The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1904-12-25

Sinan stared at them and stroked
his beard, While they trembled, wait
ing for the word of fate.
1t came.
Good. So be it. Tomorrow wed
the lady Rose of Roses, and you two
her brothers-shall give her to me.
as is fitting" and he sneered. Then
also you shall receive the reward of
valour-a great reward, 1 promise
you"
While he spoke Goodwin, staring up
ward, had noted little wandering
cloud floating across the moon. Slow
ly it covered it, and the place grew
dim.
Now" he whispered, and bowling to
the Al-je-bal, they pushed their horses
through the open gate where the mob
closed in on them, thus for a little
while holding back the escort from fol-
lowing on their heels. They spoke to
Flame and Smoke, and the good horses
plunged onward side by side, sep
arating the crowd as the prows of
boats separate the water. In ten PAGES
it grew thin, in thirty it was behind
them, for all folk were gathered about
the archway where they could see,
| and none beyond. Forward they cam
tered, till the broad road turned to the
left, and in that faint light they were
| hidden.
Away" said Goodwin. shaking his
reins.
Forward leapt the horses at speed
Again Goodwin turned, taking that road
which ran round the city wall and
through the gardens, leaving the
guest castle to the left, whereas their
escort followed that whereby they had
| come. which passed through the main
street of the inner town, thinking that
they were ahead of them. Three min
utes more and they were In the lonely
gardens, in which that night no wom-
en- wandered and no neophytes dream
ed in the pavilions.
"Wulf," said Goodwin, as they swept
forward, skimming the turf like swal-
lows, draw your sword and be ready.
Remember the secret cave may be
guarded, and, If so, we must kill or be
killed.
Wulf nodded, and next instant two
long blades flashed in the moonlight,
for the little cloud had passed away
Within hundred PAGES of them rose
the tall rock. but between it and the
mound were two mounted guards They
heard the beating of horses hoofs, and
wheeling about, stared to see two arm
ed knights sweeping down upon them
like a whirlwind. They called to them
few PAGES, as though wondering
whether this were not a vision.
In a moment the brethren were on
them. The soldiers lifted their lances,
but ere they could thrust the sword of
Goodwin had caught one between neck
and shoulder and sunk to his breast
bone, while the sword of Wulf. used
as a spear, had pierced the other
through and through. so that those
| h. he nj
mound, never knowing who had slain
them.
The brethren pulled upon their bril-
dies and spoke to Flame and Smoke.
hating them within a score of yards.
Then they wheeled round and sprang
from their saddles. One of the dead
guards still held the horses reins, ana
the other beast stood by snorting. God
win caught it before it stirred then,
holding all four of them, threw the
key to Wulf and babe him unlock the
door. Soon it was done, although he
staggered at the task; then he held
the horses, while one by one, Goodwin
led them in. and that without trouble.
for the beasts thought that this was
but a cave-hewn stable of a kind to
which they were accustomed.
What of the dead menu" said Wulf.
They had best keep US company
answered NTOuWli, anu, IuiihiiS Oue'
he carried in first one and then the
other.
"Swift!" he said, as he threw down
the second corpse. Shut the door.
I caught sight of horsemen riding
through the trees. Nay, they saw
nothing"
So they locked the massive door and
barred it. and with beating hearts
waited in the dark, expecting every
moment to hear soldiers battering at
its timbers. But no sound came; the
searchers, IL such they were, had pass
ed on to seek elsewhere.
Now while Wulf made shift to fasten
up the horses at the mouth of the cave,
Goodwin gathered stones as large as
he could lift, and piled them up against
the door. till they knew that it would
take many men an hour or more to
break through. For this door was
banded with iron and set fast In the
living rock.