The champion. (Arcadia, Fla.) 1895-1911, 1906-06-14

ana through the solemn twilight hush
Followed the road wherein they had
tried the horses toward the Dog river,
three leagues away, which Masouda
said they would reach by moonrise
Soon II grew very dark, and she rode
alongside OF them to show them the
path, but they did not tank much. Pick
Ing their way along the stony road at
slow amble. they crossed the bed Of
two streams, then almost dry, TIL at
length they heard running water sound.
Ing above that OF the slow wash OF the
sea to their left, and Masouda babe
them halt. SO they waited until pres
emily the moon rose In clear sky. re-
veallng wide river In front.
Follow me-" said Masouda, "for 1
know the ford, and at this season the
stream Is not deep Pilgrim Peter,
ride you at my side in case l should
be washed from the saddle, and, PHI
grim John, come you behind, and II
they hang back prick the mules with
your sword point"
Thus, then, they entered the river,
which many might have feared to do
at night, and, although once or twice
the water rose to their saddles and
the mules were stubborn in the swift
stream, in the end gained the farther
bank in safety. Thence they pursued
their path through mountains till at
length the sun rose, and they found
themselves In lonely land where no
one was TO be seen. Here they halted
in grove Of oaks, or saddIed their an
lmals, tethered and fed them with bar
ley which they had brought upon q
mule, and ate of the food that Masouda
had provided. Then, having secured
the beasts, they lay down to sleep, all
three Of them, since MasOuda said that
here there was nothing to fear, and,
being weary, slept on till the heat of
noon was past, when once more they
fed the horses and mules and, having
dined themselves. set forward upon
their way.
Now their road-lf road It could be
called. for they could see none--ran
ever upward through rough. mountain
Gus country, where seemed to dwell
neither man nor beast. At sunset they
halted again and at moonrlse went for
ward TIL the night turned toward |
morning, when they came to a place
where was a little cave. Before they
reached this spot Of q sudden the 81
lence Of those lonely hills was broken
by a sound Of roaring, not very near
to them, but loud and long
Lions" said Masouda I'VE draw |
near the country where there are many
Of them and therefore shall do well to
halt presently, since 1t Is best to pass
through that land In daylight"
80 when they came to the cave, hav-
ing heard no more of the lion. or lions,
they unsaddled there, purposlng to put
the horses into II, where they would be
safe from the attack of any such raven.
ing beast. But when they tried to do
this Smoke and Flame spread out their
nostrlls and, setting their feet firm be-
fore them, refused to enter the place,
about which there was an evil smell
Perhaps jackals have been here"
said Masouda. Let us tether them all
In the Open"
This, then, they did, building a are
In front OF them with dry wood that
lay about in plenty, for here grew SOM
Der cedar trees The brethren sat by
this fire; but, the night being hot Ma
SCUBA laid herself down about fifteen
PAGES away under a cedar tree, which
grew almost in front Of the mouth Of
the cave. and slept, being tired with
long riding. Wulf slept also, since God
win had agreed to keep watch for the
first part Of the night
For an hour or more he sat close by
he horses and noted that they fed I'M
,asliy and would not lie down. Soon,
lowever, be was lost In his own
thoughts and, as he heard no more OF
he lions, fell to wondering over the
trangeness Of their journey. He won
erred also about Masouda, who she
vas, how she came to know 80 much,
Yhy she befrlended them. II she really
Vas friend, and other things Why.
e was sleeping at his post, and the
yes ia the darkness yonder were not
hose Of woman. Women's eyes were
lot green and gold; they did not grow
arge, then lessen and vanish,
The night was very still and the ST.
ence deep. Rising, he began to walk
ID and down in front Of the cave,
his sword and holding 1t in his
land. Masouda lay upon the ground
With her head pillowed on saddlebag,
md the moonlight fell through the ce-
lar boughs upon her face. Goodwin
topped to look az 4 and wondered that