t than ours. Also,
yonder is a fearsome place on which to ride a course, and one of
which none but that devil Sinan would have thought."

"I shall do my best," answered Wulf, "and if I fall, why, then,
act upon your own counsel. At least, let him not kill both of
us."

Having stabled their horses the brethren wandered into the
garden, and, avoiding the cup-bearing women and the men they
plied with their drugged drink, drew by a roundabout road to the
tall rock. Then, finding themselves alone, they unlocked the
door, and slipping through it, locked it again on the further
side and groped their way to the moonlit mouth of the cave. Here
they stood awhile studying the descent of the gulf as best they
could in that light, till suddenly Godwin, feeling a hand upon
his shoulder, started round to find himself face to face with
Masouda.

"How did you come?" he asked.

"By a road in which is your only hope," she answered. "Now, Sir
Godwin, waste no words, for my time is short, but if you think
that you can trust me--and this is for you to judge--give me the
Signet which hangs about your neck. If not, go back to the castle
and do your best to save the lady Rosamund and yourselves."

Thrusting down his hand between his mail shirt and his breast,
Godwin drew out the ancient ring, carved with the mysterious
signs and veined with the emblem of the dagger, and handed it to
Masouda.

"You trust indeed," she said with a little laugh, as, after
scanning it closely by the light of the moon and touching her
forehead with it, she hid it in her bosom.

"Yes, lady," he answered, "I trust you, though why you should
risk so much for us I do not know."

"Why? Well, perhaps for hate's sake, for Sinan does not rule by
love; perhaps because, being of a wild blood, I am willing to set
my life at hazard, who care not if I win or die; perhaps because
you saved me from the lioness. What is it to you, Sir Godwin, why
a certain woman-spy of the Assassins, whom in your own land you
would spit on, chooses to do this or that?"

She ceased and stood before him with heaving breast and flashing
eyes, a mysterious white figure in the moonlight, most beautiful
to see.

Godwin felt his heart stir and the blood flow to his brow, but
before he could speak Wulf broke in, saying:

"You bade us spare words, lady Masouda, so tell us what we must
do."

"This," she answered, becoming calm again. "Tomorrow night about
this hour you fight Lozelle upon t