登陆注册
5421900000044

第44章 The Horses Flame and Smoke(1)

On the following morning, when they came into the eating-room of the inn, Godwin and Wulf found they were no longer alone in the house, for sundry other guests sat there partaking of their morning meal.Among them were a grave merchant of Damascus, another from Alexandria in Egypt, a man who seemed to be an Arab chief, a Jew of Jerusalem, and none other than the English trader Thomas of Ipswich, their fellow-passenger, who greeted them warmly.

Truly they seemed a strange and motley set of men.Considering them as the young and stately widow Masouda moved from one to the other, talking to each in turn while she attended to their wants, it came into Godwin's mind that they might be spies meeting there to gain or exchange information, or even to make report to their hostess, in whose pay perhaps they were.Still if so, of this they showed no sign.Indeed, for the most part they spoke in French, which all of them understood, on general matters, such as the heat of the weather, the price of transport animals or merchandise, and the cities whither they purposed to travel.

The trader Thomas, it appeared, had intended to start for Jerusalem that morning with his goods.But the riding mule he had bought proved to be lame from a prick in the hoof, nor were all his hired camels come down from the mountains, so that he must wait a few days, or so he said.

Under these circumstances, he offered the brethren his company in their ramblings about the town.This they thought it wise not to refuse, although they felt little confidence in the man, believing that it was he who had found out their story and true names and revealed them to Masouda, either through talkativeness or with a purpose.

However these things might be, this Thomas proved of service to them, since, although he was but just landed, he seemed to know all that had passed in Syria since he left it, and all that was passing then.Thus he told them how Guy of Lusignan had just made himself king in Jerusalem on the death of the child Baldwin, and how Raymond of Tripoli refused to acknowledge him and was about to be besieged in Tiberias.How Saladin also was gathering a great host at Damascus to make war upon the Christians, and many other things, false and true.

In his company, then, and sometimes in that of the other guests--none of whom showed any curiosity concerning them, though whether this was from good manners or for other reasons they could not be sure--the brethren passed the hours profitably enough.

It was on the third morning of their stay that their hostess Masouda, with whom as yet they had no further private talk, asked them if they had not said that they wished to buy horses.On their answering "Yes," she added that she had told a certain man to bring two for them to look at, which were now in the stable beyond the garden.Thither they went, accompanied by Masouda, to find a grave Arab, wrapped in a garment of camel's hair and carrying a spear in his hand, standing at the door of the cave which served the purpose of a stable, as is common in the East where the heat is so great.As they advanced towards him, Masouda said:

"If you like the horses, leave me to bargain, and seem to understand nothing of my talk."The Arab, who took no notice of them, saluted Masouda, and said to her in Arabic:

"Is it then for Franks that I have been ordered to bring the two priceless ones?""What is that to you, my Uncle, Son of the Sand?" she asked."Let them be led forth that I may know whether they are those for which I sent."The man turned and called into the door of the cave.

"Flame, come hither!" As he spoke, there was a sound of hoofs, and through the low archway leapt the most beautiful horse that ever their eyes had seen.It was grey in colour, with flowing mane and tail, and on its forehead was a black star; not over tall, but with a barrel-like shape of great strength, small-headed, large-eyed; wide-nostriled, big-boned, but fine beneath the knee, and round-hoofed.Out it sprang snorting; then seeing its master, the Arab, checked itself and stood still by him as though it had been turned to stone.

"Come hither, Smoke," called the Arab again, and another horse appeared and ranged itself by the first.In size and shape it was the same, but the colour was coal-black and the star upon its forehead white.Also the eye was more fiery.

"These are the horses," said the Arab, Masouda translating."They are twins, seven years old and never backed until they were rising six, cast at a birth by the swiftest mare in Syria, and of a pedigree that can be counted for a hundred years.""Horses indeed!" said Wulf."Horses indeed! But what is the price of them?"Masouda repeated the question in Arabic, whereon the man replied in the same tongue with a slight shrug of the shoulders.

"Be not foolish.You know this is no question of price, for they are beyond price.Say what you will.""He says," said Masouda, "that it is a hundred gold pieces for the pair.Can you pay as much?"The brethren looked at each other.The sum was large.

"Such horses have saved men's lives ere now," added Masouda, "and I do not think that I can ask him to take less, seeing that, did he but know it, in Jerusalem they could be sold for thrice as much.But if you wish, I could lend you money, since doubtless you have jewels or other articles of value you could give as security--that ring in your breast, for instance, Peter.""We have the gold itself," answered Wulf, who would have paid to his last piece for those horses.

"They buy," said Masouda.

同类推荐
  • 续北山酒经

    续北山酒经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 拳学要义

    拳学要义

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 上清大渊神龙琼胎乘景上玄玉章

    上清大渊神龙琼胎乘景上玄玉章

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 因明正理门论本

    因明正理门论本

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 五教止观一乘十玄门合行叙

    五教止观一乘十玄门合行叙

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 纯情老公矜持点

    纯情老公矜持点

    相恋多年,她的爱情成了一个笑话。阴差阳错,嫁入豪门。交了心动了情,却不想原来在男人的初恋面前,他们的感情竟是如此不堪一击。“景岚,我们离婚吧。”短短九个字,就抹去了她们一切过往。五年后,她带着儿子强势回来,可他却再也不肯放手。原来,爱情早已深入骨血……
  • 薄少你踩着我尾巴了

    薄少你踩着我尾巴了

    小九第一部已经出来咯~书名《萌狐娇妻,甜甜哒!》主要讲述小九跟大魔王的前世!“老公,她们说XX家炸鸡超级好吃~!”某男头也不抬吩咐:“把那家炸鸡店买下来。”“老公,她们说我很适合那部剧女一号~!”“把那个剧组承包下来。”“
  • 善恶难断

    善恶难断

    他们信奉以暴制暴,却各有珍视的东西要守护。他们人前残暴冷血,却都藏有柔软的心事。善念能守护的东西,恶念又为何不能呢?
  • History of Friedrich II of Prussia

    History of Friedrich II of Prussia

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 颜家悍女

    颜家悍女

    【推荐古言新书《我家夫人又败家了》,甜宠古代美食文,求收藏】一朝穿越,女将军变小村姑,吃不饱穿不暖,三月不知肉味。她放下刀剑,拿起农具当村姑,种田求温饱,经商赚大钱。农女当家,风波不断,渣渣层出不穷:恶毒奶奶、贪心叔伯、偏心爷爷、绿茶婊堂姐、白莲花表妹、踩高捧低姑姑……昔日女将军摊手表示:渣渣尽管来,来一个灭一个,来两个灭一双!颜家悍女威名远扬,方圆百里无人敢娶。比武招亲擂台上,颜小婉问大胡子:“嫁给你有什么好处?”大胡子憨憨一笑:“我会打猎,嫁给我天天有肉吃!”
  • 绝品灵仙

    绝品灵仙

    曾经病痛缠身,无缘仙道,而今得幸重生,竟也是个丹田被毁的废人之躯。不怕不怕,谁让我有特殊修仙技巧。 ps:男主什么的,都是浮云~(无cp)
  • 邹韬奋作品集(中国现代文学名家作品集)

    邹韬奋作品集(中国现代文学名家作品集)

    “中国现代文学名家作品集”丛书实质是中国现代文学肇基和发展阶段的创作总集,收录了几乎当时所有知名作家,知名作品的全部。
  • 腹黑王爷的庶女宠妻

    腹黑王爷的庶女宠妻

    骠骑大将军府门外,两座威武雄健的石狮子前,明亮宽敞的青石板路上,司徒寒天一家不论男女老少,皆穿戴整齐,罗列而跪,神态端正肃穆,大气不敢出一声。在他们身前,站着数个青衣使者,为首一人头戴圆顶官帽,腰配乌墨锦带,下挂剔透翠玉。他翘着一丝兰花指,缓缓打开了一道明黄色的长绢,扯着尖细的嗓子,朗声道:“奉天承运,皇帝诏曰,司徒将军家长女司徒玉纤蕙质兰心,温婉贤惠,德才皆备,朕闻得其作一曲《凤求凰……
  • 神龙接引使

    神龙接引使

    在这个世界上有异能者,有魔法师、有忍者……但在华复却还有一种人,他们不被世人所熟知,他们以龙之传脉者自居,古时称龙武,现时称为天圣师。这个名字不为外人所熟所,这样一群自称天圣师的人仿佛凭空出现在超凡者势力的目光下,让平静已久的超凡界,如同投入一颗深水炸弹。华夏与世界超凡势力的关系一下子紧张起来,超凡界的秩序即将被打破……
  • 美人初煜

    美人初煜

    【已虐完,以后都是一家四口的甜宠ing】三百年前,一场爱恋一场情殇,差点将她挫骨扬灰;怀揣秘密,月月十五声嘶力竭,一遍遍的舔舐伤口;从此封心,不为任何人洞开...命运兜兜转转,穿越了银河,跨越了世纪,他,踩着白莲翩翩来到她身边,以强大姿态将她圈在身边。点点温柔,份份恩宠,慢慢捂热那冰冻的心...