The Wenatchee daily world. [volume] (Wenatchee, Wash.) 1905-1971, 1906-05-30
BY RIDER HAGGARD,

Author Of She" King Solomon's Mines" Etc.

| by eight men, so we made ready
"Why. then, did you not tell me?"
Because answered Wulf, I'VE were
not, sure that the news was true and
did not wish TO bring false tidngs and
| be made foolish; because. also. my
brother and l thought that we could
hold our own awhile against eight of
Sinan's rats disguised as soldiers OF
Saladin."
You have done it well. though yours
was mad COUNSEL answered the sui
tan. Then he gave his hand first to
| one and next to the other and said sim
ply:
"Sir Knights, Salah-ed-din owes his
life to you. Should it ever come about
that you owe your lives to Salah-ed-din
he will remember this"
Thus this business ended. On the
morrow those of the fedais who remain
ed alive were put to death; also many
others in the city were seized and
killed on suspicion. SO that for awhile
there was no more fear from the assas-
| sins.
! Now, from that day forward Saladin
held the brethren in great friendship
and pressed gifts upon them and Of
fered them honors, but they refused
them all, saying that they needed but
| one thing of him and he knew what it
was-an answer at which his face sank
One morning he sent for them. and,
except for the presence of Prince Has
san the most favorite of his emirs. and
famous imaum, or priest of his re-
ligiOn. received them alone.
Listen" he said briefly, addressing
Goodwin. Il understand that my niece,
the Princess of Baalbec, is beloved by
you. Good. Subscribe the Koran. and
l give her to you in marriage, for thus
also she may be led to the true faith,
whom l have sworn not to force there
to, and / gain great warrior and par
adise a brave soul. The imaum here
will instruct you in the TRUTH
Thus he spoke, but Goodwin only
stared at him with eyes set wide in
wonderment and answered:
Sire, l thank you, but l cannot
change my faith to win a woman.
however dearly l may love her."
$50 l thought" said Saladn. with a
sigh, though indeed it is sad that
superstition should thus blind SO brave
and good man. Now, Sir Wulf it is
your turn. What say you to my offer?
VIII you take the princess and her do
minions with my love thrown in as a
marriage portion:''
Wulf thought moment. Then he
answered, with one of his great laughs:
AYE. sire, but on my own terms,
not on yours, for If took these think
that my marriage would lack blessings.
Nor, indeed, would kosamund wish to
wed a servant of your prophet, who if
it pleased him might take other wives
Saladin leaned his head upon his
hand and looked at them with disap-
pointed eyes. yet not unkindly
Now l have one more thing to say
to you. That Frank, Prince Arnat of
Karak. whom you call Reginald de
Chatillon-accursed be his name!'-
and he spat upon the ground-"has
once more broken the peace between
me and the king Of Jerusalem. slaugh-
tering my merchants and stealing my
goods. | will suffer this shame no
more, and very shortly l unfurl my
standards, which shall not be folded
up again until they float upon the
mosque Of Omar and from every tow
err top in Palestine. Your people are
doomed. l, Yusuf Salah-ed-din," and
he rose as he said the words, his very
beard bristling with wrath. declare
the holy war and will sweep them to
the sea. Choose now, you brethren.
Do you fight for me or against me?
Or will you give up your swords and
bide here as my prisoners?" <
I'VE are the servants of the cross"
answered Goodwin, land cannot lift
steel against it and thereby lose our
souls" Then he spoke with Wulf and
added: "As to your second question,
whether we should bide here in chains,
1t is one that our lady Rosamund must
answer, for we are sworn to her serv-
ice We demand to see the Princess of
Baalbec"
'Send for her. emir," said Saladin
to the prince Hassan, who bowed and
departed.
A while later Rosamund came look
ing beautiful but. as they saw when she
threw back her veil, very white and
weary. She bowed to Saladin. and the |
brethren, who were not allowed to |
touch her hand, bowed to her, devour-
fv,r, hor &c xx-.fg
Correcting nv uncle' she said tn tha |