Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1906-08-16

about to do. had not some Of Saladin's
soldiers come by and commanded them
TO hold their hands and give me over
to them. They did 40, and the soldiers
took me TO Damascus. There I was i'm
%prisoned. but not close, and her it was
tina ! saw Lozelle, or, VI least, a Chris
tian man who had some such name, and,
as he seemed to be in favor with the
Saracens, / begged him to interccde
for me Afterward | was brought be-
fore the court of Saladin, and, having
questioned inf. tho sultan himself told
me that | must either worship the false
prophet or die, to which you can guess
my answer.
Tire days later Saladin sent for
me again and offered to spare my life
II L would swear an oath, which oath
was that | should take "A certain pack
age and deliver it to you or to your
daughter named the Lady Rosamund.
here Mt your hall of Stceplc, in Essex,
and bring back the answer to Damas-
Gus. Not wishing to die, ] said that /
would do this If the sultan passed his
word. which he never breaks. that |
Should be set free aftcrwurd."
And, now YOU are safe In England,
do you purpose to return. to Damascus
= with the answer, and, if so, wlyt'
For two reasons Sir Andrew. First.
because l have sworn to do 80, and |
do not break my word any more than
does Saladin. Secondly, because I CON
tinue to wish to live. and the sultan
promised me that if l failed in my mis-
sion he would bring about my death
wherever I might be, which | am sure
he has the power to do by magic or
otherwise"
And how will you return"
The palmer shrugged his shoulders.
las best / may and as quickly Is
your answer ready, Sir Andrew"
Yes; it Is here" And he handed
him the roll, which Nicholas hid away
in the folds Of his great cloak. Then
Sir Andrew added, "You say you know
nothing Of all the business in which
you play this part?"
Nothing, or, rather, only this: The
officer who escorted me to JaTa told
AHc 'h"l theTe WAS II SUR among the
learned doctors and OWNERS Mt the
court because of a certain dream
which the sultan had dreamed three
times. 1t had to do with a lady who
was half Of the blood of Ayoub and
half English, and they said that my
mission was mixed up with this mat
ter. Now, l have eaten well, and l
am weary. Is tnere any place where I
may sleep? | must be gone at day
break, for those who do Saladin's bust
ness dare not tarry, and / have your
letter"
There is a place." answered Sir An
drew. 'Wulf, take him to it, and to-
morrow before he leaves we will speak
again. Till then farewell, holy Mich
olas."
With one more searching glance the
palmer bowed and went. When the
door closed behind him Sir Andrew
beckoned Goodwin to him and whis.
pered:
Tomorrow. Goodwin, you must take
some men and follow this Nicholas to
see where he goes and what he does.
for I tell you I do not trust him-ayc,
I fear him much. These embassies to
and from Saracens are strange traffic
for a Christian man; also, though he
says his life hangs on it, l think that
We're he honest, once safe in England
here he would stop, since the first
priest would absolve him Of an oath
forced from him by the infdol."
"Were he dishonest would he not
nave stolen those jewels?' asked God
win. They are worth some risk.
What do you think, Rosamund?"
~" she answered. "Oh. | think
there is more in this han any of us
dream. l think" she added In q voice
Of distress and with an involuntary
wringing motion of the hands, that for
this house and those who dwell in it
time is big with death, and that sharp
rycd palmer Is its midwife"
Then. with q woeful gesture. Rosa
rnund turned and left them.
Her father watched her go and said:
The maid Ia right. Great business Is
afoot In which all of US must bear our
parts. For no little thing would Sala-
din stir thus-he who braces himself rs
l know well for the last struggle, in
which Christ or Mohammed must 60
down. What, Wulf, does the man
sleep already?"
Like a dog, for he seems outworn
with travel
Like Il dog. with one eye open. per-
haps. l do not wish that he should
give us the slip during the night, as l
want more talk with him and other
things, of which l have spoken to God
win
mo fear Of that, uncle. have lock-
ed the stable door, and n sainted pal
mer will scarcely leave us the present
Of such a mule
An hour before the dawn ext morn
ing Goodwin and Wulf were up and
with them certain trusted men who
had been warned that their services
would be needed. Presently Wulf.
bearing n lantern in his hand. came
to where his brother stood by the fire
in the hall.
where have you heen?" Goodwin
asked. ITO wake the palmer?"
mo. To place a man 10 watch the
road to Stpeple hill and another at the
Creek path: also to feed his mule,
which is a very fine bcast-too good for
a palmer. Doubtless he will be stirring
soon, rs he said that he must be up