Part 36 (2/2)
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.”
”Hus.h.!.+” 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.”
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