The San Francisco call., 1905-01-08

ing to see what was before them,
stretched out their long necks and
rushed forward over the fiat ground
Now they were on the edge of the ter
rible place, and, like man in dream
Goodwin noted the sharp, sheer lips of
the cliff, the gulf between them and
the white foam of the stream a score
of yards beneath. Then he felt the
brave horse Flame gather itself to-
gether and next instant fly into the air
like a bird. Also-and was this dream
indeed for even as they sped over that
horrible pit did he feel a woman's lips
pressed upon his cheek? He was not
sure. Who could have been at such a
time, with death beneath them? Per-
or lock of her loose hair that Struck
across his face. Indeed, at the moment
he thought of other things than wom-
ems lips-those of the black and yawn-
ing gulf, for instance.
They swooped through the air, the
white foam vanished; they were safe.
No; the hind feet of Flame had missed
their footing, they fell, they were lost
A struggle. How tight those arms
clung about his own. How close that
face was pressed against his own. Lo!
1T was over. They were speeding down
the hill. and alongside of the gray
horse Flame raced the black horse
Smoke, Wulf on its back, with eyes
that seemed to be starting from his
head. shouting, "A darcy! A darcy"
and behind him, turban gone, and
white burnous floating like pennon on
the air, the grim -visaged Arab, who
also shouted. Swifter and yet swifter.
Did ever horses gallop so fast?
Swifter and yet swifter, till the
air sang past them and the ground
seemed to- fly away beneath. The
slope was done. They were on
the flat the flat was passed, they were
in the fields; the fields were left be-
hind; and, behold! side by side, with
hanging heads and painting f1anks, the
horses Smoke and Flame stood still
upon the road, their sweating hides
dyed red in the light of the sinking
sun.
The grip loosened from about God
wins middle. 1t had been close; on
Masouda's round and naked arms We're
the prints of the steel shirt beneath
his tunfc, for she slipped to the ground
and stood looking at them Then she
smiled one of her slow, thrilling smiles,
gasped and said:
You ride well, pilgrim Peter and
pilgrim John rides well also, and these
are good horses; and, oh, that ride was
worth the riding, even though death
my Uncle, what say you?"
THAT I grow old for such gallops-
two on one horse, with nothing to
win!'
Nothing to VIM" said Masouda. Il
am not so sure!'' and she looked at
Goodwin. well, you have sold your
horses to pilgrims who can ride, and
they have proved them; and / have had
a change from my cooking in the inn,
hor
again."
Wulf wiped the sweat from his brow,
shook his head, and muttered:
II always heard the East was full
of madmen and devils; now / know that
it is true"
But Goodwin said nothing.
They led the horses back to the inn,
where the brethren groomed them down
under the direction of the Arab, that
the gallant beasts might get used to
them which, after carrying them upon
that fearful ride, they did readily
enough. Then they fed them with
chopped barley; ear and straw to-
gether, and gave them water to drink
that had stood in the sun all day to
warm, in which the Arab mixed flour
and some white wine.
Next morning at the dawn they rose
to see how Flame and Smoke Jared
after that journey. Entering the stable,
they heard the sound of man weeping,
and hidden in the shadow, saw by the
dim light of the morning that it was
the old Arab, who stood with his back
to them, an arm around the neck of
each horse, which he kissed from time
to time. Moreover, he talked aloud in
his own tongue to them, calling them
his children, and saying that rather
would he sell his wife and sister to the
Franks.
But" he added, "she has spoken
why, know not-and / must obey.
Well, at least they are gallant men and
worthy of such steeds. Half l hoped
that you and the three of us and my
niece Masouda, the woman with the
secret face and eyes that have looked
on fear. might perish yesterday in the
cleft Of the stream: but 1t was not
willed of Allah. So farewell, Flame,
and farewell, Smoke, children of the
desert, who are swifter than arrows,
for never more shall ride you in bat
tle Well, at least have others of your
matchless blood"
Then Goodwin touched Wulf on the
shoulder, and they crept away from the
stable without the Arab knowing that
they had been there, for 1t seemed
shameful to pry upon his grief. When
they reached their room again Goodwin
:
asked Wulf:
''Why does this man sell us those
noble steeds?"
Because his niece, Masouda, has bid
him to do So" he answered.
''And why has she hidden kim?"
"Ah!" replied Wulf. HE called her
the woman with the secret face and
eyes that have looked on fear didn't
he? Well, for reasons that have to do
with his family perhaps, or with her
secrets, or us, with whom she plays
some game of which we know neither
the beginning nor the end. But, Broth
er Goodwin, you are wiser than /. Why
do you ask me these riddles? For my
part / do not wish to trouble my head
about them. All I know is that the
game is a brave one and mean to go
through with it, especially as I believe
that this playing will lead US to Rosa
mund."
MAY 1t lead us nowhere worse" an
swered Goodwin, with something like a
groan, for he remembered that dream
OF his which he dreamed in midair be-
tween the edges of black rock with the
white foam beneath. But to Wulf he
said nothing Of this dream.
When the sun was fully up they pre-
rared to go out again, taking with
them the gold to pay the Arab, but on
opening the door of their room they met
Masouda, apparently about to knock
upon 1t.
"Whither go you. friends Peter and
john and so early?" she asked, looking
at them with smile upon her beauti--