The Savannah morning news., 1904-12-04

stretcher to the front of the canopy,
set 1t on the ground, Frustrated them
serves, and retired, walking backwards
down the length of the terrace.
Again there was silence, while the
brethren wondered whose corpse ii was
that lay beneath the cloth, for a corpse
II must surely be; though neither the
Lord of the Mountain nor his dais and
guards seemed to concern themselves in
the matter. Again the curtains part
ed, and procession advanced up the
terrace. First came a great man clad
IN a white robe blazoned with the
bleeding dagger, after whom walked a
tai woman shrouded in a long veil,
VINO was followed by a thick-set
knight clad in Frankish armour and
wearing cape of which the cowl COW
cred his head as though to keep the
rays of the sun from beating on his
helm. Lastly walked four guards Up
the long place they marched through
the double line of dais, while with a
strange stirring in their breasts the
brethren watched the step and shape
OF the yelled woman who walked for
ward rapidly, not seeing them, for she
turned her head neither to the right
nor left. The leader of the little band
redched the space before the canopy.
I and, prostrating himself by the side
OF the stretcher. lay still She who
walked behind him stopped also, and.
seeing the black heap upon the cush-
ION, shuddered
Woman, unveil," commanded the
voice of Sinan.
She hesitated. then swiftly undid
some fastening, so that her drapery
Leu from her head. The brethren
stared rubbed their eyes, and stared
againi '''' W
Before them stood Rosamund!
Yes, 1t was ROsamund, worn with
sickness, terrors. and travel, Rosa
mund herself beyond all doubt. At
the sight of her pale queenly beartv
the heap on the cushion stirred he.
heath his black cloak. and the ewes
We're filled with an evil, eager light.
EVEN the dais seemed to wake from
ther contemplation, and Masouda bit
her red lips, turned pale beneath her
ollve skin, and watched With devour
ing eyes, waiting to read this wonan's
heart "04ii''ii
Rosamund!" cried the brethren with
one voice. i''-
She heard. AS they sprang towards
ner she glanced wildly from face to
race, then with a low cry flung an arm
ABOUT the neck of each and would have
Ialleh IN the ecstacy of her Joy had
they not held her Indeed, her knees
touched the ground. AS they stopped
70 ntt her it flashed into Godwin's
l,Iliu I, tnat Masouda had told Sinan
that they We're her brethren. The
thought was followed by another If
this were so, they might be left with
her, whereas otherwise that black
robed devil
Listen" he whispered in English;
we are not your cousins-we are your
Dfothers your half-brothers, and we
know no Arabic
She heard and Wulf heard, but the
watchers thought that they were but
Welcoming each other, for Wulf be-
gan to talk also, random words in
french, such as Greeting, sister!"
We'll found, sisterv' and kissed her
on the forehead
Rosamund opened her eyes, which
had closed, and, gaining her feet. gave
one hand to each of the brethren
Then the voice of Masouda was heard
Interpreting the words of Sinan.
IT seems, lady, that you know these
Knights"
Il do-well. They are my brothers.
from whom l was stolen when they
We're drugged and our father was
killed"
How is that, lady, seeing that YOU
are said to be the niece of Salah-ed-
din? Are these knights then the
nephews of Salah-ed-din
Nay, answered RoSamund, they
are my fathers sons of another wife,
The answer appeared to satisfy ST.
nan, who fixed his eyes upon the pale
beauty of Rosamund and asked no
more questions. While he remained
thus thinking, a noise arose at the
end of the terrace, and the brethren,
turning their heads, saw that the
thick-set knight was striving to thrust
his way through the guards who stood
by the curtains and barred his path
with the shafts of their spears. Then
it came into Godwin's mind that just
before sRosamund unveiled he had
seen this knight suddenly turn back
and walk down the terrace.
The, lord Sinan looked up at the
sound and made a sign. Thereon two
of the dais sprang to their feet and
ran towards the curtain, where they
spoke with the knight, who turned
and came back with them, though
slowly, as one who is unwilling. Now
his hood had fallen from his head, and
Goodwin and Wulf stared at him as he
advanced, for surely they knew
those great shoulders, those round,
black eyes, those thick lips, and that
heavy iowl
'Lozelle! 1t is Lozelle!" said God
| win.
aye" echoed Rosamund, ut is Lo-
zelle, the double traitor, who betrayed
me first to the soldiers Of Saladin,
and, because / would have none of
his love, next to this lord Sinan."
Wulf heard, and, as Lozelle drew
near to them, sprang forward with
an oath and struck him across the
face with his mailed hand. Instant
ly guards thrust themselves between
them, and Sinan asked through Mas
ouda:
why do you dare to strike this
Frank in my presence?"
Because, lord" answered Wulf, che
Is a rogue who has brought all these
troubles on our house. l challenge him
to meet me in battle to the DEATH"
"And / also" said Goodwin.
81 am ready" shouted Lozelle, stung
to fury by the blow.
"Then. dog, why did you try to run
away when you saw our faces?" ask
ed Wulf.
Masouda held up her hand and began
to interpret addressing Lozelle, and
speaking in the first person as the
mouth" of Sinan.
IT thank you for your service who
have served me before. Your messen-
ger came. a Frank whom / knew in old
days. AS you had arranged II should
be, / sent one Of my fedais with SOL
! dlers to kill the men OF Salah-ed- din on
the ship and capture this lady who is
his niece, all of which II seems has
been done. The bargain that your mes
senger made was that the lady should
be given over to you"
Here Goodwin and Wulf ground their
teeth and glared al him.
But these knights say that you
otofa har THAR Lfua-tuor4aa fror,1 then,