The champion. (Arcadia, Fla.) 1895-1911, 1906-07-19

credit you with so much wit Now
Sir Wulf can you walkY Yes; so
much the better. II will save YOU II
rough ride, for this place is steep
though not so steep as one you know
of. Now set the princess upon Flame.
for no cat Is surer footed than that
horse l, who know the path. will
lead 1t. John, take you the other two,
Peter, do you follow last of all with
Smoke, and II they hang back prick
them with your sword"
A minute more and they were scranI-
bling down a mountain ridge 80 steep
that It seemed as though they must fall
and be dashed to pieces at the bottom.
Yet they fell not, for, made az 1t had
been to meet such hours Of need. this
road was safer than 1t appeared with
ridges cut In the rock at the worst
places.
Down they went and down tin nj
length, painting, but safe, they stood
at the bottom Of the darksome gulf
where only the starlight shone, for here
the rays Of the low moon could not
reach.
For mile or more MasOuda led them
along the rocky bottom Of the gulf
where because of the stones they could
only travel at foot pace, till they
came to deep cleft on the left hand
up which they began to ride. They
stumbled on till they reached a little
glade where water ran and grass
grew
Halt" said Masouda. Here we
must wait I'LL dawn, for in this dark
ness the horses cannot keep their foot
ing on the stones, Moreover, all about
us lie preclplces, over one Of which we
might fall, To go forward would be
madness. Sit down and rest awhile
and let the horses drink little and eat
mouthful Of grass, holding their
reins IN our hands, for we and they
may need all our strength before to-
morrow's sun is set. Sir Wulf, say, are
you much hurtT
"But very little" he answered In
cheerful voice; "a few bruises beneath
my mail 49, that is all, for Lozele's
sword was heavy. Tell us, pray you,
what happened after we rode away
from the castle bridge"
"Thls, knights: The princess here, be-
ing overcome, was escorted by the
slaves back to her chambers but Sinan
babe me stay with him awhile that he
might speak to you through me, DO
you know what was in his mind? To
have you killed at once, both Of you,
whom LOzelle had told him were this
lady's lovers and not her brothers.
Only he feared that there might be
trouble with the people, who were
pleased with the fighting, 80 held his
hand. Then he bade you to the supper,
whence you would not have returned,
but when Sir Wulf said that he was
hurt whispered to him that what he
wished to do could best be done on the
morrow at the wedding feast when he
was in his own halls, surrounded by
his guards.
AYE he answered, these brethren
shall fight with them until they are
driven into the gulf 1t will be Il good
" sight for me and my queen to see.'
SO he suffered you to go, and i left him
also. Before went he spoke to me,
bidding me bring the princess to him
privately within two hours after we
had supped, as he wished to speak to
her alone about the ceremony of her
marriage on the morrow and to make
her gifts. | answered aloud that his
commands should be obeyed and hur-
ried to the guest castle There l found
your lady recovered from her faint
ness, but mad with fear, ana FORCED
her to eat and drink.
"The rest Is short. Before the TWO
hours were gone a messenger came
saying that the AlJe-bal babe me do
what he had commanded
Return answered; the princess
adorns herself. We follow presently
alone, as II Is commanded
'"Then | threw this cloak about her
and babe her be brave, and, II we fall
ed. to choose whether she would take
sinan or death for lord. Next, took
the ring you had, the slgnet of the dead
Al-je-bal. We came to the guards,
and to them | showed the ring. They
bowed also, but when they saw that
we turned down the passage to the left
and not to the right, as we should have
done to come to the doors Of the Inner
palace, they would have stopped us.
Acknowledge the slgnet,' answer
ed. Dogs, what is It to you which
road the signet takesr Then they also
let us pass.
'Now, following the passage we
were out of the guest house and Ia the
gardens, and l led her to what Is