The Savannah morning news., 1904-12-18

AT q certain hour.
The brethren asked If their sister
Rosamund was not coming TO dine with
them. Masouda answered that as the
queen-elect of the Al-je-bal it was not
lawful that she should eat with any
other men, even her brothers. Then
as she passed out, stumbling as though
by accident she brushed against God
win and muttered:
Remember, tonight" and was gone
When the moon had been up an
hour the officer of their escort appear
ed, and led them to their horses, which
were waiting, and they rode away to
the castle bridge. AS they approached
1t they saw LoZelle departing on his
great black stallion, which was in a
lather of foam. 1t seemed that he also
had made trial of that perilous path,
for the people, of whom there were
many gathered there, clapped their
hands and shouted: well ridden.
Frank! Well ridden!"
Now, Goodwin leading on Flame, they
faced the bridge and walked their
horses over it. Nor did these hang
back. although they snorted a little
they returned at a trot. then over
again. and yet again at a canter and
gallop, sometimes together and
sometimes singly. Lastly, Wulf made
Goodwin halt in the middle of the
bridge and galloped down upon him at
full speed. till within a lance's length.
Then suddenly he checked his horse,
and while his audience shouted. wheel
ed it around on it's hind legs, its fore
hoofs beating the air. and galloped
back again, followed by Goodwin.
All went WE'LL" Wulf said as they
rode to the castle, land nobler or more
gentle horses were never crossed by
men. I have good hopes for to-mor-
row night"
Aye, brother, but 1 had no sword
in my hand. Be not over confident, for
the man is desperate and a skilled
fighter as l know who have stood face
to face with him. Moreover, his black
stallion is well trained, and has more
fearsome place on which to ride a
course. and one of which none but
the devil would have thought"
I shall do my best" answered Wulf,
and if / fail, why, then, act upon
your own counsel At least, let him
not kill both of u.s."
Having stabbed their horses the
brethren wandered into the garden,
and, avoiding the cup-bearing women
drugged drink. drew by a roundabout
road to the tall rock. Then, finding
themselves alone, they unlocked the
door, and slipping through it, locked it
again on the further side and CROPPED
their way to the moonlit mouth of the
cave. Here they stood awhile study
ing the descent of the gulf as best they
could in that light, till suddenly God
win, feeling a hand upon his shoulder.
started round to find himself face to
face with Masouda.
xyOl he oslxa
by road which is your only hope, "
| she answered. Now. Sir Goodwin,
waste no words, for my time is short,
but if you think that you can trust
me-and this is for you to judge-give
me the Signet which hangs about your
neck. If not, go back to the castle
and do your best to save the lady
| Rosamund and. yourselves"
Thrusting down his hand between
his mail shirt and his breast. Goodwin
drew out the ancient ring, carved with
the mysterious signs and veined with
the emblem of the dagger, and handed
it to Masouda.
You trust indeed" she said with
a little laugh, as, after scanning it
closely by the light of the moon and
touching her forehead with it. she
hid it in her bosom.
Yes, lady," he answered, ri trust
you, though why you should risk so
much for US I do not know
why! Well, perhaps for mates
sake, for Sinan does not rule by love;
| perhaps. because, being of wild blood
| 1 am willing to set my life at hazard,
| who care not if l win or die; perhaps
because you saved me from the lioness.
| What is it to you, Sir Goodwin, why
| a certain woman-spy of the Assassins,
| whom in your own land you would spit
on, chooses to do this or that?"
She ceased and stood before them
with heaving breast and flashing eyes,
mysterious white figure in the moon
| light, most beautiful to see.
Goodwin felt his heart stir and the
blood flow to his brow. but before he
could speak Wulf broke in, saying:
You babe us spare words, lady
Masouda, so tell us what we must
| do"
This" she answered, becoming calm
| again. Tomorrow night about this
| hour you fight Lozelle upon the mar
row way. That is certain, for all the
city talks of it, and, whatever chances,
Al-je-bal will not deprive them OF
the spectacle of this fray to the death
Well, you may fall, though that man
| at heart is a coward. which you are
| not for here courage alone will avail
nothing. but rather skill and horse
| manship and trick of war. If so, then
Sir Goodwin fights him, and of this
| business none can tell the end. Should
both of you go down. then l will dc
my best to save your lady and take
| her to Salah-ed din. with whom she
| will be safe. or If / cannot save her
| / will find her a means to save her.
| self bv DEATH
"You swear that?" said Wulf.
II have said it. ii is enough" she
answered impatientlv.
Then 1 face the bridge and the
knave Lozelle with light heart" said
| Wulf again, and Masouda went on.
Now if you conquer. Sir Wulf. or
| If your fall and your brother con-
| quers, both of you-or one of you, as
1t may happen-must gallop back at
| full speed toward the stable gate that
lies more than a mile from the castle
| bridge. Mounted as you are. no horse
can keep pace with you, nor must
you stop at the gate, but ride on, ride
| like the wind till you reach this place
The gardens will be empty of feasters
and of cup-bearers. who with every
| soul within the city will have gather
| ed on the walls and on the housetops
to see the fray. There is but one fear
by then a guard may be set before
this mound, seeing that Salah-ed- dir
has declared war upon Al-je-bal, and
though yonder road is known to few
II is a road. and sentries may watch
|