The San Francisco call., 1905-01-15
her, or whether or no she found her
husband whom she had dared SO much
CHAPTER XII.
The City of AI-JehaI.

AOSs SdlQ OOuWIu, II Is Uut
scratch from the beasts claws / am
ashamed that you should put your hair
10 sucn vile uses. Give me a little
water, I pray YOU"
Masouda arose without a word and
Ietcned him water, in which she min
gied wine. He drank Of 1t and his
Ialntness left him, so that he was able
legs.
Why" he said, 'it is nothing: 1 was
only shaken. That lioness did not hurt
me at all.,'
put You hurt the lioness," said Wulf.
with laugh. by st. Chad. a good
thrust, and he pointed to the long
sword driven UP to the hilt through the
Drute's breast. why, 1 swear. could
not have made a better myself"
think it was the lion that thrust" !"
answered Goodwin. II only held the
sword straight. Drag it out, brother.
l am still too weak"
So Wuif set his foot upon the breast
CT the lion and tugged and tugged until
at length he loosened the sword. saw
ing as he strained at it:
oh. what an Essex hog am I. who
slept through it ALL never waking until
Masouda seized me by the hair. and
opened my eyes TO see you upon Sthe
ground with this yellow beast crordba5
l.
egg. l thought that it was alive and
smote 1t with my sword, which. had /
Deen fully awake, / doubt If / should
nave the courage to do. Look" and
ne pushed the lioness' head with his
1oot, whereon it twisted round in such
a 1ashion that they perceived for the
nrst time that it only hung to the
shoulders by thread of skin.
i am glad you did not smite a lit-
tie harder " said
Eow be in two pieces and drowned in
my own blood, instead of that of this
dead brute" and he looked ruefuIly at
MS burnous and hauberk, which were
soaked with gore
Yes said Wulf, II never thought
OF that. Who would in such a hur-
Lady Masouda,' said Goodwin.
when last l saw you you were hang.
hurt?" 80
Nay she answered, "for I wear
mail like you, and the teeth glanced
on IL SO that she held me by the cloak
only. Come, let US skin the beast, and
take IT'S pelt as present to the lord
Al-Jebal"
Good" said Goodwin. "and 1 give
you the claws for necklace"
will we1r them," she ans yered. ana
helped Wulf fay the lioness while God
win sat by resting. When it was done
Wuif went to the little cave and walked
into 1t, to come out again with a bound
Why. he said, there are more of
tnem IN there. l saw their eyes and
neard them snarl. Now give me a
burning branch ard I will show you,
orother that you are not the only one
who can fight a lion.''
Let be, you foolish man." broke in
Masouda. Doubtless those are her
CUPS, and If you stay them. her mate
VIII follow us for miles; but If they
are left safe he will stay to feed them.
come. let us begone from this place as
swiftly as we cam
so having shown them the skin of the
hon, that they might know it was but
q dead thing, at the sight of which
Iney snorted and trembled. they
packed it upon one of the mules and
'ode OH Slowly into valley some five
niles away, where was water but no
rees. Here, since Goodwin needed rest.
hey stopped all that day and night
which followed. seeing no more of lions.
hough they watched for them sharply
nough. The next morning, having
lept well. he was himself again. and
hey started forward through a broken
ountry toward deep cleft, on either
ide of which stood a tall mountain
This is Al-Jebals gateway" said
dasouda, and tonight we should
leep in the gate, whence one days
ide brings US to his city"
Soon they rode till at length, perched
'pon the sides of the cleft, they saw
! castle, a great building with high
walls, to which they came at sunset.
t seemed that they were expected in
his place, for men hastened to meet
hem, who greeted Mascuda and eyed
he brethren curiously, especially after
hey had heard of the adventure with
he lion. These took them, not into the
astle, but to a kind of hostelry at its
ack, where they were furnished with
ood and slept the night.
Next morning they went on again to
hilly country with beautiful and fer
lie valleys. Through this they rode
or two hours. passing on their way
everal villages, where somber-eyed
eople were laboring in the fields. From
ach village. as they drew near to it,
orsemen would gallop out and chal-
,nge them, whereon Masouda rode for
ard and spoke with the leader alone.
hen he would touch his forehead with
is hand and bow his head and they
ode on unmolested.
''See," she said, when they had been
topped for the fourth time, what
nance you had of winning through to
[asyaf alone. Why, I tell you, breth-
IN, that you would have been dead
efore ever you passed the gates Of
le first CASTLE"
Now they rode up a long slope, and
its crest paused to look upon a mar
eious scene. Below them stretched a
asst plain, full of villages, cornfields,
i've groves, and vineyards. In the CEN
r of this plain, some fifteen miles
way, rose a great mountain, which
emed to be walled all about. Within
lie wall was city of which the white,
it-roofed houses climbed the slopes of
e mountain, and on it's crest a fiat
ace of land covered with strees and
great, many lowered castle surround
by more houses.
Behold the home of Al-Jebal, lord
the mountain,s said Masouda,
where we must sleep tonight. Now,
ethren, listen to me. Few strangers
no enter that castle come thence liv-
g. There is still time; ! can pass you
ok as passed you thither. VIII you
on?"
I'VE will go on" they answered with
e breath.
Why? What have you to gain?
III seek a certain maiden. Why seek
r here whom you say has been taken
Salah-ed-d Because the Allie
of bygone days swore to befriend
e of your blood. But that Al-Jebal
dead. and another Of his line rules
10 took no such oath. How do you
ow that he will befriend yOu-how
at he will not enslave or kill you? I
We power in this land, why or how