第68章 The Embassy(4)

As they lay thus, white-veiled women appeared, who crouched by the heads of these sleepers, murmuring into their ears, and when from time to time they sat up, gave them to drink from cups they carried, after partaking of which they lay down again and became quite senseless.

Only the women would move on to others and serve them likewise.

Some of them approached the brethren with a slow, gliding motion, and offered them the cup; but they walked forward, taking no notice, whereupon the girls left them, laughing softly, and saying such things as "Tomorrow we shall meet," or "Soon you will be glad to drink and enter into Paradise.""When the time comes doubtless we shall be glad, who have dwelt here," answered Godwin gravely, but as he spoke in French they did not understand him.

"Step out, brother," said Wulf, "for at the very sight of those rugs I grow sleepy, and the wine in the cups sparkles as bright as their bearers' eyes."So they walked on towards the sound of a waterfall, and, when they came to it, drank, and bathed their faces and heads.

"This is better than their wine," said Wulf.Then, catching sight of more women flitting round them, looking like ghosts amid the moonlit glades, they pressed forward till they reached an open sward where there were no rugs, no sleepers, and no cupbearers.

"Now," said Wulf, halting, "tell me what does all this mean?""Are you deaf and blind?" asked Godwin."Cannot you see that yonder fiend is in love with Rosamund, and means to take her, as he well may do?"Wulf groaned aloud, then answered: "I swear that first I will send his soul to hell, even though our own must keep it company.""Ay," answered Godwin, "I saw; you went near to it tonight.But remember, that is the end for all of us.Let us wait then to strike until we must--to save her from worse things.""Who knows that we may find another chance? Meanwhile, meanwhile--" and again he groaned.

"Among those ornaments that hung about the waist of Rosamund Isaw a jewelled knife," answered Godwin, sadly."She can be trusted to use it if need be, and after that we can be trusted to do our worst.At least, I think that we should die in a fashion that would be remembered in this mountain."As they spoke they had loitered towards the edge of the glade, and halting there stood silent, till presently from under the shadow of a cedar tree appeared a solitary, white robed woman.

"Let us be going," said Wulf; "here is another of them with her accursed cup."But before they could turn the woman glided up to them and suddenly unveiled.It was Masouda.

"Follow me, brothers Peter and John," she said in a laughing whisper."I have words to say to you.What! you will not drink?

Well, it is wisest." And emptying the cup upon the ground she flitted ahead of them.

Silently as a wraith she went, now appearing in the open spaces, now vanishing, beneath the dense gloom of cedar boughs, till she reached a naked, lonely rock which stood almost upon the edge of the gulf.Opposite to this rock was a great mound such as ancient peoples reared over the bodies of their dead, and in the mound, cunningly hidden by growing shrubs, a massive door.

Masouda took a key from her girdle, and, having looked around to see that they were alone, unlocked it.

"Enter," she said, pushing them before her.They obeyed, and through the darkness within heard her close the door.

"Now we are safe awhile," she said with a sigh, "or, at least, so I think.But I will lead you to where there is more light.

Then, taking each of them by the hand, she went forward along a smooth incline, till presently they saw the moonlight, and by it discovered that they stood at the mouth of a cave which was fringed with bushes.Running up from the depths of the gulf below to this opening was a ridge or shoulder of rock, very steep and narrow.

"See the only road that leads from the citadel of Masyaf save that across the bridge," said Masouda.

"A bad one," answered Wulf, staring downward.

"Ay, yet horses trained to rocks can follow it.At its foot is the bottom of the gulf, and a mile or more away to the left a deep cleft which leads to the top of the mountain and to freedom.

Will you not take it now? By tomorrow's dawn you might be far away.""And where would the lady Rosamund be?" asked Wulf.

"In the harem of the lord Sinan--that is, very soon," she answered, coolly.

"Oh, say it not!" he exclaimed, clasping her arm, while Godwin leaned back against the wall of the cave.

"Why should I hide the truth? Have you no eyes to see that he is enamoured of her loveliness--like others? Listen; a while ago my master Sinan chanced to lose his queen--how, we need not ask, but it is said that she wearied him.Now, as he must by law, he mourns for her a month, from full moon to full moon.But on the day after the full moon--that is, the third morning from now--he may wed again, and I think there will be a marriage.Till then, however, your sister is as safe as though she yet sat at home in England before Salah-ed-din dreamed his dream.""Therefore," said Godwin, "within that time she must either escape or die.""There is a third way," answered Masouda, shrugging her shoulders."She might stay and become the wife of Sinan."Wulf muttered something between his teeth, then stepped towards her threateningly, saying:

"Rescue her, or--"

"Stand back, pilgrim John," she said, with a laugh."If I rescue her, which indeed would be hard, it will not be for fear of your great sword.""What, then, will avail, Masouda?" asked Godwin in a sad voice.