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

ranged, kept back from its center bv
lines of guards. On the fat rooted
houses also they were crowded thick
as swarming bees, on the circling walls,
and on the battlements that protect
ed the far end of the bridge, and the
houses of the outer city. Before the
bridge, was low gateway, and upon
it's roof sat the Al-je-bal, clad in his
scarlet robe of festival. and by his
side, the moonlight cleaning on her
Jewels, Rosamund. In front, draped in
rich garment, a dagger of gems in
her dark hair, stood the interpreter
or mouth" Masouda, and behind were
dais and guards.
The brethren rode to the space be-
fore the arch and halted, saluting with
their pennoned spears. Then from the
further side approached another pro-
cession, which, opening, revealed the
knight Lozelle riding on his great
black horse, and a huge man and a
fierce he seemed in his armour.
What" he shouted, glowering at
them. Am l to fight one against two?
Is this your chivalry?"
NAY, nay, Sir Traitor" answered
Wulf. May, nay. betrayer of Chris
tan maids to the power of the heath
it is the turn of Wulf. Kill Wulf and
Goodwin remains. Kill Goodwin and God
remains. Knave, you look your last
upon the moon.''
Lozell heard. and seemed to go mad
with rage, or fear, or both.
Lord Sinan.'' he shouted in Arabic,
this is murder. Am l, who have done
you so much service, to be murdered
for your pleasure by the lovers of that
honor w
the name of wife?"
Sinan heard, and started at him with
dull, angry eyes.
AYE you may stare" went on the
maddened Lozelle, "but it is true-they
are her lovers, not her brothers. Would
men take so much pains for sisters
sake, think you? Would they swim
into this net of yours for a sisters
saka?"
Sinan held up his hand for silence.
LET the lots be cast" he said,
for whatever these men are,
this fight must go on, and it shall be
fair"
So a dai, standing by himself, cast
lots upon the ground, and having read
them, announced Lozelle must run the
first course from the further side of
the bridge. Then one took his bride
to lead him across. AS he passed the
brethren he grinned in their faces and
said:
AT least this is sure, you also look
your last upon the moon. l am aven-
ed already. The bait that hooked
me is a meal for yonder pike, and he
will kill you both before her eyes to
sharp his appetite" .
But the brethren answered nothing.
The black horse of Lozelle grew dim
in the distance of the moonlit bridge,
and vanished beneath the farther arch
way that led to the outer city. Then
a herald cried Masouda translating
his words, which another herald echo
ed from beyond the gulf.
Thrice will the trumpets blow. At
the third blast of the trumpets the
knights shall charge and meet in the
center of the bridge. Thenceforward
they may fight as it pleases them,
ahorse, or afoot, with lance, with
sword, or with dagger, but to the van
pushed no mercy will be shown. If
he be brought living from the bridge,
living he shall be cast into the gulf.
Hear the decree of the Al-je-bal!"
Then Wulf's horse was led forward
to the entrance of the bridge, and
from the further side was led forward
the horse of Lozelle.
Good luck, brother" said Goodwin,
as he passed him. would that
rode this course instead of you"
Your turn may come. brother" an
swered the grim Wulf, as ne set ms
lance in rest.
Now from some neighbouring tower
peeled out the first long blast OF
trumpets, and dead silence fell on all
The multitude. Grooms came forward
to look TO girth and bride and stirrup
strap, but Wulf waved them back.
81 mind my own harness" he said.
The second blast blew, and he zoos
ened the great sword in it's scabbard'
the sword that had famed in his Tor
bears hand upon the turrets OF Jeru-
salem.
your gift" he cried back to Rosa
mund, and her answer came clear and
sweet: :.
Bear it like your fathers, Wult;;
Bear it as it was last borne In the nan
at Steeple.''
Then there was another silence-a
silence long and deep. Wult looked
at the white and narrow ribbon OF
the bridge. looked at the black gulf
on either side, looked at the blue SKY
above, in which fioated the great globe
OF the golden moon. Then he leant
forward and patted Smoke upon the
neck
For the third time the trumpets
blew, and from either end OF that
bridge, two hundred PAGES long, the
knights flashed toward each other IKE
living bolts of steel. The multitude
rose to watch; even Slnan rose. only
Rosamund sat still. gripping the cush-
ions with her hands. Hollow rang the
hoofs OF the horses upon the stone
work, swifter and swifter they new,
lower and lower bent the knights upon
their saddles. Now they were near
and now they met. The spears SEEM
ed to shiver, the horses to hustle to-
gether on the narrow way and over
hang its edge, then on came the black
horse towards the inner CITY, ana on
sped Smoke towards the turther
gulf
They have passed. They have pass
edl'' roared the multitude.
Look Lozelle approached, reeling IN
his saddle. as well he might Tor the
helm was torn from his head and blood
poured from his skull where the rance
had grazed IT,
Too high, wulf: too high" said
Goodwin sadly. But OH IL those lances
had but heidi"
Soldiers caught the horse and turn
ed H. :,
Another helml" cried Lozelle.
Nay" answered Sinan, 'yonder
knight has lost his shield. New lances-
that Is all"
so they gave him a fresh lance. and
presently. al the blast Of the trumpets,
again the horses were seen speeding
together over the narrow way They
met, ana lol Lozelle torn from his sad
Ole, but aiill clinging 10 tho reins'
was flung backwards, far backwards
10 fall on the atOnewOrk ~ the bridge.
bown. too, beneath the mighty shock