But Musa did not laugh in reply.
"Brother mine," said he, "I think you and Cid G.o.dfrey are each mighty as Jalut, whom you call "Goliath." But Iftikhar says well; you are no jinns. In the last charge the Ismaelians nearly pa.s.sed you, and all would have been over."
Richard made an angry gesture.
"Good, then! What is left to fear? I think Trenchefer can still sting before his master"s fingers loosen." But his voice grew very grave in turn,--"Were it not for my wife! But we have chosen!"
"We have chosen, my brother. Trusting in Allah we went to Aleppo; trusting in Him let us wait. But we have not struck in vain. Iftikhar shall never set eyes on the sorrow of the Star of the Greeks." A cry from G.o.dfrey brought Musa to his side.
"Now by St. Nicholas of Ghent!" swore the Duke, in Languedoil. "What new devil"s devisings? Look, Sir Musa! What do you see in the dark?"
He pointed from the cas.e.m.e.nt by the stairs, into the night.
Musa strained his eyes. "I see many men; they are bearing bales, I think; perhaps of straw and gra.s.s. They are approaching the door at the stairway." Without a word G.o.dfrey caught a second of the ebony tables,--nothing light,--raised it to the sill--cast it down. A great howl of pain, and many curses; then the rush of a score of feet. The defenders awaited a new attack by the stairs, where Musa"s cimeter had already sped three; but the Ismaelians did not ascend. They fled back into the gloom, and an instant later half a dozen arrows twittered in at the window and dashed harmlessly against the wall.
"Cover the lamps!" commanded G.o.dfrey; "they give light to aim."
Morgiana hid them behind a curtain. But despite the darkness there came more arrows, and yet more; in vain hopes to harm by a chance shaft.
"They waste bowstrings," muttered the Duke. "Lie close a little longer!" As he spoke a short moan came from Mary"s divan. Richard quitted guard, and was beside her instantly. "Lights!" ordered he. And Morgiana brought a lamp, despite the danger. There was an arrow pinning the Greek"s left arm just below the elbow to the cushion, and the blood was flowing. Before her husband could cry out, she plucked fourth the shaft with her own hand. There was no tremor, and her lips were firm, though very white.
"It is nothing!" said she, looking upward. "Do you forget my wound the day before Dorylaeum?" But Richard was nigh to weeping when he saw the blood.
"Dear G.o.d!" cried he, "wilt Thou suffer even this?"
Mary smiled. "Now, by St. Basil, you almost weep, while your own face is all wounds."
"And are not seven drops of your blood seven lakes to me?" declared Richard. The arrows flew past him, but he stood with his mailed body between Mary and the window, until Musa had made a bandage of the tapestry and Morgiana could hide the light. Brave were his wife"s words, and brave her face, but Longsword heard her murmur, "Sweet Mother of Jesus--let the next arrow touch my breast, and end there all the pain."
"Ah! little wife," said he, when he kissed her, "I do not think G.o.d will vex you much longer. Surely He will save us soon for earth, or for heaven!"
A voice was ringing down the darkened gallery,--Iftikhar"s voice. "You Franks and Cid Musa: again, I demand, will you yield the Greek and go free?"
"We will not!" thundered G.o.dfrey, unhesitatingly.
"_Bismillah!_" came reply. "You have chosen. Behold!"
A kettledrum boomed once, twice; and as a fresh flight of arrows dashed into the room, suddenly lights darted across the palace lawn below. A cry broke from G.o.dfrey:--
"Fire! They have brought straw to the entrance and will so destroy us.
Iftikhar is mad thus to ruin his palace!"
Morgiana looked at him quietly.
"He is no more mad than for many a day. You know little his pa.s.sion for Mary. This wing of the palace is partly severed from the rest; but Iftikhar will burn all El Halebah to destroy us!"
Already below sprang a crackle, a roar, as the night wind caught the flame. In a moment up drifted a puff of smoke, a red glare ever brightening.
"The palace is marble," declared G.o.dfrey, leaning over the parapet, despite the shafts.
"Enough also of wood and stucco to glow like Gehenna!" replied Musa, grimly. "Such is the manner of our palaces."
The smoke blew thicker, the arrows pelted so rapidly that even G.o.dfrey was fain to drop behind the cas.e.m.e.nt. There was another rush of feet in the gallery. Richard bounded to the door.
"Praised be St. Michael!" shouted he; "there is still food for Trenchefer." But the Ismaelians halted at a safe distance; did not advance; only stood with swinging cimeters, as if awaiting attack.
"Hear their feet below!" growled G.o.dfrey; "they bring more fuel! Hark the roar! The very palace burns."
Musa thrust his head into the scorching smoke eddy.
"You say well, Cid G.o.dfrey; we are in Allah"s hands, and shall see Him face to face full soon!"
A crash below was followed by a second, a third. Up the stairway shot a wavering shaft of flame; the smoke that had been rising to the vaulted dome began to sink and stifle. Richard turned to Morgiana.
"Lady," he said, while he leaned on Trenchefer, "G.o.d may reward you for your deed to-night, but not ourselves. Had not His will been otherwise, you would have saved us. You can do nothing more. Fly down the gallery."
As if in echo came Iftikhar"s voice:--
"Morgiana need not think to escape. Verily her body shall scorch now, as her false soul hereafter."
Even at that dread moment Richard shuddered at the pa.s.sion the Egyptian struck forth from Morgiana"s eyes; but her only answer was the cry:--
"Then shall my curse light on you forever!" And at that curse, no blame if Iftikhar trembled.
Thicker the smoke, brighter the glare, higher the flame. They felt the pavement under the rugs grow warm. Iftikhar thundered once more:--
"For the last time--choose life and freedom, or the fire!"
G.o.dfrey had leaped beside Richard.
"Ha! This is the end of the hunting. Well, St. George aid us, we will not be grilled here, with that gallery open and fifty cimeters ready to speed us to heaven!"
Richard cast a look forward,--behind.
"There is nothing else!" said he. But Trenchefer shook in his hands, for Mary was standing at his side.
"Dear lord and husband," said she, once more, "you have promised. I know your arm is strong. Let us go away together,--far away, far away,--to the love and light and peace!"
And she held down her head. But Richard that moment felt his muscles hard as bands of steel. Should she die, with him so strong, with the might of the saints shed over him as never before? Should she die, and by his hand?
"I wait, dear heart," she was saying, "hasten!"
The fire shot up the stairway in one raging, devouring column. But Trenchefer did not strike.
"Morgiana!" was Richard"s fierce cry, "if the sealed door were shivered, is there escape?"
The Arabian had crouched upon the floor.
"Yes!" gasped she, "when Allah sends a miracle."
"And that He shall! _G.o.d wills it!_" and Richard sent the Crusader"s war-cry out into the smoke and fire. The very shout made his might fivefold.