Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1906-08-30

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tie water"
He asked it of Wulf, but Masouda
rose without Il word and fetched the
water. in which she mingled wine.
Goodwin drunk of it, and his ~faintness
left him, so that he was able to stand
up and move his arms and legs.
why" he said, lit IS nothing. was
only shaken. That lioness did not hurt
me at all. Lady Masouda, when last
/ saw you you were hanging from those
jaws. Say. are you hurtT'
NAY" she answered, "for I wear
mail. like you, and the teeth glanced
on it so that she held me by the cloak
only. Come; let us skin the beast and
take it's pelt as q present to the lord
Al-je-bal."
"Good,' said Goodwin. ".And I give
you the claws for a necklace"
BE sure that I will wear them,' she
answered and helped Wulf to fay the
lioness while he sat by resting.
"Comc: let us bcgone from this place
as swiftly as we can"
So, having shown them the skin of
the lion that they might know it was
but a dead thing. Mt the sight of which
they snorted and tremhled, they packed
it upon one of the mules and 0 d off
slowly into Il valley some five miles
away. where was water, but no trees.
Hero, since Goodwin needed rest, they
stopped all that day and the night. h
next morning. having slept well, he
was himself again. and they started
forward through a broken country TO-
ward a deep cleft. on either side or
which stood Il tall mountain.
This is Al-je-bal's gateway" aid
Masouda. land tonight We should sleep
in the gate, whence II days ride
brings us to his city"
SO on they rode till at length. perched
upon the sides of the cleft, they saw a
castle, Il great building. with high
walls. to which they came at sunset. 1t
seemed that they We're expected In this
place. for men FASTENED to meet them
who greeted Masouda and eyed the
brethren curiously. These TOOK them
not into the castle. but to a kind or
hosiery at its back
Next morning they went on again TO
a billy country with beautiful and fer
tile valleys. Through this they rode
for two hours, passing on their way
several villages. where somhcr eyed
people were lnboring In the fields.
From each village as they drew near
to it horsemen would gallop out and
challenge them. whcrcon MaSouda rode
forward and spoke with the leader
alone. Then he would touch his fore
head with his hand and bow his head
and they rode on unmOlcstcd.
See she said when they had thus
been stopped for the fourth time
what chance you had Of winning
through to Masyaf unguarded.'
Now they rode up a long slope and
at its crest paused to look upon Il mar
vclous scene. Below them stretched
vast plain. full of villages, cornfclds
olive groves and vineyards. In The
center Of this plain. some fifteen mile;
away, rose a great mountain, whict
seemed to be walled all about. Within
the wall was n city of which the white
fat rooted houses climbed the slopes
Of the mountain, and on it's crest a lev
el space Of land covered with trees anC
n great, many lowered castle surround
ed by more houses.
Behold the home of Al-ie-bal, lord o
the mountain" said Masouda, "wher'
we must sleep tonight. Now. brethren
listen 10 mo. Few strangers who en-
ter that castle come thence living
There is still time. | can pass yo'
back as l passed you hither. Will yo'
60 onT'
I'VE will 60 on" they answered Will
one breath.
"Why? What have you to gain? You
seek a certain maiden. Why seek hel
here whom you say has been taken tc
Salah-ed-din? Because the Al-je-bal In
bygone days swore to bcfriend IL Of
! your blood. But that Al-je-bal Is dead
and another of his line rules who took
no such oath. How do you know tina
he will befrienl you-how that he viii
not e~nslave or kill you? l have power
!, In this land. why or how does not mat
I ter, and ! can protect you against al
: tllul 0Ntli III l-uS L SWtui 1 VII io'
! did not one OF you save my lifeT' ant
she glanced at Godwin-"except m!
lord Sinan, against whom ! have NJ
power, for ! am his slave"
"He is the enemy of Saladin and ma.
help us for his hates sake, Whateve
chances, we will obey the command o
the dead"
She heard and bowed her head in as
sent, then said. looking up again:
$50 be 1t. You are not easily turne'
from your purpose, and I like tina
. spirit we'll. But hear my counsel. Will
! you are in this city speak no Arab
and pretend to understand n Ais
! drink nothing but water, which Ii goo
here, for tho lord sipan sets stranR
. wines before his guests that, II tho,
! pass tho lips, produce visions and
/. kind Of waking madnoss IN which 70
might do deeds whereof you wore af'
0rwurd u~ahanA,d."
t "Foar not" answered Wulf. "Watc
. shall DO our drink, who have la
. enough Of Srugged Wines"
"You. Dir dodwia,~ lat on MAsot