Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1906-09-06

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1t SO long and heavy. Water trickled
from the walls Of this cave, and Wulf.
who was parched with thirst. gathered
it In his hands and drank till he was
satisfied. Then he let it run upon his
head to cool its aching. and Goodwin
bathcd such of his brothers hurts and
bruises as could be come at. Then,
ly bruised beneath his mail, they began
to walk up and down the cave.
The time crept on; the moon sank to-
ward the mountains.
What If they do not Gomez" asked
Wulf.
LET us wait to think of 1t till dawn"
answered Goodwin.
How can they come, the door being
barred?" asked Wulf.
How did Masouda come and GOT"
answered Goodwin. ooh, question me
no more; it is in the band of God"
Look" said Wult in a whisper.
who stand yonder at the end Of the
cave-there by the dead men,
"Their spirits. p%erchance." answered
bD'lN III, l III III ENOlu anu van
ing forward. Then he looked, and,
true enough, there stood two figures
family outlined in the gloom. They
glided toward them. and now the level
moonlight shone upon their white robes.
II cannot see them" said q voice.
"Oh, those dead soldiers-what do they
portend?"
AT least yonder stand their horses"
answered another voice.
Now the brethren guessed the truth
and, like men in a dream. stepped for
ward from the shadow Of the wall.
"Rosamund." they said.
ooh. Goodwin! Oh, Wulf!" she cried
In answer. ooh, .Jesu. / thank thee,
I thank ~thee-thee, and this brave
woman" and, casting her arms about
Masouda, she kissed her on the face.
Masouda pushed her back and said
In a voice that was almost harsh:
1T is not fitting, princess, that your
pure lips should touch the cheek Of q
woman of the assassins."
But Rosamund would not be re.
pulsed.
ut is most fitting" she sobbed, that
I should give you thanks"
Then Masouda kissed her back and
thrusting her away into the arms OF
Wulf, said roughly:
so. pilgrims Peter and John, your
patron saints have brought 70,
right well. Nay, do not stop for gu
story if you wish us to live to tell 1t
What! You have the soldiers horses
with your own? Well done! I did no
credit you with so much wit. Now
Sir Wulf, can you walk? Yes; sc
much the better. 1t will say you ;
rough ride, for this place is steep
though not so steep as M you know
Of. Now set the princess upon Flame
for no cat is surer footed than tina
horse. l, who know the path, viii
lead it. John, take you the other two
Peter. do you follow last of all witt
Smoke, and if they hang back pricl
:, them with your sword"
A minute more and they were scram
bling down a mountain ridge so steel
: that it seemed as though they must fal
: and be dashed to pieces at the bottom
Yet they fell not, for, made as it ha'
, been to meet such hours of need, thl
road was safer than it appeared, Wit
, ridges cut in the rock at the wOrS
places.
Down they went and down till a
length, painting. but safe, they stoo,
at the bottom of the darksome gul
where only the starlight shone, for her
the rays of the low moon could nc
reach.
For a mile or more Masouda led theI
along the rocky bottom of the gull
where because Of the stones they coul
only travel at a foo pace, till the
came to a deep cleft on the left hanC
up which they began to ride. The
stumbled on till they reached a littl
glade where water ran and gras
grew.
Halt" said MaSouda. Here w
must wait till dawn. for in this darl
ness h e horses cannot keep their foo
! ing on the stones. Moreover, all abol
us lie precipices, over one of which "
might fall. To go forward would |
madness. Sit down and rest awhi,
and let the horses drink "A little and Ell
a mouthful of grass. holding the
reins in our hands, for we and the
may need all orr strength before t
4 morrow's sun is set. Sir Wulf, say, al
= you much hurt?"
But very little" he answered in
~ cheerful voice; "a few bruises beneaI
10 my mail that is all, for Lozelle
% sword was heavy. Tell us, I,pray 20
what happened after we rode avs
from the castle bridge"
This. knights: The princess here, b
n ing overcome, was escorted by II
slaves back to her chambers, but Sins
babe me stay with him awhile that
$. might speak to you through me, !
d you know what was in his mind?
have you killed at once, both of yo
Is whom LoZelle had told him were I'll
If, lady's lovers and not her brother
err Only he feared that there might
trouble with the people, who we
I'd pleased with the fighting. so held |
le hand. Then he bade you to The supp,
S, whence you would not have returnG
&. but when Sir Wulf said that he W
d, hurt l whispered to him that what
W wished to do could best be done on I
morrow at the wedding feast when
was in his own halls, surrounded