The Savannah morning news., 1904-12-11

saddled Flame and Smoke in their stalls
tnat these appeared. squirting their
foanling horses. Taking no heed of
them, the brethren thrust aside the
grooms, dressed their steeds down, fed
and Watered them.
Then having seen them eat, there
being no mere to do, they walked back
TO the guest-house, hoping to find Rosa
mund. But they found no Rosamund,
so sat down together and talked of
the wonderful things that had befallen
them and of what might befall them
in the future; of the mercy of Heaven
also which had brought them all three
together safe and sound, although it
was in this house of hell. So the time
passed on, till about the hour of sun
set the women servants came and led
them to the bath, where the black
| slaves washed and perfumed them,
clothing them In fresh robes above
their armour.
When they came out the sun was
down. and the women, bearing torches
in their hands, conducted them to a
great and gorgeous hall which they
had not seen before, built of stone but
with carved and painted roof Along
one side of this hall, that was lit with
cressets, were "a number of round
headed open arches supported by ele-
giant columns. and beyond them a mar
bic terrace with flights of steps which
led to the gardens beneath. On the
moor of this hall, each seated upon his
cushion beside low tables inlaid with
pearl sat the guests, a hundred or
more, all dressed in white robes on
which the red dagger was blazoned
ana all as silent as though they were
| asleep.
When the brethren reached the place
the women left them, and servants
with gold chains round their necks es-
eofted them to a dais in the middle of
the hall where there were many cush-
ions, as yet unoccupied arranged in
a semlcircle, of which the center was
a divan higher and more gorgeous
than the rest.
Here places were pointed out to
them opposite the diVan, and they took
their stand by them. They had not
long to wait, for presently there was
a sound of music, and, heralded by
troops of singing women the lord
Sinan approached, walking slowly down
the length of the great hall. 1t was
| a strange procession, for after the wo-
men came the aged, white robed dais
then the lord Al-je-bal himself, clad
now in his blood-red, festal robe, and
wearing jewels on his turban.
Around him marched four slaves,
black as ebony, each of whom held a
flaming torch on high, while behind fol-
lowed the two gigantic guards who
had stood sentry over him when he sat
under the canopy of Justice AS he
advanced down the hall every man
in it rose and Frustrated himself, and
so remained until their lord was seat
| ed, save only the two brethren, who
stood erect like the survivors among
the slain of a battle. Settling him
self among the cushions at one end
| of the divan, he waved his hand
whereon the feasters, and with them
Goodwin and Wulf, sat themselves
| down.
Now there was a pause, while Sinan
| glanced along the hall impatently.
Soon the brethren saw why. since at
the end opposite to that by which he
had entered appeared more singing
women, and after them. also escorted
by four black torch-bearers, only these
were women, walked Rosamund, and,
/ behind her, Masouda.
Rosamund it was without doubt, but
Rosamund transformed, for now she
seemed an Eastern queen. Round her
head was a coPonet of gems from
! which hung a veil. but not so as to
hide her face. Jewelled, too, were her
heavy plaits of hair, jewelled the rose
silk garments that she wore, the gir-
die at her waist, her naked ivory
arms and even the slippers on her feet.
| AS she approached in her royal-look-
ing beauty all the guests at that
strange feast stared first at her and
next at each other. Then as though
by a single impulse they rose and
bowed.
What can this mean?" muttered
Wulf to Goodwin as they did likewise.
But Goodwin made no answer.
On came Rosamund, and now, be-
hold! the lord Al-je-bal rose also and,
| giving her his hand, seated her by
| him on the diVan
Show no surprise, Wulf," muttered
! Goodwin, who had caught a warning
look in the eyes of Masouda as she
took UP her position behind Rosa
mund.
Now the feast began. Slaves run
| ming to and fro, set dish after dish
filled with strange and savory meats,
upon the little inlaid tables, those that
were served to Sinan and his guests
fashioned, all of them. of silver or of
| gold
Goodwin and wulf ate, though not
for hunger's sake, but of what they
ate they remembered nothing who
were watching Sinan and straining
their ears to catch all he said without
seeming to take note or listen. AL
though she strove to hide 1t and to
appear Indifferent it was plain to them
that Rosamund was much afraid.
Again and again Sinan presented to
i her cnOlCe mOrSelS or 1000, sometimes
on the dishes and sometimes with his
fingers, and these she was obliged to
| take. All the while also he devoured
her with his fierce eyes so that she
shrank away from him to the furthest
limit of the divan.
Then wine, perfumed and spiced,
was brought in golden cups, of which,
having drunk, he offered to Rosamund.
| But she shook her head and asked Ma
SCUBA for water, saying that she touch
\ ed nothing stronger, and II was given
| her, cooled with snow. The brethren
| asked for water also, wherein Sinan
looked at them suspiciously and de-
manded the reason. Goodwin replied
through Masouda that they were un-
der an oath to touch no wine till they
returned TO their own country, having
fulfilled their mission. To this he an
swered meaningly that 1t was good and
right to keep oaths, but he feared that
theirs would make them water drink
ers for the rest of their lives, a saying
at which their hearts sank
Now the wine that he had drunk
| took hold of Sinan, and he began to
I talk who without II was so silent.
you met the Frank Lozelle to-day"
he said to Goodwin. when riding in
my gardens and drew your sword on
! him. Why did you not kill him? Is
he the better MANI"
1T seems not. as / sit here unhurt.
| lord" answered Goodwin. Your serv-
ants thrust between and separated
| u.s."
Ave ranltaa gfuan ssT reunan,her.