The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, January 29, 1905, Page 2

HIS IS THE FIFTH INSTALLMENT OF “THE BRETHRE XT SUNDAY. ORDI | WHICH WILL BE CONCLUDED N NARILY THE AIM IS TO PRESENT NOVELS COMPLETE IN NTS, BUT “THE BRETHREN,” BE- ¥OUR OF FIVE INSTALLME! ING UNUSUALLY LONG, HAD TO B GIVEN SIX INSTALL- AL ATTENTION TO THE HIGH CLASS OF LITERARY @ MENTS. IN THIS CONNECTION THE SUNDAY CALL DESIRES TURES THAT ARE TO APPEAR DURING THE WINTER, CHIEF AMONG WHICH WILL E AN UNFINISHED NOVEL,” BY LORD BEACONSFIELD (DISRAELI), WHICH IS THE GREAT INGLISH LITERARY SENSATION OF THE HOUR; “THE CAST- BY HALLIE ERMINIE RIVES; “MONSIEUR BEAU- BY BOOTH TARKINGTON, AND “A WHIRL ASUNDER,” BY GERTRUDE ATHERTON. Ty But whither were they to go without Rosa- mund? Saladin they pleased him to tell them tales of those days when their father and uncle were (Copyright, 1004, by McClure, Phillips & Co.) HE man was not very tall, and " siight of build, vet about him was much majesty, although his zarb was such as the humblest might have worn. He came forward, lifting his head, and they saw that h features were small and finely cut; that who were free to come and go. saw often, for it in the East, or taik with them of England and the Franks, and even now and again to reason with Godwin on matters of religion. Moreover, ‘to he was bearded, and beneath his broad show his faith in them, he gave them brow shone thoughtful yet at times the rank of officers of his own body- plercing eycs that were brown in hue. Suard, and when, wefflarving of fdle- Now ih: Prince Hagsan sank to his they. asieed -1t of Jitmy - aliowes 5 ey them to take their share of duty in knees und touched the marble With 4ho gyarding of his palace and per- his forchead, and, guessing that they son. This, at a time when peace still ‘were the presence of the mighty réigned between Frank and Saracen, - monarch Sala . in their .'save the shedding of much blood by " blood of tens of thousands; and in that - stretched the brethren were not ashamed to do, who received no payment for their serv Peacc reigned indeed, but Godwin and Wulf could guess that it would not reign for long. Damascus and the nd it were one great camp, , the brethren saluted :rn fashion. Presently the Sultan spoke in a low, even voice to Hassan, to whom he motioncd that he should rise, saying: “I rce that you trust these krights, emir,” and he pointed to their great v day new thousands of wild swords. smen poured in and took up the *“8ire,” was the answer, “I trust ters that had been prepared for them as I trust myself. They are Th sked Masouda, who n. although what it meant. She that Jibad, the Holy War. wh is being preached in S is a8 every mosque throughout the East. It y worship God means that the great struggle between Cross and Crescent is at hand, and then, Pilgrims Peter and John, you will ble to look whom 1 re- after their own fashion. on allo, like their father, member well, and 1€ all I hear §s true, DaYe to choose your standard® " brave indeed r knights, do you Ul- 4Rt » caid Walf, derstand my age?” SRR 1f. & 3 ; “Suiticiently 10 ‘speak it, Jord,? an- »ne,” replied Masouda, with one of hi miles, “only it may pain you to have to make war upon the Princess -of Baalbec and her uncle, the Com- mander of the Faithful. Then she went, still, smiling. For this was the trouble of it: Ros- amund, their cousin and their love, lbad in truth become the Princess of ~—for thém. She lived In and freedom, as Siladin hat she should live in r Andrew d'Arcy. No nce were coffered to her no suitor was thrust upon her. rned it swercd Goawin, “who have le since childhood, yet ill enough. Tnen tell me, us soldiers to a what do you seek from Salah- cousin, the Lady ur command, lord, home in England. , she is your 3 that I 1 know that she is usin, s she aught more to you?' and he searched them with those piercing eyes. Godwin looked at Wulf, who sald In gyt she was in a land where women Eaglish: < 7 _do not consort with men, especially if ‘Speak the whole truth, brother. they be high placed. As a Princess From that man nothing can be hid. of the empyire of Saladin she must Then Godwin answered: abey its ru “gire, we love her, and are affianced when she w to her.” ing no private words with men. God- The Sultan stared at them in win and Wulf prayed Saladin that they might be allowed to speak with her from time to time, but he only answered shortly: “8ir knights, our customs are our customs. Moreover, the less you see of the Princess of Baalbec the better 1 think it will be for her, for you, es, even to veiling herself ent abroad and exchang- sur- ! Both of you?” he asked. both.” e Princess, then, affianced ““Yes, to both.” ‘“And does she love you both?” ‘“Yes,” replied Godwin, ““both, or so she says.” Saladin stroked his beard and con- sidered them, while Hassan smiled a little. “Then, knights,” he said presently, tell me, which of you does she love sire, i& known to her alone. 1e time comes she will say, and oo ceive,” said Saladin, “that be- (s riddle hides a story. If it be od pleasure, be seated and set ) me.” 8 . ey sat down on the divan and keeping nothing back from the ng to the end, nor, although the s long, did the Sultan weary of & >at story, truly,” he said, when a they had finished, “and one in seem to see the hand c¢f Allah. :hts, you will think that I have vou—aye, and your uncle, Sir who was once my friend, al- wn older man than I, and who, ng away my sister, laid the ms of this hcuse of love and « woe, and perchance of happi- foreseen. Now listen. The tale ose two Frankish knaves, the nd the false knight Lozelle, told was true. As I wrcte to your in my letter, I dreamed a dream. e 1 dreamed it; that this niece of lived, and that if I could bring T here to dwell at my side she should some noble deed of hers—aye, of the dream 1 saw her face. Therefore I out my arm and took her from far away. And now, through you —yes, through she has been ‘snatched from the power of the Great Assassin and is safe in my ccurt, and therefore henceforth I am your friend.” “Sirc, have you seen her?” asked Godwin. “Kpights, I have seen her, and the Yace is t face of my dreams, and I know that in those dieams God spoke. Listen, Sir Godwin and 8ir Wulf,” Sal- adin went on in a changed -voice, a stern, commanding voice. “Ask of me what you wili, and, ¥ranks though you are, it £hall be given you for your ser- vice's sake alth, lands, titles, all that men re and I can grant—but ask not of me my niece, Rose of the World, Princess of Ibec, whom Al- lah has briught to me for his own pur- poses. Know, moreover, that if you strive (o steal her away you shall sure- nd that if she escapes from me apture her, then she shall die. These things 1 hzve told her already, and I s'vear them in the name of Allah. Here she is, and in my house she must abide until the vision bu fulfilled.” Now in their dismay the brethren looked upon each other, for they seem- ed’further from their desire than they had been even in the castle of Sinan. Then a light broke upon the face of Godwin, and he stcod up and an- swered: “Dread lord of all the East, we hear you and we know our risk. You have Biven us your friendship; we accspt it and are thankful, and seek no more. God, you say, has brought our lady losamund to you for his own pur- puses. Then let his purposes be ac- complished according to his will, which may be in some way that we little guess. We abide his judgment who har guided us in the past and will guide us in the future,” ."“Well spoken,” replied Saladin. “I have warned you, my guests, ther fore blame me not if T keep my word; but I ask no promise from you whe would not tempt noble knights to lie. Yes, Allah has set this strange riddle; by” Allih let it be answered in his sea- son.” Thén he waved his hand to show that the audience was ended. CHAPTER XVIL The Brethren Depart From Damascus. At the court of Saladin Godwin and ‘Wulf were treated with much honor. ‘A house was given them to dwell in and a compahy of servants to minister to their comfort and to guard them. Mounted on their swift horses, Flame and Smoke, they were taken,out into the desert to hunt, and, had they so ‘willed, it would have been easy for them to outdistance their retinue and companions and ride away to the near- est Christian town, Indeed, no hand would huve been lifted to stay them o 358 3 LF FIEZ, GO WIIH FIAP* THe SAly « i, Ths whose blood I do not wish to have upon my hands, and for myself, who await the fulfillment of that dream which the angel brought.” Then the brethren left his presence sore at heart, for although they 'saw heér from time to time at feasts and festivals, Rosamund was as far apart from them as though she sat in Stee- ple Hall—and farther. Also they came to see that of rescuing her from Damascus there was no hope at all She dwelt in her own palace, whereof the walls were guarded night and day by a company of the Sultan’s Mame- lukes, who knew that they were an- swerable for her with their lives. With- in its walls, again, lived trusted eunuchs, under the command of a cun- ning fellow named Mesrour, and her retinue of women, all of thém spies and. watchful. How could two men hope {e snatch her from the heart of such a host and to spirit her out of Damascus and through its encircling armies? v One comfort, however, was left to them. When she reached the .court Rosamund had prayed of the Sultan that Masouda should not be seaprated from her, and this, because of the part she had played in his niece's rescue from the power of Sinan, he had granted,- though .doubtfully. More- over, Mzasouda, being. a person of no account except.for her.beauty, and a heretic, was allowed tb go where she would and to speak to whom she wished. So, as she wished to speak often with Godwin, they did not lack for tidings of Rosamund. From her they learned that in a *fashion she was happy enough—who would '»ot be that had just -escaped from Al-Jebal?—yet weary of the strange Eastern life, of the restraints upon her, and of her alnmiless days; vexed also that ghe with the brethren. Day by day she sent them her greetings, and with them warnings to attemnt nothing— not even to gee her—since there was no hope that they would succeed. So much afrald of them was the Sultan, Rosamund said, that both she and they were watched day and night, and of any folly théir lives would pay the price, ‘When they.heard all thie the brethren began to despair, and their spirits sénk so low that they cared not» what should happen to them. Then it was that a chance came to them of which the issue was to make them still more admired hy Saladin and- to lift Masouda to honor. ' One morning they were seated in the courtyard of their house beside the fountain, staring at the passershy through ‘the bars of the bronze gates and st the sentries who marched to might not z of the @’rnfi{fg m’i{ i bentted ‘her tall- and #'jand were bln%:d on’the breast with 7-‘ breast ‘as though to still its heaving, 7 eording to his mood.” jus how we can save the life of the 3 s~ din° will not arrive: * you?” and fro before them. This house was in one of the principal thoroughfares of Damascus, and in front of it flowea continually an unending, many-colored stream of folk. There were white-robed Arabs of the desert mounted on their grumbling camels; caravans of merchandise from ypt or elsewhere; asges laden with firewood of the gray, prickly growth of the wild thyme for the bakers’ ovens; water sellers with their goatskin bags; venders of birds or sweetmeats; women going to the bath in closed and cur- tained litters, escorted by the eunuchs of their households; great lords riding on their Arab horses and preceded by thelr runners, who thrust the crowd esunder and beat the poor with whips; beggars, halt, maimed and blind, be- seeching alme; lepers, from whom all shrank away, who wailed their woes aloud; stately companies of soldiers, some mounted and some afoot; holy men, who gave blessings and received alms; and so forth, without number and without end. Godwin and Wulf, seated In the shade of the painted house, watched them gloomily. They were weary of this ever-changing sameness, weary of the eternal glare and glitter of this unfa- miljar life, weary of the insistent cries of the mullahs.gn the minarets, of the flash of the swords that would soon be red with the blood of their own people: weary, too, of the hopeless task to which' they were sworn. Rosamund was of this, multitude; she .was the Princess of Baalbec, half an Eastern by her blood and growing more East- . ern day by d )r so they thought in their bitternes: As well might two Saracens hope to snatch the’ Queen of England from her palace at Westmin- ster as they to drag the Princess of Baalbec out of the power of a monarch more absolute than any King of Eng- land. So they sat silent since .they . had nothing to say, and looked now at the passing crowd, and now at the thin stream of water falling continually inte the marble basin. Presently they heard voices at the ¢, and looking up saw a woman apped in a long cloak, talking with the guard, who with a laugh thrust out his arm, as though to place’ it around her. Then a knife flashed, and the soldier stepped back, still laughing, and opened the wicket. The woman emme in. It was Masouda. They rose’ and bowed to her, but she passed before' them into the house. Thither they followed, while the sol- dler at the gate laughed again, and at the sound of his mockery God- win's cheek grew red. Even in the cool, darkened room she noticed it, and sald, bitterly enough: “What does it matte Such iny sults are my daily bread whom they believe—"" and she stopped. “They had best say nothing of what they believe to me,” muttered Godwin. “I thank you,” Masouda answered, with a sweet, swift smile, and, throw- ing off' her cloak, stood before them unveiled, clad’if the white robes that raceful, form, the coghizancgiot, Baalbeck. “Well for you," she wefit on, “that' they hold me to be whal 1 am not, shice other- svise 1 stiould #in no entry to - this thouse.” .. » = “What of our Lady Rosamund,” sbroke in Wulf awkwardly, for, like “Godwin, he was pained. Masouda lajd her hand upon her 5 : 46}1/3 ey R2EZ, then answered: . “The. Princess of Baalbac, my mis- tress, is well und as ever, beautiful, jief in the courtyard, according to cus- though somewhat weary of the pomp - tom, but no relief had come. in which she finds no joy. She sent w1t woyld seem that Masouda’s tale her greetings, but did not say 10 5 true” said Godwin, and, going to the which of vou they should be delivs goor he locked it'and hid the key be- ered, so. pilgrims, you must share peath a cushion. them.” Then they took their stand; in front Godwin winced, but Wulf asked if of the locked:door, before which hung there were any hope of seeing her, t0 ‘cyrtains, standing in the shadow with which Masouda answered: the light from the hanging silver lamps “None," adding in: a low volce, “I poyring down in front of them. Here came upon another business. Do you they waited awhile in silence, ‘till at brethren wish to do Salah-ed-din & Jength they heaMd the tramp of men, service?" and eight Mamelukes, clad in yellow I don’t know. What is it?” asked ‘Gpove their mall, marched in and Godwin gloomily. saluted. : “Only to save his life—for which " «gtand!” sald Godwin, and they he may be grateful, or may not, ac- gigod a minute, then began to edge for- ward. “Stand!” said both 'the °brethren again, but still they edged farward. “Stand, sons of Sinan!" they said a third time, drawing their swords. Then with a hiss of disappointed rage the fedai came at them. “A d'Drey! A d'Arcy! Help for the Sultan!"” shouted the brethren, and the fray began. g Six of the men attacked them, and while they were engaged with these the other two slipped round and tried the door, only to find it fast. Then they also turned uppn the brethren, thinking to take the key from off their bodies. At the first rush two of the fedai went down beneath the sweep of the long swords, but after that the murderers would not come close, and while some engaged them “in fromt, others strove to pass and stab them from behind. Indged, g blow from one of their long knives fell upon Godwin’s shoulder, but the good mail turned it. “Give way,” he cried to Wulf, *or they will best us.” So suyddenly they gave way before them till their backs were against the door, and there they stood, shouting for help and sweeping round them with their swords, into the reach of which the fedai dare not come. Now from without the chambers rose a cry and tumult, and the sound of heavy blows éa.ll(nx upon the gates that the mur- erers had barred behind them, while upon the farther side of the door, which he could not open, was .heard the voice of the Suitan demanding to know what had passed. The fedai heard these sounds also, and read in'them their doom. Forxl:g ting caution in their despair and rage, they hurled themselves upon the brethren, for they thought that if they could get them down they might stiil break through the door and slay Salah- ed-din before they themselves were slain.” But for a while the brethren stopped their rush with point and buckler, wounding two of them - sore- 1y; and when at length théy closed in upon them the gates were gmt. and ‘I:lulg.n and the outer guard were at and. “Speak on,” said Godwin, “and tell Sultan of the East.” “Do you still remember Sinan and his fedais? Yes—they are not easily forgotten, are they? Well, to-night he has plotted to murder Salah-ed-din, and afterward to murder you if he can, and to carry away your lady Rosamund if he can, or, failing that, to murder her also. Oh! the tale is true enough. I have it from one of them under the Signet—surely that Signet has proved us well—who be- lieves, poor fool, that I am in the plot. Now, you are the officers of the body- guard 'who watch in the —antecham- ber to-night, are you not? 'Well, when the guard is changed at midnight, the eight men who should replace them at.the doors of the room of Salah-ed- they will be de- coyed by a false order. In their stead will come eight murderers, disguised in the robes and arms of Mamelukes. They look to decelve and cut you down, kill Salah-ed-din, and escape by the further door. Can you hold your own awhile against eight men, think “We have done so before and will try,” said Wulf. “But how shall we know that they are not Mamelukes?" “Thus—they will wish to pass the door, and you will say, ‘Nay, sons of Sinan,’ whereupon they will spring on you to kill you. Then be ready and shout aloud.” “Anfl if they overcome us,” asked Godwin, “then the Sultan would be slain?" “Nay, for you must lock the door of the chamber of Salah-ed-din and hide away the key. The sound of the fight- ing Will arouse the outer guard ere hurt can come to him. Or,” she added, after thinking awhile, “perhaps it will be best to reveal the plot to the Sul- tan at once.” “No, no,” answered Wulf; “let us take the chance. I weary of doing nothing here. Hassan guards the outer gate. He will come swiftly at the sdund of blows.” “Good,” sajd Masouda: “I_will see that he is there and awake. Now fare- well, and pray that we may meet again. I say nothing of this story to the Princess Rosamund until it ‘is done Wwith.” Then, throwing her cloak about her shoulders, she turned and went. “Is that true, Wulf of Godwin. “We have never found Masouda to 3: a Ihrt," was his sn!w:r. ":gme'.l let . see to our armor, for the knives *“Only this, lerd,” answered God- of those fedal are sharp.” win, “these men came to kill you and It was near midnight, and the breth- we held them off till arrived.” Ten stood in the small ed ante- “Kill me! My own m« kill me!” fh:m':er,.l :ro:n ‘which :‘ door opened “They are not your guard; nto the sleeping rooms of Saladin. The fedai, disgulsed as your guard and sent guard of elght Mamelukes had left by Al-Jebal, as hs,;r?rrml e 3 them, expecting to be met by thelr re- Now Salah-ed-din turned pale, for Godwin and Wulf were leaning on their swords, and the fedal, some of them dead or wounded and some of them captive, lay before them on the marble e floor. Moreoyer, the door had been think you?” asked opencd, and through it came the Sul- tan in his nightgear. * ““What has chanced?”’ he asked, look~ ing at them doubtfully. WOy M S G s 2% 72 }475 he who feared nothing else was-all his life afrald of the Assass and their lholrd, who thrice had striven to murder m. “‘Strip the armor from those men,” went on Godwin, “and I think that you will find truth in my words, or, if not, question such of them as still live.” They obeyed, and there upon the breast of one of them, burnt into his skin, was the symbol of the blood-red dagger. Now Saladin saw, and beck- oned the brethren aside. “How knew you of this?” he asked, searching them with his plercing eyes. “Masouda, the Lady Rosamund’s waiting woman, warned us that you, lord, and we, were to be murdered to- night by eight men, so we made ready.” “Why, then, did you not tell me?"” “Because,” answered Wulf, “we were not sure that the news was true, and did not wish to bring false tidings and be made foolish. Besides, also, my brother -and I thotught that could hold our own awhile against eight of Sinan’s rats disguised as soldiers of Saladin.” “You have done it well, though yours was a mad counsel,” answered the Sul- tan. Then he gave his hand first to one and next to the other, and said, simply: “Sir Knights, Salah-ed-din owes his life to you. Should it ever come about that you owe your lives to Salah-ed- din, he will rémember thi Thus this business ended. On the morfow those of the fedai who re- mained alive were questioned, and con- fessing freely that they had been sent to, murder Salah-ed-din, who had robbed their master of his bride, the two Franks who had carried her off, and the woman Masuda, were put to death cruelly enough. Also many oth- ers ih the city were seized and killed on suspicion, and so for awhile there wds no more fear from the Assassins. Now from that day forward Salah- ed-din held the brethren In great friendship, and pressed gifts upon them and offered them honors. But they re- fused them all, saying that they need- ed but one thing of him, and he knew what it was—an answer at which his face sank. One morning he gent for them, and, except for the presence of Prince Has san, the most favorite of his emirs, and a famous imaum, or priest of his religion, recelved them alone. “Listen,” he said briefly, addressing Godwin. understand that my niece, the Princess of Baalbec; is beloved by you. Good.. Subscribe the Koran, and ive her to you in marriage, for thus algo she may be led to the true ‘faith, whom 1 have sworn not to force there- to, and I gain a great warrior and paradise a brave soul. The imau here will instruct you in the truth.” Thus he spoke, but Godwin only A minute later, and but littie hurt,” stared at him with eyes set wide in wonderment, and answered: “Sive, I thank you, but I cannot chénge my faith to win a woman, how- ever dearly I may love her.” “So I thought,” said Saladin with a sigh, “though indeed it is sad that superstition should thus blind so brave and goed a man. Now, Sir Wulf, it is your turn. What say you to my offer? Will you take.the Princess and her dominions vm;orury’ love thrown in ped as a port| ‘Wulf thought a moment, and as he thought there arose in his mind a vi- sion of an hat seemed years and years ago. when they two and Rosamund had stood by the fully armed and mounted on shrine of St. Chad on the shores of Es- sex, and jested of this very matter of a change of faith. Then he ahswered, with one of his great laughs: “Aye, sire, but on my own terms, not on yours, or if I took these I think that my marrigge would lack blessings. Nor, indeed, would Rosamund wish to wed & servant of ¥our prcphet, who if it pleased him might take other wives.” Saladin leant his head upon his hand and looked at them with disappointed eyes, yet not unkindly. “The knight Lozelle was a cross-wor- shiper,” he said, “but you two are very different from the knight Lozelle, who accepted the faith when it was offered “To win your trade,” said Godwin, bitterly. “I know not,” answered Saladin, “though it is true the man seemed to have been a Christian among the Franks, who here was a follower of the prophet. - At least he is dead at your hands, and though he sinned against me and betrayed my niece to Sinan, peace be with his soul. Now I have one more thing to say to you. That Frank, Prince Arnat of Karak, whom you -call Reginald de Chatillon—ac- cursed be his name!—" and he t upon the ground—'"has once more en the peace between me and . the of Jerusalem, slaughtering -my mer- chants and stealing my goods. 1 will suffer this shame no more, and very shortly I will unfurl. my standards, which shal' not be folded up again untll they float upon the mosque of Omar and from:every tower-top in Palestine. Your people are doomed. I, Yusuf Salah-ed-din,” and herose as he said the words, his very beard brist- ling with wrath, “declare the Holy ‘War, and will sweep them down to the sea. Choose now, you brethren, Do you fight for me or against me? Or will you give up your swords and bide here as my prisoners? “We are the servants of the cross answered Godwin, “and cannot Mft steel against it and thereby lose our souls.” Then he spoke with Wuif, and added, “As to your second question, whether we should bide here In chains; it is one that our Lady Rosamund must answer, for we are sworn to her sery- ice. We demand to see the Princess of Baalbec.” “Send for her, Emir,” said Saladin to the Prince Hassan, who bowed and departed. A while later Rosamund came, looking beautiful, but, as they saw when she threw back her veil, very white and weary.. She bowed to Sa- ladin, and the brethren, who were not allowed to touch her hand, bowed to her, devouring her face with eager eyes. “Greeting, my uncle,” she said. to the Sultan, “and to you, my cousins, greeting also. What is your pleasure with me?” P Saladin motioned to her to be seat- ed and bade Godwin set out-the case, which he dia very clearly, ending: “Is it your wish, Rosamund, that we stay in this court as prisoners, or 8o forth to fight with the Franks.in the great war that is to. be?” Rosamund looked at them awhile. then answered: “To whom were you sworn the first? Was it to the service of our Lord or to the service of a woman? I have said.” “'Such -words as we expected from you, being what you,are,”. exclaimed Godwin, while Wulf nodded his head in assent and added: ‘“Sultan, we ask your safe conduct to Jerusalem, and leave this lady in your charge, relying on your plighted word to do no violence to her faith and to protect her person.” “My safe conduct you have,” re- plied. Saladin, “and my ftlendship also. Nor, indeed, should I “have thought well of you had you decided otherwise. Now, henceforth we are enemies in the eyes of.all men and I ghall -strive to slay you as you will strive to slay me. But as regards this lady, have o fear. ' What have promised shall be fulfilled. Bid her farewell, whom you will see no more;" “Who taught your lips to say. such words, O Sultan?” asked Godwin, ““Is it given to you to read the future and the decrees of God?"” “I should have said,” answered Sa- ladin, “‘whom you will see no more it I can keep you apart’. Can you complain, who, both of you, have re- fused to _take her as a wife?” Here Rosamund looked up wonder- ing,. and Wulf broke in: 3 “Tell her the price. Tell her that she was asked to wed either of us who would bow the knee to Mohammed and to be the head of his harem, and T think she will not blame us.” “Never would I have spoken again to him who answered otherwise,” ex- claimed Rosamund, and Saladin frown- ed at the words. ““Oh! my uncle,” she went on, “you have been kind to me and raised me high, but I do not seek this greatness, nor ure your ways m, ways, who am of a faith that yoya mfl accursed. Leét me go, I beseech you, in care of these my kinsmen.” “And your lovers,” sald Saladin bit- terly. “Niece, it cannot be. I Joye you well, but did I know even that your life must pay the price of your sofourn here, here you still should stay, since, as my dream told me, on you hang the lives of thousands, and I believe that dream. What, then in your life, or the lives of these knights, or even my life, that any or all of them should turn the scales against those of thou- sands? Oh, everything that my em- pire can give is at your feet, but hers you stay until the dream be accom- plished, and,” he added, looking at'the brethren, “death shall be the pértion of any who would steal you from my hand.” ; “Until the dream be accomplished?” sald Rosamund, catching at the words. “Then, when it is accomplished, shall I bé free?” “Aye,” answered the Sultan; “free to come or to go, unless you attempt es- cape, for then you know your doom.” “It is a decree. Take note, my cous- ins, it is a decree. And you, Prince Hassan, remember it also. Oh! I pray, with all thy soul I pray, that it was no lying spirit who' brought you that dream, imy uncle, though how I shall bring peace, who hitherto have brought nothing except war and bloodshed, I know not. Now go, my cousins; but, it you will, leave me Masouda, who has no other friends. Go, and take my love and blessing with you—aye, and the blessing of the saints which ‘shall nroteet you in the hour of battle, and bring us together again.” 8o spoke Rosamund and threw her veil before her face that she might hide her tears. Then Godwin and Wulf stepped to where she stood by the throne of Sala- din, bent the knee before her, and, tak- ing her hand, kissed it in farewell, nor did the Sultan sav them nay. But when she was gone and the brethren were gone, he turned to the emir Has- san and to the great imaum who had sat silent all this while, and said: “Now tell me, you who are old and wise, which of those men does the lady love? Speak, Hassan, you who know her well” But Hassan shocl: his head. “One or the other. Both or neither—I know riot,” he answered. ‘“Her counsel ‘is too close for me."” Then Saladin turned to the imaum —a_cunning, silent man. “When those -infidels are about to dle before her face, as I still hope to see them do, we may learn the an- swer, ut - uniess she' wills- it, never before,” he replied, ‘and the- Sultan roted his saving. Next morning, having been warned that they would pass there by Masou- da, Rosamund, watching: through the lattice of one of the palace windows, saw the brethren go’by. -They v;‘e:'-a their splendid charges, Flame and Smioke, brok- King B R i