Part 45 (2/2)
They entered the tent, none forbidding them, and at the end of it saw two women crouched together on some cus.h.i.+ons, who rose, clinging to each other. Then the women saw also and sprang forward with a cry of joy, saying:
”So you live--you live!”
”Ay, Rosamund,” answered G.o.dwin, ”to see this shame--would G.o.d that we did not--whilst others die. They murder the knights of the holy Orders. To your knees and pray for their pa.s.sing souls.”
So they knelt down and prayed till the tumult died away, and they knew that all was done.
”Oh, my cousins,” said Rosamund, as she staggered to her feet at length, ”what a h.e.l.l of wickedness and bloodshed is this in which we dwell! Save me from it if you love me--I beseech you save me!”
”We will do our best,” they answered; ”but let us talk no more of these things which are the decree of G.o.d--lest we should go mad.
Tell us your story.”
But Rosamund had little to tell, except that she had been well treated, and always kept by the person of the Sultan, marching to and fro with his army, for he awaited the fulfilment of his dream concerning her. Then they told her all that had chanced to them; also of the vision of G.o.dwin and its dreadful accomplishment, and of the death of Ha.s.san beneath the sword of Wulf. At that story Rosamund wept and shrank from him a little, for though it was this prince who had stolen her from her home, she loved Ha.s.san.
Yet when Wulf said humbly:
”The fault is not mine; it was so fated. Would that I had died instead of this Saracen!”
Rosamund answered: ”No, no; I am proud that you should have conquered.”
But Wulf shook his head, and said:
”I am not proud. Although weary with that awful battle, I was still the younger and stronger man, though at first he well-nigh mastered me by his skill and quickness. At least we parted friends. Look, he gave me this,” and he showed her the great emerald badge which the dying prince had given him.
Masouda, who all this while had sat very quiet, came forward and looked at it.
”Do you know,” she asked, ”that this jewel is very famous, not only for its value, but because it is said to have belonged to one of the children of the prophet, and to bring good fortune to its owner?”
Wulf smiled.
”It brought little to poor Ha.s.san but now, when my grandsire's sword sh.o.r.e the Damascus steel as though it were wet clay.”
”And sent him swift to Paradise, where he would be, at the hands of a gallant foe,” answered Masouda. ”Nay, all his life this emir was happy and beloved, by his sovereign, his wives, his fellows and his servants, nor do I think that he would have desired another end whose wish was to die in battle with the Franks. At least there is scarce a soldier in the Sultan's army who would not give all he has for yonder trinket, which is known throughout the land as the Star of Ha.s.san. So beware, Sir Wulf, lest you be robbed or murdered, although you have eaten the salt of Salah-ed-din.”
”I remember the captain Abdullah looking at it greedily and lamenting that the Luck of the House of Ha.s.san should pa.s.s to an unbeliever,” said Wulf. ”Well, enough of this jewel and its dangers; I think G.o.dwin has words to say.”
”Yes,” said G.o.dwin. ”We are here in your tent through the kindness of Saladin, who did not wish us to witness the death of our comrades, but to-morrow we shall be separated again. Now if you are to escape--”
”I will escape! I must escape, even if I am recaptured and die for it,” broke in Rosamund pa.s.sionately.
”Speak low,” said Masouda. ”I saw the eunuch Mesrour pa.s.s the door of the tent, and he is a spy--they all are spies.”
”If you are to escape,” repeated G.o.dwin in a whisper, ”it must be within the next few weeks while the army is on the march. The risk is great to all of us--even to you, and we have no plan.
But, Masouda, you are clever; make one, and tell it to us.”
She lifted her head to speak, when suddenly a shadow fell upon them. It was that of the head eunuch, Mesrour, a fat, cunning-faced man, with a cringing air. Low he bowed before them, saying:
<script>