The San Francisco call., 1905-01-01
PROLOGUE.

~AI,AH-ED-DIN, Commander of
u the Faithful, the King strong to
aid, Sovereign of the East, sat at
night in his palace at Damascus
and brooded on the wondertul
ways of God, by. whom he had been
lifted to his high estate. He. remem-
bered how, when he was but small IN
the eyes of men, Nour-ed- din. King or
Syria, forced him to accompany his un-
Gle, Shirkuh, to Egypt, whittier he. Wenl,
like one driven to his DEATH. and how.
against his. own Will, there he arose to
greatness. He thought Of his father,
the wise Ayoub. and the brethren with
who he was brought up, all OF them
dead now save one; and sof his sisters.
whom he had cherished Most of all did
he think. of her, Zobeides who had been
stolen away by the knight whom she
loved even to the loss of her own soul
: yes. by the English friend OF has youth,
MS rather g. prisoner, Sir Andrew
DARCY. who, led astray by passion,
had done him and his house this gEieV-
GUS wrong. SIe had sworn, he remem-
bered, that he would bring her PACK
even from. England. and already had
planned to kill her husband and cap
ture her when he learned her, death.
She had left a child, or so his spies
told him, who, IL she still lived, must
be a woman. now--his own niece.
though half, of noble English blood.
Then his mind wandered from this
old half forgotten story of the woe and
blood in which his days: were set; and
to the last great struggle between the
followers of the prophets Jesus and
Mohamet, that sJibad for which he
made ready-and he sighed. For he
was merciful man, who loved not
slaughter, although his fierce faith
drove him on from war to war.
Salah-ed-din slept and dreamed of
peace. In his dream maiden stood
before him. and when she lifted her
veil, he saw that she was beautiful,
with features Like his own, but fairer.
and knew her surely for the daughter
Of his own sister who had fled with
the English knight. Now he wondered
why she visited him thus, and in his
vision prayed Allah to make the mat
! ter clearer. Then Suddenly he saw this
same woman standing before him on a
Syrian plain, and on either side of her
a countless host of Saracens' and
Franks, of Whom thousands and tens
of thousands were appointed to death.
Lo!. he, Salah-e -din, charged at the
head of his squadrons, scimitar aloft,
but she held up her hand and stayed
him. ~
What de you here, my niece?", he
asked.
Il am come to save the; lives of men
through you;" she answered; land
therefore was ] born of your blood, and
therefore lam sent to you. Put up
your sword, King. and spare Them
Say, maiden, what ransom do. you
bring to buy this multitude from
doom? What ransom and what gift?"
The ransom of my own blood, free
ly offered. and heavens gift OF peace
to your sinful soul, 0 King"
Then with that outstretched hand
she drew down his keen-edged scimitar
and it rested upon her breast.
Salah-ed-din awoke and marveled on
his dream, but said nothing OF 1t to any
man. The next night 1t returned to
him, and the memory of 1t went with
him all the day that followed. but still
he said nothing.
When ON the t I'd night he dreamed
it yet again, even more vfvidly. then
he was sure that this thing was from
GOO. and summoned his holy Imauns
and his. Diviners, and took counsel with
them. These, after they had listened,
prayed and consulted. spoke thus:
20 Sultan, Allah has warned you in
shadows that the woman, your niece,
who dwells far away In England. shall
by her own nobleness and sacrifice. in
some time to come, ssNe you from
shedding q. sea of blood. and bring rest
upon the land. We charge you, there
fore, draw this lady to. your court and
keep her ever by your side, since il
she escapes you, her peace goes with
her."
Salah-ed-din said that this interpre-
tation was wise and true, for thus also
he had read his dream. Then he sum-
moned a certain false knight who bore
the Cross upon his breast, but ii, secret
had accepted the Koran. Frankisf,
spy of his, who came from that coun-
try where dwelt the maiden, his niece,
and from him learned about her, her
father and her home. With him and
another spy who passed as Christian
palmer, by the. aid OF Prince Hassin,
one Of the greatest and most trusted Of
his Emirs. he made a cunning plan for
the capture Of the maiden II she would
not come willingly, and for her bearing
away to Syria. M0reover-that in the
eyes of all men her dignity might be
worthy OF her high blood and fate-by
sHoly var.