The San Francisco call., 1905-01-08

child. But not for long. for presently
he shouted in a voice of thunder:
Awake, We drunkards Awake,
and learn what has CHANGED to us.
Your lady RoSamund has been raped
away while We We're lost in sleep"
At the sound of that great voice a
tall form arose from the floor and
staggered toward him. holding a gold
cross in its hand.
What awful words are those /
heard you say, my brother?" asked
Goodwin, who, pale and dull-eyed,
rocked to and fro before him. Then
he, too, saw the red sword and stared.
first at it and next at the gold cros1
in his hand my uncle's sword, Ros-
amund's chain, Rosamund's cross!
Where, then, is Rosamund?"
Gone! gone! gone!" cried Wulf.
Tell him, priest
So the chaplain told him all he
knew.
went on Wulf. 'Oh, what can we do
now, save die for very shame?"
Nay" answered Goodwin, dream
lngly; we can live on to save her.
See, these are her tokens-the cross
for me, the blood stained sword for
you and about its hilt the chain. a
symbol of her slavery. Now both OF
US must bear the cross; both of us
must WELD the sword, and both of us
must cut the chain, or if we fail, then
die
You rave" said Wulf; ''and little
wonder. Here, drink water. Would
that we had never touched aught else,
as she did, and desired that we should
do. What said you of nay uncle,
priest? Dead, or only dying? Nay,
answer not. let us see. Come, BROTH
er." Then together they ran. or
reeled, torch in hand. along the pass
age.
Wulf saw the bloodstains on ths
floor and laughed savagely.
The old man made a good fight"
he said, while like drunken brutes,
we slept"
They were there, and before them,
beneath the white, shroud-like cloak,
lay Sir Andrew, the steel helm on his
head and his face beneath it even
whittier than the cloak. At the sound
of their footsteps he opened his eyes.
AT length. at length" he muttered.
Oh, how many years. have I waited
for you? Nay. be silent, for I do not
know how long my strength will last,
but listen-kneel down and listen"
SO they knelt on either side of him
and in quick, fierce word he told them
all-of the drugging, of the fight, OF
the long parley carried on to give the
palmer knave time to climb to the win
dow; of his cowardly blow, and of what
chanced afterward. Then his strength
seemed to fail him, but they poured
milk down his throat, and 1t came back
again.
Take horse swiftly" he gasped,
pausing now and again to rest, land
rouse the countryside. There is still
chance. Nay, seven hours have gone
by; there is no chance. Their plans
were too well laid; by now they will
be at sea. So hear me. Go to Pales-
tine. There is money for your faring
in my chest, but go alone, with no
company, for in time Of peace these
would betray you. Goodwin, draw off
this ring from my finger, and with it
as token, find out Jebal, the black
sheik of the Mountain Tribe at Mas
yaf on Lebanon, and bid him remember
the vow made to Andrew darcy, the
English knight. If any can aid you, it
will be Jebal, who hates the houses OF
Nur-ed-din and of Ayoub. So, charge
you, let nothing-I say nothing-turn
you aside from seeking him.
"Afterward act as God will guide you.
If he still lives, kill that traitor Nicho-
las and Hugh Lozelle but, save in
open war, spare the Emir Hassan, who
did but do his duty as an Eastern
reads it, and has shown some mercy,
for ne could have slain or burnt us all.
This riddle has been hard for mo- yet
now, in my dying hour, I see its an
swer. / think that Saladin did not
dream in vain. Keep brave hearts, for
/ think also that at Masyaf yo~ will
find friends, and that things will go
well, and our sorrows bear good fruit"
What is that you said? She left you
my fathers sword, Wulf? Then WELD
it bravely, winning honor for our name.
She left you the cross, Goodwin? Wear
it worthily, winning glory for the Lord
n
what you have sworn. Whate'er be-
fall, bear no bitterness to one another
and be true to one another and to her,
your lady, SO that when at last you
make your reports to me before high
heaven, / may have no cause to be
ashamed of you, my nephews, Goodwin
and Wulf."
For a moment he was silent, until his
face lit up as with a great gladness
and he cried in loud, clear voice,
Beloved wife, l hear you! 0 God,
come!"
Then, though his eyes stayed open
and the glad smile still rested upon his\
face, his jaw fell
Thus died Sir Andrew darcy.
Still kneeling on either side of him,
the brethren watched the end and, as
his spirit passed, bowed their heads in
prayer.
1--WE have seen a great DEATH" said
Goodwin presently. Let us learn les
son from 1t and when our time comes
we may die like him." -
Aye" answered Wulf, springing to
his feet, but first let US take venge-
ance for 1t. Why, what is this?
Rosamund's writing! Read it, God
win"
Goodwin took the parchment and read:
Follow me to Saladin. In that hope 7
live on"
Surely we will follow you, Rosa
mund," he cried aloud. Follow you
through life to death or victory"
Then he threw down the paper and,
calling for the chaplain to come to
watch the body, they ran into the hall.
BY this time about half Of the folk
were awake from their drugged sleep,
while others who had been doctored by
the man Ali in the barn came stag
gering into the hall, wild-eyed, white
faced and holding their hands to their
heads and hearts. They were so siciq
and bewildered, indeed, that ii was
difficult to make them understand what
had CHANGED and when they learned
the truth the most of them could only
groan. Still few were found strong
enough in wit and body to grope their
way through the darkness and the
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