The San Francisco call., 1905-01-15

and the abyss, and the man, brave as
he was, expecting to be thrust to death.
clung to his horses name with terror
In his eyes. On the city side the
brethren pulled up laughing among the
astonished fedais who had waited for
them there.
.By the Signet," cried the officer,
thinking that the Knights could not un-
derstand. these are not men; they are
devils, and their horses are goats OF
the mountains. / thought to frighten
them. but It's who was frightened, for
they swept past me like eagles Of the
air."
Gallant riders and swift, well
trained steeds." answered one Of the
fedai with admiration in his voice. "The
fight at the full moon will be worth our
seeing"
Then once more they took the sand
strewn road and galloped on. Thrice
they passed round the city thus. the
last time by themselves, for the captain
and the fedal were far outstrtpped. In
deed 1t was not until they had unsad-
died Flame and Smoke In their stalls
that these appeared. squirting their
foaming horses. Taking no heed Of
them. the brethren thrust aside the
groom, dressed their steeds down, fed
and watered them.
Then having them eat. there being
no more to do. they walked back to the
guest house. hoping to find Rosamund.
But they found no Rosamund, 30 sat
down together ana talked Of the won
derful things that had befailen them.
and Of what might befall them In the
future; OF the mercy Of Heaven also
which had brought them all three to-
gether safe and sound: although it was
In this house Of hell. 30 the time
passed on, till about the hour Of sun
set the women servants came and led
them to the bath, where the black
slaves washed and perfumed them.
clothing them IN fresh robes above their
armor.
When they came out the sun was
down, and the women, bearing torches
In their hands, conducted them to
great and gorgeous hall which they had
not seen before, built of stone but with
a carved and painted roof. Along one
side Of this hall. that was lit with
cressets. were a number Of round
headed opsn arches supported by ele-
CANT columns, and beyond them mar
BILE terrace with flights Of steps which
led to the gardens beneath. On the
floor Of this hall, each seated upon his
cushion beside low tables inlaid with
pearl sat the guests. a hundred or
more. all dressed in white robes on
and all as silent as though they were
asleep.
When the brethren reached the place
the women left them, and servants with
gold chains round their necks escorted
them to a dafs In the middle of the
hall where there were many cushions,
as yet unoccupied, arranged In a semi
circle. Of which the center was divan
higher and more gorgeous than the
rest
Here places were pointed out to them
opposite the divan, and they took their
stand by them They had not long to
watt, for presently there was q sound
of music, and. neralded by troops of
singing women. the lord Sinan ap-
preached, walking slowly down the
length Of the greet hall. 1t was a
strauge procession, for after the wom-
en- came the aged. white robed dais.
then the lord Al-Jebal himself, clad now
In his blood-red, festal robe, and wear
ing Jewels on his turban.
Around himA mafched four slaves,
black as ebony, each Of whom held
flaming torch on high, while behind
followed the two gigantic guards who
had stood sentry over him when he sat
under the canopy of justice. AS he ad-
vanced down the hall every man in
it rose and prostrated himself, and so
save only the two brethren, who stood
erect like the survivors among the
slain Of battle. Settling himself
among the cushions at one end of the
divan, he waved his hand, whereon the
feasters. and with them Goodwin and
Wulf, sat themselves down.
Now there was pause, while Sinan
glanced along the hall impatiently.
Soon the brethren saw why, since at
IL. 20 - "a 1xr xx,f,f 81 he
had entered appeared more singing
women, and after them. also escorted
by four black rch-bearers, only these
were women, walked Rosamund, and,
behind her. Masouda.
Rosamund it was without doubt, but
Rosamund transformed, for now she
seemed an Eastern queen. Round her
head was coronet Of gems from which
hung a veil, but not so as to hide her
face Jeweled, too, were her heavy
plaits of hair, jeweled the rose-silk
garments that she wore. the girdle at
her waist, her naked, ivory arms and
even the slippers on her feet. AS she
approached in her royal-lookIng beauty
ell the guests at that strange feast
stared first at her and next. at each
other. Then as though by a single i'm
Lulse they rose and bowed
What can this mean?" muttered
Wulf TO GOQWln as tnSy Olo likewise
But Goodwin made no answer.
On came Rosamund and now, be-
hold. the lord Al-Jebal rose also and,
giving her his hand, seated her by him
on the divan.
SHOW no surprise, Wulf," muttered
Goodwin, who had caught a warning
look in the eyes of Masouda as she took
up her position behind Rosamund.
Now the feast began. Slaves running
to and fro, set dish after dish filled
with strange and savory meats, upon
the little inlaid tables. those that were
served to Sinan and his guests fash
toned, all of them, of silver or of gold.
Goodwin and Wulf ate, though not for
hunger's sake, but of what they ate
they remembered nothing. who were
watching Sinan and straining their
ears to catch all he said without SEEM
ing to take note or listen. Although
she strove to hide 1t and to appear in
different, 1t was plain to them that
Rosamund was much AFRAID. Again
and again Sinan presented to her choice
morsels of food sometimes on the
dishes and sometimes with his fingers,
and these she was obliged to take. All
the while also he devoured her with
his fierce eyes SO that she shrank away
from him to the furthest limit of the
divan.
Then wine, Derfumed and spiced,
was brought in golden. cups, of which,
having drunk, he offered to Rosa
mund But she shook her head and
asked Masouda for water, saying that
she touched nothing stronger, and it