Moreover, he prayed them all to compose their differences and prepare for that awful struggle, lest in the end the Cross of their Master should be trampled under foot of the Saracen, His soldiers slain, His fanes desecrated, and His people slaughtered or driven into the sea-- words of warning that were received in heavy silence.
"Four full days have gone by.Let us ask our hostess if she has any news for us," said Wulf as they walked back to the inn.
"Ay, we will ask her," answered Godwin.
As it chanced, there was no need, for when they entered their chamber they found Masouda standing in the centre of it, apparently lost in thought.
"I have come to speak with you," she said, looking up."Do you still wish to visit the Sheik Al-je-bal?"They answered "Yes."
"Good.I have leave for you to go; but I counsel you not to go, since it is dangerous.Let us be open with one another.I know your object.I knew it an hour before ever you set foot upon this shore, and that is why you were brought to my house.You would seek the help of the lord Sinan against Salah-ed-din, from whom you hope to rescue a certain great lady of his blood who is your kinswoman and whom both of you--desire in marriage.You see, Ihave learned that also.Well, this land is full of spies, who travel to and from Europe and make report of all things to those who pay them enough.For instance--I can say it, as you will not see him again--the trader Thomas, with whom you stayed in this house, is such a spy.To him your story has been passed on by other spies in England, and he passed it on to me.""Are then you a spy also, as the porter called you?" asked Wulf outright.
"I am what I am," she answered coldly."Perhaps I also have sworn oaths and serve as you serve.Who my master is or why I do so is naught to you.But I like you well, and we have ridden together--a wild ride.Therefore I warn you, though perhaps I should not say so much, that the lord Al-je-bal is one who takes payment for what he gives, and that this business may cost you your lives.""You warned us against Saladin also," said Godwin, "so what is left to us if we may dare a visit to neither?"She shrugged her shoulders."To take service under one of the great Frankish lords and wait a chance that will never come.Or, better still, to sew some cockle shells into your hats, go home as holy men who have made the pilgrimage, marry the richest wives that you can find, and forget Masouda the widow, and Al-je-bal and Salah-ed-din and the lady about whom he has dreamed a dream.
Only then," she added in a changed voice, "remember, you must leave the horses Flame and Smoke behind you.""We wish to ride those horses," said Wulf lightly, and Godwin turned on her with anger in his eyes.
"You seem to know our story," he said, "and the mission to which we are sworn.What sort of knights do you think us, then, that you offer us counsel which is fitter for those spies from whom you learn your tidings? You talk of our lives.Well, we hold our lives in trust, and when they are asked of us we will yield them up, having done all that we may do.""Well spoken," answered Masouda."III should I have thought of you had you said otherwise.But why would you go to Al-je-bal?""Because our uncle at his death bade us so to do without fail, and having no other counsel we will take that of his spirit, let come what may.""Well spoken again! Then to Al-je-bal you shall go, and let come what come may--to all three of us!""To all three of us?" said Wulf."What, then, is your part in this matter?""I do not know, but perhaps more than you think.At least, I must be your guide.""Do you mean to betray us?" asked Wulf bluntly.
She drew herself up and looked him in the eyes till he grew red, then said:
"Ask your brother if he thinks that I mean to betray you.No; Imean to save you, if I can, and it comes into my mind that before all is done you will need saving, who speak so roughly to those who would befriend you.Nay, answer not; it is not strange that you should doubt.Pilgrims to the fearful shrine of Al-je-bal, if it pleases you, we will ride at nightfall.Do not trouble about food and such matters.I will make preparation, but we go alone and secretly.Take only your arms and what garments you may need;the rest I will store, and for it give you my receipt.Now I go to make things ready.See, I pray of you, that the horses Flame and Smoke are saddled by sunset."At sundown, accordingly, the brethren stood waiting in their room.They were fully armed beneath their rough pilgrims' robes, even to the bucklers which had been hidden in their baggage.Also the saddle-bags of carpet which Masouda had given them were packed with such things as they must take, the rest having been handed over to her keeping.
Presently the door opened, and a young man stood before them clothed in the rough camel-hair garment, or burnous, which is common m the East.
"What do you want?" asked Godwin.
"I want you, brothers Peter and John," was the reply, and they saw that the slim young man was Masouda."What! you English innocents, do you not know a woman through a camel-hair cloak?"she added as she led the way to the stable."Well, so much the better, for it shows that my disguise is good.Henceforth be pleased to forget the widow Masouda and, until we reach the land of Al-je-bal, to remember that I am your servant, a halfbreed from Jaffa named David, of no religion--or of all."In the stable the horses stood saddled, and near to them another--a good Arab--and two laden Cyprian mules, but no attendant was to be seen.They brought them out and mounted, Masouda riding like a man and leading the mules, of which the head of one was tied to the tail of the other.Five minutes later they were clear of Beirut, and through the solemn twilight hush, followed the road whereon they had tried the horses, towards the Dog River, three leagues away, which Masouda said they would reach by moonrise.
