Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1906-08-23

"Flame, come hithcr!' As he spoke
there was n sound Of hoofs, md through
the low archway leaped the most beau
; tiful horse that eve their eyes had
seen. 1t was gray in color, with flow
ing name and tail, and on It's forehead
was n black star. Out 1t sprang, snort
ing; then, seeing its master, the Arab,
checked itself and stood still by him.
Come hithcr, Smoke" called the
Arab, and another horse appeared and
ranged itself by the first. In size and
shape it was the same, but the color
was coal black and the star upon its
forehead white.
"These IRE the horses" said the Arab,
Masouda translating. "They are twins,
seven years old and never backed until
they were rising six"
Horses. indeed!' said Wulf. "Horses.
indeed. But what is the price Of them?'
Masouda repeated the question in
Arabic, wherein the man replied in the
same tongue, with a slight shrug Of the
shoulders.
"Be not foolish. You know this is no
question of price. for they are beyond
price. Say what you will"
"IIe says" said Masouda. that it is
a hundred gold pieces for the pair,
Can you pay as much?"
The brethren looked ut each other
The sum was large.
"Such horses have saved mems lives
ere now" added Masouda, land l dc
not think that I al ask him to take
less. seeing that. did he but know It. in
Jerusalem they could be sold for thrice
as much. But. IL you wish. I could
lend you money, since doubtless yor
have jewels or other articles of value
you could give as sec~urity-that rims
IN your breast. for instance, Peter"
1--WE have the gold itself" answered
Wulf, who would have paid to his last
piece for those horses.
"Thcy buy" said Masouda.
They led the horses back to the sta
bic, where the brethren groomed then
down under the direction of the Arat
that the gallant beasts might get USED
to them.
Next morning Mt the dawn they ros,
to see how Flame and Smoke Jared
Entering the stable, they heard tn,
sound of n man weeping and, bidder
in the shadow, saw by the low light o
the morning that it was the old Arab
who stood with his back to them, M
arm around the neck OF each horse
which he kissed from time to time.
hptitv hn added .scho hos cno1yor
why I know not-and I must obey
Well, at least they seem gallant mel
and worthy Of such steeds. SO fare
well, Flame, and farewell, Smoke, chill
dren Of the desert, who are swifte
han arrows. for never more shall
ride you in battle. Well. st least hav
o:hers Of your matchless blood"
Then Goodwin touched WuK on tn
shoulder, and they crept away from tn
stable without the Arab knowing tina
they had been there, for it SCENE
shameful to pry upon his grief. Whe
they reached their oom again Godwi
asked Wulf:
"Why does this man sell us those M
BILE steedsY"
because his niece. Masouda, has bi
him so to do he answered.
"And why has she hidden him?"
"Ah," replied Wulf, for reasons tina
. have to do with his family, perhaps, c
l with her secrets, or us. with whom sh
plays some game Of which we kno'
neither the beginning nor the end. TT
: game is q brave one, and I mean to G
:. through with it, especially as l believ
that this playing will lead us to Ros'
, mund."
. "May it lead us nowhere worse al
swered Goodwin.
When the sun was fully UP they pr
pared to 20 ont again, taking wit
them the gold to pay the Arab, but @