The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1904-11-27

they drew near. These were found well
fed and tended indeed. a company of
the grooms were gathered round them,
discussing their points and beauty,
who saluted as the owners of such
steeds approached. Leaving the stalls,
they passed through an archway into
the famous gardens. which were said
to be the most beautiful in all the
East. Beautiful they were indeed, for
here grew trees, shrubs and flowers
such as had never been seen. while
between fern-clad rocks flowed spark
ling rills which fell over deep cliffs
in waterfalls of foam. In places the
shade of cedars lay so dense that the
light of day was changed to twilight,
but in others the ground was open and
carpeted with flowers which filled the
air with heavy perfume. Everywhere
grew roses. myrtles and trees laden
with rich fruits. while from all sides
came the sound of cooling doves and
the voices of the bright-winged birds
which flashed from palm to palm.
On they walked down the sand
strewn paths for a mile or more. ac-
companied by Masouda and the guard.
At length, passing through brake of
whispering, reed-like plants, of a sud-
den they came to low wall, and saw
y
feet, that vast cleft which they had
crossed before they entered the castle.
1T encircles the inner city, the fort
ress, and its grounds" said Masouda,
''and who lives to-day that could throw
bridge across 1t? Now come back"
So, following the gulf round, they re-
turned to the castle by another path,
and were ushered into an ante-room,
where stood a watch of twelve men.
Here Masouda left them in the midst
of the men, who stared at them with
stony eyes. Presently she returned,
and beckoned to them to follow her.
; Walking down a long passage they
came to curtains in front of which
stood two scntries. who drew these
curtains as they approached. Then,
side by side, they entered a great hall,
long as Stangate Abbey Church, and
passed through a number of people, all
crouched upon the ground. Beyond
them the hall narrowed as a chancel
does.
Here sat and stood more people,
flerce-eyed, turbaned men, who wore
great knives in their girdles. These,
as they learned afterwards, were call
ed the fedai, the sworn assassins, who
lived but to do the command of their
lord the great Assassin. At the end
of this chancel were more curtains,
beyond which was q guarded door. IL
opened, and on it's further side they
found themselves in full sunlight on
an unwalled terrace, surrounded by the
mighty gulf into which it was built
out. On the right and left edges of
this terrace sat old and bearded men,
twelve in number their heads bowed
humbly and their eyes fixed upon the
ground, who were the dais or council
lors.
At the head of the terrace, under an
open and beautifully carved pavilion
of wood, stood two gigantic soldiers
having the red dagger blazoned on
their white robes. Between them was
black cushion. and on the cushion
a black heap. At first, staring out
of the sunlight at this heap in the
shadow the brethren wondered what il
might be. Then they caught sight
Of the glitter of eyes. and knew THAT
the head was q man who wore q black
turban on his head and a black, bell
shaped robe clasped about his throat
with a red jewel. The weight Of the
man had sunk him down deep into the
solf cushion, so that there was nothing
of him to be seen save the folds of
the bell-shaDed cloak, the red Jewel,
and the head. He looked like a coll
ed-up snake; the dark and glittering
eyes also were those of a snake. OF
his features, in the deep shade of the
canopy and the wide black turban.
they could see nothing.
The aspect of this figure was so ter
rible and inhuman that the brethren
trembled at the sight of him. They
were men and he was a man. but be-
tween that huddled beady-eyed heap
and those two tall Western warriors,
clad in their cleaning mail and col
ored cloaks, helm on brow. buckler on
arm. and long sword at side, the con-
trast was that of death and life.
CSonti,,,ad l., Nyox+ es,,rda,,,. NJ.