The Richmond palladium. (Richmond, Ind.) 1906-1907, 1906-04-30


what happened after we rode away
from the castle bridge"
This, 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, so held his
hand. Then he babe you to the supper,
whence you would not have returned,
but when Sir WuIf said that he was
hurt / whispered to him that what he
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 a good
ly sight for me and my queen to see
So he suffered you to go, and 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 found
your lady recovered from her faint
ness, but mad with fear, and forced
her to eat and drink. ... ... .
"The rest Is short. Before the two
hours were gone a messenger came,
saying that the AIje-bal babe me do
what he had commanded.
"'Return,' 1 answered; the princess
adorns herself. We follow presently
alone, as it is commanded
'Then threw this cloak about her
and babe her be brave, and, II we fail
ea, to choose whether she would take
Sinan or death for lord. Next, / took
the ring you had, the signet of the dead
AEje-bal. We came to the guards,
and to them l 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 signet.' l answer
ed. Dogs, what Is II to you which
road the signet takesT Then they also
let us pnss.
''Now. following the passage, we
We're out OF the guest house and in the
gardens. and l led her to what is
z called the prison tower whence>, runs
Nae secret way. Here were more
guards, whom babe open In the name
of Slnan. They said we obey not
This place is shut save to the signet
itself
"'Behold IT. answered. TT Is the
signet that he must have sent sure
enough the captain said, TO disobey
which is death
$50 they opened, though doubtfully.
and we entered, and I barred the door
behind us. Then. to be short through
the darkness of the tower basement
guiding ourselves by the wall, we crert
to the entrance OF that way Of which
know the secret Aye. and along all
its length AID through the rock door
OF escape at the end OF which set so
that none can turn IL save skilled ma.
sons with their tools. and into the cave
where we found you. 1t was no great
matter, having the signet. although
without the signet 1t had not been pos
tsible tonight. when every gate is guard
ed"
Seated there on the grass IN the dark
ness Goodwin told them Of their mad
ride and Of the Staying OF the guards,
while Rosamund raised her hands and
thanked heaven for it's mercies and
that hey were without those accursed
walls.
."You may be within them again be-
fore sunset" said Masouda grimly
! Eyes," answered wulf, "but not
alive. Now, what plan have you? To
ride for the coast towns?' ....,.'....
i "No," replied Masouda, Eat least not
straight, since to do so we must pass
through the country Of the assassins.
who by this days light will be warned
to watch for us. We must ride through
the desert mountain lands to Emesa,
many miles away, and cross the Oron-
ties there. then down into BaaIbec and
! 80 back to Beirut"
"Emesa?" said Goodwin. why, Sal
adm holds that place, and of Baalbec
the Lady Rosamund is princess"
(which IL best?" asked Masouda
shortly. THAT she should fall into the
hands OF Salah-ed-din or back into
those OF the master of the assassins?
Choose which you wish"
II choose Salah-ed-din." broke in
Rosamund, 'for at least he is my uncle
and will do me no wrong
Now at length the summer day be-
gan to break, and so soon as the dawn
was gray, having drunk their fill and,
as they had nothing else, eaten some
. water cress that grew in the stream,
! they frightened their saddle girths and
started. Scarcely had they gone a hun
dred yards when from the gulf be-
meath that was hidden in gray mists
they heard the sound of horses hoofs
and mems voices.
Push o." said Masouda. allie ai
Is on our tracks"
| Upward they climbed through the
gathering light till at length they
reached great table land that ran
ito the foot OF some mountains a dozen
miles or more away Among those
mountains scared two peaks, set close
together. To these Masouda pointed.
saying that their road ran between