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

Richard of England upon the persons
of Conrade of Hontserrat There was
a fanfare of trumpets, wild burst
Of Saracenic music, and the two cham
pions, squirting their horses to the
charge. met in mid-lsts with the shock
of opposing thunderbolts. Comrades
aim was true, for his lance hit the
knight of the leopard full in the GEN.
ter of his shield. But although the
force of his impact forced the horse
of Kenneth back upon its launches
the lance of the Marques shivered
with the blow from the spearhead to
the very gauntlet. The lance of Sir
Kenneth struck as true and full upon
the shield of his adversary and, pierre
ing through shield and corslet. I'M
horsed the Marques and sent MIN
wounded to the ground.
While the victor was being unarmed
at the Kings command by the fair
hands of Berengaria and OF Edith
Plantagenet In the Queens pavilion,
the wounded Conrade was borne to his
tent and Saladin entertained Richard
under the covering of black camers
skin over which few his pennant Sa-
ladin left the apartment moment
and then there entered the leech. the
hakim, who had brought the talisman
to the King in the camp of the Cru
saders. Richard began to thank the
hakim again for his services when with
a laugh he pulled off his false beard
and his Disgusting turban and stood re-
vealed the Sedan himself. "I have
lost my learner hakim" cried Richard.
but L have found my royal brother
Saladin" At Richards earnest solicit
tation the Sedan offered to try the
virtues of the talisman upon the
wounded Conrade, but the Grand Mas
ter and the Duke forbade It, mo
heather magic" they declared. "for
q Christian knight" Then the feast
was spread under the tent of Saladin
and the knights and mobiles of Chris
tendon and heatheness gathered
around the board which groaned with
the luxuries of the east.
Kenneth, of course. was there and in
the presence of the multitude King
Richard announced that his champion,
the knight of the leopard, was none
other than David Earl of Huntington,
Prince Royal of Scotland. William the
Lion, his faith err, had at first agreed
to accompany Richard on the crusade,
but had made excuse to stay at home.
His son, feeling for the honor of his
race and country. had gathered what
followers he might, and Joined the
lion hearted as a simple adventurer.
The letters over which Richard had
been pondering when the Arab fanatic
attempted his life had told him that
King William of Scotland had seized
upon several English mobiles whom he
held as hostages for the safety of his
son who, he had just learned, was in
the power of Richard in the Holy Land
instead of fighting. as his father had
supposed, with the Teutonic knights
against the Borussians. When Rich
ard had applied his lips to the wound
Kenneth had received from the dagger
of the Arab he had discovered that
the skin of the supposed Ethiopian
mute was arfifcially colored. His
suspicious were aroused and they soon
depend into convictions. with the re-
suits already recorded.
But think not" said Saladin, that the
Prince Royal Of Scotland is more welcome
to me than was the unknown knight I en-
countered in the desert" so you were
that emir?" cried Richard. by st.
George. I would give my fairest dukedom
to have had that encounter with the royal
Saladin." Saladin took a vase of sher-
bet, cooled with the SHOWS Of Mount
Lebanon and handed 1t to the victor of
the day. The prince took draught of it
and passed it to the Grand Master. who
stood next him at the banquet. The
templar raised the vase to his lips, but
before he could taste Of its contents the
sword of Saladin leaped from its scabbard,
and with one stroke the sedan severed
the head of his dark and wicked guest
from the trunk. The hsadless body stood
erect second, the blood squirting from
the neck and the vase still clasped in its
hand, and then fell an inert mass to the
ground. There was cry Of treason"
among the Christian knights, and Leopold
of Austria laid his hand upon his sword.
Fear not, royal Austria" said Sala-
din, this renegade and traitor few
iiilutes dSo pluuScu his udSSei ihtO tAs"
heart of the wounded Conrade. while that
unhappy man was begging for confessor,
lest the marques should reveal some Of
che plots and wickedness in which they
have both been engaged The dwarf, Nee
tabanus. prowling about the tent, led by
curiosity and desire for pilferingS saw
the act I have but punished murder.
Had the templar tasted of my goblet he
would have been safe from my VEN
geance"
Saladin also laid before the princes as
sembled other proofs Of the treachery OF
the Grand Master-of how he had sought
to betray the cause of the Crusaders to
their enemies and had conspired even
for the assassination Of Richard.
With a speed and dexterity which
showed that such. summary administers
lions of justice were not unfamiliar to the
court of Saladin, the attendants removed
the body of the Grand Master and OBJ
liberated the marks Of the occurrence,
while the bursts of music and the insist
ent courtesy Of the Saracen noblemen soon
made the feast proceed apace.
The next day saw Richards return TO
his camp and shortly after David, Prince
Royal Of Scotland, was espoused by Edith
Plantagenet AS wedding present Sol
dan gave them the magic talisman. Tnus
the prophecy of the stars was fulnileds
for William the Lion of Scotland was the
most dangerous foe of Richard and the
hair for1d History