The Savannah morning news., 1904-09-25
THE BRETHREN
A Romance of the Crusades
CHAPTER V.-Continued.
BY H. RIDER HAGGARD
Continued from Last Sundays News.)

Continued from Last sundays News.)
CHAPTER V.-Continued.
An hour before the dawn next morn
ing Goodwin and Wulf were up, and
with them certain trusted men who
had been warned that their services
would be needed. Presently, Wulf,
bearing a lantern in his hand, came
to where his brother stood by the fire
in the hall.
Where have you BEEN" Goodwin
asked. ITO wake our guest, the
palmer?"
No. To place a man to watch the
road to Steeple Hill, and another at
the Creek path also to feed his mule,
which is a very fine beast-too good
for planter. Doubtless he will be
stirring soon. as he said that he must
be afoot early"
Goodwin nodded, and they sat to-
gether on the bench beside the fire, for
the weather was bitter, and dozed till
the dawn began to break Then Wulf
rose and shook himself saying:
He will not think it uncourteous If
we rouse him now" and walking to
the far end of the hall, he drew a cur
tain and called out, Awake holy
Nicholasl awake! 1t is time for you
to say your prayers, and breakfast
will soon be cooking"
But no Nicholas answered.
"Of a TRUTH grumbled Wulf, as he
came back with the lantern, that
palmer sleeps as though Saladin had
already cut his throat" Then having
lit it, he returned to the guest place.
Goodwin he called presently, come
here. The man has gone!"
"Gone?' said Goodwin as he strobe
to the curtain. Gone where?"
Back to his friend Saladin, think"
answered Wulf. Look, that is how he
went" And he pointed to the narrow
window-slit in the wall of the sleeping
place, whereof the shutter stood wide,
and to an oaken stool beneath, by
means of which the sainted Nicholas
had climbed up to and through it.
HE must be without tending the
mule which he would never have left,
said Goodwin.
Honest guests do not part from their
hosts thus" answered Wulf; but let
us go and see.'
So they ran to the stable and found
it locked and the mule safe enough
within, nor-though they searched
could they find any trace of the palm
er-not even a footstep since the.
ground was frostbound. Only an exam
lining the door of the stable they dis
covered that an attempt had been
made to lift the lock with some sharp
instrument.
ct seems he was determined to be
gone, either with or without the beast"
said Wulf. Well, perhaps we can
catch him yet" and he called to the
men to saddle up and ride with him to
search the country.
For three hours they hunted far and
wiz h11f Nothing did fhoW Of Mich
olas
THE knave have slipped away like
a night hawk, and left as little trace"
reported Wulf. Now, my uncle what
may this mean?"
Il know not, save that it is of a
piece with the rest, and that like it
little" answer the old king anxiously.
Here the value of the beast was of no
account that is plain. What he held
of account was that he should be gone
in such a fashion that none could fol-
low him or know whiher he went. The
net is about us, my nephews, and
think that Saladin draws its string"
Still less pleased would Sir Andrew
have been, could he have seen the PALM
err Nicholas creeping around the hall
while all men slept, ere he grided up
his long gown and ran like hare for
London. Yet he had done this by the
light of the bright stars, taking note
of every window in 1t, more especially
of those of the path that ran to Stee-
pie Creek some five hundred yards
away.
From the day forward fear settled
on the place-fear of some blow that
none could foresee, and against which
they could not guard Sir Andrew even
talked of leaving Steeple and of TAX
ing up his abode in London, where he
thought that they might be safe, but
such foul weather set in that it was
impossible to travel the roads, and still
less to sail the sea. So it was arrang-
ed that if they moved at all-and
there We're many things against it,
not the least of which were Sir
Andrews weak health and the lack
Of house to go tot should not be
till after. New Years
Thus the time went on. and nothing
happened to disturb them. The friends
of whom the old knight took counsel
laughed at their forebodings. saying
that so long as they did not wander
about unguarded, there was little dam
ger of any fresh attack on them, and if
one should by chance be made. with
the aid of the men they had they could
hold the hall against company until
help was summoned. Moreover, at
heart, none of them believed that Sal
adm or his emissaries would stir in
this business before the spring. or more