Adventure Magazine, April 10, 1924 — page 32: what you’re looking at

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

30 upon his memory for a full minute while the spearmen gaped, and the officer began to look doubtful. “‘Another question,” he ended, “‘and I will open thy breast to see if water or blood be in thy veins.” So indeed might a noble of Cairo have spoken to one who stood in his way, and it was clear to the warders that the Ameer Arslan would like nothing better than to make good his words with sword-strokes. Inalzig’s eyes blazed, and unseen by Robert he made a sign to men who stood back by the cliff. “Tf the Caliphs themselves rode out of Bagdad to join the Shah,” he snarled, “‘the keeper of the Gate would cast them into the pool if they gave not a good account of themselves as Moslems. Look yonder!’’ Robert did not turn, but Will Bunsley yelped like a hound viewing its quarry. “Now praise be to all the saints and martyrs! Here be the demviselle of Ibelin and Father Evagrius!”’ Running to the ledge of rock that served as a pathway back from the buttress on which they stood, he tried to cast himself on his knees and seize the edge of the girl’s robe to kiss. A spear-butt planted in his ribs by an alert guard sent him sprawling. Ellen d’Ibelin stood between two warriors with drawn swords. Her torn hood and bedraggled smock had been replaced with rich silks and white cotton, bound about her waist by a velvet vest. A circlet of silver held in her black locks above the ears, and a transparent veil covered her face below the eyes. But eyes and hair and the poise of her young head were unmistakable. Her glance showed that she knew Robert, but she did not break silence to make an appeal for help. Evidently she and the priest had been among the riders of the camels, and she must have seen all that passed on the edge of the pool. ‘‘Aid, tall brother, for the maid!” cried Will hoarsely. ‘“‘Draw and smite—bows and bills! See, the dogs would cast her into the water.” Then Robert realized that Ellen’s arms were chained and her ankles bound together with a girdle. With the priest and the two Moslems she stood on the brink of the ledge, swaying in the wind. The other women who had screened the captives until then had been herded ahead along the narrow path. This path, no more than two paces Adventure wide, ran between the wall of the cliff and the dark space of the abyss. As he watched, Inalzig made another sign, and one of the guards seized the girl’s long tresses, twisting them tight in his grasp. Her eyes widened in horror as the warrior, erinning; forced her to the very edge of the rock. “Yonder maid,” observed the keeper of the Gate reflectively, ‘was taken from among the Franks. We have other wo- men, from Armenia and the Bedawan vil- lages, and they are kept ior the pleasure of the Shah. Such is the custom of the forays beyond the border—yet, O ameer, the red- beard may have touched her, and the touch of a dog of an unbeliever is defilement. So—thrust her over,” he ordered the war- rior who held her fast. And Inalzig’s white teeth flashed under his thin mustache. “Ha! Would a Cairene act thus?” Robert had leaped the space between the dam and the ledge. The warrior who stood over the girl released his prey and lifted shield and simitar as he strode to meet the knight. “Ah no, my lord!” Ellen cried, raising her chained arms eagerly. ‘Keep to your guise and your own purpose. No man’s aid will serve to abate our misfortune, and you would be lost!” She covered her eyes. “The sweet Mother in Heaven give strength!” The Moslem who opposed Rebert took time for a swift glance at the two chiefs, who shouted an order at him, and the knight drew his sword. The guard’s lips lifted in a snarl as he braced his legs for a leap forward. Then he flung up his shield. In a gleaming arc the heavy blade of the crusader flashed, and the Moslem’s simitar was knocked down. His shield of hide and wood crumpled, and the blade hewed through his left arm, deep into his side. The man was swept over the ledge, and Robert freed his blade with a jerk as the body dropped out of sight. ‘Well struck, O Nazarene!” applauded Inalzig. ‘Said I not you would be put to a test at the Gates? Ha, no guise will veil your heart hereafter. Like your follower, I had a devil from the first day, and the devil was doubt.” The second guard rushed low at Robert, to be met with the point of the sword and COmiclboooks G (©