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

NV INV
At length, as it Glanced, the prince
was taken with a sickness from drink
ing bad water which held him to his
bed for some days, and then Lozelle
found his opportunity. Rosamund
strove to keep her cabin to avoid him,
but the heat of The uminer sun in the
Mediterranean drove her out Of it TO
q place beneath an awning on the poop.
Here Lozelle approached her, pretend
ing 20 bring her food or TO inquire after
her comfort, but she would answer
him nothing. Then he said:
Lady, how sorcly you misjudge me!
What is my crime against you? l am
an Essex man of good lineage, who met
you in Essex and learned to love you
there. Your father said mo nay, and you
said me nay, and, stung by my dlsap-
pointment. | talked as i should not
have done. For this | was called to
account with justice, and your cousin,
the young knight Goodwin. who was
then a squire, struck me in the face.
Well, he worsted and wounded me,
fortune favoring him, and l departed
with my vessel to tho east, for that is
my business, to trade between Syria
and England.
"Now, as it CHANGED, there being
peace at the time between the sultan
and the Christians. | visited Damascus
to buy merchandise. While l was there
Saladin sent for me and asked IL it
were true that l belonged to a part of
England called Essex. When I an
swered yes he asked If I knew Sir
Andrew Darcy and his daughter.
Again l said yes, whcreon he told me
that strange tale Of your kinship TO
him, Of which I had heard already;
also n still stranger tale Of some dream
that he had dreamed concerning you.
In the end he offered to hire my finest
ship for a largo sum If l would sail 1t
to England TO fetch you, but he did
not tell Inc that any force was to be
used, and | or my part said that l
would lift no hand against you or your
father, nor, indeed. have l done So"
who remembered the swords Of
Goodwin and Wulf," broke in Rosa
mund scornfully, land preferred that
Drawer men should face them"
Lady" answered Lozclle, cQloring.
"hitherto none has accused me Of Il
lack of courage OF your courtesy,
listen, l pray you. l did wrong to en-
ter on this business: but. lady, it was
love for you that drove me to it."
He looked about him cautiously.
within n week from now, IL all goes
well, we cast anchor at Limazol. in
Cyprus, to take in food and water be-
fore we IL to IL secret port near An
tioch, whence you are to be taken over
land to Damascus, avoiding all cities
of the Franks. Now. the Emperor
Isaac of Cyprus is my friend. and over
him Saladin has no power. Once In his
court you would he safe until such time
as you found opportunity to return TO
England. This, then, is my plan-that
you should escape from the ship at
night, as l can arrange"
And what is your payment" she
asked, "who are a merchant knight
my payment, lady, is-yourself, In
Cyprus we will be wed. oh. think be
fore you answer. At Damascus many
dangers await you With me you will
find safety and a Christian husband
who loves you we'll"
Have DONE she said coldly. "Soon.
er will I trust myself to an honest Sar-
aeon than to you. Yes, sooner would !
take death for my lord than you, for
your " base ends devised the plot
that brought my father to his murder
and me 10 slavery. Have done, l say,
and never dare again to speak Of love
to me-" And, rising, she walked to hel
cabin.
!, But Lozelle, looking after her, NUT
tered to himself, NAY, fair lady, l ! have
but begun, nor will l forget your bit
, ter words, for which you shall pay the
, merchant knight in kisses"
, From her cabin Rosamund sent g
message to IIassan. He came, still
pale with illness, and asked her will
wherein she told him what had passed
between Lozelle and herself, demand
= ing his protection against this man.
"Yondcr he stands said Hassan
"alone. Will you come with me and
speak to him?'
n She bowed her head, and he led hel
g to the poop.
g "Sir Captain" he began, addressing
Lozel!c, "the princess here tells mt
g strange story-that you have dared Il
d offer your love to her, a niece Of Salah
: ed-din."
"What of 1t. Sir Saracen?" answered
X Lozellc insolently. as not q Christian
knight fit mate for the blood of an east
ern chief?'
O "You." answered Hassan, with rag
in his low voice you, hucksterinl
y thief and renegade, who swear by Mo
manned in Damascus and by you
prophet Jesus in England! You her fl
mate? Why, were it not that you mus
!, guide this ship and that my maste
bade me not to quarrel with you til
your task was done I would beheat
you now" And as he spoke he grip
ped the handle Of his sclmiter.
Loxslle quailed before his fierce eyes
for we'll he knew Hassan and knew
also that II It came to lighting his soil
ors were no match for the emir ant
bis g%aracens.
4 before salah.ed.din you shall On
0 swer for your treachery" added Has
san.
n "of what, then, nm ! accused.
8 asked L~osslle-"ef loving the Lady f1of
| Mann On IA av Imam AAptaar a