The champion. (Arcadia, Fla.) 1895-1911, 1906-07-19

without the signet It had not been pos
sible tonight, when every gate is guard
ed"
Seated there on the grass I'm 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 mercles and
that they were without those accursed
walls.
"You may be within them again be.
fore sunset" said Masouda grimly.
yes" answered Wulf, but not
alive Now what plan have your TO
ride for the coast townsT
mo" replied Masouda, "at least not
straight, since to do so we must pass
through the country Of the assasslns,
who by this days light win 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 Baalbec and
so back to Belrut"a
"EmesaT said Goodwin. "Why, Sal
adm holds that place, and Of Baalbec
the Lady ROsamund is princess"
(which is bestW asked Masouda
shortly. THAT she should fall into the
hands of Salah-ed-din or back into
those Of the master Of the assasslns?
Choose which you wish"
81 choose Salah-ed-dln," broke in
ROsamund, "for at least he Is my hnce
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 grths and
started. Scarcely had they gone 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 on" said Masouda. "Al-je-bal
Is on our tracks"
Upward they climbed through the
gathering light till mt length they
reached a great table land that ran
to 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
them and that beyond lay the valley Of
the Orontes. While she spoke far be-
hind them they heard the sound of
men shouting, although they could see
nothing because of the dense mist,
"Push on" said Masouda. There is
no time to spare" And they went for
ward, but only at a hand gallop, for
the ground was stlll rough and the
light uncertain.
When they had covered some six
miles Of the distance between them and
the mountain pass the sun rose sudden
| ly and sucked up the mist. This was
what they saw; Before them lay fiat,
sandy plain behind, the stony ground
that they had traversed, and, riding
over II, two miles from them, some
twenty men OF the assasslns.
"They cannot catch u.s." said Wulf,
but Masouda pointed to the right,
where the mist still hung, and said:
"Yonder / see spears"
=, Presently it thlnned, and there, a
league away, they saw a great body
of mounted soldiers. Perhaps there
were 400
Look" she said. "They have come
round during the night, as / feared
they would. Now we must cross the
path before them or be taken"
Half a mile farther on a shout from
the great body of men to their right,
which was answered by another shout
from those behind, told them that they
| were seen.
"Onw said Masouda. "The race will
be close" So they began to gallop
their best.
Two miles were done; but, although
that behind was far of, the great cloud
of dust to their right grew ever nearer
till 1t seemed as though it must reach
the mouth OF the mountain pass before
them. Then Goodwin spoke:
"Wulf and Rosamund, ride on. Your
horses are swift and can Outpace them.
At the crest of the mountain pass walt
awhile to breathe the beasts and see If
we come, IL not, ride on again, and
God be with YOU"
aye" said Masouda; ride and head
for the Emesa bridget can be seen
from far-and there yield yourselves
to the officers of salah-ed-din."
They hung back, but In stern voice
Goodwin repeated:
ride, | command you both"
For Rosamunds sake, so be It," an
swered Wulf. Then he called to Smoke
and Flame, and they stretched them
selves out upon the sand and passed
/ A.. -. ,tetor 4bon awallOWs Soon