The champion. (Arcadia, Fla.) 1895-1911, 1906-08-02

pun ufOuhu IL were one great camp,
and every day new thousands OF wild
tribesmen poured in and took up the
quarters that had been prepared for
them. They asked Masouda, who knew
everything, what 1t meant. She an.
swered.
ut means the jlhad, the holy war
which Is being preached In every
mosque throughout the east. II means
that the great struggle between cross
and crescent is at hand and then. pill
grlms Peter and John, you will have
to choose your standard"
"There can be little doubt about
that" said Wulf.
"None," replied Masouda, with one
OF her smiles, "only It may pain you
TO have to make war upon the Princess
Of Baalbec and her uncle, the com.
mander Of the faithful" Then she
went, still smiling.
For this was the trouble Of IT. Rosa
mund, their cousin and their love, had
In truth become the Princess Of Baal.
bec-for them. She lived In great state
and freedom, as Saladin had promised
that she should live in his letter to Sir
Andrew Darcy. No insult or violence
was offered TO her faith; no sultor was
thrust upon her But she was In land
where women do not consort with men,
especially II they be high placed. AS
princess Of the empire of Saladin, she
must obey It's rules, even to yelling her
self when she went abroad and ex-
changing no private words with men.
Goodwin and Wulf prayed, saladin that
they might be allowed to speak with
her from time to Time but he only an
swered shortly:
"SiV knights, OuE customs are our
customs. Moreover, the less you see Of
the Princess of Baalbec the better
think 1t will be for her, for you, whose
blood l do not wish to have upon my
hands, and for myself, who await tile
fulAllment of that dream which the
angel brought"
Then the brethren left his presence
sore at heart, for. although they saw
her from time to time at feasts and
festivals, Rosamund was as far apart
from them as though she sat I'm Steeple
hall-aye, and farther Also they came
to see that of resculng her from Da-
mascus there was no hope at all. She
dwelt in her own palace, whereof the
walls were guarded night and day by a
company Of the sultan's mamelukes,
who knew that they were answerable
for her with their lives. Within its
walls, again, lived trusted eunuchs, I'M
der the command Of cunning fellow
named Mesrour, and her retlnue OF
women, all of them spies and watchful.
One comfort however, was left to
them. When she reached the court
Rosamnnd had prayed of the sultan
that Masouda should not be separated
from her and this, because Of the part
she had played in his niece's rescue
from the power of Sinan, he had grant
ed, though doubtfully. Moreover Ma
SCUBA, being person Of no account
except for her beauty, and a hereto,
was allowed to go where she would
and to speak with whom she wished.
So, as she wished to speak often with
Goodwin, they did not lack for tldlngs
Of Rosamund. ts
From her they learned that In a fash
ion the princess was happy enough
who would not be that had just escap-
ed from Al-Je-bal?--yet weary Of the
strange eastern life, Of the restraints
upon her and Of her almless days; yex-
ed also that she might not mix with the
brethren. Day by day she sent them
her greetings and with them warnings
to attempt nothlng-not even to see her
since there was no hope that they
would succeed. SO much afraid OF
them was the sultan. Rosamund said,
that both she and they were watched
day and night, and Of any folly their
lives would pay the price. When they
heard all this the brethren began to
despair.
Then 1t was that chance came to
them of which the issue was to make
them still more admired by Saladin
and to lift Masouda to honor. One hot
morning they were seated In the court
yard Of their house beside the fountain
staring at the passersby through the
bars of the bronze gates and at the SEN
tries who marched to and fro before
them. The house was In one of the
principal thoroughfares Of Damascus,
and In front of It flowed continually an
amending, many colored stream Of folk.
Goodwin and Wulf, seated In the
shade of the painted house, watched
them goomily They were weary OF