Adventure Magazine, April 10, 1924 — page 21: what you’re looking at

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

The Making of the Morning Star 19 thoughts. To be. baited :like a buffoon at table, to be hunted over the glens like a runagate cut-purse! To be tricked by the man who no longer had use for his services! True, he could endeavor to make his way to Cyprus, where the new king held court— Jerusalem being in the hands of the Sara- cens. There, however, the influence of the Montserrats and the Venetians would be at work against him, and a poniard in the back in some tavern or alley would make an end of him. As for raising his ransom in Palestine under the shadow of Hugo’s en- mity—that was out of the question. If he escaped pursuit—and the people of Montserrat would spare no pains to silence the voice that might be raised against them in accusation of the murder of the Hos- pitaler—he must seek the road that led to the eastern mountain wall and there make- shift as best he could in the hills until the hue and cry had died away. ‘“‘And look ye, Sir Charger,” he observed under his breath, ‘‘we do lack the services cf squire and valeret, likewise of shield and helm and purse—which last is a sad mat- ter, for we stand bound to garner us a many broad pieces of gold before the year is told. Yet hath the year still many moons, and we have been in a worse strait than this— Hola, softly, softly!” Gripping the nostrils of the horse, he looked up as a rider plunged off the trai! overhead, plowing recklessly through the sand until he reined to a sudden halt amid the cedars. And then came a new thudding of hoofs along the ridge and a clanking of steel. Men shouted back and forth and passed on, unseen. Neither Robert nor the stranger moved until the detachment had galloped out of hearing, and they were cer- tain that no others followed. “By Allah, do the Franks of this country never sleep? The gullies are a swarm with them, and I have all but broken my leg on these rocks. Bi al-taubah—they do me too much honor.” “Abdullah!” Robert walked over to the minstrel. “How came you from the castle?” “The red-haired woman unbarred a gate for me. When you would enter a dwelling seek out for companion a man with a sword; when you would leave unseen, ask a woman. But honor is due first to Allah and then to you. I watched from the height and saw you cut down those who came against you. ¥ Before that I observed you in the hall of the feasters, when the wine went the rounds and a woman would have smiled upon you. Ohat, my heart was cheered and I said to myself— “‘ ‘There is one who hath the bearing of a bahator, a prince of warriors.’ ” “Nay, these Franks do not search for you. They ride to seek me out.” “Wherefore?” ae bind me and make an end of my do- ings.’ Abdullah laughed, running his fingers through his beard. “What is written is written, and who shall say otherwise? For I was sent hither to find among other things a Frank who was indeed a warrior, and to bring him back with me to my king.” “What lord is that?” “The master of all men.” “His name and place?” “‘Nay, in time you will know that as well: as other things. We will ride to Khar, for i have come from there. Have you heart to cross the desert and scale the Iron Gates?” Abdullah was silent a moment. “The path is one of peril,’’ he went on. “ff you live to reach Khar you will never come back—to this. Whosoever ventures to Khar abides there. But this I can promise you; before the Summer is past you will be- hoid a mighty warring of peoples, and a treasure uncovered. Of this you shall claim a share that will suffice to build a castle like yonder hold and fill it with a thousand slaves and as many steeds——”’ Robert smote the stallion’s saddle softly with his fist. ““Words—words!” The breath of the minstrel hissed through his lips. “TY read you not aright if you are one to seek talsmins and surety for a venture such 23 this. Yet if you fear, turn aside now. I have seen the Iron Gates crush a trem- bler ¢ ‘Fs ith!” The knight gripped Abdullah’s shoulder. “Wherever you dare set foot, I would go beyond you.’ “Oh-o-ho!” Abdullah rocked with inward mirth, as at a huge joke. “The young cub growls—the fledgling lifts its beak. Ohat—hail”’ COmiclboookks.G©