The Richmond palladium. (Richmond, Ind.) 1906-1907, 1906-04-18
BY RIDER HAGGARD,


say lOlhIIS VI llldl lIIS anu Itt NJ ~ -
see it. 1t is, or was once, the great
signet, and a day may come when 1t
VIII save your lives. Doubtless when
the lord who is dead thought it gone
forever he caused another to be fash
Toned, SO like that who have had both
in my hand could not tell the two
apart. To him who holds that ring all
gates are open, but to let it be known
that you have its double means death
DO you understand"
They nodded, and Masouda contin-
ued:
Lastly, though you may think that
this seems much to ask, trust me al
ways, even If / seem TO play you false,
who for your sakes,' and she sighed,
have broken oaths and spoken words
for which the punishment is to die by
torment. Nay, thank me not, for | do
only what / must who am a slave-a
slave"
"A slave to whom?'' asked Goodwin,
staring at her.
ITO the lord of all the mountains"
she answered, with smile that was
sweet yet very sad, and without anoth-
er word spurred on her horse.
They crossed the plain, and toward
evening came to the wall of the outer
city. They passed up a street very
steep and narrow, from the roofs and
windows Of the houses on either side
of which hundreds of people, many of
whom seemed to be engaged at their
evening prayer, watched them go by.
At the head of this street they reached
a fortified gateway, on the turrets of
which, SO motionless that at first they
took them 10 be statues cut in stone,
stood guards wrapped in long white
robes. After parley this was opened
to them, and they rode through triple
doors.
Then they saw all the wonder of that
place, for between the outer city where
they stood and the castle, with its inner
town which was built around and be-
meath it, yawned a vast gulf over nine
ty feet in depth. Across this gulf, built
of blocks of stone, quite unrailed and
not more than three PAGES wide, ran a
causeway some 200 yards in length,
which causeway was supported upon
arches reared up at intervals from the
bottom Of the gulf.
ride on and have no fear" said
Masouda. "Your horses are trained to
heights, and the mules and mine will
follow"
At length they were across and, pass
ing under another gateway which had
broad terraces OH either side Of it,
rode up the long street beyond and
entered great courtyard, around
which stood the castle, a vast and
frowning fortress. Here a white robed
officer came forward, greeting them
with low bow, and with him serv-
ants, who assisted them to dismount.
These men took the horses to a range
Of stables ON one side of the courtyard,
whittier the brethren followed to see
their beasts groomed and fed. Then
the officer, who had stood patiently by
the while, conducted them through
doorways and down passages to the
guest chambers, large stone rooted
rooms, where they found their baggage
ready for them. Here Masouda said
that she would see them again on the
following morning and departed in
company with the officer
Wulf looked round the great vaulted
chamber, which, now that the dark had
fallen, was lit by pickering lamps set
in iron brackets upon the wall, and
said:
We'll, for my part, had rather pass
the night in desert among the lions
than in this dismal place"
Scarcely were the words out of his
lips when curtains swung aside, and
beautiful women entered, clad in gauZy
wells and bearing dishes of food. These
they placed upon the ground before
sat down and ate the food that was
strange to them, but very pleasant TO
the taste Wine was offered to them
also, but of this. remembering Masou-
da's words. they would not drink, ask
ing by signs for water. which was
brought after little pause.
When their meal was done the beau
tful women bore away the dishes and
black slaves appeared These men led
them TO baths such as they had never
seess where they washed in hot water.
then in cold. Afterward they were
rubbed with spicy smelling oils and.
having been wrapped in white robes,
conducted back TO their chamber, where
they found beds spread for them. On
these being very weary. they lay down,
VIXEN strange. sweet music broke out,
and IL the sound of it they fell asleep.
When they awo.le it was to see the
light streaming through the high, lat
ticed windows.
Did you sleep well, GodwinT' asked
Wulf
We'll enough" answered his brother
only | dreamed that throughout the
night people came and looked at me-,
Il dreamed that also" said Wulf
Moreover. | think that it was not all
u dream, since there is a coyerlet on
my bed which was not there when
went to sleep"
They rose and dressed themselves,
putting on clean garments and their
best cloaks that they had brought with
them on the mules, after which the veil
ed women entered the room with break
fast, and they ate. When this was fin
ished, having nothing else TO do. they
made signs TO one of the women that
they wished for cloths wherewith to
CLEAN their armor, for, as. they bad