good to
to save hist If they did not intend to serve,
then their purpose must be to ipjurs him
Then why should they seek to take away bis
was, in Antioch, and he would be snre to be
deprived of it by the victorious Crusadersi
And then followed the reflection, was his
life in danger in the citadel of Antiocha True,
the city had been captured, but the citadel was
constructed to overawe the city, and to resist,
II 1t were necessary. revolt of the citizens.
1t was manned by the best of his cohorts. 1t
was safe; 1t could hold out until Corbohan
came to his relief. Would he not be moro safe
in the midst of his own brave soldiers than in
those lonely mountains ct the mercy of two
Btrangersf And then he remembered the
words the old man had used-the falsebood he
had told of the Crusaders having gained the
ctadel-tbat which he now knew to be untrue,
1or whist he was still two miles away from
Antioch, he had observed, on looking back TO-
wards the city, his own flag still flying from
the towers of the citadel
And then came the terrible thought wby
had he been enticed out of q place where he
had been safe, to be left alone in the power of
these two strangersf And when he asked
himself that question, he remembered he had
had dealings with both the men who walked
at that instant before and behind him that
he had excited in the hearts of both thirst
had promised them, that both had been I'M
Justly treated, both disappointed, both driven
from MIS- presence with scorn, and both knew
that in his grdle was always to be found what
would more than compensate them for their
disappointment; and when this reflection &C.
Cured to his mind, then he penetrated their
him.
He might, at the worst, have died soldiers
death. like 1braham; he might by his example
have inspired the defenders of the citadel with
fresh courage; OF, all failing, he might have
headed them in in desperate charge, and
slain. He might have died in q m amer worthy
of his former life as warrior, whereas he was
walking tame]y and quietly like beast to the
SHAMELESS, to be butchered by. two base viii
lains. to fall unknown and to fall unavenged!
No, not unavenged, at least" thought the
wretched man, ae he felt for his dagger and
NV wAktSt tHSS0 RO0U weapons are
within my reach ehasl my foeman ba able to
boast of an easy victory" and he smiled, as he
was won't to do, on going to the battlefield
when he felt his arms were safe and by his
side.
The action and the grim smile of Baghi Sian
dld not escape the observation of the magician, !
who on tho instant, and for the first time, lot |
60 the rein of the mule and said, "This path |
way leads direct down to we'll; it will be |
necessary to give tho mule q drink, and we
may all then stop and refresh ourseIves-I
haRo[1ome PROVISIONS with me. Proceed, if
your Highness pleases, as 1 shall be able to
oyertake you before you reach the we'll"
Baghi Sian nodded to the magician IA he
passed him the path, and the magician
bowed his head in humility in response to the
courtesy thus paid him. But in their steady
gaze each know the other thoroughly. They
Saluted as gladiators in the amphitheatre were
wont to salute before they crossed their swords
in struggle sure to terminate with the death
of one or the other, and, not improbably, of
both.
"selim," said the magician, "tIfere is no
necessity for any further Disguise. That mis-
cradle fool has, at last seen through our plot.
It 4 is what | wished, because desire him to
feel the bitterness of death before it comes
upon him. l purposelY remained SLANT in