The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1904-11-27


Scarcely were the words out of his
lips when curtains swung aside and
beautiful women entered, clad in gauZy
wells and bearing dishes of food. These
they placed upon the ground before
them, inviting them to eat with mods
and smiles, while others appeared car
rying basins of scented water, which
they poured over their hands. Then
they sat down and ate the food that
was strange to them, but very pleas
ant to the taste; and while they ate,
women whom they could not see sang
sweet songs, and played upon harps
and luteS. Wine was offered to them
also; but of this, remembering Masou-
das words, they would not drink, ask
ing by signs for water, which was
brought after a little pause. When
their meal was done. the beautiful
women bore away the dishes. and
black slaves appeared. These men led
them to baths such as they had never
seen, where they washed first in hot
water, then in cold. Afterwards they
were rubbed with spicy smelling oils.
and having been wrapped in white
robes, brought back to their chamber,
where they found beds spread for
them. On these, being very weary,
they lay down, when a strange, sweet
music broke out afresh. and to the
sound of it they fell asleep.
When they awoke it was to see the
light streaming through the high lat
ticed windows.
Did you sleep well. Godwin?" asked
Wulf.
well enough" answered his broth
er, only I dreamed that throughout
the night folk came and looked at me-"
i dreamed that Also" said Wulf:
moreover, l think that It was not all
| dream qinC6 fharo &c
my bed which was not there when
went to Sleep"
Goodwin looked at his own, where
also was another coverlet added,
doubtless as the night grew colder in
that high place.
Il have heard of enchanted castles"
he said. now 1 think that we have
| found one."
Aye" replied Wulf, land it is well
| enough while it lasts"
They rose and dressed themselves,
| putting on clean garments and their
| best cloaks that they had brought
with them on the mules, after which
| the yelled women entered the room
with breakfast, and they ate. When
| this was finished, having nothing else
| to do, they made signs to one of the
women that they wished for cloths
wherewith to clean their armour, for,
as they had been hidden, they pre-
| tended to understand no word of
| Arabs. She nodded, and presently
returned with a companion carrying
feathers and paste in a jar. Nor did
they leave them, but sitting upon the
| ground, whether the brethren willed
| it or no, took the shirts of mail and
rubbed them till they shone like sill
yer, while Goodwin and Wulf polished
| their helms, spurs, and bucklers,
| cleaning their swords and daggers
also. and sharpening them with a
stone which they carried for that pur-
| pose.
Now as these women worked, they
began to talk to each other in low
voice, and some of their talk though
not all. the brethren understood.
"A handsome pair truly" said the
| first. I'VE should be fortunate If we
| had such men for husbands, although
they are Franks and infidels."
Aye" answered the other, land
| from their likeness they must be
twins. Now which of them would
| you choose?"
Then for long time they discussed
| them, comparing them feature by
| feature and limb by limb, until the
brethren felt their faces grow red be-
| meath the sunburn and scrubbed furi-
| ously at their armour to show a rea-
| son for it. At length one of the wom-
| en- said:
1T was cruel Of Masouda to bring
these. birds into the masters net. She
| might have warned them"
"Masouda as ever cruel" answered
| the, other, who hates all men, which
| is unnatural. Yet I think If she loved
a man she would love him well, and
| perhaps that might be worse for him
than her hate"
Are these knights spies?" asked
the first
IT suppose So" was the answer, SILLY
fellows who think that they can spy
upon a nation of spies. They would
have done better to keep to fighting,
at which, doubtless. they are good
enough. What will happen to them?"
What always happens, / suppose-a
pleasant time at first, then, If they can
be out to no other use. a choice be-
tween the faith and the cup. Or, per-
haps, as they seem men of rank, they
may be imprisoned in the dungeon
tower and held for ransom. Yes, yes;
it was cruel of Masouda to trick them
so, who may be but travellers after
all, desiring to see our city,
Just then the curtain was drawn, and
through it entered Masouda herself.
She was dressed In a white robe that
had a dagger worked in red over the
left breast, and her long black hair fell
upon neT bflOuiucEss dltnOubA IL Whb
half hid by veil, open in front, which
hung from her head. Never had they
seen her look so beautiful as she
seemed thus.
"Greetings, brothers Peter and John.
Is this ut work for pilgrims?" she said
IN French, pointing TO the long swords
which they were sharpening.
AYE" answered Wulf as they rose
and bowed to her, FOR pilgrims to this
holy city"
The women who were cleaning the
mail bowed also. for 1t seemed that
here Masouda was person of import
ance She took the hauberks from
their hands.
"Ill cleansed," she said sharply IT
think that you girls talk better than
you work. Nay, they must serve. Help
these lords to don them. Fools, that
is the shirt of the grey-eyed knight.
Give Il me: I will be his squire" and
she snatched the hauberk from their
hands whereat, when her back was
turned, they glanced at one another.
"Now," she said. when they were
fully armed and had donned their man
tells, you bretheren look as pilgrims
should. Listen, l have message for
Won The Master"-and she bowed her
head, as did the women, guessing OF
whom she spolke-"will receive you in
an hours time, till then, II X please
you, we can walk In the gardens.
which are worth your seeing"
So they went out with her, and az
they passed towards the curtain she
whispered:
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