The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1904-10-16

lady Rosamund snatched away by Pay
MINIS while all who feasted in the
place had been drugged with poisoned
wine by a man whom they believed
to be a merchant SO soon as a band
was got ogether-perhap thirty men
in all-and there was light to stir, they
set out and began to search, though
where to look they knew not, for the
snow had covered up all traces of their
foes.
zone thing is certain" said Goodwin,
"They must have come by water"
AYE" answered Wulf; and landed
hard by, since, had they far to go,
they would have taken the horses, and
must run the risk also of losing their
path in the darkness. To the Staithe!
Let us try Steeple Staithe.
So on they went across the meadow
to the creek. 1t lay but three bow
shots distant. At first they could see
nothing, for the snow covered the
stones of the little pier, but presently
a man cried out that the lock of the
water house, in which the brethren
kept their fishing boat, was broken,
and the next minute, that the boat
was gone.
"She was small; she would hold but
six men," cried a voice 80 great a
company could never have crowded
into her"
Fool" one answered, there may
have been other boats"
So they looked again, and beneath
the thin coating of rhine, found a mark
in the mud by the Staithe, made by
the Prov of a large boat, and not far
from it a hole in the earth into which
peg had been driven to make her
fast. Now the thing seemed clear
enough, but it was to be made yet
clearer for presently, even through
the driving snow, the quick eye of
Wulf caught sight of some glittering
thing which hung to the edge Of a
clump of dead reeds. A man with a
lance lifted it out at his command,
and gave it to him.
II thought So" he said i'm a heavy
voice; sit is a fragment of that star
| wrought veil that was my Christmas
| gift to Rosamund, and she has torn
1t off and left it here to show us her
| road. To st. Peter s-on-the- Wall! To
St. Peters, / say, for there the boats
or ship must pass, and maybe that
in the darkness they have not yet
won out to sea-
So they turned their horses heads,
and those of them that were mounted
rode for st. Peters by the inland path
that runs through Steeple st. Law
renee and Bradwell town, while those
who were not, started to search along
the Saltings and the river bank. On
they galloped through the falling
snow Goodwin and Wulf leading the
way on their great horses, whilst be-
hind them Numbered an ever-gather-
ing train of knights, squires and yeo-
men, who had seen the beacon flare
on Steeple tower, or learned the tale
from messengers-yes. and even of
monks from stangate and chapmen
from Southminster.
Hard they rode, but the lanes were
heavy with fallen snow and mud be-
meath, and the way was far, so that
an hour had gone by before Bradwell
was left behind, and the shrine of St.
Chad lay but a half a mile in front.
Now of a sudden the snow ceased,
and strong northerly wind spring
ing up, drove the thick mist before
it and left the sky bright and blue be-
hind. Still riding in this mist, they
pressed on to where the old tower
doomed up in front of them, then drew
rein and waited.
What is that?" said Goodwin pres
emily, pointing to a great, dim thing
upon the vapour-hidden sea.
AS he spoke a strong gust of wind
tore away the last wells of mist, re-
vealing the red face of the risen sun,
and not a hundred Yards away from
them-for the tide was high-the tall
masts of a great galley creeping out
to sea beneath her banks of oars. AS
they stared the wind caught her, and
upon the mainSmast rose her bellying
Sail, while a shout Of laughter told
them that they themselves were seen.
They shook their swords in the mad
ness of their rage, well knowing who
was aboard that galley; while to the
fore peak ran up the yellow flag of
Saladin, streaming there like gold IN
the golden sunlight.
Nor was this all, for on the high
poop appeared the tall shape of Rosa
mund herself, and one side Of her,
clad now in coat Of mail and turban,
the Emir Hassan, whom they had
known as the merchant Georgios, and
on the other, a stout man, also clad
in mail, who at that distance looked
like a Christian knight. Rosamund
stretched out her arms towards them
Then suddenly she sprang forward as
though she would throw herself into
the sea, had not Hassan caught her by
the arm and held her back, whilst the
other man who was watching slipped
between her and the bulwork.
In his fury and despair Wulf drove
his horse into the water till the waves
broke about his middle, and there,
since he could go no further, sat shak-
ing his sword and shouting.
Fear not We follow! we follow"
I'm such a voice Of thunder, that even
through the wind and across the ever
widening space Of foam his words may
have reached the ship. AT least Rosa
mund seemed TO hear them. for she tos-
sed up her arms as though I'm token.
But Hassan, one hand pressed upon
his heart and the other upon his fore
head, only bowed thrice in courteous
farewell.
Then, the great sail filled, the oars
we're drawn in, and the vessel swept
away across the dancing waves. Till
at length she vanished, and they could
only see the sunlight playing on the
golden banner OF Saladin which float