The San Francisco call., 1905-01-15


ed-din. and before he died bade us seek
you out. What time had he to tell us
Cf anv ring?"
The head sank upon the breast.
Il hoped" said Sinan to Masouda.
that they had the ring, and it was for
this reason, woman, that allowed you
TO lead these knights hither, after you
had reported of them and their quest to
me from Beirut. 1t is not well that
there should be two sacred signets in
the world, and he who went before me.
when he lay dying, charged me to re-
cover his if that were possible. Let
them go back to their own land and
return to me with the ring, and I will
help them"
sMasouda translated the last sentence
only, and again the brethren shook
their heads. This time IL was Goodwin
who spoke.
Our land Is far away, o lord, and
wnere shall we find this long-lost ring !?
Let not our journey be in vain. Oh
tnisnty one, give US justice against
Salah-ed-din."
All my years have I sought 1ustics
on Salah-ed-din," answered Sinan. "and
yet he prevails against me. Co Franks
and bring me his head and we viii talls
again. wa ''iA
wnen they heard this saying wuIf
SAID to Goodwin in English:
think that we had best 60: do NOT
nAe this company" But Goodwin made
no answer
As they stood silent thus, not know
ing what to say. a man entered through
the door. and. throwing himself on his
hands and knees, crawled toward tha
cushion through the double linz of
councillors or dais.
our report" said Sinan in Arabic.
Lord, answered the man, sT ac-
quaint you that your will has been
done In the matter of the vessel" Then
ne went on speaking in low voice. so
rapioiy that the brethren could scarce
iy hear and much less understand him
Sinan listened, then said:
Let the fedai enter and make his
own report. bringing with him his
prisoners" -'-S
Now one of the dais. he who sat near
est the canopy, rose and, pointinr
tomar9 the brethren, said. Touching
tnese Franks, what is your wilI?''
The beady eyes, which seemed "a
search their souls. fixed themselves up
on them and for a long while Sinan
considered. They trembled. knowing
tnat he was passing some Judgment
concerning them in his heart, and thar
on MS next words much might hang
even their lives.
Let them stay here" he safd AZ
them" A
For time there was silence. sinar
iord Oh death, seemed to be lost In
tnougnt under the black shadow of
MS canopy; the double line of dais
stared at nothingness across the pas-
saseway; the giant guards stood SIN
as statues; Masouda watched tha
brethren from beneath her long evas
lashes, while the brethren watched ths
sharp edge of the shadow of the can
opy on the marble floor. Thev strova
TO seem unconcerned, but their hearts
were beating fast within them who felt
that great things were about to han
pen. though what these might be
they knew not.
so intense was the silence. so dread
full seemed that inhuman. snake-Iilra
man, so strange his aged, passionless
councillors, and the place of council
surrounded by a dizzy gulf. that fear
took hold of them like the fear of an
evil dream. Goodwin wondered IL Sinan
could see the ring upon his breast. and
what would happen to him If he did see
~ Wnile Wulf longed to shout aloud,
10 do something that would break this
deadly, sunlit quiet. To them those
minutes seemed like hours: III deed. for
aught they knew, they might have
been hours
AT length there was stir behind the
brethren, and at a word from M;
da they separated, falling apart a. =
or TWO, and stood opposite G. ch
otner and sideways to Sinan. ID
lr ms mus they saw the curtain dram.
Ihrougn them came four men, Carving
stretcher covered with a cloth. b.
meath which they could see the ont
line or form, that lay there stirless.
The four men brought the stretcher to
the 1ront OF the canopy. set it on the
gres!nd, Frustrated themselves, and re-
tired. walking backward down the
length of the terrace.
Again there was silence. while thu
brethren wondered whose corpse IL was
that lay beneath the cloth, for a corpse
{ must surely be; though neither the
ord or the mountain nor his dafs and
guards seemed to concern themselves in
he matter. Again the curtains parted.
and procession advanced up the ter
race. First came a great man clad
n a white robe blazoned with the bleed
ng dagger, after whom walked a tall
woman shrouded in a long veil, who
vas followed by thick-set knight clad
n Frankish armor and wearing a cape
II which the cowi covered his head as
hough to keep the rays Of the sun
rom beating on his helm. Lastly
walked four guards Up the long place
hey marched through the double line
n their breaths the brethren watched
he step and shape of the veiled wom-
IN who walked forward rapidly, not
eeing them, for she turned her head
leither to the right nor left. The leader
f the little band reAched the space
efore the canopy, and, prostrating
imself by the side of the stretcher, lay
till. She who walked behind him
topped also. and. seeing the black
cap upon the cushion. shuddered.
Woman, unveil," commanded the
oice of Sinan.
She hesitated, then swiftly undid
ONE fastening, so that her drapery
ell from her head. The brethren
tared, rubbed their eyes, and stared
gain.
Before them stood Rosamund!
Yes, it was Rosamund, worn with
ckness, terrors and travel, Rosamund
erself beyond all doubt. At the sight
f her pale, queenly beauty the heap
4 the cushion stirred beneath his black
oak, and the eyes were filled with an
vii, eager light. Even the dais seemed
, wake from their contemplation, and
[asouda bit her red lip. turned pale
eneath her olive skin, and watched
ith devouring eyes, waiting to read
lis woman's heart.
''Rosamund!'' cried the brethren with
ne voice.
She heard AS they sprang toward
sr she glanced wildly from face to