At the village of Bittir, some seven miles from Jerusalem, the embassy dismounted to rest, then again they pressed forward down the valley in the hope of reaching the Zion Gate before the mid-day heat was upon them.At the end of this valley swelled the shoulder of a hill whence the eye could command its length, and on the crest of that shoulder appeared suddenly a man and a woman, seated on beautiful horses.The company halted, fearing lest these might herald some attack and that the woman was a man disguised to deceive them.While they waited thus irresolute, the pair upon the hill turned their horses' heads, and notwithstanding its steepness, began to gallop towards them very swiftly.Wulf looked at them curiously and said to Godwin:
"Now I am put in mind of a certain ride which once we took outside the walls of Beirut.Almost could I think that yonder Arab was he who sat behind my saddle, and yonder woman she who rode with you, and that those two horses were Flame and Smoke reborn.Note their whirlwind pace, and strength, and stride."Almost as he finished speaking the strangers pulled up their steeds in front of the company, to whom the man bowed his salutations.Then Godwin saw his face, and knew him at once as the old Arab called Son of the Sand, who had given them the horses Flame and Smoke.
"Sir," said the Arab to the leader of the embassy, "I have come to 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 his companion, "is a relative of mine whom I desire to deliver to friends in Jerusalem, but dare not do so myself because the hilldwellers between here and there are hostile to my tribe.She is of the Christian faith and no spy, but cannot speak your language.Within the south gate she will be met by her relatives.
I have spoken."
"Let the knights settle it," said the commander, shrugging his shoulders impatiently and spurring his horse.
"Surely we will take her," said Godwin, "though what we shall do with 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 he repeated the words, whereon she fell into the place that was shown to her between and a little behind the brethren.
"Perhaps," went on the Arab to Godwin, "by now you have learned more of our tongue than you knew when we met in past days at Beirut, and rode the mountain side on the good horses Flame and Smoke.Still, if so, I pray you of your knightly courtesy disturb not 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's journey to the city gate during which you will be troubled with her.This is the payment that I ask of you for the two good horses which, as I am told, bore you none so ill upon the Narrow Way and across plain and mountain when you fled from Sinan, also on the evil day of Hattin when you unhorsed Salah-ed-din and slew Hassan.""It shall be as you wish," said Godwin; "and, Son of the Sand, we thank you for those horses.""Good.When you want more, let it be known in the market places that you seek me," and he began to turn his horse's head.
"Stay," said Godwin."What do you know of Masouda, your niece? Is she with you?""Nay," answered the Arab in a low voice, "but she bade me be in a certain garden of which you have heard, near Ascalon, at an appointed hour, to take her away, as she is leaving the camp of Salah-ed-din.So thither I go.Farewell." Then with a reverence to the veiled lady, he shook his reins and departed like an arrow by the road along which they had come.
Godwin gave a sigh of relief.If Masouda had appointed to meet her uncle the Arab, at least she must be safe.So it was no voice of hers which seemed to whisper his name in the darkness of the night when terror had ahold of him--terror, born perhaps of all that he had endured and the shadow of death through which he had so lately passed.Then he looked up, to find Wulf staring back at the woman behind him, and reproved him, saying that he must 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 crowded with folk awaiting the return of their ambassadors.They all passed through, and the embassy was escorted thence by the chief people, most of the multitude following them to know if they brought peace or war.
Now Godwin and Wulf stared at each other, wondering whither they were to go and where to find the relatives of their veiled companion, of whom they saw nothing.Out of the street opened an archway, and beyond this archway was a garden, which seemed to be deserted.They rode into it to take counsel, and their companion followed, 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.Be pleased to tell us where are those kindred to whom we must lead you.""Here," answered a soft voice.
They stared about the deserted garden in which stones and sacks of 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 revealing the robe beneath.
"By St.Peter!" said Godwin."I know the broidery on that dress.
Masouda! Say, is it you, Masouda?"
