The Savannah morning news., 1904-10-30
THE BRETHREN
A Romance of the Crusades
BY H. RIDER HAGGARD.

L
visited your room and read some writ
ngs, which, fOolishly, you have left
among your baggage, and opened some
books in which other names than Peter
ana John were written. and drew a
great sword from it's scabbard on
which was engraved a motto, Meet
d Arcy, meet Death" and heard Peter
can John Wulf, and John call Peter
GodWin, and so forth"
1T seems" said Wulf in English.
mat we are flies in a web, and that
| the spider is called the widow Ma
| souda, though of what use we are to
her l know not. Now, brother, what
1t Is to be done? Make friends with
| the spider?"
An ill ally" answered Goodwin. Then
looking her straight in the face, he
asked: Hostess, who knew so much,
tell me, why, amongst other names,
did the donkey driver call you Child
| of Al-je-b al?''
She started, and answered.:
so you understand Arabic? I
thought it. Why do you ask? What
does it matter to you4"
Not much except we are going to
visit Al-je-bal, of course, we think
ourselves fortunate to have met his
daughter"
Going to visit Al-je-bal? Yes, you
limited as much upon the ship, did you
not? Perhaps that is why l came to
meet you. Well, your threats will
be cut before ever you reach the first
of his castles"
Il think not" said Goodwin, and. put
ting his hand into his breast, he drew
thehce ring, with which he began
to play carelessly.
Whence did you get that ring?" she
said with fear and wonder in her eyes.
| 1t is" and she ceased.
From one to whom it was given and
who has charged us with a message.
| NOW, hostess, let us be plain with one
another. You know a great deal about
us, but although it has suited us to
| call ourselves the pilgrims Peter and
John, in all this there is nothing of
which we need be ashamed, especial
| ly as you say that our secret is no
! secret, which l can we'll believe. Now,
| this secret being out, propose that
we remove ourselves from your roof,
and go to stay with our own peorx.a
| at the castle, where I doubt not ".
| shall be welcome, telling them that
we would bide no longer with one who
| is called a spy, whom we have dis
| covered also to be a daughter of AL
| je-bal. After, which, perhaps. you
will bide no longer in Beirut, where,
as we gather, spies and the daughters
or Al-je-bal' are not welcome
She listened with an impassive face,
| and answered.
Doubtless you will have heard that
one of us who was so named was burn
| ed here recently as a witch?"
Yes" broke in Wulf, who now learn
ed this fact for the first time; 1--WE
heard that
And think to bring like fate upon
me. Why, foolish men, can lay
you both dead before ever those words
pass your lips
You think you cam" said Goodwin:
but for my part 1 am sure that this
is not fated. and am sure also that
you do not wish to harm us any more
than we wish to harm you To be
plain, then, it is necessary for us to
visit Al-je-b bal. AS chance has brought
us together-if it be chance-will you
AID us IN this, as l think you can, or
must we seek other help?"
Il do not know. I will tell you aft
er four days. If you are not salts
fed with that, go, denounce me, do
your worst, and I will do mine, for
which I should be sorry"
Where is the security that you will
not do it if we are satisfed?" asked
Wulf bluntly.
You must take the word of a 'daugh-
ter of Al-je-bal' I have none other
to offer" she replied
That may mean DEATH said Wulf.
You said just now that was not
fated, and although I have sought your
| company for my own reasons, 1 have
no quarrel with you-as yet. Choose
your own path. Still, 1 tell you that
! If you go, who, CHANGING to know Ara
bic, have learned my secret, you die,
and that if you stay you are safe-at
least while you are ir this house.
swear it on the token of Al-je-ba AL" and
| bending forward she touched the ring
in Godwin's hand; but remember
that for the future 1 cannot answer"
Goodwin and Wulf looked at each
other. Then Goodwin replied:
Il think that we will trust you.
| and stay" words at which she smiled
little as though she were pleased.
| then said:
Now, if you wish to walk abroad,
| guests Peter and John, l will sum
mon the slave to guide you, and in
| four days we will talk more Of this
matter of your journey, which, until
then, had best be forgotten"
So the man came, armed with a
sword and led them out, clad in their
pilgrims robes, through the streets of
this Eastern town, and where every
| thing was so strange, that for awhile
they forgot their troubles in studying
the new life about them. They noted,
moreover, that though they went in
| to quarters where no Franks were to
| be seen, and where fierce-looking
servants of the prophet stared at them
sourly, the presence of this slave of
| Masouda seemed sufficient to protect
| them from affront, since on seeing
| him even the turbaned Saracens
nudged each other and turned aside
! In due course they came to the inn
again, having met no one whom they
knew, except two pilgrims who had
| been their fellow-passenger on the
| dromon. These men were astonished
when they said they had been through
the Saracen quarter of the city.
where, although this town was in the
hands of the Christians 1t was scarce
| ly thought safe for Franks to venture
without a strong guard.
When the brethren were back in
| their chamber, seated in the far cor
| ner of it, and speaking very low, lest
| they should be overheard, they con-
! suited together long and earnestly as
TO what they should do. This was clear
| they and something of their mission
were known. and doubtless notice of
| their coming would soon be given to
| the Sultan Saladin. From the King,
| the great lords in Jerusalem they
| could expect little help. since to give
IL might be to bring about an open
rupture with Saladifi. such as the
| Franks dreaded, and for which they
| were ill-prepared. Indeed, II they went
| to them, it seemed likely that they
would be prevented from stirring m
| this dangerous search for a woman
who was the niece of Saladin, and
for aught they knew thrown into
| prison. or shipped back to Europe.