Adventure Magazine, April 10, 1924 — page 12: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

fe) Adventure Lombard whom Robert knew as Hugo’s seneschal. Other warriors and a scattering of Venetian merchants he did not know. No other Englishmen sat at the table. But Robert had noticed a woman who had the chair on the right of the marquis. “The Madonna del Bengli—’ Hugo followed his glance—“honors our poor dwelling of Montserrat for sake of the hunting and hawking in the hills.” Robert rose and bowed courteously, wondering why such a woman should come over the valley of the Orontes for the sake of a little sport. She was a Venetian un- doubtedly, and, he learned later, the cousin of the man Guiblo. Certainly she was beautiful and aware of it, for her bronze- red hair was scented and coiled skilfully on her bare shoulders ; her white skin gave no evidence of the sun’s touch. “Equally honored are we,” she added lightly, “in such a visitor and his grace of Montserrat in such a vassal. Her curving lips accented the word vassal, and she turned to stare at Robert out of clear blue eyes. Guiblo leaned back to pick his teeth and exchange a word with the eneschal.. Robert was little skilled in the manners of a court, or in play of words, yet it struck him that his welcome at Mont- serrat lacked of heartiness. “By Venus, her girdle,’”’ lisped the young knight of the Hospital, whose cheeks were warmed by wine, “‘would we had a Proven- cal to make song out of Longu’ espée’s tale. Nay, his name is already known from Anti- och to Ascalon. Didst bind the infidel jailers with their own fetters, Sir Robert— or win the heart and abetment of some fair Saracen maid, as the fashion is?” “Not so,” made answer Robert bluntly. “Vour Grace, I bring but two words. One a warning, one a request.” Hugo set down his cup. “Then let us have the warning.” ‘‘A hundred Saracens armed and mounted - for war passed through your border within the day.” “Now by the slipper of our fair madonna, that’ could not be. Out watchers on the borderland have seen no foray pass. Nay——’” “T saw the tracks, across the river.’ The marquis pursed his lips shook his head, then signed for a servant to fill the Longsword? S cup. “T pray you, Messer Englishman,” put in Guiblo incredulously, “how could you discern from tracks in the sand what man- ner of men passed over?” “How? The hoofs were small—blooded Arabs or Turkomans. They were unshod— and so from the desert. To my thinking no pack-animals were among them, and so each horse had its rider.” Mistress Bengli raised slim fingers in polite surprize, and by so doing displayed gleaming sapphire and turquoise rings, rarely fashioned. “Truely we have a magician with us. io they not say that the Egyptians are masters of the black arts?” “Some band of villagers,” scoffed Hugo, “chanced to wander along the river. Anc now your boon. Hawk or horse, or—a faix maid of Circassia for your beguilement; ’tis granted ere asked.” “My life it is,” Robert smiled, “I seek at your hand.” ““Misericordé—how?”’ “At the Damietta wall I was struck down by a Mameluke’s mace. It is true they pulled my body within the gates; but the hurt mended, and in time I could mount a horse. Being captive, they held me for ransom, yet could no letter be sent in the turmoil until truce was made between Sara- cens and Croises. Then did the paynim ameers grant me a year and a day to journey to my overlord and raise the pay- ment for the freedom of my body.” Some of the Venetians looked skeptical, for seldom did the enemy put trust in the crusaders to this extent. Yet they were aware that the Longsword had before this kept his promises to the Moslems. “Well,” observed Hugo, “you are here, and you are free. The Cairenes can not lay hand on you now. On-my life, I was not aware that you had a tongue to trick those unshriven dogs.” “T gave my word to return to their camp if the ransom is not in their hands within a year and a day.” “Oho, a prayer and a gold candlestick to the cathedral at Antioch will eke shrive you of a pledge to infidels. So say the monks.” Robert shook his head gravely. “My word was passed.” “But, fool, the Mamelukes would tie you to horses and split you. You have emptied too many of their saddles and wrought them wo too often for them to forego the pleasure of torturing you.” GomiGbdooksEeo 5}