The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-07-18


could crafty the royal Richards wish.
And so 1t came to pass that as the KING
and his mobiles stood around the pole on
st. Georges mount, from which Eng
lands banner fioated, while the princes,
in expiation of the theft of the standard,
passed before them the slave and ms
dog stood there, too. The splendidly clad
princes and their glittering attendants
passed by without incident until it came
to the turn of Conrade Of Montserrat to
paw homage to the offended majesty of
England. AS soon as Conrade appeared
the hound sprang up with savage
growl, the slave slipped the leash, and
the naughty marquis was dragged to the
earth. At once there was great confu-
sion. and 1t was all that the mute could
do to disengage the fangs of his dog
from his victim.
Richard at once charged Conrade with
the stealing of the banner and threw
down his glove in defiance. Conrade
stoutly denied the charge and offered the
test of the lists in support of his inno-
cence 1t was finally arranged that the
quarrel should be decided by combat
with sharp spears, that the King of Eng
land should appear by proxy and Conrade
in person, and that the joust should be
held away from the camp for fear of the
breeding of riot among the soldiers
1.-THE noble Saladin," said Richard
will doubtless afford us place where
this matter can be fought out"
Returns to his tent, the King said to
the Ethiopian: go you with this our re-
quest to the Sedan that he will play our
host. But first take you this letter from
Saladin to our fair cousin Edith. And
see,' said he, Cooking fxedly at the
slave, that you do not recover the gift
of speech in her presence
The mute slgnified that he would scru-
pulously obey the Kings order.
"Ah!" said Edith, when the slave, on
Bonded knee handed her the letter, do
you bear this Infamous proposal? You,
Sir Kenneth, whom 1 recognized on the
mount today in spite of your disguise?
So the Sedan would marry me, would
he, and my hand is to be the price of
peace between Christendom and Hea-
theness? This is my answer to Sala-
din!'' And tearing the letter into bits
she threw them on the ground and
stamped her little heel on them. What!
Still mute Sir Kenneth, and wear
black for your sake?'
Sir Kenneth for it was indeed he, re-
manned mute because of his promise to the
king, but wrung his hands in agony.
Enough" cried Edith, II have said too
much-begone. When the slave departed
c.
must call him still las the king pretended
not to have penetrated his disguises-Rich-
ard said to him: II shall send none of my
knights to fight my cause in the tourney
but will depend upon champion coming
out of the camp of Saladin." Sir Kenneth
comprehended at once, but remaining
mute, bowed low in Acknowledgement of
the chance to redeem his honor which was
being given him.
The lists were pitched by order OF Saia-
din beside the oasis called the Diamond
of the Desert. and though his suit for
the hand of Richards kinswoman had
been rejected, the Soladn received +,s
guests with every circumstance Of 0rien-
tai pomp and generous hospitality. It may
so complaisant to the proposal of Sala-
din. But Richard knew that the Princes
of the Crusade were planning to desert
him and wished to reap what advantage
for the cause he could. and, Furthermore,
the hermit of Engaddi had uttered a
prophecy. On the night when the emir
and Kenneth had slept in his cave the
eta had toll h I'm, hot NV ha a,~ria
of one of his guests with the race of
Plantagenet Richard would be reconciled
to his most dangerous foe, and that the
husband Of the bride would be Chris
tan. What more probable than that the
celestial orbs foretold the marriage Of
Saladin, who, as the reader may have
guessed, was mono other than the pre-
tended emir, and Edith Plantagenet, the
marriage to be followed by the Sedan S
conversion?
Richard was accompanied to the ap-
pointed place of the tourney by five hum
dred knights, and Conrade and his spon-
sors, the Templar and the Duke OF AUS
tria, by a similar number. In the king s
train went also the fair Berengaria and
her ladies, among whom, of course, was
Edith. The ladies were conveyed to the
Diamond of the Desert in closed filters,
and Saladin had prepared for their &C.
cupancy gallery at the list-side closed
in with lattice work, so that, for that day
at least, they were compelled to be con-
tent with seeing and to forego for this
once the still more exquisite pleasure of
being seen.
The day was perfect, the lists well
prepared, and when the Frankish and
Saracenic warriors had taken their
place by the side Of the Enclosure
place by the side of the Enclosure
dazzling spectacle was presented to the
eye which only needed the addition
of the beauty which the Soldans re-
spect had imprisoned behind the lat
tice of the gallery to make it. per-
feet. Conrade, accompanied by the
Grand Master and the Duke of Aus
tria, advanced on foot to the altar
which had been erected, and made
solemn oath to his innocence, calling
down upon himself defeat and death
IN the combat about to take place If
he perjured himself. But his lips were
white and his voice had lost its ring
of confidence. The dark Grand Mas
ter whispered grimly at his ear, and
as he assisted the Marques to mount
his steed said in an undertone: Cow
ard and fool, recall thy senses and
do me this battle bravely, else, by
Heaven IL thou escapest him thou