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

yaradise.'
81 have heard that there was such a
Knight said the voice. "IIe was nam
I'd Darcy. and he bore the same cog
%aizance on his shield-the sign of a
,kull.'
Lord, these brethren are also named
D'Arcy. and now they come to ask your
lclp against Salah-ed din"
At that name the heap stirred as n
make stirs when it hears danger, and
he head erected itself a little beneath
he great turban.
What help, and why?" asked the
roice.
Lord, Salnll-e ed din has stolen n wom-
IN of their house who is his niece, and
these knights. her brothers, ask you to
hid them to rccover her"
The beady eyes instantly became in
tcrcsted.
REPORT has been made to me of that
story said the voice, "but what sign
DO these Franks show? He who went
before me gave n ring. and with 1t GER
tain rights In this land to the knight
Darcy who befriendcd him in danger.
Where is that sacred ring with which
be parted in his foolishncssT"
Masouda translated, and, seeing the
warning in her eyes and remembering
her words. the brethren shook their
heads, while Wulf answered:
"Our uncle, the knight Sir Andrew,
was cut down by the soldiers Of Salah-
ed-din, and as he died babe us seek you
put. What time had he to tell us OF
any ring?'
The head sank upon the breast.
81 hoped" said Sinan to Masouda,
that they had the ring. and it was for
his reason, woman. that I allowed you
10 lead these knights hither after you
had reported of them and their quest
to me from Beirut. 1t is not well that
there should he two holy signets in the
world. ard he who went before me
when he lay dying charged mt to re.
cover his if that were possible. Let
them 90 back to their own land and re-
turn to me with the ancient ring, and
will help them"
Masouda translated the last sentence
only. and again the brethren shook their
heads. This time it was Goodwin who
ypoke.
Our land is far away, o lord. and
where shall we find this long lost ringi
Let not our journey be in vain. o
mighty one, give us justice against
Salah- ed -din."
"All my years have I sought justice
bn Salah-ed din" answered Sinan, land
yet he prevails against me. No" l
make you an offer. Go, Franks, and
bring me his head. or at least put him
TO death as | shall show you how, and
we will talk again"
When they heard his saying Wulf
sald to Goodwin in English:
Il think that we had best 60. I do
not like this company" But Goodwin
made nc answer.
As they stood silent thus. not know
Ing what to say, a man entered through
The door and. throwing himself on his
hands and knees. crawled toward the
cushion through the double line Of coun-
cilors, or daiS.
your report?" said Sinan in Arabic,
Lord" answered the q II ac-
quaint you that your will has been done
in the matter of the vessel" Then he
went on speaking in a low voice, so
rapidly that the brethren could scarcely
hear and much less understand.
Sinan listened. then said:
"Let the fedai enter and make his
own report, bringing with him his pris-
! oners."
Now one Of the dais, he who sat near
est the canopy. rose and, pointing to-
ward the brethren, said:
Touching these Franks. what is your
will?"
The beady eyes, which seemed to
search out their souls, fixed themselves
upon them, and for a long while Sinan
considered.
Let them stay here" he said at
length. II may have questions to ask
them"
For a time there was silence. So in
tense was the silence, so dreadful
seemed that inhuman, snakelike man,
SO strange his aged, passionless coun-
cilors, and the place of council. sur
Wounded by a dizzy gulf. that fear took
hold of the brothers like the fear of an
evil dream. At length there was q stir
behind them, and at a word from Ma
SCUBA they separated, falling apart a
pace or two. and stood opposite each
other and sideways to Sinan. Standing
thus, they saw the curtains drawn.
Through them came four men, carrying
a stretcher covered with a cloth, be-
meath which they could see the outline
Of a form that lay there s~tirless. The
four men brought the stretcher to the
front Of the canopy, set it on the
ground, Frustrated themselves and re-
tired, walking backward down the
length Of the terrace.
Again there was silence, while the
brethren wondered whose corpse it
was that lay beneath the cloth, for a
corpse it must surely be, though nei-
Their the lord Of the mountain nor his
dais and guards seemed to concern
themselves in the matter. Again the
curtains parted, and a procession I'D
vanced up the terrace. First came a
great man clad in a white robe blazon.
ed with the bleeding dagger, after
whom walked q tall woman shrouded
In a long veil, who was followed by q
thlckset knight clad in Frankish ar.
NOR and wearing a a p of which the
cowl covered his head as though to
keep the rays of the sur from beating