The Wenatchee daily world. [volume] (Wenatchee, Wash.) 1905-1971, 1906-04-26

"
ways wore black cloak over his
mail:"
THAT might he he.
Then he was not taken prisoner. but
he came to visit the sultan at Damas-
Gus while | lay in bonds there After
ward he left ard at Jaffa I heard that
be had sailed for Europe three months
before did"
Now the brethren look at each other.
So I.ozelle ,rQs in England. But Sir
Andrew made no comment, OILY he
said:
Tell me your story, and be careful
that you snoak the trnth.'
"Why should | not. who have moth
ing to hile:" answered Nicholas. II
was captured by some Arabs as l
ioulncyel to the Jordan upon a pill
/ grimage, who, when they found that
had ~ gods t. be robbed Of. would
have killed me- This indeed. they were
about II Do. had not some of Saladin's
soldiers come by and commanded them
10 hold their hands and give ne over
to them. They did 50, and the soldiers
took NE II Damascus. There | was i'm
prisonei. but not close, and then il was
that saw LoZclie. or. at least, a Chris
tan man who had some such name. and,
as Re seemed to he in favor with the
Saracens. begged him to intercede
for me Afterward | was brought be-
fore the court of Saladin, and having
questioned me- the sultan himself told
me that must either worship the false
prophet or die, to which you can guess
my answer.
Three days later Saladin sent for
ME again and offered to spare my life
IL | would swear an oath. which oath
was that | should take a certain pack
age and deliver it 10 You or to your
daughter named the Lady Hosamund,
here at your hall of Steeple. in Essex,
and bring back the answer to Damas-
Gus. Not wishing 10 die. | said that |
would do this if the sultan passed his
word. which he never breaks, that l
should be set free afterward"
And, now you are safe in England.
do you purpose to return to Damascus
with he answer. and. if so. Why"
For two reasons, Sir Andrew. First,
because | have sworn to do 50. and l
do not break my word any more than
does Saladin. Secondly, because | con-
tinue 10 wish to live. and the sultan
promised me that if failed in nv mis-
sion he would bring about my death
wherever | might be, which | ana sure
he has the power to DO by magic or
otherwise"
And how will you return"
The palmer shrugged Lis shoulders.
AS best l 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 u Jaffa told
me that there was a stir among the
learned doctors and OWNERS at the
court because of Il certain dream
which the sultan had dreamed three
times. 1t had to do with lady who
was half of the blood of Ayoub and
! h2if English. and they said that my
mission was mixed up with this mat
ter. Now, have eaten well, and l
am weary. Is there any place where /
may sleep? l must be gone at day
! break, for those who do Saladin's bust
hess dare not tarry. and | have your
letter"
There is 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 | tell you l do not trust him--aye.
/ 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. | 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 infidel"