The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1904-11-20
THE BRETHREN
A Romance of The Crusades
BY H. RIDER HAGGARD.

At length upon one golden evening
for Lozelle was a skillful pilot, one of
the best, indeed, who sailed those seas
they came to the shores of Cyprus, and
cast anchor. Before them. stretched
along the beach, lay the white town
of Limazol, with palm trees standing
up amidst its gardens, while beyond
the fertile plain rose the mighty
mountain range of Trooidos. Sick and
weary of the endless ocean, Rosa
mund gazed with rapture at this green
and beauteous shore. the home of SO
much history, and sighed to think that
on 1t she might set no foot, Lozelle
saw her look and heard her sigh, and
as he climbed into the boat which had
come out to row him into the harbor.
Knocked her, saying:
viii you not change your mind.
lady, and come with me to visit my
friend, the Emperor Isaac? swear
that his court is gay. not picked full
OF course Saracens or pilgrims thinking
OF their souls. In Cyprus they was
born from out the foam. and has
reigned since the beginning Of the
world-aye, and will reign until it's
end
Rosamund made no answer, and
Lozelle. descending into the boat, was
rowed shorewards through the break
ers by the dark-skinned, Cyprian
oarsmen. who wore flowers in their
hair and sang as they labored at the
oars.
For ten whole days they rolled off
Llmazol, although the weather was
fair and the wind blew straight for
syria. When Rosamund asked why
they bided there so long, Hassan
stamped his foot and said it was be-
cause the Emperor refused to supply
them with more food or water than
was sufficient for their daily need. I'M
less he, Hassan, would land and travel
TO an inland town called Nicosia,
where his court lay, and there do
homage to him. This, seeming a trap,
ne feared to do, nor could they put
out to sea without provisions.
Cannot Sir Hugh Lozelle see to it?
asked Rosamund.
Doubtless, if he WILL" answered
Hassan, grinding his teeth; "but he
swears that he is powerless.''
So there they bode day after day,
baked by the sweltering summer sun
and rocked to and fro on the long
ocean rollers till their hearts grew sick
within them, and their bodies also, for
some of them were seized with a fever
common to the shores of Cyprus. of
which two died. Now and again some
with Lozelle and little food and
water, and bargain with them, saying
that before their wants were supplied
the prince Hassan must visit the En-
peror and bring with him the fair
lady who was his passenger, whom he
desired to see
Hassan would answer no, and double
the guard about Rosamund for at
nights boats appeared that cruised
round them. In the daytime also bands
of men, Enthusiastically dressed in silks,
and with them women, could be seen
riding to and fro upon the shore and
staring at them. as though they were
striving to make up their minds to at
tack the ship.
Then Hassan armed his grim Sara
Gems and babe them stand in line up
on the bulwarlxs, drawn scimitar in
hand, a sight that seemed to brighten
the Cypriotes-at least they always
rode away towards the great square
of Colessi.
At length Hassan would bear it no
more. One morning Lozelle came off
from Limazol, where he slept at night,
bringing with him three Cyprian lords,
who visited the ship-not to bargain
as they pretended, but to obtain sight
of the beauteous princess Rosamund
Thereon the common talk began of
homage that must be paid before food
was granted, failing which the EN-
peror would bid his seamen capture
the ship. Hassan listened a while, then
suddenly issued an order that the
lords should be seized.
Now he said to Lozelle, IBID your
sailors haul up the anchor, and let us
begone for Syria"
But" answered the knight, I'VE have
neither food nor water for more than
one day."
ct care not" answered Hassan, "as
well die of thirst and starvation on
the sea as rot here with fever. What
we can bear these Cyprian gallants
can bear also. Bid the sailors lift the
anchor and hoist the sail, or l loose
my scimitars among Them"
Now Lozelle stamped and foamed,
but without avail, so he turned to the
three lords, who were pale with fear,
and said:
(Which will you do: find food and
water for this ship, or put to sea with
out them. which is but to die?"
They answered that they would go
ashore and supply all that was need
full.
Nay" said Hassan. you bide here
until it comes"
In the end. then, this happened, for
one of the lords CHANGED to be a nep-
hew of the Emperor, who, when he
learned that he was captive, sent sup
plies in plenty. Thus 1t came about
that the Cyprian lords having been sent
back with the last empty boat, within
two days they were at sea again.
Now Rosamund missed the hated
face of the spy. Nicholas and told Has
san, who made inquiry, to find-or so
said Lozelle-that he went ashore and
vanished there on the first day of their
landing in Cyprus. though whether he
had been killed in some brawl, or fallen
sick, or hidden himself away, he did
not know, Hassan shrugged his shoul-
ders, and Eosamund was glad enough
TO be rid of him. but in her heart she
wondered for what evil purpose Mich
olas had left the ship.
When the galley was one day out
from Cyprus steering for the coast of
Syria, they fell into a calm such is is
common in those seas in summer. This
calm lasted eight whole days. during
which they made but little progress. At
length, when all were weary of staring
at the oil-like sea- wind sprang up
that grew gradually to a gale blowing
towards Syria. and before IL they fed
along swiftly. Worse and stronger
grew that gale. till on the evening of
the second day, when they seemed in
no little danger Of being popped, they
saw a great mountain far away. at the
sight of which Lozelle thanked God
aloud.
Are those the mountains near
Antioch?" asked Hassan.
Nay" he answered, they are more
than fifty miles south of them, be-
tween LadilSiya and Jebela. There, by
the mercy of Heaven, is a good haven.