The San Francisco call., 1905-01-22
CHAPTER XIV.
The Combat ON tine Bridge.

The Combat ON the Bridge.
"Saladin will come" said Wulf the
hopeful. and from the high place where
he stood he pointed to the plain be-
meath, across which band of horse
men moved at full gallop. look; yon-
der goes his embassy"
Aye" answered Goodwin, ''he will
come, but / fear me, too late
Yes, brother. unless we go to meet
him. Masouda has promised
"Masouda." sighed Goodwin. "Ahl to
think that so much should hang upon
the faithfulness of one woman"
1T does not hang on her. said Wulf;
"it hangs on fate, who writes with her
finger. Come, let us ride"
So. followed by their escort. they
rode in the gardens, taking note. with
out seeming to do SO, of the position
of the tall rock and of how it could be
approached from every side. Then they
went in again and waited for some
sign or word of Rosamund, but in vain.
That night there was no feast and
their meal was brought to them in
the guest-house. While they sat at it
Masouda appeared for a moment to tell
them that they had leave to ride the
bridge in the moonlight and that their
escort would await them at a certain
hour.
The brethren asked IL their sister
with them. Masouda answered that as
the queen-elect Of the Al-Jebal 1t 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 Goodwin and muttered:
Remember, tonight" and was gone.
When the moon had been up an hour
the officer of their escort appeared and
led them to their horses, which were
waiting, and they rode away to the
castle bridge. AS they approached it
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,
many gathered there, clapped their
hands and shouted, We'll 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 little at
the black gulf on either side. Next
they returned at trot, then over again
and yet again at canter and gall
lop, sometimes together and some
times singly. Lastly, WuH made Cod
win halt in the middle of the bridge
and galloped down upon him at full
speed, till within q lance's length. Then
suddenly ne Cneckeu MS morse ana.
while his audience shouted, wheeled it
around on It's hind legs. it's forehoofs
beating the air, and galloped back
again, followed by Goodwin.
'AH went WE'LL Wulf said as they
rode to the castle, and nobler or more
gentle horses were never crossed by
men. have good hopes for to-mor-
row night"
AYE, brother. but 1 had no sword
in my hand. Be not overconfident
for the man is desperate and a skilled
fighter, as I know who have stood
face to face with him. Moreover: his
black stallion is well trained, and has
more weight than ours. Also, yonder
is fearsome place on which to ride
q course. and one Of which none but
the devil would have thought
II shall do my best" answered
Wulf, "and If fall, 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
and the men they piled with their
drugged drink, drew by a roundabout