The Brethren

by H. Rider Haggard

  Chapter Twenty-One: What Befell Godwin

  At the village of Bittir, some seven miles from Jerusalem, theembassy dismounted to rest, then again they pressed forward downthe valley in the hope of reaching the Zion Gate before themid-day heat was upon them. At the end of this valley swelled theshoulder of a hill whence the eye could command its length, andon the crest of that shoulder appeared suddenly a man and awoman, seated on beautiful horses. The company halted, fearinglest these might herald some attack and that the woman was a mandisguised to deceive them. While they waited thus irresolute, thepair upon the hill turned their horses' heads, andnotwithstanding its steepness, began to gallop towards them veryswiftly. Wulf looked at them curiously and said to Godwin:

  "Now I am put in mind of a certain ride which once we tookoutside the walls of Beirut. Almost could I think that yonderArab was he who sat behind my saddle, and yonder woman she whorode with you, and that those two horses were Flame and Smokereborn. Note their whirlwind pace, and strength, and stride."

  Almost as he finished speaking the strangers pulled up theirsteeds in front of the company, to whom the man bowed hissalutations. Then Godwin saw his face, and knew him at once asthe old Arab called Son of the Sand, who had given them thehorses Flame and Smoke.

  "Sir," said the Arab to the leader of the embassy, "I have cometo ask a favour of yonder knights who travel with you, which Ithink that they, who have ridden my horses, will not refuse me.This woman," and he pointed to the closely-veiled shape of hiscompanion, "is a relative of mine whom I desire to deliver tofriends in Jerusalem, but dare not do so myself because thehilldwellers between here and there are hostile to my tribe. Sheis of the Christian faith and no spy, but cannot speak yourlanguage. Within the south gate she will be met by her relatives.I have spoken."

  "Let the knights settle it," said the commander, shrugging hisshoulders impatiently and spurring his horse.

  "Surely we will take her," said Godwin, "though what we shall dowith her if her friends are wanting I do not know. Come, lady,ride between us."

  She turned her head to the Arab as though in question, and herepeated the words, whereon she fell into the place that wasshown to her between and a little behind the brethren.

  "Perhaps," went on the Arab to Godwin, "by now you have learnedmore of our tongue than you knew when we met in past days atBeirut, and rode the mountain side on the good horses Flame andSmoke. Still, if so, I pray you of your knightly courtesy disturbnot this woman with your words, nor ask her to unveil her face,since such is not the custom of her people. It is but an hour'sjourney to the city gate during which you will be troubled withher. This is the payment that I ask of you for the two goodhorses which, as I am told, bore you none so ill upon the NarrowWay and across plain and mountain when you fled from Sinan, alsoon the evil day of Hattin when you unhorsed Salah-ed-din and slewHassan."

  "It shall be as you wish," said Godwin; "and, Son of the Sand, wethank you for those horses."

  "Good. When you want more, let it be known in the market placesthat you seek me," and he began to turn his horse's head.

  "Stay," said Godwin. "What do you know of Masouda, your niece? Isshe with you?"

  "Nay," answered the Arab in a low voice, "but she bade me be in acertain garden of which you have heard, near Ascalon, at anappointed hour, to take her away, as she is leaving the camp ofSalah-ed-din. So thither I go. Farewell." Then with a reverenceto the veiled lady, he shook his reins and departed like an arrowby the road along which they had come.

  Godwin gave a sigh of relief. If Masouda had appointed to meether uncle the Arab, at least she must be safe. So it was novoice of hers which seemed to whisper his name in the darkness ofthe night when terror had ahold of him--terror, born perhaps ofall that he had endured and the shadow of death through which hehad so lately passed. Then he looked up, to find Wulf staringback at the woman behind him, and reproved him, saying that hemust keep to the spirit of the bargain as well as to the letter,and that if he might not speak he must not look either.

  "That is a pity," answered Wulf, "for though she is so tied up,she must be a tall and noble lady by the way she sits her horse.The horse, too, is noble, own cousin or brother to Smoke, Ithink. Perhaps she will sell it when we get to Jerusalem."

  Then they rode on, and because they thought their honour in it,neither spoke nor looked more at the companion of this adventure,though, had they known it, she looked hard enough at them.

  At length they reached the gate of Jerusalem, which was crowdedwith folk awaiting the return of their ambassadors. They allpassed through, and the embassy was escorted thence by the chiefpeople, most of the multitude following them to know if theybrought peace or war.

  Now Godwin and Wulf stared at each other, wondering whither theywere to go and where to find the relatives of their veiledcompanion, of whom they saw nothing. Out of the street opened anarchway, and beyond this archway was a garden, which seemed to bedeserted. They rode into it to take counsel, and their companionfollowed, but, as always, a little behind them.

  "Jerusalem is reached, and we must speak to her now," said Wulf,"if only to ask her whither she wishes to be taken."

  Godwin nodded, and they wheeled their horses round.

  "Lady," he said in Arabic, "we have fulfilled our charge. Bepleased to tell us where are those kindred to whom we must leadyou."

  "Here," answered a soft voice.

  They stared about the deserted garden in which stones and sacksof earth had been stored ready for a siege, and finding no one,said:

  "We do not see them."

  Then the lady let slip her cloak, though not her veil revealingthe robe beneath.

  "By St. Peter!" said Godwin. "I know the broidery on that dress.Masouda! Say, is it you, Masouda?"

  As he spoke the veil fell also, and lo! before them was a womanlike to Masouda and yet not Masouda. The hair was dressed likehers; the ornaments and the necklace made of the claws of thelion which Godwin killed were hers; the skin was of the same richhue; there even was the tiny mole upon her cheek, but as the headwas bent they could not see her eyes. Suddenly, with a littlemoan she lifted it, and looked at them.

  "Rosamund! It is Rosamund herself!" gasped Wulf. "Rosamunddisguised as Masouda!"

  And he fell rather than leapt from his saddle and ran to her,murmuring, "God! I thank Thee!"

  Now she seemed to faint and slid from her horse into his arms,and lay there a moment, while Godwin turned aside his head.

  "Yes," said Rosamund, freeing herself, "it is I and no other, yetI rode with you all this way and neither of you knew me."

  "Have we eyes that can pierce veils and woollen garments?" askedWulf indignantly; but Godwin said in a strange, strained voice:

  "You are Rosamund disguised as Masouda. Who, then, was that womanto whom I bade farewell before Saladin while the headsman awaitedme; a veiled woman who wore the robes and gems of Rosamund?"

  "I know not, Godwin," she answered, "unless it were Masouda cladin my garments as I left her. Nor do I know anything of thisstory of the headsman who awaited you. I thought--I thought itwas for Wulf that he waited--oh! Heaven, I thought that."

  "Tell us your tale," said Godwin hoarsely.

  "It is short," she answered. "After the casting of the lot, ofwhich I shall dream till my death-day, I fainted. When I found mysenses again I thought that I must be mad, for there before mestood a woman dressed in my garments, whose face seemed like myface, yet not the same.

  "'Have no fear,' she said; 'I am Masouda, who, amongst manyother things, have learned how to play a part. Listen; there isno time to lose. I have been ordered to leave the camp; even nowmy uncle the Arab waits without, with two swift horses. You,Princess, will leave in my place. Look, you wear my robes and myface--almost; and are of my height, and the man who guides youwill know no difference. I have seen to that, for although asoldier of Salah-ed-din, he is of my tribe. I will go with youto the door, and there bid you farewell before the eunuchs andthe guards with weeping, and who will guess th
at Masouda is theprincess of Baalbec and that the princess of Baalbec isMasouda?'

  "'And whither shall I go?' I asked.

  "'My uncle, Son of the Sand, will give you over to the embassywhich rides to Jerusalem, or failing that, will take you to thecity, or failing that, will hide you in the mountains among hisown people. See, here is a letter that he must read; I place itin your breast.'

  "'And what of you, Masouda?' I asked again.

  "'Of me? Oh! it is all planned, a plan that cannot fail,' sheanswered. 'Fear not; I escape to-night--I have no time to tellyou how--and will join you in a day or two. Also, I think thatyou will find Sir Godwin, who will bring you home to England.'

  "'But Wulf? What of Wulf?' I asked again. 'He is doomed to die,and I will not leave him.'

  "'The living and the dead can keep no company,' she answered.'Moreover, I have seen him, and all this is done by his mosturgent order. If you love him, he bids that you will obey.'"

  "I never saw Masouda! I never spoke such words! I knew nothing ofthis plot!" exclaimed Wulf, and the brethren looked at each otherwith white faces.

  "Speak on," said Godwin; "afterwards we can debate."

  "Moreover," continued Rosamund, bowing her head, "Masouda addedthese words, 'I think that Sir Wulf will escape his doom. If youwould see him again, obey his word, for unless you obey you cannever hope to look upon him living. Go, now, before we are bothdiscovered, which would mean your death and mine, who, if you go,am safe.'"

  "How knew she that I should escape?" asked Wulf.

  "She did not know it. She only said she knew to force Rosamundaway," answered Godwin in the same strained voice. "And then?"

  "And then--oh! having Wulf's express commands, then I went, likeone in a dream. I remember little of it. At the door we kissedand parted weeping, and while the guard bowed before her, sheblessed me beneath her breath. A soldier stepped forward andsaid, 'Follow me, daughter of Sinan,' and I followed him, nonetaking any note, for at that hour, although perhaps you did notsee it in your prisons, a strange shadow passed across the sun, ofwhich all folk were afraid, thinking that it portended evil,either to Saladin or Ascalon.*

  [* The eclipse, which overshadowed Palestine and caused muchterror at Jerusalem on 4th September, 1187, the day of thesurrender of Ascalon. -Author]

  "In the gloom we came to a place, where was an old Arab amongsome trees, and with him two led horses. The soldier spoke to theArab, and I gave him Masouda's letter, which he read. Then he putme on one of the led horses and the soldier mounted the other,and we departed at a gallop. All that evening and last night werode hard, but in the darkness the soldier left us, and I do notknow whither he went. At length we came to that mountain shoulderand waited there, resting the horses and eating food which theArab had with him, till we saw the embassy, and among them twotall knights.

  "'See,' said the old Arab, 'yonder come the brethren whom youseek. See and give thanks to Allah and to Masouda, who has notlied to you, and to whom I must now return.'

  "Oh! my heart wept as though it would burst, and I wept in myjoy--wept and blessed God and Masouda. But the Arab, Son of theSand, told me that for my life's sake I must be silent and keepmyself close veiled and disguised even from you until we reachedJerusalem, lest perhaps if they knew me the embassy might refuseescort to the princess of Baalbec and niece of Saladin, or evengive me up to him.

  "Then I promised and asked, 'What of Masouda?' He said that herode back at speed to save her also, as had been arranged, andthat was why he did not take me to Jerusalem himself. But howthat was to be done he was not sure as yet; only he was sure thatshe was hidden away safely, and would find a way of escape whenshe wished it. And--and--you know the rest, and here, by thegrace of God, we three are together again."

  "Ay," said Godwin, "but where is Masouda, and what will happen toher who has dared to venture such a plot as this? Oh! know youwhat this woman did? I was condemned to die in place ofWulf--how, does not matter; you will learn it afterwards--and theprincess of Baalbec was brought to say me farewell. There, underthe very eyes of Saladin, Masouda played her part and mimickedyou so well that the Sultan was deceived, and I, even I, wasdeceived. Yes, when for the first and last time I embraced her, Iwas deceived, although, it is true, I wondered. Also since then agreat fear has been with me, although here again I was deceived,for I thought I feared--for you.

  "Now, hark you, Wulf; take Rosamund and lodge her with some ladyin this city, or, better still, place her in sanctuary with thenuns of the Holy Cross, whence none will dare to drag her, andlet her don their habit. The abbess may remember you, for we havemet her, and at least she will not refuse Rosamund a refuge."

  "Yes, yes; I mind me she asked us news of folk in England. Butyou? Where do you go, Godwin?" said his brother.

  "I? I ride back to Ascalon to find Masouda."

  "Why?" asked Wulf. "Cannot Masouda save herself, as she told heruncle, the Arab, she would do? And has he not returned thither totake her away?"

  "I do not know," answered Godwin; "but this I do know, that forthe sake of Rosamund, and perhaps for my sake also, Masouda hasrun a fearful risk. Bethink you, what will be the mood of Saladinwhen at length he finds that she upon whom he had built suchhopes has gone, leaving a waiting woman decked out in herattire."

  "Oh!" broke in Rosamund. "I feared it, but I awoke to find myselfdisguised, and she persuaded me that all was well; also that thiswas done by the will of Wulf, whom she thought would escape."

  "That is the worst of if," said Godwin. "To carry out her planshe held it necessary to lie, as I think she lied when she saidthat she believed we should both escape, though it is true thatso it came about. I will tell you why she lied. It was that shemight give her life to set you free to join me in Jerusalem."

  Now Rosamund, who knew the secret of Masouda's heart, looked athim strangely, wondering within herself how it came about that,thinking Wulf dead or about to die, she should sacrifice herselfthat she, Rosamund, might be sent to the care of Godwin. Surelyit could not be for love of her, although they loved each otherwell. From love of Godwin then? How strange a way to show it!

  Yet now she began to understand. So true and high was this greatlove of Masouda's that for Godwin's sake she was ready to hideherself in death, leaving him--now that, as she thought, hisrival was removed--to live on with the lady whom he loved; ay,and at the price of her own life giving that lady to his arms.Oh! how noble must she be who could thus plan and act, and,whatever her past had been, how pure and high of soul! Surely, ifshe lived, earth had no grander woman; and if she were dead,heaven had won a saint indeed.

  Rosamund looked at Godwin, and Godwin looked at Rosamund, andthere was understanding in their eyes, for now both of them sawthe truth in all its glory and all its horror.

  "I think that I should go back also," said Rosamund.

  "That shall not be," answered Wulf. "Saladin would kill you forthis flight, as he has sworn."

  "That cannot be," added Godwin. "Shall the sacrifice of blood beoffered in vain? Moreover it is our duty to prevent you."

  Rosamund looked at him again and stammered:

  "If--if--that dreadful thing has happened, Godwin--if thesacrifice--oh! what will it serve?"

  "Rosamund, I know not what has chanced; I go to see. I care notwhat may chance; I go to meet it. Through life, through death,and if there be need, through all the fires of hell, I ride ontill I find Masouda, and kneel to her in homage--"

  "And in love," exclaimed Rosamund, as though the words broke fromher lips against her will.

  "Mayhap," Godwin answered, speaking more to himself than to her.

  Then seeing the look upon his face, the set mouth and theflashing eyes, neither of them sought to stay him further.

  "Farewell, my liege-lady and cousin Rosamund," Godwin said; "mypart is played. Now I leave you in the keeping of God in heavenand of Wulf on earth. Should we meet no more, my counsel is thatyou two wed here in Jerusalem and travel back to Steeple, thereto live in peace, if it may be so. Bro
ther Wulf, fare you wellalso. We part to-day for the first time, who from our birth havelived together and loved together and done many a deed together,some of which we can look back upon without shame. Go on yourcourse rejoicing, taking the love and gladness that Heaven hasgiven you and living a good and Christian knight, mindful of theend which draws on apace, and of eternity beyond."

  "Oh! Godwin, speak not thus," said Wulf, "for in truth it breaksmy heart to hear such fateful words. Moreover, we do not partthus easily. Our lady here will be safe enough among thenuns--more safe than I can keep her. Give me an hour, and I willset her there and join you. Both of us owe a debt to Masouda, andit is not right that it should be paid by you alone."

  "Nay," answered Godwin; "look upon Rosamund, and think what isabout to befall this city. Can you leave her at such a time?"

  Then Wulf dropped his head, and trusting himself to speak no morewords, Godwin mounted his horse, and, without so much as lookingback, rode into the narrow street and out through the gateway,till presently he was lost in the distance and the desert.

  Wulf and Rosamund watched him go in silence, for they were chokedwith tears.

  "Little did I look to part with my brother thus," said Wulf atlength in a thick and angry voice. "By God's Wounds! I had moregladly died at his side in battle than leave him to meet his doomalone."

  "And leave me to meet my doom alone," murmured Rosamund; thenadded, "Oh! I would that I were dead who have lived to bring allthis woe upon you both, and upon that great heart, Masouda. Isay, Wulf, I would that I were dead."

  "Like enough the wish will be fulfilled before all is done,"answered Wulf wearily, "only then I pray that I may be dead withyou, for now, Rosamund, Godwin has gone, forever as I fear, andyou alone are left to me. Come; let us cease complaining, sinceto dwell upon these griefs cannot help us, and be thankful thatfor a while, at least, we are free. Follow me, Rosamund, and wewill ride to this nunnery to find you shelter, if we may."

  So they rode on through the narrow streets that were crowded withscared people, for now the news was spread that the embassy hadrejected the terms of Saladin. He had offered to give the cityfood and to suffer its inhabitants to fortify the walls, and tohold them till the following Whitsuntide if, should no help reachthem, they would swear to surrender then. But they had answeredthat while they had life they would never abandon the place wheretheir God had died.

  So now war was before them--war to the end; and who were theythat must bear its brunt? Their leaders were slain or captive,their king a prisoner, their soldiers skeletons on the field ofHattin. Only the women and children, the sick, the old, and thewounded remained--perhaps eighty thousand souls in all--but fewof whom could bear arms. Yet these few must defend Jerusalemagainst the might of the victorious Saracen. Little wonder thatthey wailed in the streets till the cry of their despair went upto heaven, for in their hearts all of them knew that the holyplace was doomed and their lives were forfeited.

  Pushing their path through this sad multitude, who took littlenote of them, at length they came to the nunnery on the sacredVia Dolorosa, which Wulf had seen when Godwin and he were inJerusalem after they had been dismissed by Saladin from Damascus.Its door stood in the shadow of that arch where the Roman Pilatehad uttered to all generations the words "Behold the man!"

  Here the porter told him that the nuns were at prayer in theirchapel. Wulf replied that he must see the lady abbess upon amatter which would not delay, and they were shown into a cool andlofty room. Presently the door opened, and through it came theabbess in her white robes--a tall and stately Englishwoman, ofmiddle age, who looked at them curiously.

  "Lady Abbess," said Wulf, bowing low, "my name is Wulf D'Arcy. Doyou remember me?"

  "Yes. We met in Jerusalem--before the battle of Hattin," sheanswered. "Also I know something of your story in this land--avery strange one."

  "This lady," went on Wulf, "is the daughter and heiress of SirAndrew D'Arcy, my dead uncle, and in Syria the princess ofBaalbec and the niece of Saladin."

  The abbess started, and asked: "Is she, then, of their accursedfaith, as her garb would seem to show?"

  "Nay, mother," said Rosamund, "I am a Christian, if a sinfulone, and I come here to seek sanctuary, lest when they know who Iam and he clamours at their gates, my fellow Christians maysurrender me to my uncle, the Sultan."

  "Tell me the story," said the abbess; and they told her briefly,while she listened, amazed. When they had finished, she said:

  "Alas! my daughter, how can we save you, whose own lives are atstake? That belongs to God alone. Still, what we can we will dogladly, and here, at least, you may rest for some short while. Atthe most holy altar of our chapel you shall be given sanctuary,after which no Christian man dare lay a hand upon you, since todo so is a sacrilege that would cost him his soul. Moreover, Icounsel that you be enrolled upon our books as a novice, and donour garb. Nay," she added with a smile, noting the look of alarmon the face of Wulf, "the lady Rosamund need not wear it always,unless such should be her wish. Not every novice proceeds to thefinal vows."

  "Long have I been decked in gold-embroidered silks and pricelessgems," answered Rosamund, "and now I seem to desire that whiterobe of yours more than anything on earth."

  So they led Rosamund to the chapel, and in sight of all theirorder and of priests who had been summoned, at the altar there,upon that holy spot where they said that once Christ had answeredPilate, they placed her hand and gave her sanctuary, and threwover her tired head the white veil of a novice. There, too, Wulfleft her, and riding away, reported himself to Balian of Ibelin,the elected commander of the city, who was glad enough to welcomeso stout a knight where knights were few.

  Oh! weary, weary was that ride of Godwin's beneath the sun,beneath the stars. Behind him, the brother who had been hiscompanion and closest friend, and the woman whom he had loved invain; and in front, he knew not what. What went he forth to seek?Another woman, who had risked her life for them all because sheloved him. And if he found her, what then? Must he wed her, anddid he wish this? Nay, he desired no woman on the earth; yet whatwas right that he would do. And if he found her not, what then?Well, at least he would give himself up to Saladin, who mustthink ill of them by whom he had dealt well, and tell him that ofthis plot they had no knowledge. Indeed, to him he would gofirst, if it were but to beg forgiveness for Masouda should shestill be in his hands. Then--for he could not hope to be believedor pardoned a second time--then let death come, and he wouldwelcome it, who greatly longed for peace.

  It was evening, and Godwin's tired horse stumbled slowly throughthe great camp of the Saracens without the walls of fallenAscalon. None hindered him, for having been so long a prisoner hewas known by many, while others thought that he was but one ofthe surrendered Christian knights. So he came to the greathouse where Saladin lodged, and bade the guard take his name tothe Sultan, saying that he craved audience of him. Presently hewas admitted, and found Saladin seated in council among hisministers.

  "Sir Godwin," he said sternly, "seeing how you have dealt by me,what brings you back into my camp? I gave you brethren yourlives, and you have robbed me of one whom I would not lose."

  "We did not rob you, sire," answered Godwin, "who knew nothing ofthis plot. Nevertheless, as I was sure that you would think thus,I am come from Jerusalem, leaving the princess and my brotherthere, to tell the truth and to surrender myself to you, that Imay bear in her place any punishment which you think fit toinflict upon the woman Masouda."

  "Why should you bear it?" asked Saladin.

  "Because, Sultan," answered Godwin sadly, and with bent head,"whatever she did, she did for love of me, though without myknowledge. Tell me, is she still here, or has she fled?"

  "She is still here," answered Saladin shortly. "Would you wish tosee her?"

  Godwin breathed a sigh of relief. At least, Masouda still lived,and the terror that had struck him in the night was but an evildream born of his own fears and sufferings.

  "I do," he answered, "once, if no more.
I have words to say toher."

  "Doubtless she will be glad to learn how her plot prospered,"said Saladin, with a grim smile. "In truth it was well laid andboldly executed."

  Calling to one of his council, that same old imaum who hadplanned the casting of the lots, the Sultan spoke with him aside.Then he said:

  "Let this knight be led to the woman Masouda. Tomorrow we willjudge him."

  Taking a silver lamp from the wall, the imaum beckoned to Godwin,who bowed to the Sultan and followed. As he passed wearilythrough the throng in the audience room, it seemed to Godwin thatthe emirs and captains gathered there looked at him with pity intheir eyes. So strong was this feeling in him that he halted inhis walk, and asked:

  "Tell me, lord, do I go to my death?"

  "All of us go thither," answered Saladin in the silence, "butAllah has not written that death is yours to-night."

  They passed down long passages; they came to a door which theimaum, who hobbled in front, unlocked.

  "She is under ward then?" said Godwin.

  "Ay," was the answer, "under ward. Enter," and he handed him thelamp. "I remain without."

  "Perchance she sleeps, and I shall disturb her," said Godwin, ashe hesitated upon the threshold.

  "Did you not say she loved you? Then doubtless, even if shesleeps, she, who has dwelt at Masyaf will not take your visitill, who have ridden so far to find her," said the imaum with asneering laugh. "Enter, I say."

  So Godwin took the lamp and went in, and the door was shut behindhim. Surely the place was familiar to him? He knew that archedroof and these rough, stone walls. Why, it was here that he hadbeen brought to die, and through that very door the falseRosamund had come to bid him farewell, who now returned to greether in this same darksome den. Well, it was empty--doubtless shewould soon come, and he waited, looking at the door. It did notstir; he heard no footsteps; nothing broke that utter silence. Heturned again and stared about him. Something glinted on theground yonder, towards the end of the vault, just where he hadknelt before the executioner. A shape lay there; doubtless it wasMasouda, imprisoned and asleep.

  "Masouda," he said, and the sounding echoes from the arched wallsanswered back, "Masouda!"

  He must awaken her; there was no choice. Yes, it was she, asleep,and she still wore the royal robes of Rosamund, and a clasp ofRosamund's still glittered on her breast.

  How sound Masouda slept! Would she never wake? He knelt downbeside her and put out his hand to lift the long hair that hidher face.

  Now it touched her, and lo! the head fell over.

  Then, with horror in his heart, Godwin held down the lamp andlooked. Oh! those robes were red, and those lips were ashen. Itwas Masouda, whose spirit had passed him in the desert; Masouda,slain by the headsman's sword! This was the evil jest that hadbeen played upon him, and thus--thus they met again.

  Godwin rose to his feet and stood over her still shape as a manstands in a dream, while words broke from his lips and a fountainin his heart was unsealed.

  "Masouda," he whispered, "I know now that I love you and youonly, henceforth and forever, O woman with a royal heart. Waitfor me, Masouda, wherever you may dwell."

  While the whispered words left his lips, it seemed to Godwin thatonce more, as when he rode with Wulf from Ascalon, the strangewind blew about his brow, bringing with it the presence ofMasouda, and that once more the unearthly peace sank into hissoul.

  Then all was past and over, and he turned to see the old imaumstanding at his side.

  "Did I not tell you that you would find her sleeping?" he said,with his bitter, chuckling laugh. "Call on her, Sir Knight; callon her! Love, they say, can bridge great gulfs--even that betweensevered neck and bosom."

  With the silver lamp in his hand Godwin smote, and the man wentdown like a felled ox, leaving him once more in silence and indarkness.

  For a moment Godwin stood thus, till his brain was filled withfire, and he too fell--fell across the corpse of Masouda, andthere lay still.