The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, January 22, 1905, Page 2

This is the fourth installment of “The Brethren,” which will be concluded shortly. The Sun- day Call desires to call atten- tion to the exceedingly high- class literary features to be of- fered during the winter. Fol- lowing “The Brethren” will ap- pear ‘“The Castaway,” the latest novel by Hallie 'minie Rives, and following that will appear Booth Tarkington's “Monsieur Beaucaire” and Gertrude Ath- erton’s “A Whirl Asunder.” Copyright, 1904, by McClure, Phillips & Co. O they went in silence, doing as she bade them, and walked back through the gardens, that now seemed emptv enough, to the stable entrance of the guest house, where the guards admitted them without question. That night the brethren slept to- gether in one bed, fearing that if they lay separate they might be searched in their sleep and not awake, Indeea, it scemed to them that, as before, they heard footsteps and voices in the dark- ness, Next morning, when'they had break- fasted, they loitered awhile, hoping to win speech with Rosamund, or sight of her, or at least that Masouda would come to them: but they saw no Rosa- mund, #nd no Masouda came. At length «n officer appeared, and beck- oned to tkrem to follow him. So they followed, and were led through the halls ard passages to the terface of Jjustice, where Sinan, clad in his black rove, sat as before beneath the canopy in the midst of the sunlit marble floor. There, too, beside him, also beneath the canopy and gorgeously appareled, sat Rosamund. They strove to ad- vance and sneak with her, but guards came between them, ‘pointing out a place where they must stand a few yards away. Only Wulf said in a loud voice, in English: “Tell us, Rosamund, is it well with you?’ Lifting her pale face, she smiled and nodded. ‘Then, at the bidding of Sinan, Ma- souds commanded them to be silent, saying that it was not lawful for them to speak to the Lord of the Mountain or his Companion, unless they were firéet bidden so to do. So, having lcarned what they wished to know, they were silent. Now some of the dais drew near the canopy and consulted with their master on what scemed to be a great matter, for their faces were troubled. Present- ly he gave an order, whereon they re- sumed thelr seats and messengers left the terrace. When they appeared again, in their company were three noble-looking Saracens, who were ac- companijed by a retinue of servants and wore green turbans, showing that they were descendants of the Prophet. These men, who seemed weary with long travel, marched up the terrace with a proud mien, not looking at the s or any one until they saw the rethren standing side by side, at whom they stared a little. Next they caught sight of Rosamund sitting in the shadow of the canopy, and bowed to ‘her, but of the Al-Jebal they took no natice. “Who are you, and your pleasure?’ ‘asked Sinan, after he had eyed them awhile. “I am the ruler of this coun- try. These are my ministers,” and he pointed to the dais, “and here is my scepter,” and he touched the blood-red daj broidered on his robe of black. 'ow that Sinan had declared him- self the embassy bowed to him courte- ously enpugh. Then their spokesman answered him. . “That scenter wé know; it has been seen afar. Twice already we have cut 4 down its bearers even in the tent of 4 our master. Lord of Murder, we ac- 5 knowledge the emblem of murder, and ‘we bow to you whose title is the Great "As for our mission, it fis the embassadors of Sa- ‘Commander of the Faithful, the “ the: of that chief, What u}%uf“:fixh:nm ““This, Al-Jebal. A Frank in your 4 pay and a traitor has hetrayed w’:::'u ¢ a certain lady, niece of E£alah-ed-din, & the Princess of Baalbec, whose father s & Frankish noble named D'Arcy i 2 and who herself is named Rose of the ‘World. The Sultan, Salah-ed-din, hav- ing been informed of this matter by his servant, the Prince Hassan, who escaped from your soldiers, demands that this lady, his niece, be" delivered to him forthwith, and with her the head of the Frank, Lozelle.” “The head of the Frank Lozelle he may have if he “will after to-morrow. night, The lady I keéep,” snarled Sinan. “What then?” 3 “Then, Al-Jebal, in the nanle of Sa- lah-ed-din we declare war on you—war till this high place of yours is pulled stone from stone; war till your tribe be dead, till the last man, woman and child be slain, until your carcass is tossed to the crows to feed on,” Now Sinan rose in his fury and rent at his beard. “Go back,” he said, “and tell that dog you name a Sultan that, low as he is, the humble born son of Ayoub, I, Al- Jebal, do him an honor that he does not deserve, My Queen {s dead, and two days from now, when my month of mourning is exvired, I shall take to wife his niece, the Princess of Baalbec, who sits here beside me, my bride- elect.” At these words Rosamund, who had been listening intently, started like one who has been stung by a snake, put her hands before her face and groaned. “Princess,” sald the embassador, who was watching her, “you seem to under- stand our language; is this your will to mate your noble blood with that of the heretic chief of the Assassins?” “Nay, nay!” she cried. “It is no will of mine, who am a helpless pris- oner and by faith a Christian, If my uncle, Salah-ed-din, is indeed as great as 1 have heard, then,let him show his power and deliver me, amnd with me tHese my brethren, the knights Sir Godwin and Sir Wulf.” “So you speak Arabic,” said Sinan. “Cood; our loving converse will be easier, and for the rest—well, the whims of women change. Now, you messengers of Salah-ed-din, begone, lest I send you on a longer journeyj and tell your master that if he dares to lift his standards agalnst my walls my fedais shall speak with him. By day and by night, not for one moment shall hp be safe. “Poison shall lurk in his cup and a dagger in his bed. Let him kil a hundred of them and an- other hundred shall appear. His most trusted guards shall be his executio! ers. The women in his harem shal bring him to his doom—aye, death shall be in the very air he breathes. If he would escape it, therefore, let him hide himself within ghe walls of his city of Damascus, or amuse him- self with wars against the mad cross- worshipers, and Jeave me to live In peace with this lady whom I have chosgen.” “Great words, worthy of the Great Assassin,” said the embassador. “Great words in truth, which shall be followed by great deeds. What chance has this lord of yours [against a nation sworn to cbey to the death? You smile! ‘Then come hither you— and you.” And he summoned two of They rose and bowed before him, “Now, my worthy servants,” he said, “show these heretic dogs how you obey, that their master may learn the power of your master. You are old and weaf'y of life. Begone, and await me in paradise.” 2 The two old men bowed ain, trembling a little. 'THen, straighten- ing themselves, without a word, they r?’n side by side and leaped into the abyss. “Has Salah-ed-din servants such as these?” asked Sinan in the silence that followed. - “Well, wh? they have done all would do, if I bid them slay him. Back, now; and, if you will, take these Franks with you, who are my guests, that they may bear witness of what you have seen and of the state in Wwhich you left their sister. Translate to thesknights, woman."” So Masouda ated. Then God- win answered her. “We understand little of #his matter, who are ignorant of your 3 O Al-Jebal, ere we leave your shelter- ing roof we have a quarrel to settle with the man Lozelle. After that, with our permission, we will go, but not ore. Now " Rosamund it uu.uds‘iunmm:" e ¥ THE SAN . FRANCISCO SUNDAY CALL. “As you will; so be it,” adding, “‘give these envoys food and drink before they go.” $ But their spokesman answered: “We partake not of the bread and wine of murderers, lest we should be- come of their -fellowshin.. Al-Jebal, we depart, but within a week we re- appear again in the company- of ten thousand spears, and on oue of. them shall _your head be set. Your safe- conduct guards us until .the sunset, After that, do.vous worst..as we do ours. High bprincess, our counsel to you is that you slay yourself and so zain an immertal honor.”” Then, bow- ing to her one by one, they turned and marched down the terrace followed by their servants. Now Sinan waved his hand and the court broke up, Rosamund leaving it first,” accompanied by Masouda and es- corted by guards, after which jhe bréthren’ were commarided to depart also. S0 they went, talking earpestly of all these things, but finding no hope save in God. CHAPTER XIV. The Combat on the Bridge. “Saladin will" come,” said Wulf the hopeful, and from the high place where he stood he pointed to the plain be- neath, across which a band of horse- men moved at full gallop. *Look; yon= der goes his embassy."” ‘““Aye,” answered Godwin, “he will come, but I fear me, too late.” “Yes, brother, unless we go to meet him. Masouda has promised.” “Masouda,” sighed Godwin. “Ah! to think that so much should hang upon the faithfulness of one woman.” “'It doeg not hang on her,” said Wulf; “it hangs on fate, who writes with her finger. Come, let us ride.” ., So, followed by their escort, they rode in the gardens, taking note, with- out seeming to do so, of the position of the tall rock and of how it could be approached from every side. Then they went in ‘again and walited for some ‘sign or word of Rosamund, but in vain. ’ That night there was no feast and their meal was brought to them in the guest-house. While they sat at it Masouda appeared for a moment to tell them that they had leave to ride the bridge in the moonlight and that their iscort would await them at a certain « our. The brethren asked if their sister Rosamund was not coming to dine with them. Masouda answered that as the queen-elect of the Al-Jebal it was not lawful that she should eat with ' any other men, even her brothers. Then as she passed out, stumbling as though Dby accident, she brushed against Godwin and muttered: “‘Remember, to-night,” and was gone. ‘When the moon had been up an hour the officer of their escort appeared and led them to their horses, which were waiting, and they rode away to the castle bridge. As they approached it they saw' Lozelle departing on his great black stallion, which was in a lather of foam. It seemed that he also had made trial of that perilous path, for the people, of whom there were many gathered there, clapped their hands and shouted, “Well ridden, Frank! well ridden!"” Now, Godwin leading ;on Flame, they faced the bridge and walked, their horses over it. Nor did these hang back, although they snorted a little at the black gulf on either side. Next they returned at a trot, then over again and yet again at a canter and a gal- lop, sometimes . together -and some- times singly. Lastly, Wulf made God- win halt' in the middle of the bridge and galloped down upon him at full speed, till within a lance’s length. Then suddenly he cheécked his horse and, whils his audience shouted, wheeled it around on its hind legs, its forehoofs beating the 'air, and galloped back again, followed by Godwin. . . “AH went " Wulf said as they rode to the castle, “and nobler or more gentle horses were never crossed by I have good hopes for to-mor- row night.” “‘Aye, brother, but I had no sword in my hand. Be not overconfident, for' the man is desperate and a skilled fighter,. as I know who have stood face to face with him. Moreover, his black stallion is well tréined, and has more weight than ours.. Also, yonder s a fearsome place on which to ride a course, and one of which none but the devil would have thought.” “I ghall do my best” answered ‘Wulf, “and-if I fall, why, then, act upen your own counsel. At least, let ~him not kill both of us.” > Having stab] their horses the brethren wandered into the garden, .and, avoiding the cup-bearing women and the men they plied with -their drugged drink, drew by a roundabout 2 road to the tall rock. Then, finding themselves alope, they uniocked the door, and, slipping through it, locked it again on the farther side and groped their way to the moonlit mouth of the cave. Here they stood awhile study- ing the descent of the gulf as best they could in that light, till suddenly Godwin, feeling a hand upon his shoulder, started round to find him- self face to face with Masouda. “How_ dld you come?” he asked. “By a voad in which is your only hope,” she answered. ~Now, Sir God- win, waste no words, for my time is ¥ short, but if you think that you can trust me—and this is for you to judge —glve me the Signet which hangs about your neck. If not, go back to the castle and do yéur best to save the lady Rosamund and yourselves.” Thrusting. down his hand een his mail shirt and his breast, Godwin ?row out the anclent ring, carved with hc mysterious signs and veined with the emblem of the dagger, and handed it to Masouda. £ “You tr\}n:t indeed,” she said with a little laugl, as, u’; scanning it closely by the light of the moon and touching her forehead with it, she hid it in her bosom. “Yes, lady,” he answered, “I trust you, though why you should risk so much for us I do not know.” chbf'm)* + 3 Bomanco of o @ros “Assassins, whom ‘in your land you would spit on, chooses to do this' or that?” She ceased and stood before them with heaving breast and flashing eyes, a mysterious white figure in the moon- light, most beautifyl to see. N Godwin felt his heart stir and the blood flow to his brow, but before he could speak Wulf broke in, saying: ‘‘You bade us spare words, lady Maspuda, so tell ug what we must do.” “This,” she answered, becoming calm again. ‘*“To-morrow night about this hour you fight Lqzelle upon the narrow path. That is certain, for all the city talks of it, and, whatever chances, Al-Jebal will not deprive them of the spectacle of this fray to the death. Well, you may fall, though that man at heart is a coward, ‘which you are not, for here courage alone will avail nothing, but rather skill and horsemanship and trick of war. If so, then Sir Godwin fights him, and of this business none can tell the end. Should both of you go down, then I will do my best to save your lady and take her to Salah- ed-din, with whom she will be safe, or if 1 cannot save her I will find her & means to save herself by death.” *You swear that?" said Wulf. “I have said it, it is enough,” she answered impatiently. “Then I face the bridge and the knave Lozelle with a light heart,” sald ‘Wulf again, and Masouda went on: “Now if you conquer, Sir Wulf, or if you fall and your brother conquers, both of you—or one of you, as it may happen—must gallop back at fuil speed toward the stable gate that lies more than a mile from the castle bridge. Mounted as you are, no horse can keep pace with you, nor must you stop at the gate, but ride on, ride like the wind till you reach this place. The gardens will be empty of feasters and cup-bearers, who with every soul ‘within the city will have gathered on tge ‘walls and on the housetops to see the fray. There is but one fear—by then a d may be set before this mound, seeing that Salah-ed-din has declared war upon Al-Jebal, and though yonder road is known to few, it 1s a road, and sentries may watch here. If 80, you must cut them down or be cut down and bring your story to an end. Sir Godwin. here is an- other key that you may use if you are alone. Take it.” He did so, and Masouda continued: “Now if both of you, or one of you, win through to this cave enter with your horses, lock the door, bar it and wait. Tt may be I will join you.here with the Princess. But if I do hot come by the dawn and you are Tnot discov- ered and overwhelmed—which should not be, seeing that one man can hold that door against many—then know that the worst has happened and fly to Sglah-ed-din and tell him of this road, :Lwh}nh he may take vengeance upon foe Sinan. Only then, I pray you, doubt not that I have done my best, who if I fail must die—most horribly. Now, farewell until we meet again o do not meet again. Go, you know the They turned to obey, but when they hugona a few paces’ Godwin looked :gnn md saw Masouda watching “Why? Well, perhaps for ‘hate’s them, ‘moonlight fell full upon her TN L KB i ¥ mmlw Her dark 4 tonder love; .erhaps because, ng of a w m her and tender wild blood, I am w to set eyes. Back he came again, and with my life at hagar® _ who care him Wultf, for that sight drew them. not if I win or dle; Down he bent before her till his knee because you saved. 3 touched the ground, and taking her lioness. What is it to yo hand he kissed it and sald in'a gentle win, why a'certain woman-spy of the voice: e A P X g “Henceforth through life, through death, we serve two ladies,”” and what he did Wulf did also. “Mayhap,” she answered sadly; “two ladies—but one love.” Then they went, and creeping through the bushes to the path wan- dered about awhile among the revelers and came to the guest house safely. Once more it was night, and high above the mountain fortress of Masyaf shone the full summer moon, lighting crag and tower as with some vast sil- ver lamp. Forth from the guest house rode the brethren, side by side, upon their splendid steeds, and the moon rays sparkled upon their coats of mall, their - polished bucklers, blazoned with the cognizance of a grinning skull, their close-fitting helms and the points of the long tough lances that had been given them. Round them rode their escort, while in front and behind went a mob of people. The nation of the Assassins had thrown off its gloom this night, for the while it was no longer oppressed even by the fear of attack from its mighty foe, Saladin. To death it was accustomed; .death was its watchword; death in many dreadful forms its daily bread. From the walls of Masyaf, day by day, fedais went out to murder this great one, or that great one, at the bid- ding of their lord Sinan. For the most part they came not back again; they waited . week . by week, month by month, year by year, till the moment was ripe, then gave the poisoned cup or drove home the dagger, and escaped or were slain. Death waited them abroad, and If they failed, death walt- ed them at home. The dreadful caliph was himself a sword of death. At his will they hurled themselves from tow- ers or.from precipices; to satisfy his policy they sacrificed their wives and children. And their reward—ini" life, the ‘drugged cup andg voluptuous dreams; after it, as the® believed, a still more voluptuous paradise. Al forms of human-agony and doom were known to this peovle; but now they were promised an unfamillar sight, that of Frankish knights slaying each other in single combat beneath the silent moon, tilting at full' gallop upon a narrow place where many might hesitate to walk, and—oh, joy!— falling perchance, horse and rider to- gether, into the depths below. So they were happy, for to them this was a night of festival, to be followed by a morrow of still greater festival, when their sultan and their god took to him- self this stranger beauty as a wife. Doubtless, . too, he would soon weary of her, and they would be called to- gether to see her cast from some top- most tower and hear her frail bones break on the cruel rocks below, or— as had hapoened to the last queen— to watch her writhe out Ler life in the pangs of poison upon a charge of sorcery. It was indeed ‘a night of fes- tival, a night fliled full of promise of rich joys to come. i On rode the brethren, with.stern, im- passive faces, but wondering in their hearts whether they would live to see anvther dawn. The shouting crowd sul round them, breaking through the circle of their guards, A hand was thrust up to Godwin; in ‘it was a let- tér, which he took and read by the bright moonlight. - It was written in English, and brief: I cannot speak with you. Ged be with you both, my brothers, God and the snirit of my father. Strike home, ‘Wulf, strike home, Godwin, and fear not for me who will guard myself. Con- 1““ or die, and in life or death, await e. To-morrow in the flesh, or in the spirit, we will talk—Rosamund.”" Godwin handed the paper to Wulf, and, as he did so, saw that the guards had caught its bearer, a withered, gray-haired woman. They asked her some QI ons, -but she shook her head. cast her down, trampled the Jife out of her beneath ateg- - Ridor Haggard -+ * . thelr horses’ hoofs, a3 went on laugh- ing. The mob laughed also. “Tear that paper up,” sald Godwin. Wulf did so, saying: “Our Rosamund has a brave heart. Well, we are of the same blood, and will not fail her.” Now they were come to the open space in front of the narrow bridge, where, tier on tier, the multitude were ranged, kept back from its center‘by lines of guards. On the flat roofed houses also they were crowded thick as swarming bees, on the circling walls and on the battlements that protected the far end of the bridge, and the houses of the outer city. Before the bridge was a low gateway, and upon its roof sat the Al-Jebal, clad in his scarlet robe of festival, and by his side, the moonlight gleaming on her jewels, Rosamund. In front, draped in a rich garment, a dagger of gems in her dark hair, stood the interpreter or “mouth” Masouda, and behind were dals l.nhd t‘:am ? i 5 The_ brethren a to the space be- fore the arch nu.noa, saluting with thetr. . pears, _Then from the farther side approached another procession, which, opening, Trevealed the Knight Lozelle riding on his great black horse, and a huge man and a fierce he seemed in his armor. “What!” he shouted, glowering at them. “Am I to fight one against two? Is this your chivalry?” “Nay, nay, Sir Traitor” answered Wulf. “Nay, nay, betrayer of Chris- tian maids to the power of ths heathen dog; you have fought Godwin, now it is the turn of Wulf. Kill Wulf and Godwin remains. Kill Godwin and God remains. Knave, you look your last upon the moon."” Lozelle heard, and seemed to go mad with rage, or fear, or both. “Lord Sinan,” he shouted in Arable, “this s murder. Am I, who have done you so much service, to be murdered for vour pleasure by the lovers of that woman, whom you would homor with the name of wife?” Sinan heard, and stared at him with dull, angry eyes. “Aye, you may stare,” went on the maddened Lozelle, “but it 13 true— they are her lovers, not her brothers. Would men take so much pains for a sister’s sake, think you? Would they swim into this net of yours for a sis- ter's sake?" ‘Sinan held up his hand for silence. “Let the lots be cast,” he sald, “for whatever these men are, this fight must go on, and it shall be fair." So a dal, standing by himself, cast lots upon the ground, and having read them, announced Lozelle must run the first course of the farther :ide of the bridge. Then one took his bridle to lead him across. As he passed the brethren he grinnead in their'faces and said: “At least this sure, you also look your last upon the moon. I am avenged already. - The bait that hcoked me is a meal for yonder pike, and he will kill you both before her eves to sharp his appetite.” But the brethren answered nothing, The black horse of Lozelle grew dim in the distance of ‘the moonlit bridge, and' vanished beneath the farther archway that led to the other ¢ity. Then a herald cried, Masouda trans- lating his words, which another herald echoed from beyond the gulf. “Thrice will the trumpets blow. At the third blast of the trumpets the knights shall charge and meet in the Genter of the bridge. Thenceforward they may fight as it pleases them, ahorse, or afoot, with lance, with sword, or with dagger, but to the van- quished no mercy will .be shown. If he be brought Jiving from the bridge, living he shall be cast into the gulf. Hear the decree of Al-Jebal!” Then Wulf's horse was led forward to the entrance. to the bridge, and from the farther side was led fLorward the horse of Lozelle. “Good luck, brother,” satd Godwin, as he passed him. “Would that I rode this course instead of you.” “Your turn may come, brother,” answered the grim Wulf, as he set his lance in rest. Now from some neighboring tower peeled out the first long blast of trum- pets and dead silence fell om all the multitude. Grooms came forward to ook to girth and bridle and stirrup, but Wulf waved them back. - s he sald. he “I mind my own harness, The second blast blew and loosened the great sword in its scab- bard, the sword that had flamed in his forbear’s \hand upon the turrets of Jerusalem. “Your gift,” he cried back te Rosa~