The Richmond palladium. (Richmond, Ind.) 1906-1907, 1906-04-10
CHAPTER VIII.

RA4H since the brethren sat upon
kVA their horses that winter
morning. Having no ship in
which to follow Rosamund-and this
indeed, II would have been too late to
do-they thanked those who had come
to aid them and returned home to Stee-
pie, where they had matters to arrange
Two days later Sir Andrew was
buried with great ponp at Stangate
abbey. After he had been laid to rest
his will was opened. Then it was
found that with the exception of Ger.
tain sums of money left to his neph-
ews. a legacy to Stangate abbey and
another to be devoted to masses for the
repose of his soul, with some gifts to
his servants and the poor, all his es-
tate was devised to his daughter Rosa.
mund. The brethren or the survivor OF
behalf. with the charge that they
should keep watch and ward over her
and manage her lands till she took a
husband.
These lands, together with their own
the brethren placed in the hands OF
Prior John Of Stangate, In the presence
Of witnesses, to administer for them
subject to the provisions of the will
taking 1.-THE Of the rents and profits
for his pains. The priceless jewels
also that had been sent by Saladin
were given into his keeping and a re-
ceipt with list of the same signed III
duplicate deposited with a clerk al
Southmlnster. This indeed was neces-
sary, seeing that none save the brethren
and the prior knew of these jewels, of
which, being Of so great value, it was
not safe to speak. Then early one
morning before any were astir they
rode quietly away to London.
Through the hot haze Of July morn
ing a dromon, as certain merchant ves-
sells Of that time were called, might
have been seen drifting before light
breeze into St Georges bay ut Beirut,
on the coast Of Syria. Cyprus, whence
she had sailed last, was not hundred
miles away, yet she had taken six days
to do the journey, not on account of
storms, of which there were none at
this time Of year. but through lack of
wind to move her.
Among the passengers were Goodwin
and Wulf, travelling, as their uncle had
hidden them, unattended by squires or
by servants. Upon the ship they pass
ed themselves of as brothers named
Peter and John of Lincoln, simple gen
tlemen Of small estate, making a pill
grimage to the Holy Land in penitence
for their sins. At this tale their fellow
passengers with whom they had sailed
from Genoa, to which place they trav-
eled overland, shrugged their shoul-
ders. for these brethren looked what
they were-knights Of high degree-and
they nicknamed them Sir Peter and Sir
John, and as such they were known
throughout the voyage.
The brethren were seated together In
little place apart in the bow Of the
ship and engaged, Goodwin in reading
from an Arabic translation of the Cos
pels made by some Egyptian monk. and
Wulf in following it with little ease
in the Latin version. OF the former
tongue indeed they had acquired much
In their youth, since they learned II
from Sir Andrew with Rosamund, al
though they could not talk 1t as she
did, who had been taught to lisp it as
an infant by her mother.
shut the book, brother" said Wulf
''There is Lebanon at last" And he
pointed to the great line Of mountains
revealing themselves dimly through
their wrappings Of mist.
aye" said Goodwin; "the promised
land. AS our uncle babe, we will seek
out their sheik Jebal''-
Hush" said Wulf, for JUG then
some merchants and with them num-
Der of pilgrims crowded forward to
the bow to obtain their first view Of
the Holy Lane. Indeed, one of these
men-a trader known as Thomas OF
Ipswich-was, they found. standing
close to them. The brethren mingled
with them while this same Thomas of
Ipswich, who had visited the place be-
fore, or so it seemed, pointed out the
beauties of the country.
Have you been on the mountains?'
asked Wulf.
AYE, following my business" he an
a great snow capped peak to the north.
There begins the territory Of the sheik
All e-baf'-and he looked at them
meapingly-"whom," he added, mel
Their Christian nor Saracen visit with
out an invitation. which is seldom
given"
Again they inquired why not.
Because" answered the trader, still
watching them. most men love their
lives, and that man Is the lord of death
and magic. This old man Of the noun
tain is great murderer, Of whom even
nll the princes Of the east are terrified
for he speaks a word to his fedais-or
servants-who are initiated, and they
so forth and bring to death any whom
he hates. Young men, like you well,
and l say to you, be warned. In this
Syria there are many wonders to be
seen. Leave those Of Masyaf and its
fearful lord alone il you desire to look
again upon the towers OF Lincoln"
Then boats came out to greet them
from the shore-for at that time Beirut
was in the hands of the Franks-and
in the shouting and confusion which
followed they saw no more Of this
merchant Thomas, nor did they seek
him out again, since they thought it un-
wise to show themselves too curious
about the sheik Al-je-bal. Indeed, it