The Savannah morning news., 1904-12-18

An9Wledge the emblem of murder and
we DOW TO you whose title is the Great
murderer. As for our mission, it is
this. We are the ambassadors of Sa-
ian-ed-din, Commander of the Faith
Iul, sultan of the East in these pa
pers signed with his signet are creden-
tails, if you would read them"
so, answered Sinan, Il have heard
OF that chief. What is his will with
me?"
This. Alje-bal. A Frank in your
pay and traitor, has betrayed to you
a certain lady, niece of Salah-ed-d din.
the princess of Baalbec, whose father
was Frankish noble named DARCY
and who herself is named Rose of
the World. The Sultan, Salah-ed-din
having been informed of this matter
by his servant, the Prince Hassan,
who escaped from your soldiers, de-
mands that this lady, his niece, be
delivered to him forthwith. and with
her the head of the Frank Lozelle."
The head of the Frank Lozelle he
may have if he will after tomorrow
night. The lady 1 keep" snarled ST.
/ nan. What them
Then, Al-je-bal. in the name of
Salah-ed-din, we declare war on you
! war till this high place of yours is
pulled stone from stone; war till your
/ tribe be dead till the last man, wom-
an. and child be slain, until your car
cass is tossed to the crows to feed on"
! Now Sinan rose in his fury and rent
at his beard.
Go back" he said, 'and tell that
! dog you name a sultan, that low as
he is, the humble-born son of Ayoub.
| /, Al-je-bal do him an honor that he
; does not deserve. My queen is dead,
! and two days from now. when my
! month of mourning is expired, l shall
F.: take to Wife his niece, the Princess of
; Baalbec, who sits here beside me, my
, bride elect
! At these words, Rosamund, who had
| been listening intently, started like
one who has been stung by a snake.
J put her hands before her face and
| groaned.
Princess" said the ambassador, who
was watching her, you seem to un-
derstand our language; is this your
will, to mate your noble blood with
that of the hereto chief of the assas-
! sins?''
Nay, nay." she cried TT is no will
of mine who am a helpless prisoner
| and by faith a Christian. If my un-
) Gle Salah-ed-din is indeed as great as
J 1 have heard, then let him show his
! power and deliver me, and with me
these my brethren, the knights Sir
| Goodwin and Sir Wulf."
80 you speak Arabic" said Sinan.
! Good; our loving converse will be
, easier and for the rest-well. the
whims of women change. Now, you
messengers of Salah- ed-din, begone,
! lest I send you on a longer journey,
! and tell your master that if he dares
to lift his standards against my
walls my fedais shall speak with him.
| By day and by night, not for one mo-
; ment shall he be safe. Poison shall
| Turk in his cup and a dagger in his
bed. Let him kill a hundred of them,
| and another hundred shall appear
] His most trusted guards shall be his
| executioners. The women in his har-
! EN- shall bring him to his doon1-aye
| death shall be in the very air he
| breathes If he would escape it, there
| fore, let him hide himself within the
| walls of his city of Damascus, OF
amuse himself with wars against the
mad Cross-worshippers and leave me
to live in peace with this lady whom
| / have chosen"
| Great words. worthy of the Great
| Assassin" said the ambassador
Great words in truth which shall
/ be followed by great deeds. What
| chance has this lord of yours against
nation sworn to obey to the death
| You smile? Then come hither you
and you,'' And he summoned two OF
his dais by name.
They rose and bowed before him.
| Now, my worthy servants" he said
"Show these hereto dogs how you
obey, that their master may learn the
/ power of your master You are old
! and weary of life Begone, and await
| me in paradise"
The old men bowed again, trembling
| little. Then, Strengthening them
| selves, without a word they ran side
| by side and leapt into the abyss.
| HAS Saiah-ed-din servants such as
| these?" asked Sinan in the silence that
| followed. well, what they have done
all would do, if I bid them slay him
| Back now; and, If you will, take these
Franks with you, who are my guests
that thew may bear witness of what
you have seen. and of the state in
| which you left their sister. Translate
to the knights. woman"
So Masouda translated. Then Goodwin
| answered through her.
1--WE understand little of this matter
who are ignorant of your tongue, but
| o Al-je-bal, ere we leave your shell
| tering roof we have a quarrel to set
tie with the man Lozelle. After that
| with your permission, we will go, but
not before
Now Rosamund sighed as II in relief
| and Slnan answered:
"As you will; so be IT," adding, "Give
these ENJOYS food and drink before
| they 60"
But their spokesman answered.:
1--WE Dartake not of the bread and
| wine of murderers, lest we should be-
| come of their fellowship. Al-je-bal
we depart. but within a week we re-
| appear again in the company Of ter
| thousand spears. and on one of then
shall your head be set. Your safe.
conduct guards us until the sunset
| After that, do your worst. as we dc
ours. High princess, our counsel Il
YOU is that you slay yourself and Sc
gain an immortal honor" Then. bow.
ing to her one by one, they turned
and marched down the terrace follow.
ed by their servants.
Now Sinan waved his hand and tho
court broke up. Rosamund leaving Il
hrst. accompanied by Masouda and
escorted by guards. after which thu
brethren were commanded to depar
| also.
So they went, talking earnestly o
all these things, but finding no hop'
save in God.
CHAPTER XIV.
THE COMBAT ON THE BRIDGE
"saladin will come" said Wulf thu
hopeful. and from the high place where
he stood he pointed 10 the plain be