The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1904-11-27
CONTINUED from Last Sundays News.)
CHAPTER XII.
THE cry OF AL-JE-BAL.

"lrOuDlG. 0Ols Sdtu GOuWuls IL Is
but a scratch from the beasts claws.
am ashamed that you should put
YOUR hair to such vile uses. Give me
a little water. I pray YOU"
Masouda arose without word and
fetched him water in which she min
gled wine. He drank of it and his
faintness left him, so that he was
able to stand up and move his arms
and legs.
why" he said, ut is nothing; I was
only shaken. That lioness did not hurt
me at ALL
But you hurt the lioness," said
Wulf, with laugh. by St. Chad!
good thrust" and he pointed to the
Ions sword driven up to the hilt
through the brute's breast. why, 1
swear, 1 could not have made bet
ter myself"
Il think it was the lion that thrust"
answered Goodwin. II only held the
sword straight. Drag it out, brother,
| am still too weak"
So Wulf set his foot upon the breast
of the lion and tugged and tugged un-
til at length he loosened the sword,
saying as he strained at it:
oh! what an Essex hog am I. who
slept through it all, never waking I'M
til Masouda seized me by the hair, and
I opened my eyes to see you upon the
ground with this yellow beast crouched
on the top of you like a hen on a
nest egg. l thought that it was alive
and smote 1t with my sword, which,
had l been fully awake. l doubt if l
should have the courage to do. Look"
and he pushed the lioness' head with
his foot. whereon 1t twisted round in
such a fashion that they perceived for
the shoulders by thread of skin.
Il am glad you did not smite a little
harder" said Goodwin, "or should
now be in two pieces and drowned in
my own blood. instead of that of this
dead brute" and he looked ruefully at
his burnous and hauberk, which were
soaked with gore.
of that. Who would in such a hurry?"
Lady Masouda," said Goodwin,
when last l saw you you were hang
ing from those jaws. Say. are you
hurt ?"
Nay" she answered. "for I wear
mail like you, and the teeth glanced
on it so that she held me by the cloak
only. Come, 1t us skin the beast, and
take its pelt as present to the lord
Alje-bal''
Good said Goodwin. land 1 give
you the claws for necklace"
II will wear thenl." she answered,
and helped Wulf fay the lioness while
he sat by resting. When it was done
Wulf went to the little cave and
walked into it. to come out again with
a bound.
"Why' he said. there are more of
them in there. l saw their eyes and
heard them snarl. Now, give me
burning branch and will show you,
brother that you are not the only one
who can fight lion."
Let be, you foolish man." broke in
Masouda. Doubtless those are her
cubs and if you STAY them her mate.
will follow us for miles,: but if they
are left safe he will stay to feed them.
Come let us begone from this place
as swiftly as we cam"
So having shown them the skin of
the lion, that they might know it was
but dead thing, at the sight of which
they snorted and trembled, they pack
ed 1t upon one of the mules and rode
off slowly into a valley some five miles
away where was water but no trees.
Here, since Goodwin needed rest. they
stopped all that day and the night
which followed seeing no more of
lions, though they watched for them
sharply enough. The next morning,
having slept well, he was himself
again, and they started forward
through broken country towards
deep cleft, on either side of which
stood a tall mountain.
This is Al-je-bals gateway" said
Masouda, and tonight we should
sleep in the gate, whence one days
ride brings us to his city"
Soon they rode till at length, perch
ed upon the sides of the cleft, they
saw castle, a great building with
high walls, to which they came at
sunset. 1t seemed that they were
in
tened to meet them, who greeted Ma
SCUBA and eyed the brethren curiously,
especially after they had heard of the
adventure with the lion. These took
them not into the castle, but to a kind
of hostelry at it's back where they
were furnished with food and slept the
night.
Next morning they went on again
10 billy country with beautiful and
fertile valleys. Through this they rode
Tor two hours, passing on their way
several villages, where sombre-eyed
people were laboring' in the fields.
From each village, as they drew near
to it, horsemen would gallop out and
challenge them, whereon Masouda
rode forward and spoke with the
leader alone. Then he would touch
his forehead with his hand and bow
his head and they rode on unmolested.
'See," she said when they had been
stopped Tor the fourth time, what
chance you had of winning through
to Masyaf alone. Why, l tell you,
brethren, that you would have been
dead before ever you passed the gates
Of the first castle"
Now they rode up a long slope, and
at its crest paused to look upon
marvellous scene. Below them stretch
ed vast plain, full of villages, corn
nelds, olive groves and vineyards. In
the center of this plain, some fifteen
miles away, rose a great mountain,
which seemed to be walled all about.
within the wall was a city of which
the white. fiat-roofed houses climbed
the slopes Of the mountain, and on its
crest fiat space of land covered with
trees and a great, many-towered castle
surrounded by more houses.
Behold the home of Al-je-bal. Lord
OF the Mountain" said Masouda,
Wnere we must sleep tonight. Now,
Drethren, listen to me. Few strangers
VINO enter that castle come thence liv-
ing. There is still time; can pass
you back as passed you hither. VIII
You 20 on?"
We will go on" they answered with
one breath.
why? What have you to gain? You
seek certain maiden. Why seek her
mere whom YOU say has been taken
py Salah-ed-din? Because the Allie
pal OF bygone days swore to befriend
one or your blood. But that Allie
Ia