Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1906-05-17

the oeas.
 tie water
 uo asked it of Wulf. but Masouda
 ..so without word and fetched the
 .'otor in which she mingled wine
 codwin drank of it, and h.s faintness
 ,oft him. so that he was able to stand
 ,n and move his arms and legs.
 "Why." he said it is nothing. Twas
 only shaken. That lioness did lot hurt
 mo at all. Lady Masouda. when last 1saw you you were hanging from those
 jaws, Say, :.Ic you hurt:'
 '"%*y.. she answered, a.'for 1 wear mall. like you, and the teeth glanced m if so that she held me by the cloak on,v Come; let us skin the beast and fake it's pelt as a present to the lord Alje-bal.'
 M,o,d." said Goodwin. And l give rou t,ie claws for q necklace
 "ce su:e that will wear them,' she answered. ::nd helped Wulf to fay the ,oness while he sat by resting. "cou,e; let us begone from this place as swiftly as we can.
 l.. tbe lion that they might know it was but dead thing. at the sight of which tbev sno:.e,l and tremb!ed, they packed < unon one of the mules and rode off slowly into a valley some five miles ovay. w!.ere was Water, but no trees. ue.e. since Goodwin needed rest. they sto,ned all that dHy ;nd the night. The neyt no,::.:ng. having slept well. he YVES h:.ase,f again, and they started forward th"ov~h a broken country to- word deer cleft. on either side of which stood tall mountain "This is .AEje-hal's gateway" said MasouGa. and tonight we should sleep in the gate. whence one days ride brings us to his city.
 So on they rode till at length. perched mon the sides of the cleft they saw q castle. a great building. with high walls. to which they came at sunset. II seemed that they were expected in this place. for men hastened to meet them, who greeted Masouda and eyed the brethren curiously. These took them uOL lulO lLC SGStlS, o"l " s~ AiAAN 'N hostelry at it's back.
 Next morning they went on again to billy country with beautiful and fer tile valleys. Through this they rode for two hours, passing on their way several villages, where sonnber eyed people were laboring in the fields. From each village as they drew near to it horsemen would gallop out and challenge them. whereon Masouda rode forward and spoke with the leader alone. Then he would touch his fore head with his hand and bow his head, and they rode on unmolested.
 See" she said when they had thus been stopped for the fourth time "what chance you had of winning through to Masyaf unguarded."
 Now they rode up long slope and at it's crest paused to look upon mar ! yelous scene. Below them stretched vast plain, full of villages, cornfields. olive groves and vineyards. In the center of this plain, some fifteen miles away, rose great mountain, which seemed to be walled all about. Within the wall was city of which the white, fiat roofed houses climbed the slopes of the mountain, and on it's crest a lev el space of land covered with trees and great. many lowered castle surround ed by more houses.
 : Behold the home of Al-jebal, lord of the mountain" said Masouda. where c1n nI, if Nnu- hYpfhH2D listen to me. Few strangers who en- ter that castle come thence living. There is still time l can pass you back as passed you hither. Will you go on?'
 we will go on." they answered with one breath.
 "Why? What have you to gain: You seek certain maiden. Why seek her here whom you say has been taken te Salah-ed-din? Because the Al-je-bil H. bygone days swore to befrcnd one or your blood. But that Al-je-bal is dead. and another of his line rules who tooA no such oath. How do you know that he will befriend you-how that he wll not enslave or kill you: have power In this land, why or how does not mat ter, and I can protect you against all that dwell iii it-as l swear l will, Tor did not one of you save my life:' and she glanced at Godwin-.eXcept my lord Sinan, against whom l have no power, for I am his slave.
 He is the enemy of Saladin and may help us for his hates sake. Whatever chances, we will obey the command of the dead"
 She heard and bowed her head ill as sent, then said, looking up ag;iin:
 "So be it. You are not easily turned from your purpose, and l like that spirit well. But hear my counsel. While you are in this city speak no Araplc and pretend to understand none. ALSO drink nothing but water, which is good here, for the lord Sinan sets strange wines before his guests that, if they pass the lips, produce visions ana kind of waking madness in which you might do deeds whereof you were a1t- erward ashamed"
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