The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, January 22, 1905, Page 3

.roar of cheers. * head hung over. THE SAN FRANCISCO SUNDAY mund, and her answer came clear and Eweet: “Bear it I your fathers, Wulf. Bear it as jt last borne in the hall at Steeple.” Then there was another silence—a silence long and deep. Wulf looked at the white and narrow ribbon of - the bridge, looiced at the black gulf on either side, looked at the blue sky above, 1n which floated the great globe of the golden mcon. Then he leaned d and patted Smoke upon the For the third time the trumpets blew, and from either end of that bridge, two hundred paces long, the knights flashed toward each other like living bolts of steel. The multitude . rose to watch; even Sinan rose. Only osamund sat still, gripping —the cushion with her hands. Hollow rang the hoofs of the horses upon the stonework, swifter and swifter they flew, lower and lower bent the knights upon their sadd Now they were near, and met. The spears seemed 10 € the horses to hustle together on t rrow way and over- hang its edge, then on came the black ard the inner city, and on moke toward the further gulf. hav passed! They have d the multitude. ozelle approached, reeling in , as well he might, for the helm was torn from his head and blood poured from his skull where the lance had grazed it. “Too high, Wulf; too high™ said Godwin sadly. “But, oh, if those laces had but held!" . Soldiers caught the horse and turned it. “Another helm!"” cried Lozelle. “Nay,” answered Sinam; ‘“yonder knight has lost his ghield. New lances —that is all.” So they gave him a fresh lance and, presently, at the blast of the trumpets, egain the horses were seen speeding together over the narrow way. They met, and lo! Lozelle, torn from his saddle, but still clinging to the reins, wus flung backward, far backward, to fall on the stonework of the bridge. Down, too, beneath the mighty shock went his black horse, a huddled heap, and lay there struggling. “Wulf will fall over him!” cried Rosamund. But Smoke did not fall; the stallion gathered itself together— the moonlight shone so clear that every watcher saw it—and since stop it could not, leaped straight over the fallen black horse—aye, and over the rider beyond—and sped on in its stride. Then the black found its feet again and gal- loped forward to the farther gate and Lozelle also found his feet and turned to run, “Stand! Stand, coward!” yelled ten thousand voices and, hearing them, he drew his sword and stood. Within three great strides Wulf dragged his charger to its haunches, then wheeled it round. “Charge him!"” shouted the multitude, but he remained seated, as though un- willing to attack a horseless man. Next he sprang from his saddle and, accom- panied by the herse Smoke, which fol- lowed him as a dog follo its master, y toward Lozelle, as he casting away h lance and drawing the great, cross-hilted sword. silence fel s of Godw A D4 Y A D'Arcy!" came back ver from the bridge and his »ed thin and hollow in the the gulf. Yet they rejoiced for it told them that he was ro: no s and through it eld and Lozelle had ht was even. They ite each other, the 1 aloft in the moonlight; came the distant clank it, continual clamor of iron blow fell on Wuif's mail, aught wherewith to guard 1 he staggered back. An- another and another, and blow, il back he reeled—back to the of the bridee, back until he struck st the horse that stood behind . and, resting there a moment, as d, regained his balance. Then there was a change. Look, he rushed forward, wielding the great blade in both hands. The stroke lit up- on Lozelle's shield and seemed to tear it in two, for in that stillness all could hear the clang of its upper half as it fell upon the stones. Beneath the weight of it he staggered, sank to his knee, gained his feet again, and in his turn gave back. Yes, now It was Lo- zelle who rocked and reeled. Ay Lozelle who went dow: neath that mighty blow which missed the head but fell upon his shoulder, and lay there like a log, till presently the moonlight shone upon his mailed hand stretched upward in a prayer for mercy. From house top, terrace, and wall, from soaring gates and bat- tlements, the multitude of the people of the Assassins gathered on thelr side’ the gulf broke into a roar that beat up the mountain sides like a voice of thunder. And the roar shaped itself to these words: “Kill him! kill him! kill him!” Sinan held up his hand, and a sud- den silence fell. Then he, too, screamed in his thin voice: “Kill him! He Is conquered!” But the great Wulf only leaned upon the cross handle of his_brand, and looked at the fallen foe. Presently, he seemed to speak with hilm; then Lo- geile lifted the blade that lay beside him and gave it to him In token of surrender. Wulf handled it awhile, ghook it on high In triumph, and whirled it about his head till it shone In the moonlight. Next, with a shout - he cast it from him far into the gulf, where it was seen for a moment, an arc of gleaming light, and the next was gone. Now, taking no more heed of the con- quered knight, Wulf turned and began to walk toward his horse. Scarely was 'his back toward him when Lozelle was on his feet again, a dagger in his hand. “Look behind .you!” yelled Godwin. But the spectators, pleased that the fight was not yet done, broke into a Wulf heard and swung around. As he faced Lozelle the dag- . .ger struck him on his breast, and well - must it have been for him that his mail was good. To use his sword he had neither space nor time, but ere the next stroke could fall his arms were about Lozelle and the fight for life began. To and fro they reeled and staggered, whirling round and round, till none of ‘them could tell which of them was ‘Wulf or which his foe. Now they were on the edge of the abyss, and in that last dread strain for mastery seemed to stand there still as stone. Then one man began to bend down. See! his Further and further he bent, but his arms could not be loosened. “They will both go!” cried the multi. tude in their joy. Look! A dagger flashed. Once, twice, “thrice it gleamed, and those wrestlers fell apart, while from deep down in the -gulf came the thud of a fallen body. “Which—oh, - which?” cried Rosa- mund from her battlement. “Sir Hugh Lozelle,” answered God- win in a solemn voice. Then the head of Rosamund fell for- ‘ward on her breast and for a while she . seemed to sleep. ‘Wulf went to his horse, turned it about on the bridge and throwing his - arm around {ts neck rested for a space. Then he mounted and walked slowly toward the inner gate. Pushing through the guard end officers Godwin rode out to meet him. “Bravely done, brother,” he said, when they came face to face. “Say, are you hurt?” “Bruised and shaken—no more,” an- swered Wulf. “A good beginning truly. Now for the rest” sald Godwin. Then he glanced over his shoulder and added, “See, they are leading Rosamund away, but Sinan remains, to speak with you, doubtless, for Masouda beckons.” ““What shall we do?” asked Wulf. “Make a plan, brother, for my head swims.” “Hear what he has to say. Then as your horse is not wounded either, ride for it when I give the signal as Ma- souda bade us. There is no other way. Pretend that you are somewhat hurt.” So, Godwin leading, while the mul- titude roared a welcome to the con- quering Wulf who had borne himself S0 bravely for their pleasure, they rode to the mouth of the bridge and halted in the little space before the archway. There Al-Jebal spoke by Masouda. A noble fray,” he said. “T did not think that Franks could fight so well. Say, Sir Knight, ill you feast with me in my palace?” “I thank you, lord,” answered Wulf, “but I must rest while my brother tends my hurts,” and he pointed to blood upon his mail. “To-morrow, it it pleases you.” Sinan stared at them and stroked his beard, while they trembled, wait- ing for the word of fate. * It came. “Geod. So be it. To-morrow I wed the lady Rose of Roses, and you two —her brothers—shall give her to me, as is fitting,” and he sneered. “Then also you shall receive the reward of valor—a great reward, I promise you.” While he spoke Godwin, staring up- ward, had noted a little wandering cloud floating across the moo. Slowly it covered it and the place grew dim. Now,” he whispered, and bowing to Al-Jebal,. they pushed their horses through the open gate when the meb closed in on them, thus for a little while holding back the escort from following on their heels. They spoke to ame and Smoke and the good horses plunged onward side by side, separating the crowd as the prows of boats separate the water. In ten paces it grew thin, in thirty it was be- hind them, for all folk were gathered about the archway where they could see, and none beyond. Forward they cantered till the broad road turned to the left and in that faint light they were hidden. “Away!" sald Godwin, shaking his reins. Forward leaped the horses at speed. Again Godwin turned, taking that road which ran round the city wall and through the gardens, leaving the guest castle to the left, whereas their escort followed that whereby they had come, thinking that they were ahead of them. Three minutes more and they were in the lonely gardens, in which that night no women wandered and no neophytes dreamed in the pavilion: “Wulf,” said Godwin, as they swept forward, skimming the turf like swal- lows, “draw your sword and be ready. Remember the secret cave may be guarded, and, if so, we must kill or be Kkilled.” ‘Wulf nodded, and the next instant two long blades flashed in the moon- light, for the little cloud had passed away. Within a hundred paces of them rose the tall rock, but between it and the mound were two mounted guards. They heard the beating of horses’ hoofs, and wheeling about, stared to see two armed knights sweeping down upon them like a whirlwind. They called to them to stop, hesitating, then rode forward a few paces, as though wondering whether this were not a vision. In a moment the brethren were on them. . The soldiers lifted their lances, but ere thev could thrust the sword of Godwin had caught one between the neck and shoulder and sunk to his breast bone, while the sword of Wulf used as a spear, had pierced the oth- er through and through, so that those men fell dead by the door of the mound, never knowing who had slain them. The brethren pulled up on .their bridles and spoke to Flame and Smoke, halting them within a score of yards. Then they wheeled round and sprang from their saddles. One of the dead guzards still held his horse’s reins, and the other beast stood by snorting. Gedwin caught it before it stirred, then, holding all four of them, threw the key to Wulf and bade him unlock the door. Soon it was done, although he staggered at the task; then he held the horses, while one by one, Godwin led them in, and that without trouble, for the beasts thought that this was but a cave-hewn stable of a kind to which they were accustomed. ““What of the dead men?” said Wulf. “They had best keep us company,” answered Godwin; and, running out, he carried in first one and then the other. ¥ “Swift!” he said, as he threw down the second corpse. “Shut the door. I caught sight of horsemen riding through the trees. Nay, the, saw nothing.” So they locked the massive door and waited in the dark, expecting every moment to hear soldlers battering at its timbers. But no sound came; the searchers, if such they were, had passed on to seck elsewhere. Now while Wulf made shift to fas- ten up the horses at the mouth of the cave, Godwin gathered stones as large as he could lift, and piled them up against the door, till they knew that it would take many men an hour or more to break through. For this door was banded with iron and set fast in the living rock. Z CHAPTER XV. The Flight to Emesa. Then came the weariest time of waiting the brethren had ever known, or were to know, although at first they daid not feel it so long and heavy. ‘Water trickled down 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 Godwin bathed such of his brother’s hurts and bruises as could be come at, for he did not dare to remove the hauberk, and so gave him comfort. ‘When this was done, and he had looked to the saddles and trappings of the horses, Wulf told of all that had passed between him and'Lozelle on the bridge. How at the first onset his spear had caught in the links of and.torn away the headpiece of his foe, who if the lacings had not burst would have been hurled to death, while that of Lozelle struck his buckler fair and shattered on it, rend- ing it from his arm. How they pushed past each other, and for a mo- ment the fore hoofs of Smoke hung over the abyss, so that he thought he was surely sped. How at the next course Lozelle's spear pai be- neath his arm, while his, striking full upon Sir Hugh's breast, brought down the black horse and his rider as though a thunderbolt had smitten him, and how Smoke, that could not check its furious pace, leaped over them, as & horse leaps a-hunt- ing. How he would not ride down Lozelle, but dismounted to finish the fray in knightly fashion, and, being shieldless, received the full weight of the great sword upon his mail, so that he staggered back and would have fallen had he not struck against the horse. Then Wulf told of the blows that followed, and of his last that wounded Lozelle, shearing through his mail and felling him as an ox is felled by the butcher; how, also, when he sprang forward to kill him, this mighty and brutal man had prayed for mercy— prayed it in the name of Christ and of their own mother, whom as a child he knew in Essex. How he could not butcher him, .h-. but turned away, saying that he left him to be dealt with by Al-Jebal, whereon this traitorous dog sprang up and strove to poniard him. He told, also, of their last fearful struggle, and how, shaken as he was by the blow upon his back, although the point of the dagger had not pierced his mail, he strove with Fozelle, man to man, till at length his youth, great mnatural strength and the skill he had in wrestling, learned in many 8 village bout at home, enabled him to prevail, and, while they hung together on the perilous edge of the gulf, to free his right hand, draw his ponlard and make an end. “Yet,” added Wulf, “never shall I forget the look of that man's eye as he fell backward, or the whistling scream which came from his pierced throat.” “At least there is a.rogue the less in the world, although he was a brave one in his own knavish fashion,” an- swered Godwin. *“Moreover, my broth- er,” he added, placing his arm about Wulf’s neck, “I am glad it fell to you to fight him, for at the last grip your might overcame, where I, who am not 80 strong, should have failed. Further, I think you did well to show mercy, as a good knight should, that thereby you have gained great honor and that, if his spirit can see through the dark- ness, our dead uncle is proud of you now, as 1 am, my brother.” “I'thank you,” replied Wulf simply; “but in this hour of torment, who can think of such things as honor gained or lost?" Then, lest he should grow stiff, who was sorely bruised beneath his mail, they began to walk up and down the cave from where the horses stood to where the two dead Assassins lay by the door, the faint light gleaming upon their stern, dark features. ¥l company they seemed in that silent, lonely place. ¥ The time erept on; ‘the moon sank toward the mountains. “What if they do not come?” asked Wulf. t us wait to think of it till dawn,” answered Godwin. Again they walked the length of the cave and back. “How can they come, the door being barred asked Wulf. “How did Masouda come and go?” answered Godwin. “Oh, question me no more; it is in the hand of God.” “Look,” said Wulf, in a whisper. “Who stand yonder at the end of the cave—there by the dead men?” “Their spirits, perchance,” ‘answered Godwin, drawing his sword and lean- ing forward. Then he looked and, true enough, there stood two figures faintly ned in the gloom. They glided toward them and now the level moon- light shone upon their white robes and gleamed in the gems they wore. “I cannot see them,” said a voice. “Oh, those dead soldlers—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. “Oh, Godwin! oh, Wu in answer. ‘0 _Jesu, 1 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 almost harsh: “It is-not fitting, princess, that vour pure lips should touch the cheek of & woman of the Assassins.” But Rosamund would not be re- pulsed. she cried “It is most fitting,” she sobbed, “that I should give you thanks who but for you must also become a woman of the Assassins, or an inhabitant of the House of Death.” Then Masouda kissed her back, and thrusting her away into the arms of Wulf, sald roughly: “So, pilgrims Peter and John, your patron saints have brought you through so far; and, John, you fight right well. Nay, do not stop for our story, if you wish us to live to tell it. What! You have the soldiers’ horses with your own? Well done! I did not credit you with so much wit. Now, 8Ir Wulf, can you walk? Yes; so much the better; it will save you a rough ride, for this place is steep, though not 80 steep as one you know of. Now, set the princess upon Flame, for no cat is surer footed than that horse, as you may remember, Peter. I who know the path will lead it. John, take you the other two; Peter, do you fol- low. last of all with Smoke, and, if they hang back, prick. them with your: sword. Come, Flame, be not afraid, Flame. Where I go, you can come, and. Masouda thrust her way through the bushes and over the edge of the and the swiftest. Bir Wulf, keep your own horse Smoke; your brother and I will ride those of" the soldiers. Though not very swift, doubtless they are good beasts and accustomed to such roads.” Then she leaped to the saddle as a woman born in the desert can, and pushed her horse in front. For a mile or more Masouda led them along the rocky bottom of the guif, where because of the stones they could only travel at a foot pace, till they came to a deep cleft on the left hand, up which they began to ride, By now the moon was quite behind the moun- tains, and such faint light as came from the stars began to be obscured: with drifting clouds. Still, they stum- bled on till they reached a little glade where water ran and grass grew, “Halt,” sald Masouda. ‘Here we must wait till dawn, for in this dark- ness the horses cannot keep their foot- ing on the stones. Moreover, all about us lie precipices, over one of which we might fall.” “But they will pursue us,” pleaded Rosamund. “Not until they have light to see by,” answered Masouda, “Or at least we must take the risk, for to go forward would be madness. Sit down and rest a while, and let the horses drink a little and eat a mouthful of grass, holding their reins in our hands, for we and they must need all our strength before to-morrow’s sun is set. Sir ‘Wulf, say, are you much hurt?” “But very little,” he answered in a cheerful voice; “a few bruises beneath my mail—that i8 all, for Lozelle’s sword was heavy. Tell us, I pray you, what happened after we rode away from the bridge?” , knights. The princess, here, overcome, was escorted by the back to her chambers, but Si- bade me stay with him awhile that he might speak to you through cliff, talking to_the snorting horse and . ;e Do you know what was in his patting its neck. A; minute more, - and they were scrambling down a mountalin ridge so steep that it seemed as though they must fall and be dashed to pleces at the bottom. Yet, they fell not, for; made as it had n to meet such hours of'need, this road was safer than it appeared with ridges cut in the rock at the worst places. * Down they went, and down, till at length, . pan! but they. stood at_the bottom of the . darksome gulf where only the starlight shone, for here the rays of the low moon could m'"lounl." sald Masouda. “Princess, stay you on Flame; he is the surest mind? To have you killed at once, both of you, whom Lozelle had . told him were this lady’s lovers, and not her brothers. Only he feared that there might be trouble with the peo- ple, who were pleased with the fight- ing, so held hand. Then he bade you to the r, whence you would not have returned; but when Sir Wulf said that he was hurt, T whispered to him that whdt he wi to do could best be done on the morrow at the wedding feast when he was in his own halls, surrounded by his guards, ‘Aye,’ he answered, ‘these brethren shall fight th them until they are driven into the gulf. It will be a goodly sight for me and my queen to see.’” 3 “Oh, horrible! horrible!” said Rosa~ mund, while Godwin muttered: “I swear that I would have fought not with his guards, but with Sinan only.” ' “So he suffered you to go, and I left him also. Before I went he spoke to me, bidding me bring the Princess to him_privately within two hours after he had supped, as he wished to speak to her algne about the ceremony of her marriage on the morrow and to make her gifts. I apswered aloud that his commands should be obeyed and hur- ried to the guest castle. There I found your lady recovered from her faintness, but mad with fear, and forced her to eat and drink. “The rest is short. Before the two hours were gone a messenger came saying that the Al-Jebal bade me do what he had commanded. “‘Return,’ I answered; ‘the Princess adorns herself. We follow presently alone, as it is commanded.’ “Then I threw this cloak about her and bade her be brave, and If we falled to choose whether she would take Sinan or death for lord. Next I took the ring you had—the signet of the dead Al- Jebal, who gave it to your kinsman, and held it before the slaves, who bowed and let me pass. We came to the guards, and to them again I showed . the ring. They bowed also, but when they saw that we turned down the passage to the left, and not to the right, as we should have done to come to the doors of the.inner palace, they would have stopped us. “‘Acknowledge the signet’ I an- swered. ‘Dogs, what is it to-you which road the signet takes? Then they also let me pass. “Now, following the passage, we Wers out of the guest house and in the gar- dens, and:I led her to what is called the prison tower, whence runs the se- cret way. Here were more whom I bade open in the name of Si- nan. They sald: ‘We obey not. This place is shut save to the signet itselt.” “ ‘Behold it,’ 1 _answered. The looked and ulga'lt “|is tlu"vcry signet; enough, ere 18 no_other. the - black 70 GHARDS, a%, 7 AN A ~ T 5D THE IV “So they opened, though doubtful- ly, and we entered, and I barred the door behind us. Then, to be short, through the darkness of the tower basement, guiding ourselves by the wall, we crept to the entrance of that way of which I know the secret. Aye, and along all its length and through the rock door of escape at the end of which I set so that none can turn it, save skilled masons with their tools, and into the cave where we found you. It was no great matter, having the signet, although without the signet it had not been possible to-night, when every gate is guarded.” “No great matter!” gasped Rosa- mund. “Oh, Godwin and Wulf! if you know how she had thought of. and made ready for everything; If you could have seen how all those cruel men glared at us, searching out our very souls! If you could have heard how high she answered them, waving that ring before their eyes and bid- ding them to obey its presence, or to die!” “Which they surely have done by now,” broke in Masouda quietly, “though I do not pity them, who ‘were wicked. Nay; thank me not; I have done what I promised to do, neither less nor more. and—I love danger and 70 1F a high stake. Godwin.” So, seated there on the grass in the darkness, he told them of their mad ride and of the slaying of the guards, ‘while Rosamund raised her hands and thanked heaven for its mercies and that they were without those accursed Tell us your story, Sir ‘walls, “You may be within them again be- fore sunset,” said Masouda grimly. “Yes,” answered Wulf, “but not alive. Now what plan have you? To ride for the coast towns “No,” replied Masouda; “at least not straight, since to do so we must pass through the country of the As- sassins, who by this day’s light will be warned to watch for us. We must ride through the desert mountains ' lands to Emesa, fifty miles away, and cross the Orontes there, then down into Baalbec, and so back to Belr;.t]” “Emesa?”’ said Godwin, “Why |- adin holds that place and of Baalbeo the lady Rosamund is Princess.” “Which is best?” asked Masouda shortly, ‘“That she should fall into the hands of Salah-ed-din, or back into those of the master of the Assassins? by the stream, having first washed them with water and, though the time ‘was short, thus eased him much. Then, 20 soon as the dawn was gray, having drunk their fill and, as they had noth- ing else, eaten some watercress that grew in the stream, they tightened their saddlegirths and started. Scarce- ly had they gone a hundred yards When, from the gulf beneath, that was hidden In gray mists, they heard the sound of horses’ hoofs and men's volces. “Push on,” said Masouda, “Al-Jebal Upward they climbed through the gathering light, skirting the edge of dreadful precipices which, in the gloom, it would have been impossible to pass, till at ‘length they reached a great tableland that ran to the foot of some mountains a dozen miles or more away. Among those mountains soared two peaks, set close together. . To these Masouda pointed, saying that their read ran between them and that be- yond lay the valley of the Orontes. While she spoke, far away behind them they heard the sound of men shouting, although they could see noth- ing because of the dense mist. “Push on,” said Masouda; “there is no time to spare,” and they went for- ward, but only at a hand gallop, for the ground was still' rough and the light uncertain, ‘When they had covered some six .is on our track.” miles of the distance betweem themi” and the mountain pass, the sun rose suddenly and sucked up the mist. This was what they saw. Before them lay a flat, sandy plain; behind, the stony ground that they had traversed, and riding over it, two miles or so away, some twenty men of the Assas- sins, “They cannot catch us,” said Wulf; but Masouda pointed to the right, where the mist still hung, and sald: “Yonder I see spears.” Presently it thinned, and there a league from them they saw a great body of mounted soldiers—perhaps there were four hundred. “Look,” she said, “they have come round during the night, as I fearea they would. Now we must cross {lie pass before them or be taken,” and she struck her horse fiercely with a stick that she had cut at the stream. Half a mile further on a shout from a great body of men to their right, which was answered by another shout from those behind, told them that they were seen. 1d Masouda. “The race will So they began to gallop their best. Two miles were done, but although that behind was far away, the great cloud of dust to their right grew ever nearer till it seemed as though it must reach the mouth of the mountain pass before them. Then Godwin spoke. “Whulf and Rosamund, ride on. Your horses are swift and can outpace them. At the crest of the mountain p: walt a while to breathe the beasts, and see it we come. If not, ride on again, and God be with yoi “Aye,” said Masouda, “ride and head for the Emesa bridge—it can be seen from far away—and there yield your- selves to the officers of ed-din." They hung back, but | stern voice Godwin repeated: “Ride, I command you both.” “For Rosamund’s sake, so be it,”” an- swered Wulf. Then he called to Smoke and Flame, and they stretched them- selves out ubon the sand and passed away swifter than swallows. Soon Godwin and Masouda, toiling behind, saw them enter the mouth of the pass. “Good,” she sald. “Except those of their own breed, there are no horses in Syria than can catch those two. They will come to Emesa, have 'no fear.” “Who was the man that brought them to us?’ asked Godwin, as. they galloped side by side, their eyes fixed upon the ever-nearing cloud of dust, in which the spear points sparkled. “My father's brother—my uncle, as I called him,” she answered. “He is & shiek of the desert, who owns the an- clent breed that cannot be bought for gold.” “Then you are not of the Assassins, Masouda ?"” “No; I only tell you, now that the end seems near. My father was am Arab, my mother a noble Frank, a French woman, whom he found starv- ing in the desert after a fight, and took to his tent and made his wife. The Assassins fell upon us and killed him and her, and captured me, a child of 12. Afterward, when I grew older, be- ing beautiful in those days, 1 was taken to the harem of Sinan, and, al- though in secret I had been bred up a Christian by my mother, they swore me of his accursed faith. Now you will understand why I hate him so sorely who murdered my father and my mother, and made me what I am; why I hold myself so vile also. Yes, I have been forced to serve as Ais spy or be killed, who, although he bellieved me hig faithful slave, desired first to be avenged upon him.” “I do not hold you vile,” panted God- win, as he spurred his laboring steed. “I hold you most noble.” “I rejoice to hear it before we die,” she answered, looking him in the eyes in such a fashion that he droupped his head before her burning gaze, “who hold you dear, Sir Godwin, for whose sake I have dared these things, al- though I am nought to you. Nay, speak not; the lady Rosamund has told me all that story—except its an- Now they were off the sand, over which they had been racing side by side, and beginning to breast the mountain slope, nor was Godwin sorry that the clatter of their horses' hoofs upon the stones prevented further speech between them. So far they had outpaced the Assassins, who had =& longer and a rougher road to travel, but the great cloud of dust was not 700 yards away, and in front of it, shaking their spears, rode some of the best mo__lg\xted ofio thet; ldiers. ““These rses still have strength; they are better than I thought thun." cried Masouda. “They will not gain on us across the mountains, but e " For the next league they spoke no more, who must keep their horses from falling as they toiled up the steep path. At length they reached the crest, and there, on the very top of it, saw Wulf and Rosamund standing by, Flame and Smoke. “They rest,”” Godwin said, then he :}houfied, “Mount! mount! The foe is b, 3 So they climbed to their saddles again, and, all four of them together, began to descend the long slope that stretched to the plain two away, Far off across this plain ran a broad silver streak, beyond which at that height they could see the walls of a city. Orontes!” cried Masouda. ‘Well might he do so, for, stout-heart. ed as they were, the beasts were much distressed that had ‘without drawing rein. Down the steep road they plunged pantingj indeed, at times it was hard them on feet. ““They will reach the plain—no more,” sald Godwin, and Masouda nodded. ‘The descent was almost and not a mile behind them the white-i ssassins streamed 1l A en o ‘win plied his rs and Masouda wm.’%’m:h 2& little hope, for they sazk und, while mu”up":d it. “Ride on!" he. ana ‘Waulf: in - front: but. they not. 2