The champion. (Arcadia, Fla.) 1895-1911, 1906-04-26

tNhNo NA'Ah .BtR'hVA wen AZ flhiNo VI
peace, as he did me"
did he then, take the knight Lozelle
prisoner
"The knight LozelleT repeated the
palmer. "Was he a big red faced man,
with scar upon bis forehead, who al.
ways wore black cloak over his
maili"
''That might be he"
'Then he was not taken prisoner, but
he came to visit the sultan at Damas-
Gus while / lay In bonds there. After
ward he left, and at Jana heard that
he had sailed for Europe three months
before / did"
Now the brethren look at eacn other
SO Lozelle toas in England, But Sir
Andrew made no comment, only he
said
"Tell me your story, and be careful
that you speak the truth"
'Why should I not, who have moth
ing to hideY answered Nicholas 81
was captured by some Arabs as I
journeyed TO the Jordan upon pill
grimage. who, when they found that I
had no goods to be robbed Of would
have killed me. This, indeed, they were
about TO do, had not some Of Saladln's
soldiers come by and commanded them
to hold their hands and give me over
to them. They did so, and the soldiers
took me to Damascus. There was i'm
prisoned, but not close, and then 1t was
that saw Lozelle, or, at least, Chris
tlan man who had some such name, and,
as he seemed to be In favor with the
Saracens, l begged him to intercede
Tor me. Afterward l was brought be-
fore the court Of Saladln. and, having
questioned me, the sultan himself told
me that I must either worship the false
prophet or die. to which you can guess
my answer.
"Three days later saladln sent for
me again and offered TO spare my life
II would swear an oath, which oath
was that should take a certain pack
age and deliver 1t to you or to your
daughter named the Lady Rosamund,
here at your hall Of Steeple, In Essex,
and bring back the answer to Damas-
Gus. Not wishing to die, said that /
would do this II the sultan passed his
word, which he never breaks, that
should be set free afterward."
"And, now you are safe in England,
do you purpose to return to Damascus
with the answer, and, II so, whyT
"For two reasons, Sir Andrew. First,
because I'haye sworn to do so. and
do not break my word any more than
does Saladin, Secondly, because con
tlnue to wish to live, and the sultan
promised me that If failed In my mis-
sion he would bring about my death
wherever l might be, which am sure
he has the power to do by magic or
otherwise"
"And how will you returnT
The palmer shrugged his shoulders.
"As best l may and as quickly. Is
your answer ready, Sir Andrew
Eyes; 1t Is here" And he handed
him the roll, which Nicholas hid away
In the folds of his great cloak. Then
Sir Andrew added "You say you know
nothing of all the business In which
you play this partf'
Nothing or, rather, only this: The
officer who escorted me to Jaffa told
me that there was stir among the
learned doctors and OWNERS at the
court because Of a certain dream
which the sultan had dreamed three
times. 1t had to do with lady who
was half Of the blood Of Ayoub and
half English, and they said that my
mission was mixed up with this mat
ter Now, have eaten well, and 1
am weary. Is there any place where
may sleepi l must be gone at day
break, for those who, do Saladin's bust
ness dare not tarry, and have your
letter"
"There is a place." answered Sir An
drew "Wulf, take him to 1t, and to-
morrow before he leaves we will speak
again. TIL then farewell, holy Mich
olas."
With one more searching glance the
palmer bowed and went When the
door closed behind him Sir Andrew
beckoned Goodwin to him and whis
|pered:
,'Tomorrow, Goodwin, you must take
Some men and follow this Nicholas to
see where he goes and what he does,
FOR tell you do not trust him aye
I fear him much! These embassies to
and from saracens are strange traffic
"a Christian man; also, though he
SAYS his life hangs on 1t, think that
we're he honest. once safe In England
here he would stop, since the first
priest would absolye him Of an oath
forced from him by the inhdel"