The Savannah morning news., 1904-12-04
THE LORD OF DEATH.

Masouda ran forward and prostrated
herself at full length, but Goodwin and
Wulf stared at the heap, and the heap
stared at them. Then, some motion of
mis- chin, Masouda rose and said:
Strangers, you stand in the pres
cree of the Master, Sinan, Lord of
Death. Kneel, and do homage to the
Master
But the brethren stiffened their
backs and would not kneel. They lifted
their hands to their brows in salute
and no more.
Then from between the black turban
and the black cloak came a hollow
voice, speaking in Arabic, and saying:
Are these the men who brought me
the lions skin? Well, what seek ye,
Franks?"
They stood silent
Dread lord" said Masouda, these
knights are but now come from Eng
land over sea, and do not understand
our tongue"
set out their story and their re-
quest" said Al-je-bal, that We may
Judge of them."
Dread lord" answered Masouda, |
as l sent you word, they say they |
are the kin of certain knight who in |
battle saved the life of him who ruled |
before you, but is now an inhabitant |
OF paradise.
knight" said the voice. He was
named Darcy and he bore the same |
cognizance on his shield-the sign of |
the skull
Lord, these brethren are also named |
Darcy, and now them come to ask |
Ill ~,
At that name the heap stirred as a |
snake stirs when it hears danger,
and the head erected itself little be-
meath the great turban.
What help and why?" asked the
voice.
Lord. Salah-ed-din has stolen a
woman of their house who is his niece,
and these knights, her brothers, ask
YOU to aid them to recover her."
The beady eyes instantly became in
terested.
Report has been made to me of
that story" said the voice; but what
sign do these Franks show? He who
went before me gave a ring, and with
it certain rights in this land, to the
knight, Darcy, who befriended him
in danger. Where is that ring, with
which he parted in his foolishness?'
Masouda translated, and seeing the
warning in her eyes and remembering
her words. the brethren shook their
heads, while Wulf answered:
our uncle, the knight Sir Andrew,
was cut down by the soldiers of Salah-
ed-din, and before he died bade us
seek you out. What time had he to
tell us of any ring?"
The head sank upon the breast.
Il hope" said Sinan to Masouda,
that they had the ring, and it was
for this reason, woman, that 1 allowed
you to lead these knights hither, after
you had reported of them and their
quest to me from Beirut. 1t is not
we'll that there should be two sacred
Signets in the world, and he who went
before me, when he lay dying, charged
me to recover his if that were possible.
Let them go back to their own land
and return to me with the ring, and
will help them"
Masouda translated the last sentence
only and again the brethren shook
their heads. This time it was Goodwin
who spoke.
Our land is far away, o lord. and
where shall we find this long-lost ring?
Let not our journey be in vain. o
mighty One, give us justice against
Salah-ed-din.
All my years have sought justice
OF Salah-ed-din,'' answered Sinan,
and yet he prevails against me. Go,
Franks, and bring me his head, and
We will talk again"
When they heard this saying, Wulf
said to Goodwin in English:
think that we had best go; l do
not IKE this company" But Goodwin
made no answer.
AS they stood silent thus, not know
ing what to say, a man entered
through the door, and, throwing him
sen on his hands and knees. crawled
towards the cushion through the double
line OF councillors or dais.
your report" said Sinan in Arabic.
Lord" answered the man, "I ac-
quaint you that your will has been
gone IN the matter of the vessel" Then
nc went on speaking in a low voice, so
,apluly that the brethren could scarce
~ near and much less understand him.
olnan listened. then said:
Let the fedai enter and make his
Oners" ans piis-
Now one Of the dais, he who sat
nearest the canopy, rose and, pointing
HImar1s the brethren, said, "Touching
'ngse franks, what is your will?"
me beady eyes, which seemed to
seafoh out their souls, fixed themselves
@ upon them and for a long while Sinan
Cohsldered. They trembled. lxnowino-
that ne was passing some Judgment
oo"Serhlng them in his heart, and that
on M ms next words much might hang
even their lives.
Let them stay here" he said ar
them" t~es'iohs 10 ask
for time there was silence. Sfnan.
!1ru or Death, seemed to be lost in
Suiiousht under the black shadow of
ad ,.is canopy; the double line of dais star
at nothingness across the passage
stoS, SS, tne giant guards stood still as
ssealues; Masouda watched the brethren
.t iom beneath her long eye-lashes. while
e brethren watched the sharp edge
~ the shadow of the canopy on the
nlaroie hoor. They strove to seem nm
IIoncerned, but their hearts were beat
.ls 1ast within them who felt that
1eat things were about to happen.
not Aiisae De they knew
f,,1 90 intense was the silence, SO dread
% uI seemed that inhuman. snake-Iil|e
"ah' so strange his aged. nassioniess
s',rrn,i.rs, and the place OF council
toai, iounoed by dizzy gulf, that fear
e,,n N a nold or them like the fear OF an
I'm IN 4ream. Goodwin wondered II Slnan
hIa see the ring upon his breast and
eat would happen TO him II he ala
~ while Wulf longed to shout
,hPuu' o. 10 do anything that would break
ls deathly, sunlit quiet To them
1luse minutes seemed like hours. In
hISeu' Tor aught they knew, they might
nave been hours.
~ length there was n atfr babf,a