The San Francisco call., 1905-01-08
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DeUeVed TO be a merCtldnC. 30 soon DIS
a band was got perhaps
thirty men in all-and there was light
TO stir by, they set out and began to
search. though where to look they
knew not, for the snow had covered
up all traces of their foes.
''One thing is certain" said God
win, they must have come by water"
"Aye," answered Wulf; land landed
hard by, since. had they far to go
they would have taken the horses, and
must run the risk of losing their path
in the darkness. To the staithe! Let
us try Steeple Staithe!"
So on they went across the meadow
to the creek. 1t lay but three bow
shots distant. At first they could see
nothing, for the snow covered the
stones of the little pier, but presently
4 man cried out that the lock of the
water-house, in which the brethren
kept their fishing boat, was broken,
and next minute, that the boat was
gone.
"She was small; she would hold but
six men, cried voice. so great a
company could never have crowded
into her"
"Fool!" one answered, there may
have been other boats"
So they looked again. and beneath
the thin coating of rime, found mark
the PROV of a large boat, and not far
from it a hole in the earth into which
a peg had been driven to make her
fast. Now the thing seemed clear
enough, but it was to be made yet
clearer. for presently. even through the
driving snow, the quick eye OF Wulf
caught sight of some glittering thing
which hung to the edge of clump of
dead reeds. A man with a lance lifted
IL Z &c,
him.
II thought So" he said in heavy
voice; 1T is fragment Of that star
wrought veil that was my Christmas
gift to Rosamund, and she has torn 1t
off and left it here to show us her road.
To st. Peter s-on-the-W Wall. To st. Pc
ter's, l say, for there the boats or
ship must pass, and maybe that in the
darkness they have not yet won out
to sea-"
So they turned their horses heads,
and those of them that were mounted
rode for ST. Peters by the inland path
that runs through Steeple st. Lawrence
and Bradwell town, while those who
were not, started to search along the
Saltings and the river banks. On they
galloped through the falling snow, God
win and Wulf leading the way on their
horses, whilst behind them thundered
an ever gathering train of knights.
squires and yeomen, who had seen the
beacon flare on Steeple tower, or
learned the tale from messengers-yes,
and even of monks from Stangate and
chapmen from Southminster.
Hard they rode, but the lanes were
heavy with fallen snow and mud be-
meath, and the way was far, so that an
hour had gone by before Bradwell was
left behind, and the shrine of st. Chad
lay but half d mile in front. Now Of
a sudden the snow ceased, and a strong
northerly wind springing up, drove the
thick mist before it and left the sky
bright and blue behind. Still riding in
this mist, they pressed on to where the
old tower loomed UP in front of them,
then drew rein and waited.
What is that?" said Goodwin pres
emily, pointing to great. dim thing
upon the vapor-hidden sea.
AS he spoke a strong gust of wind
tore away the last wells of mist. reveal
ing the red face of the risen sun. and
not hundred yards away from them
for the tide was high-the tall masts
of a great galley creeping out to set
beneath her bank of oars. AS they
stared the wind caught her, and upon
the mainmast rose her bellying sail,
while a shout of laughter told them
that they themselves were seen. They
shook their swords in the madness of
their rage we'll knowing who was
aboard that galley; while to the fore
peak ran UP the yellow flag of Saladin,
streaming there like gold in the golden
sunlight.
Nor was this all, for on the high
poop appeared the tall shape of Rosa
mund herself, and on one side of her,
clad now in coat of mail and turban,
the Emir Hassan, whom they had
known as the merchant Georgios. and
on the other, a stout man. also clad in
mail, who at that distance looked like
Christian knight. Rosamund
stretched out her arms toward them.
Then suddenly she sprang forward as
though she would throw herself into
the sea had not Hassan caught her by
the arm and held her back. while the
other man, who was watching. slipped
between her and the bulwark.
In his fury and despair Wulf drove
his horse into the water till the waves
broke about his middle, and there. since
he could go no further, sat shaking
Fear not! We followl we follow!"
in such a voice of thunder that even
through the wind and across the ever
widening space of foam his words may
have reached the ship. At least Rosa
mund seemed to hear them. for she
tossed up her arms as though in token.
But Hassan, one hand pressed upon
his heart and the other upon his fore
head, only bowed thrice in courteous
fare well.
Then, the great sail filled. the oars
were drawn in, and the vessel swept
swiftly across the dancing waves. till
at length she vanished. and they could
only see the sunlight playing on the
from her truck.