The San Francisco call., 1905-02-05

Shall we fight ?' asked Wulf as they
threw on their mail
But Goodwin answered:
Nay, it would serve us nothing
Therran officer entered the tent, and
commanded them to give up their
answer charge that had been laid
against them both. nor would he say
any r,1ore. So they went as prisoners,
and after waiting awhile were ushered
into & large room OF the house where
Salacin lodged. which was arranged as
court With q dais at one end. Before
this they were Stood till presently
the Sultan entered through the further
door. and with him. certain of his
emiTs and secretaries. Also Rosamund,
who looked very pale. was brought
there, and in attendance on her Ma
souda. calm-faced as ever.
The brethren bowed to them, but Sa-
iadin. whose eyes were full of rage.
took TO notice of their Sa1utation. For
moment there was silence, then Sa-
ladin bade a secretary read the charge,
which was brief 1t was that they had
conspired TO steal away the Princess o.
Baalbec
Where is the evidence against us?"
asked Goodwin boldly. The Sultan is
just, and convicts no man save on tes-
timony-"
=
tary. who read the words that had been
taken down from the lips of the cap
tive Abdullah. They demanded to be
allowed to examine the captive Alb
0ullah and learned that he was al
ready dead. Then the eunuch Mesrour
was carried forward, for walk he could
not, owing to the wound that Abdullah
had given him. and told all his tale,
how he had suspected Abdullah, and.
following him, had heard him and one
of the brethren speaking in the tent,
and the words that passed, and after
ward seen Abdullah with the jewel
in his hand.
When he had finished Goodwin asked
which of them he had heard speaking
with Abdullah. and he answered that
he could not say, as their voices were
SO alike, but one voice only had spoken.
Then Rosamund was ordered to give
her testimony, and said, truly enough,
that she knew nothing of the plot and
had not thought of this flight Masouda
also swore that she now heard of it for
the first time. After this the secretary
announced that there was no more evil
dence, and prayed of the Sultan to give
Judgment in the matter.
Against which of u.s. asked God
win, seeing that both the dead and the
living witness declared they heard but
one voice, and whose that voice was
llfcS QiA IACl hllON <1CCOiQllS " yOQI
own law, you cannot condemn a man
against whom there is no good testi-
mony.'
Which of us, then, is to die. and
which to go free?" asked Goodwin.
Tell Us, that he who is doomed may
prepare his soul"
Say you. who know the truth"
answered Saladin
we admit nothing" said Goodwin:
yet If one of 1s must die, / as the
elder claim that right"
And ] claim ii as the younger. The
jewel was Hassan's gift TO me; who
else could give it TO Abdullah?" said
Wulf. speaking for the first time,
Whereat all the Saracens there assem-
bled. brave men who loved a knightly
deed. murmured in admiration, and
even Saladin said:
We'll spoken, both of you. So it
seems that both must die"
Then Rosamund stepped forward and
threw herself upon her knees before
him. exclaiming:
Sire, my uncle, such is not your JUS
t.ce, that two should be slain for the
offense Of one. If offense there be. If
you know not which is guilty. spare
them both, / beseech you
He stretched out his hand and raised
her from her knees, then thought a
while and said:
Nay, plead not with me, for how
ever much you love him the guilty man
must die, as he deserves. But of this
matter Allah alone knows the truth,
therefore let it be decided by Allah, .
and he rested his head upon his hand,
looking at Wulf and Goodwin as though
to REID their souls.
Now. behind 0iadin stood that old
and famous iInaum who had been with
him and H2ssan when he commanded
the brethren to depart from Damascus
who all this while had listened to
everything that had passed with a sour
smile. Leaning forward. he whispered
in his masters ear. who considered q
moment then answered him:
1T is good. Do So"
So the imaum left the court, and re-
turned presently carrying two small
boxes of sandalwood tied with silk and
scaled. so like each other that none
could tell them apart, which boxes he
passed continually from his right hand
to his left and from his left hand to his
right, then gave them to Saladin.
I'm one Of these" said the Sultan. '-is
that jewel known as the Enchanted
Star and the Luck of the House of Has
san. which the Prince presented to his
conqueror on the day Of Hattin and for
the desire of which my captain Abdul
lah became a traitor and was brought
to death. In the other is a stone of the
same weight. Come. my niece, take you
these boxes and give them to your
kinsmen, to each the box you will The
Jewel that is called the Star of Hassan
is magical and has virtue, so they say.
Let it choose, therefore, which of these
knights is ripe for death. and let him
perish in whose box the Star is found" I"
Now" muttered the imaum into the
ear of his master. now at length we
shall learn which it is of these two men
that the lady loves"
That is what I seek to know an
swered Saiadin in the same low voice.
AS she heard this decree Rosamund
looked round wildly and pleaded:
"Oh. be not so cruel beseech YOU
spare me this task Let it be another
hand that is chosen to deal death to
one of those of my own blood with
whom l have dwelt since childhood. Let
me not be the blind sword of fate that
frees his spirit, lest it should haunt
my dreams and turn all my world to
woe. Spare me, beseech you''
But Saladin looked at her very stern
ly and answered.
Princess. you know why I have
brought you to the East and raised
you to great honor here, why also I
have made you my companion in these