The Richmond palladium. (Richmond, Ind.) 1906-1907, 1906-04-16

boat waited. In TINS the Dand embark
ed, placing their dead and wounded,
with one or two to tend them, in the
fishing skif that had belonged to her
father. This skin having been made
fast to the stern OF the boat. they push
ed off and in utter silence rowed down
the creek till they reached the tidal
stream of the Blackwater, where they
turned their bow seaward. Through
the thick night and the falling snow
slowly they felt their way along. The
journey proved dangerous, for they
could scarcely see the shore.
The end of It was that they grounded
on mud bank and, do what they
would, could not thrust themselves
free. But at the full tide they 1oated
Off the bank and drifted with the ebb
down toward the sea. At the first
break Of dawn Rosamund looked up,
and there, looming large In the mist.
lay a galley. anchored in the mouth Of
the river. The band brought her
aboard and led her toward the cabin.
On the poop stood a tall man who was
commanding the sailors that they
should get up the anchor. AS she came
he advanced to her, bowling and say
ing: .ta
LADY Rosamund, thus you find me
once more, who doubtless you never
thought to see again"
She looked at him in the faint light,
and her blood went cold. 1t was the
knight Lozelle.
"where you are, there am" he said,
1T -
face.
"You hcre?" she said. "You, a Chris
tian knight, and in the pay of Salaaln"
"In the pay of any one who leads me
to you, Rosamund." Then. seeing the
emir Hassan approach, he turned to
give some orders to the sailors, and she
passed on to the cabin and in her
agony fell upon her knees.
When Rosamund rose from them she
felt that the ship was moving and, de-
string to look her last on Essex land.
went out again upon the poop, where
Hassan and Sir Hugh placed them
selves, one upon either side OF her.
Then 1t was that she saw the tower OF
st. Peter's.on-theW Wall and her cousins
seated on horseback in front Of It. She
saw Wulf spur his horse into the sea
and family heard his great cry of
"Fear not! We follow! We followr'
Now the wind caught the sail, and the
ship went forward swiftly. so that soon
she lost sight of them. In her grief
udnd rage Rosamund turned upon Sir
MUCH I.o=elle and beat him with bitter
words till he shrank before her Then,
turning she fed to the cabin and cast
herself down and wept till she thought
that her heart would break.
Well might Rosamund weep, whose
beloved sire was slain, who was torn
from her home to find herself in the
power of a man she hated. Yet there
was hope for her. Hassan, eastern
trickster as he might be. was her
friend: and her uncle. Saladin, Mt least
would never wish that she should be
shamed.
The ship swayed; she grew sick and
faint. Hassan brought her food with
his own hands, but she loathed 1t who
only desired to die. The day turned to
night, the night turned to day again.
and always Hassan brought her food
and strove to comfort her, till at length
she remembered no more.
Then came long. long sleep. and in
the sleep dreams OF her father and God
win and Wulf She awoke to feel the
sun streaming warmly through the
shutter OF her cabin, and from that time
forward, floating on the calm Mcditer-
ranenn sea, her strength began td come
back again rapidly. Three days later
fn hn xf,ha fl,o
first man she saw was Hassan, who
came forward to greet her with many
eastern salutatlons.
II give thanks to Allah for your
sake and my own" he said-"for yours
that YOU stlll live whom / thought
would die, and for myself that had
you died your life would have been re-
CURED at my hands by Salah-ed-din."
IF so. he should have blamed Az
rael. not you" answered Rosamund,
smiling then suddenly turned cold. for
before her was Sir Hugh Lozelle, who
also thanked heaven that she had re-
covered. She listened to him coldly.
and presently he went away. but soon
was at her side again. Indeed, she
could never be free of him. Always
10 sat near, talking In his false, hate
fui voice and devouring her with the
greedy eyes which she could feel fixed
upon her face. With him often was
lis j9ckal, the false palmer Nicholas.
1t to this man she would never speak
a word.
Al last she could bear Il no longer.
anu when her health had returned to
her summoned Hassan to her cabin.
Tell me. prince" she said, "who
rules upon this vessel?"
'Thrce people," he answered, bow
lng-"the knight Sir Hugh Lozelle,
who, rs n skilled navigator. is the cap
tain and rules tho sailors; 1. who rule
the lighting men, and you. princess,
Is who rule us ALL"
.'ilicn command that the rogue
banned Nicholas shall not be allowed to
approach me-" ...
"foCr orltr shall be obeyed. To tell
you the truth. lady. hate the fellow.
WHO N but common spy"
IL desire Also" went on Rosamund,
20 speak no more with Sir Hugh Lo-
nc"
That Is more difficult" said Han I'M,
.Nce he is the captain whom my mas
ordered me to obey in all things
have to do with the ship"
/ hpvc nothing to do with the shin ~