The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1904-11-06
THE BRETHREN
A Romance of the CusadeS
from Last Sundays New,
BY H. RIDER HAGGARD

fire.. and gripping the encircling sad
die girth. he uttered some word Of
command, at which tho stations threw
Up their heads and began to move at
long, swinging gallop towards the
mountains mile away At first they
went over cultivated land off which
the crops had already been cut, Strik-
ing two or three bitches and a low
vail in their stride so smoothly that
the brethren felt as though they were
seated upon swallows. Then came a
space of sandy sward, half a mile or
more, where their pace quickened, aft
er which they began to breast the long
slope of a hill, picking their way
amongst its stones like cats. Ever
sleeper II grew, till In places it was so
sheer that Goodwin must clutch the
name of Flame, and Masouda must
cling close to Godwins middle to save
themselves from slipping off behind.
Yet notwithstanding the double
weights they bore, those gallant steeds
never seemed to falter or to tire. At
one spot they plunged through
mountain stream. Goodwin noted that
not fifty yards to their right this
stream fell over a little precipice cut
full eighteen feet from bank to bank,
and thought to himself that had they
struck II lower down, that ride must
have ended. Beyond the stream lay
a hundred yards or so of level ground,
and above it still sleeper country, up
which they pushed their way through
bushes, till at length they came to
the top of the mountain and saw the
plain they had left lying two miles or
more below them.
These horses climb hills like goats"
Wulf said; but one thing is certain:
we must lead them down"
Now on the top of the mountain
was a stretch Of land almost fat and
stoneless, over which they cantered
forward, gathering speed as the horses
recovered their wind till the pace grew
fast. Suddenly the stations threw
themselves on to their launches and
stopped, as well they might, for they
were ON the verge of a chasm, at
whose far foot a river brawled in
white foam. For a moment they stood;
then, at some word from the Arab,
wheeled round, and, bearing to the left,
began to gallop back across the ia
bleand, until they approached the
edge of the mountainside, where the
brethren thought they would stop.
But Masouda cried to the Arab, and
the ATdD CTlGQ 10 lllC llOlSCSJ anu
Wulf cried to Goodwin in the English
tongue:
"Show no fear, brother. Where they
go, we can 60"
pray God that the girts may hold"
answered Goodwin, leaning back against
the breast of Masouda behind him.
AS he spoke they began to descend the
hill, slowly at first, afterwards faster
and yet more fast, till they rushed
downwards like a whirlwind.
How did those horses keep their
footing? They never knew, and
certainly none that were bred in
England could have done so. Yet never
falling never stumbling even, on they
sped, taking great rocks in their stride,
till at length they reached the level
piece Of land above the stream, or
rather above the cleft fully eighteen
feet in width at the foot of which that
stream ran. Goodwin saw and turned
cold. Where these folk mad that they
would put double-laden horses at such
a jump? If they hung back, if they
missed their stride, If they caught hoof
or sprang short, swift death was their
portion.
But the old Arab seated behind Wulf
only shouted aloud, and Masouda only
frightened her round arms about God
wins middle and laughed in his ear.
The horses heard the shout, and SEEM
ing to see what was before them,
stretched out their long necks and
rushed forward over the fiat ground.
Now they were on the edge of the
terrible place, and like a man in a
dream, Goodwin noted the sharp, sheer
lips of the cliff, the gulf between them,
and the white foam of the stream a
score of years beneath. Then he felt
the bravo 6orca ITIar1aa oafbAy ffaaIf to
gether and next instant fly into the air
like bird. Also-and was this dream
Indeed, for even as they sped over that
horrible pit did he feel a woman's lips
pressed upon his cheek? He was not
sure. Who could have been as such a
time, with death beneath them? Per-
chance it was the wind that kissed him,
or a lock Of her loose hair that struck
across his face. Indeed. at the moment
ne thought of other things than wom-
ems lips-those of the black and yaw-
hing gulf, for instance.
They swooped through the air, the
white foam vanished they were safe
NO; the hind feet of Flame had miss
ed their footing, they fell, they were
lost. A struggle. How tight those
arms chung about him own. How
close that face was pressed against his
own. 10! it was over They were
speeding down the hill, and alongside
OF the grey horse Flame. raced the
Olack horse Smoke. Wulf. on it's back,
with eyes that seemed to be starting
rom his head. shouting. "A Darcy!
DARCY" and behind him, urban
gone. and white burnous floating like
pennon on the air. the grim -visaged
ARAB, who also shouted. Swifter and
yet swifter. Did ever horses gallop
SO Fast? swifter and yet swifter, till
Nhe air sang past them and the ground
seemed to fly away beneath. Tho
slope was done. They were on the nat;
me nat was past. they were In the
neios; the fields were left behind; and,
peholdl side by side. with hanging
reads and painting TANKS, the horses
oIn9ke and Flame stood still upon the
ioad their sweating hides dyed red
"' me light Of the sinking sun.
ne "Trip loosened from about God
swlhs middle. II had been close: on
Masouda's round and naked arms were
,ne prints Of the steel shirt beneath
~ tunic. for she slipped TO the ground
30 stood looking at them. Then she
slalled ono OF her slow thrilling smiles
Sasped and said:
rou ride well, pilgrim Peter. and
RHErim John rides we'll also, and these
good horses: and. OH that ride
es worth the riding, even though
GGceth had been It's end. Son OF the
ana my Uncle what say your
mat grow old for such gailops--
win" 's ~
Do, Nothing to winY' said Masouda
= am not 50 surel" and she looked at
gouWln. We'll. you have sold your