hat the Soldan had become a Christian. Before Constance
arrived in Syria she called together all the lords in the kingdom whom
she knew to be friendly to him. She told them of a plot she had made
to kill the Soldan and all those who changed their religion with him,
as soon as the bride bad come. They all agreed to this dreadful plot,
and then the old Soldaness went smiling and bland, to the Soldan's
palace.

"My dear son," she said, "at last I am resolved to become a Christian;
I am surprised I have been blind so long to the beauty of this new
faith. And, in token of our agreement about it, I pray you will honor
me by attending with your bride at a great feast which I shall make for
you."

The Soldan was overjoyed to see his mother so amiable. He knelt at her
feet and kissed her hand, saying,--"Now, my dear mother, my happiness
is full, since you are reconciled to this marriage. And Constance and
I will gladly come to your feast."

Then the hideous old hag went away, nodding and mumbling,--"Aha!
Mistress Constance, white as they call you, you shall be dyed so red
that all the water in your church font shall not wash you clean again!"

Constance came soon after, and there was great feasting and
merry-making, and the Soldan was very happy.

Then the Soldaness gave her great feast, and while they sat at the
table, her soldiers came in and killed the Soldan and all the lords who
were friendly to him, and slaughtered so many that the banquet hall
swam ankle deep in blood.

But they did not slay Constance. Instead, they bore her to the sea and
put her on board her ship all alone, with provisions for a long
journey, and then set her adrift on the wide waters.

So she sailed on, drifting past many shores, out into the limitless
ocean, borne on by the billows, seeing the day dawn and the sun set,
and never meeting living creature. All alone on a wide ocean! drifting
down into soft southern seas where the warm winds always blew, then
driving up into frozen waters where green, glittering icebergs sailed
solemnly past the ship, so near, it seemed as if they would crush the
frail bark to atoms.

So for three long years, day and night, winter and summer, this lonely
ship went on, till at length the winds cast it on the English shores.

As soon as the ship stranded, the governor of the town, with his wife
and a great crowd of people, came to see this strange vessel. They
were all charmed with the sweet face of Cons