"Who was the man who brought them to us?" asked G.o.dwin, as they galloped side by side, their eyes fixed upon the ever-nearing cloud of dust, in which the spear points sparkled.
"My father"s brother--my uncle, as I called him," she answered.
"He is a sheik of the desert, who owns the ancient breed that cannot be bought for gold."
"Then you are not of the a.s.sa.s.sins, Masouda?"
"No; I may tell you, now that the end seems near. My father was an Arab, my mother a n.o.ble Frank, a French woman, whom he found starving in the desert after a fight, and took to his tent and made his wife. The a.s.sa.s.sins fell upon us and killed him and her, and captured me as a child of twelve. Afterwards, when I grew older, being beautiful in those days, I was taken to the harem of Sinan, and, although in secret I had been bred up a Christian by my mother, they swore me of his accursed faith. Now you will understand why I hate him so sorely who murdered my father and my mother, and made me what I am; why I hold myself so vile also.
Yes, I have been forced to serve as his spy or be killed, who, although he believed me his faithful slave, desired first to be avenged upon him."
"I do not hold you vile," panted G.o.dwin, as he spurred his labouring steed. "I hold you most n.o.ble."
"I rejoice to hear it before we die," she answered, looking him in the eyes in such a fashion that he dropped his head before her burning gaze, "who hold you dear, Sir G.o.dwin, for whose sake I have dared these things, although I am nought to you. Nay, speak not; the lady Rosamund has told me all that story--except its answer."
Now they were off the sand over which they had been racing side by side, and beginning to breast the mountain slope, nor was G.o.dwin sorry that the clatter of their horses" hoofs upon the stones prevented further speech between them. So far they had outpaced the a.s.sa.s.sins, who had a longer and a rougher road to travel; but the great cloud of dust was not seven hundred yards away, and in front of it, shaking their spears, rode some of the best mounted of their soldiers.
"These horses still have strength; they are better than I thought them," cried Masouda. "They will not gain on us across the mountains, but afterwards--"
For the next league they spoke no more, who must keep their horses from falling as they toiled up the steep path. At length they reached the crest, and there, on the very top of it, saw Wulf and Rosamund standing by Flame and Smoke.
"They rest," G.o.dwin said, then he shouted, "Mount! mount! The foe is close."
So they climbed to their saddles again, and, all four of them together began to descend the long slope that stretched to the plain two leagues beneath. Far off across this plain ran a broad silver streak, beyond which from that height they could see the walls of a city.
"The Orontes!" cried Masouda. "Cross that, and we are safe." But G.o.dwin looked first at his horse, then at Masouda, and shook his head.
Well might he do so, for, stout-hearted as they were, the beasts were much distressed that had galloped so far without drawing rein. Down the steep road they plunged, panting; indeed at times it was hard to keep them on their feet.
"They will reach the plain--no more," said G.o.dwin, and Masouda nodded.
The descent was almost done, and not a mile behind them the white-robed a.s.sa.s.sins streamed endlessly. G.o.dwin plied his spurs and Masouda her whip, although with little hope, for they knew that the end was near. Down the last declivity they rushed, till suddenly, as they reached its foot, Masouda"s horse reeled, stopped, and sank to the ground, while G.o.dwin"s pulled up beside it.
"Ride on!" he cried to Rosamund and Wulf in front; but they would not. He stormed at them, but they replied: "Nay, we will die together."
Masouda looked at the horses Flame and Smoke, which seemed but little troubled.
"So be it," she said; "they have carried double before, and must again. Mount in front of the lady, Sir G.o.dwin; and, Sir Wulf, give me your hand, and you will learn what this breed can do."
So they mounted. Forward started Flame and Smoke with a long, swinging gallop, while from the a.s.sa.s.sins above, who thought that they held them, went up a shout of rage and wonder.
"Their horses are also tired, and we may beat them yet," called the dauntless Masouda. But G.o.dwin and Wulf looked sadly at the ten miles of plain between them and the river bank.
On they went, and on. A quarter of it was done. Half of it was done, but now the first of the fedai hung upon their flanks not two hundred yards behind. Little by little this distance lessened. At length they were scarcely fifty yards away, and one of them flung a spear. In her terror Rosamund sobbed aloud.
"Spur the horses, knights," cried Masouda, and for the first time they spurred them.
At the sting of the steel Flame and Smoke sprang forward as though they had but just left their stable door, and the gap between pursuers and pursued widened. Two more miles were done, and scarce seven furlongs from them they saw the broad mouth of the bridge, while the towers of Emesa beyond seemed so close that in this clear air they could discern the watchmen outlined against the sky. Then they descended a little valley, and lost sight of bridge and town.
At the rise of the opposing slope the strength of Flame and Smoke at last began to fail beneath their double burdens. They panted and trembled; and, save in short rushes, no longer answered to the spur. The a.s.sa.s.sins saw, and came on with wild shouts. Nearer and nearer they drew, and the sound of their horses hoofs beating on the sand was like the sound of thunder. Now once more they were fifty yards away, and now but thirty, and again the spears began to flash, though none struck them.
Masouda screamed to the horses in Arabic, and gallantly did they struggle, plunging up the hill with slow, convulsive bounds.
G.o.dwin and Wulf looked at each other, then, at a signal, checked their speed, leapt to earth, and, turning, drew their swords.
"On!" they cried, and lightened of their weight, once more the reeling horses plunged forward.
The a.s.sa.s.sins were upon them. Wulf struck a mighty blow and emptied the saddle of the first, then was swept to earth. As he fell from behind him he heard a scream of joy, and struggling to his knees, looked round. Lo! from over the crest of the rise rushed squadron upon squadron of turbaned cavalry, who, as they came, set their lances in rest, and shouted:
"Salah-ed-din! Salah-ed-din!"
The a.s.sa.s.sins saw also, and turned to fly--too late!
"A horse! A horse!" screamed G.o.dwin in Arabic; and presently-- how he never knew--found himself mounted and charging with the Saracens.
To Wulf, too, a horse was brought, but he could not struggle to its saddle. Thrice he strove, then fell backwards and lay upon the sand, waving his sword and shouting where he lay, while Masouda stood by him, a dagger in her hand, and with her Rosamund upon her knees.
Now the pursuers were the pursued, and dreadful was the reckoning that they must pay. Their horses were outworn and could not fly at speed. Some of the fedai were cut down upon them. Some dismounted, and gathering themselves in little groups, fought bravely till they were slain, while a few were taken prisoners.
Of all that great troup of men not a score won back alive to Masyaf to make report to their master of how the chase of his lost bride had ended.
A while later and Wulf from his seat upon the ground saw G.o.dwin riding back towards him, his red sword in his hand. With him rode a st.u.r.dy, bright-eyed man gorgeously apparelled, at the sight of whom Rosamund sprang to her feet; then, as he dismounted, ran forward and with a little cry cast her arms about him.
"Ha.s.san! Prince Ha.s.san! Is it indeed you? Oh, G.o.d be praised!"
she gasped, then, had not Masouda caught her, would have fallen.
The Emir looked at her, her long hair loose, her face stained, her veil torn, but still clad in the silk and gleaming gems with which she had been decked as the bride-elect of Al-je-bal. Then low to the earth he bent his knee, while the grave Saracens watched, and taking the hem of her garment, he kissed it.
"Allah be praised indeed!" he said. "I, His unworthy servant, thank Him from my heart, who never thought to see you living more. Soldiers, salute. Before you stands the lady Rose of the World, princess of Baalbec and niece of your lord, Salah-ed-din, Commander of the Faithful."
Then in stately salutation to this dishevelled, outworn, but still queenly woman, uprose hand, and spear, and scimitar, while Wulf cried from where he lay:
"Why, it is our merchant of the drugged wine--none other! Oh! Sir Saracen, does not the memory of that chapman"s trick shame you now?"
The emir Ha.s.san heard and grew red, muttering in his beard:
"Like you, Sir Wulf, I am the slave of Fate, and must obey. Be not bitter against me till you know all."
"I am not bitter," answered Wulf, "but I always pay for my drink, and we will settle that score yet, as I have sworn."
"Hush!" broke in Rosamund. "Although he stole me, he is also my deliverer and friend through many a peril, and, had it not been for him, by now--" and she shuddered.
"I do not know all the story, but, Princess, it seems that you should thank not me, but these goodly cousins of yours and those splendid horses," and Ha.s.san pointed to Smoke and Flame, which stood by quivering, with hollow flanks and drooping heads.
"There is another whom I must thank also, this n.o.ble woman, as you will call her also when you hear the story," said Rosamund, flinging her arm about the neck of Masouda.
"My master will reward her," said Ha.s.san. "But oh! lady, what must you think of me who seemed to desert you so basely? Yet I reasoned well. In the castle of that son of Satan, Sinan," and he spat upon the ground, "I could not have aided you, for there he would only have butchered me. But by escaping I thought that I might help, so I bribed the Frankish knave with the priceless Star of my House," and he touched the great jewel that he wore in his turban, "and with what money I had, to loose my bonds, and while he pouched the gold I stabbed him with his own knife and fled. But this morning I reached yonder city in command of ten thousand men, charged to rescue you if I could; if not, to avenge you, for the amba.s.sadors of Salah-ed-din informed me of your plight. An hour ago the watchmen on the towers reported that they saw two horses galloping across the plain beneath a double burden, pursued by soldiers whom from their robes they took to be a.s.sa.s.sins. So, as I have a quarrel with the a.s.sa.s.sins, I crossed the bridge, formed up five hundred men in a hollow, and waited, never guessing that it was you who fled. You know the rest--and the a.s.sa.s.sins know it also, for," he added grimly, "you have been well avenged."
"Follow it up," said Wulf, "and the vengeance shall be better, for I will show you the secret way into Masyaf--or, if I cannot, G.o.dwin will--and there you may hurl Sinan from his own towers."
Ha.s.san shook his head and answered:
"I should like it well, for with this magician my master also has an ancient quarrel. But he has other feuds upon his hands," and he looked meaningly at Wulf and G.o.dwin, "and my orders were to rescue the princess and no more. Well, she has been rescued, and some hundreds of heads have paid the price of all that she has suffered. Also, that secret way of yours will be safe enough by now. So there I let the matter bide, glad enough that it has ended thus. Only I warn you all--and myself also--to walk warily, since, if I know aught of him, Sinan"s fedais will henceforth dog the steps of every one of us, striving to bring us to our ends by murder. Now here come litters; enter them, all of you, and be borne to the city, who have ridden far enough to-day. Fear not for your horses; they shall be led in gently and saved alive, if skill and care can save them. I go to count the slain, and will join you presently in the citadel."