The San Francisco call., 1905-01-15

SELF was still lost in shadow, and saw
also that 1t seemed to be towering al
most over them.
Take courage" cried Lozelle, 81
tnlnk that we are saved" and he hoist
ed a second lantern at his masthead
why. they did not know.
After this the sea began to fall, only
to grow rough again for a while as they
crossed some bar, to find themselves in
calm water, and on either side of them
what appeared in the dim, uncertain
light. to be the bush-clad banks of a
river. For While they ran on, till
Lozelle called in loud voice to the
sailors to let the anchor go, and sent
a messenger to say that all might rest
now, AS they were safe. So they laid
them down and tried to sleep,
but RoStmund could not sleep. Pres
entity s6. arose, and throwing on her
cioaA went TO the door of the cabin
a "a locked at the beauty of the noun
GAINS, losy with the newborn light.
and at the misty surface of the har-
Dr. 1t was lonely place-at least
she could see no town or house. al
Though they were lying not fifty Yards
from the tree-hidden shore. AS che
stood thus. she heard the sound of
boats being rowed through the m 8.
ard locking down. perceived also that
Loze'le. who stood alone upon the deck.
was Watching tier approach. Now
the first boat made fast and a man
In the PROV rose UP and began 20
speak to Lozelle il. a low yoic. As
he did SO the hood fell back from his
head. and Rosamund saw the face. It
was that OF the spy Nicholas, For a
moment she stood amazed. for thew
mad left this man in Cyprus; then un-
derstanding came to her and she cried
aloud:
Treachery! Prince Hassan, there is
treachery."
AS the words, left her lips fierce.
wild-looking men began to scramble
aboard at the low waist of the galley,
70 Which boat after boat made fast.
Ine Saracens also tumbled from the
benches where they slept and ran aft
10 the deck where Rosamund was, all
except one of them, who was cut off
IN the prov of the ship. Prince Has
san appeared. too, scimitar in hand,
clad in his jeweled turban and coat of
mail, but without his cloak shouting
orders as ne came. while the hired crew
OF the ship flung themselves upon their
knees and begged for mercy. To him
Rosamund cried out that they We're
betrayed and by Nicholas, whom she
had seen. Then great man, wearing
white burnous and holding a naked
sword in his hand, stepped forward and
said in Arabic:
Yield you now, for you are outnum-
oered and your captain is captured"
and he pointed to Lozelle, who was be-
ing held by two men while his arms
were bound behind him.
I'm whose name do you bid me
yield?" asked the Prince, glaring
about him like a lion in a trap.
I'm the dread name of Sinan, in the
name of the lord Al-Jebal, o servant
Of Salah-ed- din"
AT these words groan of fear went
up even from the brave Saracens, for
now they learned that they had to do
with the terrible chief of the Essassins.
is there then war between the Sui
tan and Sinan?" asked Hassan.
Aye, there is always war. Moreover.
who have one with you" ard he pointed
to R0sainund, who is dear to Saiah-
ed-din. whom, therefore, my master de-
aires as a hostage"
How know you that?" asked Hassan,
to cain time while his men formed up
How does the lord Sinan know all
was the answer. Come yielo,
and perhaps he will allow you mercy"
Through spies" hissed Hassan,
such spies as Nicholas. who has come
rom Cyprus before us, and that Frank
sh dog who is called knight" and he
pointed to Lozeile. Nay. we yield not,
.nd here, Assassins. you have to do not
With poisons and the knife, but with
1are swords and brave men. Aye, and
warn you-and your lord-that Salah-
sddin will take vengeance for this
Iced
Let him try it if he wishes to die,
Who hitherto has been spared an
;wered the tall man quietly. Then he
said to his followers, "Cut them down,
all save the women'-for the French
Marie was now clingin2 to the
arm of Rosamund-"and Emir Hassan,
whom am commanded to bring living
70 Masyaf."
Back to your cabin, lady," said
Iassan, land remember that whateer
,efalls, we have done cur best to save
you. Aye, and tell it to my lord, that
ny honor may be clean in his eyes.
Jow, soldiers of Salah-e -ed-din. fight and
lie as he has taught you how. The
;ates of paradise stand open, and no
oward will enter there
They answered with a fierce cultural
ry. Then, as Rosamund fled to the
abin, the fray began, hideous fray.
IN came the Assassins with sword and
agger, striving to storm the deck. ,,
again and again they were beaten !
ack, till the waist seemed full of their
orpses, as man by man they fell be-
cath the curved scimitars, and again ,
nd again they charged these men
mo, When their master ordered, knew
either fear nor pity. But more boat
,ads came from the shore, and the s
aracens were but few, worn also with {
torn and sickness, so at last Rosa n
lund peeping beneath her hand, saw !
lat the poop was gained. =
Here and there a man fought on
ntil he fell beneath the cruel knives
the midst of the circle of the dead, q
mong them the warrior Prince Has V
IN. Watching him with fascinated '
yes as he strove alone against a host, .
osamund was put in mind of another q
;ene, when her father, alone also, had
riven thus against that emir and his 8
'ldiers, and even then she bethought y
er of the Justice of God See, his II
'ot slipped on the blood stained deck. Il
e was down, and ere he could rise B.
gain they had thrown cloaks over
m, these fierce, silent men, who even e.
ith their lives at stake remembered
e command Of their captain, to take o.
m living. So living they took him. "
ith net wound upon his skin, who o.
hen he struck them down, had never W
ruck back at him lest the command II
Sinan should be broken. p'
Rosamund noted it, and remembering g
at his command was also that she
ould be brought to him unharrned, OF
lew that she had no violence to fear
the hands of these cruel murderers. Y
ON this thought, and because Has h'
n still lived, she took such comfort b!
she might. Ds