The Savannah morning news., 1904-12-11

The brethren and Rosamund looked
at each other, for having so much to
say it seemed that they could not
speak. Then with a low cry Rosa
mund said:
''Oh, let us thank God, Who, after
all these black months of travel and
of danger, has thus brought US to-
gether again." and kneeling down
there together in the guest hall of the
lord of Death, they gave thanks earn
estly enough.
Then, moving to the center of the
chamber where they thought that none
would hear them, they began to speak
in low voices and in English.
Tell you your tale first, Rosamund,'
said Goodwin.
She told it as shortly as she could,
they listening without a word
Then Goodwin spoke and told her
theirs. Rosamund listened, and asked
a question almost in a whisper
why does that beautiful dark-eyed
woman befriend your"
Il do not know" answered Goodwin.
unless it is because of the accident
of my having saved her from the
lion."
Rosamund looked at him and smiled
a little, and Wulf smiled also Then
she said:
Blessings be on that lion and all
it's tribe! L pray that she may not
soon forget the deed, for it seems that
our lives hang upon her favor How
strange is this story, and how desper-
ate our case! How strange also that
you should have come on hither
against her counsel, which, seeing
what we have, think was honest"
I'VE were led" answered Goodwin.
Your father had wisdom at has
death. and saw what we could not
Sea-"
Aye" added wifi "but I would
that it had been in some other place.
for fear this lord AI-je-baI at whose
nod men hupl themselves to death"
He is hateful answered Rosa
nsund, with a shudder: worse even
than the knight Lozelle, and when he
fxsS his eyes on me, my heart grows
sick. Ohl that we could escape this
plAcei"
IAN ell in an osier tran has moro
chance Of freedom said Wulf, gloom
NY Let us at least be thankful that
We are Gagged together-for how long.
wonder
AS he spoke Masouda appeared. at
tended by waiting women, and, bowling
70 Rosamund, said:
IT is the will of the Master, lady.
tb1dL lcdO you TO the chambers that
have been made ready for YOU. there
20 rest until the hour of the feast.
Fear not; you shall meet your bretn-
rem then. You knights have leave, if
IT so pleases you, to exercise your
pqTSes in the garden. They stand sad
died IN the courtyard, to which this
woman will bring you," and she point
ed to one Of those two maids who had
cleaned the armour, land with them
are guides and an escort"
She means that We must CO." NUT
tered Goodwin, adding aloud, fare
well, sister, until Tonight"
So they parted, unwilIingly enough.
In the courtyard they found the
horses Flame and Smoke, as they had
oeen told, also mounted escort of
-FOUR rerce-looking fedaiss and an Off
Ger When they were in the saddle,
this man, motioning to them to fol-
low him, passed by an archway out
OF the courtyard into the gardens.
Hence ran broad road strewn with
send, along which he began gallop.
This road followed the gulf which en-
cEcled the citadel and inner town of
Masyaf, that was, as it were, an is
land on mountain top with a cir
cumference Of over three miles.
AS they went, the gulf always on
their right hand, holding in their
horses to prevent their passing that
OF the guide, swift as it was, they saw
another troop approaching them This
was also preceded by an officer of the
Assassins, as these servants of Allie
bal were called by the Franks. and
behind him, mounted on a splendid
coal-blaclx steed and followed by
guards, rode a mail-clad Frankish
knight
1T is Lozelle." said wulf, upon
the horse that Sinan promised him."
Al the sight of the man fury took
hold of Goodwin. With a shout of
warning he drew his sword Lozelle
saw, and out leapt his blade in an
swer. Then sweeping past the officers
VINO were with them and refining up
their steeds, in a second they were
FACE to face. Lozelle struck first and
Goodwin caught the stroke upon his
puckler, but before he could return It
the fedais Of either party rushed be-
tween them and thrust them asun.
der.
"A pity" said Goodwin, as they
dragged his horse away. Had they
left US alone 1 think. brother 1 might
nave saved you moonlight duel"
That I do not want to miss, but
the chance at his head was good If
those fellows would have let you take
1t, answered Wulf rehectively.
Then the horses began to 'gallop
again, and they saw no more of Lozelle.
Now, slSirting the edge of. the town,
they came to the narrow, wall-less
bridge that spanned the gulf between
IL and the outer gate and city. Here
the officer wheeled his horse and, beck
ohlng 10 them to follow, charged 1t
at full gallop. After him went the
prethren-Godwin first. then Wulf. In
the deep gateway on the further side
they refined up. The captain turned,
ana began to gallop back faster than
ne had come-as fast, indeed, as his
good beast would travel.
Pass him!" cried Goodwin, and shak-
ing the reins loose upon the neck OF
Flame he called to il aloud.
Forward 1t sprang. with Smoke at
us heels. Now they had overtaken
the captain, and now even on that
narrow way they had swept past him.
Not an inch was there to spare be-
tween them and the abyss, and the
man, brave as he was. expecting TO
De thrust to death. chung TO his horses
name with terror I'm his eyes. on the
city side the brethren pulled up laugh
ing among the astonished fedais who
had waited for them there.
BY the Signet." cried the officer.
thinking that the knights could not
understand, these are not men; they
are devils, and their horses are goats
or the mountains. / thought 10 fright
en- them. but it's I who was frighten-
or the air"
Gallant riders and swift. weli-train-
Is - "a .l