Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1906-09-20

CHAPTER XIX.

500
cd Abdullah unfastencd The
Jewel from the emir's turban and hand
I'd It to Wulf. IT was a glorious star
shaped thing, made Of great emeralds
Bet around with diamonds, and the
captain looked at it greedily and nut.
tered:
"Alas, that an unbeliever should
wear the enchanted star, the ancient
luck of the house Of Hassan!" a say
Ing that Wulf remembered.
He took the Jewel, then turned to
Ealadin and said:
"Have l your peace, sultan, after
such Il deed?
"Whoever dies, you are safe" said
Saladin. There is but one sin which
/ will not pardon yol-you know what
1t is" and he looked at them. "As for
Hassan, he was my beloved friend and
servant, but you slew him in fair fight,
and his soul is now in paradise"
Then Diminishing the matter with a
wave of his hand he turned to receive
a great body of Christian prisoners
that, painting and stumbling like over
Srivan sheep, were being thrust on to
ware the camp.
Among them the brethren rejoiced to
Zee Egbert; also. wounded in many
places, there was the black proved
master OF the Templars, who even now
could be fierce and insolcnt.
s I was right" he Knocked in a
husky voice. "and here you are. safe
with your friends the Saracens, Sir
Knights Of the visions
"All the vision is not done" said
Goodwin sadly, and. turning, he looked
toward a blazoned tent which with the
sultan's great pavilion. and not far be-
find it, was being pitched by the Arab
camp settlers. The master saw and re-
membered Godwin's vision Of the dead
Templars.
SIS it there that you mean to murder
me, traitor and wizard = he asked.
Then rage took hold Of Goodwin, and
he answered him:
"Were it not for your plight, here and
now l would thrust those words down
your throat, as, should we both live, l
vet shall hope to do. You call us
traitors. Is 1t the work of traitors to
have charged alone through all this
host until our horses died beneath u.s.
he pointed to where Smoke and Flame
Jay with glazing eyes-"to have I'M
Aorsed Saladin and to have slain this
prince In single combat" And he
turned to the body of the emir Hassan.
You speak of me as wizard and
murderer" he went on. because ON
angel brought me a vision which. had
Tou believed 1t. Templar, would have
saved tens Of thousands from a bloody
death, the Christian kingdom from de-
struction and yonder holy thing from
mockery." And, with a shudder, he
glanced at the rood, which its captors
had set up Upon a rock not far away
with a dead knight tied to it's black
arms. you, Sir Templar, are the mur-
dercr who by our madness and ambi-
ton have brought ruin on the cause of
Christ"
Then Saracen guards dragged the
Uemplar away, and they were parted.
BY now the pavilion was up, and
Saladin entered 1t, saying:
Bring before me the king of the
Franks and Prince Arnat, he who is
called Reginald Of Chatillon."
Then Il thought struck him, and he
called to Goodwin and Wulf, saying;
Sir Knights, you know our tongue.
Give up your swords to the officer
they shall be returned to you-and
come, be my interpreters"
So the brethren followed him into he
tent. where presently were brought the
wretched king and the gray haired
Reginald de Chatillon, and with them
a few other great knights who, even in
the midst of their misery, stared at
Goodwin and Wulf in wonderment. Sal
adm read the look and explained lest
their presence should be misunder-
stood:
King and mobiles, be not mistaken.
These knights are my prisoners, as you
are. and none have shown themselves
Drawer today or lone me and mine
mor damage. Indeed, had it not been
for my guards, within the hour l
should have fallen beneath the sword
Of Sir Goodwin. But as they know
Arabic, l have asked them to render
my words into your tongue. Do you
accept them as interpreters? If not,
others must be found"
When they had translated this, the
king said that he accepted them.
The sultan babe his captains be seat
ed and, seeing their terrible thirst,
commanded slaves to bring a great
bowl of sherbet made of rose water
cooled with snow, and with his W
hand gave it to King Guy. He drank
In great gulps, then passed the bowl to
Reginald de Chatillon, whereon Saladin
cried out to Goodwin:
Say to the king it Is he and not |
who gives this man to drink. There is
no bond OF salt between me and the
Prince Arnat."
Goodwin translated, sorrowfully
enough, and Reginald, who knew the
habits Of the Saracens, answered:
mo need to explain. Sir Knight.
Those words are my death wayrant,
Well I never expected less"
Then Saladin spoke again.
prince ArnAt. you strove to take the
holy city of Mecca and to desecrate
the tomb Of the prophet, and then
swore to kill you. Again, when In Il
time of peace a caravan came from
Egypt and passed by Esh.Shobek
where you were. forgetting your oath
you fell upon them and slew them