At least it is the decree of God, to which I bow my head, trusting there may be truth in that dream of his, and that our sorrows, in some way unforeseen, will bring blessings to our brethren in the East.But to Saladin say also that whatever his bigot faith may teach, for Christian and for Paynim there is a meeting-place beyond the grave.Say that if aught of wrong or insult is done towards this maiden, I swear by the God who made us both that there I will hold him to account.Now, since it must be so, take her and go your way, knowing that my spirit follows after you and her; yes, and that even in this world she will find avengers.""I hear your words, and I will deliver them," answered Hassan.
"More, I believe that they are true, and for the rest you have the oath of Salah-ed-din--ay, and my oath while she is in my charge.Therefore, Sir Andrew D'Arcy, forgive us, who are but the instruments of Allah, and die in peace.""I, who have so much to be forgiven, forgive you," answered the old knight slowly.
Then his eyes fixed themselves upon his daughter's face with one long, searching look, and closed.
"I think that he is dead," said Hassan."May God, the Merciful and Compassionate, rest his soul!" And taking a white garment from the wall, he flung it over him, adding, "Lady, come."Thrice Rosamund looked at the shrouded figure on the floor; once she wrung her hands and seemed about to fall.Then, as though a thought struck her, she lifted her father's sword from where it lay, and gathering her strength, drew herself up and passed like a queen down the blood-stained passage and the steps of the solar.In the hall beneath waited the band of Hassan, who bowed as she came--a vision of despairing loveliness, that held aloft a red and naked sword.There, too, lay the drugged men fallen this way and that, and among them Wulf across the table, and Godwin on the dais.Rosamund spoke.
"Are these dead or sleeping?"
"Have no fear," answered Hassan."By my hope of paradise, they do but sleep, and will awake ere morning."Rosamund pointed to the renegade Nicholas--he that had struck down her father from behind--who, an evil look upon his face, stood apart from the Saracens, holding in his hand a lighted torch.
"What does this man with the torch?" she asked.
"If you would know, lady," Nicholas answered with a sneer, "Iwait till you are out of it to fire the hall.""Prince Hassan," said Rosamund, "is this a deed that great Saladin would wish, to burn drugged men beneath their own roof?
Now, as you shall answer to him, in the name of Saladin I, a daughter of his House, command you, strike the fire from that man's hand, and in my hearing give your order that none should even think of such an act of shame.""What?" broke in Nicholas, "and leave knights like these, whose quality you know"--and he pointed to the brethren--"to follow in our path, and take our lives in vengeance? Why, it is madness!""Are you master here, traitor, or am I?" asked Hassan in cold contempt."Let them follow if they will, and I for one shall rejoice to meet foes so brave in open battle, and there give them their revenge.Ali," he added, addressing the man who had been disguised as a merchant's underling, and who had drugged the men in the barn as his master had drugged those in the hall, and opened the moat gate to the band, "Ali, stamp upon the torch and guard that Frank till we reach the boat lest the fool should raise the country on us with his fires.Now, Princess, are you satisfied?""Ay, having your word," she answered."One moment, I pray you.Iwould leave a token to my knights."
Then, while they watched her with wondering eyes, she unfastened the go!d cross and chain that hung upon her bosom, and slipping the cross from the chain, went to where Godwin lay, and placed it on his breast.Next, with a swift movement, she wound the chain about the silver hilt of Sir Andrew's sword, and passing to Wulf, with one strong thrust, drove the point between the oak boards of the table, so that it stood before him--at once a cross, a brand of battle, and a lady's token.
"His grandsire bore it,'' she said in Arabic, "when he leapt on to the walls of Jerusalem.It is my last gift to him." But the Saracens muttered and turned pale at these words of evil omen.
Then taking the hand of Hassan, who stood searching her white, inscrutable face, with never a word or a backward look, she swept down the length of the long hall, and out into the night beyond.
"It would have been well to take my counsel and fire the place, or at least to cut the throats of all within it," said the man Nicholas to his guard Ali as they followed with the rest."If Iknow aught of these brethren, cross and sword will soon be hard upon our track, and men's lives must pay the price of such soft folly." And he shivered as though in fear.
"It may be so, Spy," answered the Saracen, looking at him with sombre, contemptuous eyes."It may be that your life will pay the price."Wulf was dreaming, dreaming that he stood on his head upon a wooden plank, as once he had seen a juggler do, which turned round one way while he turned round the other, till at length some one shouted at him, and he tumbled off the board and hurt himself.Then he awoke to hear a voice shouting surely enough--the voice of Matthew, the chaplain of Steeple Church.
"Awake!" said the voice."In God's name, I conjure you, awake!""What is it?" he said, lifting his head sleepily, and becoming conscious of a dull pain across his forehead.
"It is that death and the devil have been here, Sir Wulf.""Well, they are often near together.But I thirst.Give me water."A serving-woman, pallid, dishevelled, heavy-eyed, who was stumbling to and fro, lighting torches and tapers, for it was still dark, brought it to him in a leathern jack, from which he drank deeply.
