The San Francisco call., 1905-01-15

snatched the hauberk from his hands
wnereat, when her back was turned
tney glanced at one another.
now, she said, when they were full
iy armed and had donned their mantles
you brethren look as pilgrims should
Listen, / have a message for you. Th,
master-and she bowed her head, a.
did the women, guessing OF whom sh,
spoke--"will receive you in an hour!
time; till then, If it please YOU, We
can walk in the gardens, which ar,
worth your seeing"
So they went out with her, and a:
they passed toward the curtain she
whispered:
For your life's sake, remember al
that have told you-about every
thing. about the wine and the ring, fol
If you dream the drink-dream You will
be searched. Speak no word to me
save Of common matters"
In the passage beyond the curtain
white-robed guards were standing
armed with spears, who turned and
followed them without a word. First
they went to the stables to visit the
horses Flame and Smoke. which whin-
MED as they drew near. These were
found to be well-fed and tended; indeed,
a company Of the grooms were gath
cred about them, discussing their
points and beauty, who saluted as the
owners of such steeds approached.
Leaving the stable, they passed
through an .archway into the famous
gardens, which were said to be the
most beautiful In all the East. Beau
tiful they were, indeed, for here grew
trees. shrubs and flowers such as had
never been seen. while between fern
clad rocks flowed sparkling rills which
fell over deep cliffs in waterfalls of
foam. In places the shade of cedars
lay so dense that the light Of day was
changed to twilight but in others the
ground was open and carpeted with
flowers which filed the air with heavy
perfume. Everywhere grew roses.
myrtles and trees laden with rich
fruits, while from all sides came the
sound of cooling doves and the voices
Of the bright-winged birds which
flashed from palm to palm.
On they walked down the sand
strewn paths for a mile or more. ac-
companied by Masouda and the guard.
At length, passing through brake OF
whispering, reed-like plants, of a sud-
den they came to a low wall. and saw
yawning black and white at their very
feet that vast cleft which they had
crossed before they entered the castle.
sit encircles the inner city, the fort
ress and its grounds" said Masouda:
land who lives to-day that could
throw a bridge across it? Now. come
back"
So, following the gulf round. they
returned to the castle by another path,
and were ushered into an anteroom,
where stood a watch of twelve men.
Here Masouda left them in the midst
of the men, who stared at them with
stony eyes. Presently she returned
and beclkoned them to follow her.
Walking down a long passage they
came to curtains, in front of which
stood two sentries, who drew these
curtains as they approached. Then,
side by side, they entered a great hall.
long as Stangate Abbey Church. anc
passed through a number Of people. all
crouched upon the ground. Beyond
them the hall narrowed as a chancel
does.
Here sat and stood more people,
fierce-eved. turbaned men, who wore
great knives in their girdles. These,
as they learned afterward, were called
the fedai. the sworn assassins, who
lived but to do the command of their
lord the great Assassin At the end
Of this chancel were more curtains, be-
yond which was a guarded door 1t
opened. and on its further side they
found themselves il full sunlight on
an uowalled terrace. surrounded by
the mighty gulf into which it was
Of this terrace sat old and bearded
men, twelve IN number their heads
bowed humblv and their eyes fixed
upon the ground. who were the dais or
councillors.
AT the head of the terrace, under an
open and beautifully carved pavilion
IF wood, stood gigantic soldiers, having
the red dagger blazoned on their white
robes. Between them was a black
and on the cushion black
heap. At first, staring out of the sun
light at this heap in the shadow, the
brethren wondered what it might be.
Then they caught sight of the glitter
# eyes, and knew that the heap was a
nan who wore black turban on his
read and a black. bell-shaped robe
.lasped about his throat with red
ewel. The weight of the man had
unk him down deep into the soft cush-
on, so that there was nothing of him
o be seen save the folds of the bell
haped cloak. the red jewel and the
lead. He looked like coiled-up snake;
he dark and glittering eyes also were
hose of a snake. OF his features. In
he deep shade of the canopy and OF
he wide black turban, they could see
lothing.
The aspect of this figure was so ter
ible and inhuman that the brethren
rembled at the sight Of him. They
rere men and he was a man, but be-
ween that huddled beady-eyed heap
nd those two tall Western warriors.
lad in their cleaning mail and colored
loaks, helm on brow. buckler on arm
nd long sword at side, the contrast
ras that of life and death
"