^M A. TUTTLE & Co , PRINTERS, iders and Stationers, IT. AND, VT. r.AN K MOOKS u^. . ' Wen executed with promptness. C. 8. ADKISS, Binler, ' GLEASON'S SERIES OF PRIZE TALES, No. 1. THE KNIGHT OF THE SILVER CROSS : OR, 51 Stole of tlje (Ottoman Cmpt. BY EDGAR W. DA VIES, Jn^S I *) .1) AN/ 1 ^ | FOR WHICH THE ONI THOUSAND DOLLAR PRIZE WAS AWARDED. BOSTON: F. GLEASON'S PUBLISHING HALL, CORNER OP COURT AND TREMONT STREETS. 1849. Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1849, BY F. GLEASON, In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of Massachusetts. THE KNIGHT OF THE SILVER CROSS, CHAPTER I. The travellers' return. TJie knight of the Silver Cross. His tale of adventure* The maniac of the tombs. A disappearance. A BEAUTIFUL evening it was, soon after the summer of the year 1299 had passed away, and the autumnal clouds began to hover over the city and suburbs of Palmyra. The surrounding fields were covered Avith the shining yellow grain, ripe for the sickle, and waving in the gentle breeze, which now and then passed over its surface, and then, after sighing among the tops of the many tall old palm trees that raised their lofty heads towards the sunset sky, seemingly in sorrow at leaving a scene so beautiful and pleasant, took its re- luctant departure for the chilly regions of the wintry north, laden with the flowery sweets of the torrid zone. The evening was far advanced into the silent night, the silvery moon shone brightly in the heavenly firma- ment, and all nature was at peace. The weary peasant 4 THE KNIGHT OF THE SILVER CROSS, rested from his toil, and laying aside scythe and vine- hook, sought repose in soothing slumber ; not a sound elisturbed the tranquillity that reigned around, save the" dulcet music floating softly in the air from within the guarded precincts of the palace court and gardens. Hardly had the signal light announcing the midnight hour blazed forth from the Avatch-tower of the castle garrison, when a band of travellers, well armed and equipped, slowly descended the side of one of the tomb-covered hills which surround the city along the highway that led to the western gate. It consisted of seven persons, a father, his son, and five servants. The first was a man on whose cheeks the heats of sixty summers had left their bronzing traces, and, though an aged man, Arnot Cretolius seemed hardly past his prime, for his step was as firm, and the glance of his eye as proud, as in the days of youth. The son, Everard Cretolius, was a tall, well-formed young man of about three-and-twenty years ; his figure was symmetry itself; his eyes, of a very dark blue, were extremely expressive, and his fair skin and auburn hair contributed, with the most beautiful features, to form a perfectly irresistible whole. They were now on their return from a tour in for- eign lands, having travelled throughout nearly the whole of the then civilized European world, and been absent from home ab^out three years. Their dress and appearance betokened them to be of the highest order of Palmyrene nobility, and the stars and crosses glitter- ing oirtheir breasts, proved that they had seen not a little of active and successful warlike service. ' My father,' said Everard, ' how glorious the city looks in this iloocl of gentle light, with its innumerable THE KNIGHT OF THE SILVER CROSS, 5 domes and cupolas, temples and towers; and see the palace of our king, with its gilded roof and marble colonnades standing on the hill, like a guardian spirit watching the destinies of the nation, and trying fo avert each threatened danger. O, my father, is it not pleasant once more to view the city of our birth, after our sojourn in the land of the stranger ; once again to see our beloved horqe, where the hours of infancy and youth were passed even to manhood !' ' It is indeed pleasant, my dear son,' replied Lord Cretolius ; ' but remember that I look on it with differ- ent feelings from you. It is true, that I see before me the scenes of rny childish joys, but I see also the arena of my ambitious hopes and varied successes and disap pointments. I think of the passions that have reigned in my bosom, alternately elevating or depressing my spirits, with all their necessary attendants of conflicting joy or woe. I have loved, and had my love rewarded with the hand of the object of my affections ; I have struggled for fame, and have won lasting honor for the name which I leave, that you may add fresh laurels to its bright renown. My voice has been heard in the councils of my country, and my arm has wielded for her sake the keen-edged scimitar, and alike, in senate chamber or in festive hall, on the field of battle or in the camp, at home or abroad, wherever it has been my chance to wander, either on land or sea, each thought has still been true to her interests and glory. O, Palmyra, beautiful queen of the East, how many brave hearts, how many noble ones are bound up in thee, thou pride of Syria ! Long may thy ancient banner spread its beautiful folds to the southern breeze, defying alike the malice of Moslem and Arab foes.' O THE KNIGHT OF THE SILVER CROSS. The old man ceased speaking, and the group silently proceeded forward. The road they had passed, for some distance, was strewn with sand to the depth of several inches, by the laborers who had been engaged in repairing it a short time before, to smooth away the roughness of the new pavement, so that their horses' feet made scarcely any noise, as they sank in the sand to their ankles with each step. This circumstance prevented them from hearing the approach of a horseman from behind, whose coal black steed, of giant proportions, bore him with such rapidity along the difficult way, as to enable him to overtake the travellers ere they had half descended the side of the hill, and while they were yet a mile from the city gate. From his dress, a stranger would 4iave supposed him to have been a Saracen chieftain ; but could you have rent the silken folds of his disguise, you would have seen beneath his garments the ponderous breast- plate and shining armor of a knight, and on his left shoulder a silver cross, the symbol of his order, worked in the coat of mail. Though upon his head was jauntily set a scarlet turban, yet beneath it he wore a tight-fitting skull-cap of wrought steel, fully sufficient to have done him ser- vice in the hour of peril, had his real character been discovered by the wild Arab tribes through whose country he had just passed. The first intimation Lord Cretolius and Everard received of his presence, was an exclamation of de- light at the beautiful prospect spread out at their feet : ' You did not exaggerate when you described to me the magnificence and splendor of your city, my Lord THE KNIGHT OF THE SILVER CROSS. Cretolius. It is charming sublime! Indeed, this view would well repay me for the dangers through which I have passed on my way hither, even had I hopes of no other reward.' The travellers turned suddenly, in delighted surprise, at hearing the deep intonations of that well-remem- bered voice, and as the moonlight fell full on the massive though beautiful features of the knight of St. John, Everard exclaimed : [SEE ENGRAVING.] 'Why, did we not leave you in Cyprus? Me- thought you intended to tarry there till you had heard farther of the movements of the eastern sultans, but since you are here, we are glad to have an opportunity of returning the civilities you showered upon us while we tarried with you in Cyprus. What news have come to your hearing since then ?' ' That which I have heard is from good authority,' replied the knight, ' but too lengthy and too important to be discussed here, in the open air, where some knave of a Turcoman spy might chance to hear. Suffice it to say, for the present, that I come on a special mission to your royal master, and right happy shah 1 I be to accept of your proffered hospitalities while I remain in Palmyra.' ' But how have you managed to come thus far, alone and unattended, through the innumerable dan- gers which must have beset your path ? Surely this Saracen dress is not a sufficient protection,' said Lord Cretolius. ' Luckily,' answered Sir Percy D'Arville, the knight, ' I understand to perfection the Arab tongue, having 10 THE KNIGHT OF THE SILVER CROSS. learned it during my unwilling sojourn in Egypt for the space of two years, where I was taken prisoner some ten years since, in the course of an unsuccessful expedition of the knights. Besides, you know the Arabs tremble at the sight of the red turban which distinguished the body-guard of the Saracen sultan, whose character for valor and ferocity is too well known among the tribes, to subject one of their num- ber to either question or insult. As a chieftain of the red turban I have been feasted and sped on my journey by the sheiks, and a frown from me was sufficient to awe into silence every questioner.' ' But have you not been detected once, in the course of your journey ?' asked Everard. ' Never, except in one instance,' answered D'Arville. 1 A few miles back, beyond the mountains, at the tent of an Arab sheik, with whom I took the evening meal, my silken doublet accidentally caught in a piece of table-furniture, and was drawn open for a moment. The two sons of the sheik, who were directly opposite me, noticed the armor beneath my vest, which their quick eyes instantly discovered was not of Saracen make, and their suspicions were evidently aroused. ' By the time the meal was concluded, my horse was brought to the tent, and fearing the young men would cause my dress to be examined, I whispered to the sheik a request that they might accompany me a mile or two on my way. Of course, the word of an Arab father is law to his children, and at his order they mounted their steeds and rode behind me, often whis- pering to each other as -they went. ' After a while, having left the tents of the tribe far behind, I told the young men I could dispense with THE KXIGHT OF THE SILVER CROSS. 11 their farther services, whereupon they turned as if to leave me, but hardly had I resumed my journey when a lance whizzed past my ear and buried itself in the sand. I cast my eye over my shoulder, and was just in time to evade the blow of a scimitar, wielded by one of the Arabs, by stooping my head quickly. Had I been a moment later the sharp steel would have been tinged with my life-blood. * The next instant I drew my sword from its sheath, and with a single downward blow cleft the traitor to the middle. The other, alarmed at the fate of his brother, turned and fled homewards. Since then, my noble charger has borne me gallantly forward to your desirable presence, where I am beyond the reach of pursuit.' ' That was indeed a narrow escape,' said the elder Cretolius, ' and I am rejoiced that your quickness and watchfulness enabled you to defeat the treacherous design of the Arab, and give him his due punishment. But how long after we left Cyprus did you commence your journey ?' ' On the next morning,' responded D'Arville, ' I received a notice from the commander of our order in Cyprus, requesting me to repair to his castle, and he would inform me of the particulars of a mission on which he wished to send me, and confer on me the necessary powers for its completion. Finding my errand was to bring me hitherward, I exerted myself in making preparations ; I was enabled to start the second day after, and pressed rapidly forward, hoping to overtake you, which I would have done before had I not missed my way in the mountainous region border- ing the sea.' 12 THE KNIGHT OF THE SILVER CROSS. The travellers were so intently engaged in conversa- tion, that they did not notice a strange form creeping among the tombs ahead of them with stealthy pace. This form was that of a maniac, whose gigantic height and colossal frame gave promise of immense strength ; his beard and hair were long and tangled, his coun- tenance blackened by exposure to heat and tempest, and disfigured with scars upon his cheeks and forehead the traces of the desperate valor he had exhibited in warring with the Moslem in his early youth. His brawny limbs were bare, the only covering upon his body consisting of the skin of some wild beast, fastened around him by cords. The maniac crouched behind a tombstone at the road-side, and as the travellers approached, he mut- tered in a deep tone to himself. ' Ha ! ha ! a Saracen comes he comes to glut my vengeance. I will soothe my soul with his blood, and my knife shall drink the purple stream of his life. Now, wretch, now ! for my wife, for my child revenge revenge.' He sprang from his hiding-place with a wild, un- earthly scream, which rang around like the voice of a demon, and with eyes from which the fire of madness flashed, he glared for a moment on the face of the knight, and then, while the charger of the latter reared in affright, he dragged the powerful chevalier from his saddle as if he had been a child, and disappeared with him among the neighboring tombs. For an instant, Lord Cretolius and his son halted in silent amazement, but then, raising a horn which hung at his back to his lips, Everard blew three loud alarm- notes, and then ordering his servants to follow, gave pursuit to the fugitives. THE KNIGHT OF THE SILVER CROSS. 13 The next minute the quick tramp of horses' hoofs was heard along the stony highway below,' and a troop of the king's body-guard soon appeared, headed by a young lieutenant. The latter gazed wistfully at the aged nobleman, who had been left alone in the road, and then, springing from his horse, exclaimed, as he kissed the wrinkled hand held out to him : ' Welcome, welcqme, my Lord Cretolius, to your home. I am overjoyed at the sight of my more than father. But why these alarm-notes ?' ' Wait not for civilities, but follow my son and ser- vants in pursuit of the maniac Marontius. He has just carried off by force one of our party, an envoy from Cyprus, and I fear will kill him, ere he can be rescued.' Without another word, the lieutenant and his party dashed off in the direction pointed out by Lord Cretolius, their long plumes floating behind in the wind, and their polished armor glittering in the moon- light, and soon disappeared. 14 THE KNIGHT OF THE SILVER CROSS. CHAPTER II. TJie ruined tomb of king- Icarus. The pursuit. The knight in danger. The rescue. Everards story. The knighfs chivalric vow. DISTANT from the road a quarter of a mile, stood a large ruined mausoleum, the roof of which was sup- ported on each side by a wall, and in front by six handsome columns of Grecian marble, wrought in most exquisite style. Though much dilapidated by the flight of tune, it still bore unmistakable traces of the beauty it anciently exhibited, when, centuries be- fore, it had been erected over the last resting-place of one of the olden kings of Palmyra. This relic of ancient art served as a cell to the maniac Marontius, who passed much of his time at night, sitting upon its roof, watching the starry heavens far above, and the sleeping city far beneath taking his rest by day within its arched recesses. Hither, then, he bore his prisoner, and hither the lieutenant, who was familiar with the habits of the wild ranger, instantly proceeded with his troop. tHE KNIGHT 1 OF THE SILVER CROSS. 15 The knight had struggled long and manfully against his captor, but the strength of madness, which is almost incredible, enabled the maniac to pinion his arms, and bear him "quickly to the mausoleum, where he placed him upon a ruined altar which was neaf. Raising a glittering dagger over the head of his victim, he exclaimed : ' Here have six of thy accursed race, blood-thirsty Saracen, perished beneath my avenging arm, and I have sworn never to rest till thrice seven have washed out the memory of past wrongs with their blood^ Here ! ha, ha ! yes, it was here I last saw my Wife and child ; here struggle aAvay, wretch, it is sport to me to see your vain efforts they cry unto me from the grave for vengeance ! Yes, yes, I will strike for you, dear departed ones, I die, Saracen, die !' he screamed as he struck the dagger with such tremendous force on the bosom of his captive, that the steel was shivered to pieces in his grasp. For a moment he seemed surprised, and stood motionless ; but then, stooping to the ground, attempt- ed to raise a broken statue, with which to crush the knight, when he suddenly found himself nearly sur- rounded by the lieutenant's troop. With an angry shriek of disappointment the maniac darted away. ' A Saracen !' cried a stalwart trooper, ' we had not need to risk breaking our necks by riding among these tombs to save the life of one of those knaves. I'faith, for my part, I think we had better leave him where he is, for that blow the madman struck must have given his soul flight.' ' I am no Saracen,' said D'Arville, ' but a true and loyal knight of the order of St. John. Therefore 16 THE KNIGHT OF THE SILVER CROSS. unloose me quickly, and let me lie no longer here as a sheep for the slaughter.' ' Surely,' said the trooper, as he dismounted and cut the cords which bound the captive's arms, ' surely you must have a charmed life, or by some magic art control the issues of life or death.' The knight, without heeding the latter remark, thanked the trooper for his service, and placed in his hand a silver coin, saying : ' By my halidom, this disguise of mine is so much torn and disordered by the maniac's rough usage, that I may as well be rid of it.' Suiting the action to the word, he tore off the silken folds of his outer dress, scattered them in shreds to the wind, and stood before them in his proper character that of a knight of the grand cross of his order. At this point Everard and his men joined the group, and while the warmest congratulations at his escape were showered upon the knight, the whole cavalcade took their way back to the road, where they fell into line behind Lord Cretolius, and trotted gaily, with ringing hoofs and rattling arms, along the stony path- way into which they now emerged. As the knight and Everard rode on either side of the old noble, the former remarked : ' Methinks yon maniac should be confined ; it is dangerous to allow him thus to wander about, falling on whom he will. He told me that he had already slain six upon that tomb, and that I was to be the seventh of the accursed race of the Saracens, whose blood should help to satiate his vengeance.' ' Indeed !' exclaimed Lord Cretolius, ' I never heard of his having sacrificed more than two, who were THE KNIGHT OF THE SILVER CROSS. 17 brothers, one of Avhom rashly sought and attacked him to revenge the death of the other. At all events, he harms none but those whom every true Palmyrene hates, and they secretly rejoiced at the destruction of those two !' 1 And so do I, for the knights of St. John are sworn enemies to the Moslem, and my warmest wish is that all the ruined tombs in Syria may be inhabited by just such right-minded madmen. But what meant he when he called upon the spirits of his departed kindred, saying he would sacrifice me to their shades ?' ' The answer to your question includes a sketch of his early life,' said Lord Cretolius, 'and as I am too tired to converse much, my son Everard will please us by giving you the tale. It will serve to beguile the time which must elapse ere we reach the gate.' ' I shall be pleased to hear it,' said D'Arville, ' and, in fact, after my adventure I am very curious upon the subject.' 'Well, then,' said Everard, 'if you will honor me with your attention, you shall hear it as it has been related to me, for at the time the events of the story happened, I was but a child, and too young to heed them. ' Marontius, hi his early youth, was a private soldier in the royal guard, but by his good conduct and bravery, aided by his prowess in arms, he attracted attention, and by the royal favor rose gradually, until he attained the rank of a commander in the first legion, and with about a thousand men was placed as the pretor of the western wall and gate. This position he held for five years, till the loss of his wife and child drove him crazy. His wife was the only daughter of 18 THE KNIGHT OP THE SILVER CROSS. the noble Artanius, whom he first met in one of her customary walks without the gate, or upon the side of the hill. In fact, scarcely a day passed that he did not see her, and his polite salutes and her smiles soon paved the way to intimate acquaintance, which gradu- ally warmed into deep, devoted love* ' He asked her of heir father in marriage, but although of a noble but ruined family, his poverty caused him to be rejected and spurned by the proud Artanius with sneers and contempt* Artanius forbade his daughter ever again to speak to or meet Marontius, threatening the most terrible vengeance on both if he was dis- obeyed. ' For some time she implicitly obeyed the cruel con> mand, confining herself to her apartments, where she passed her time in tears and sorrowful musings. But love knows no barrier^ and one moonlight night her warrior-lover scaled the wall of her father's garden j where she was walking alone, and implored her in fervent tones not to banish him forever from her sight, but at least to give him the pleasure of seeing her every evening, at a little cabin just without the garden gate. ' The beautiful Azilla was moved by his words, and Unable to resist the passionate pleadings of her lover, consented to meet him secretly. For a long time they were undiscovered, but one evening Lord Artanius^ having his suspicions aroused by her frequent absences, caused her to be watched, and when the truth was known his anger knew no bounds. He confined his child in one of the dungeons beneath his castellated mansion, and left her there, amid darkness and gloom, to weep over her blighted hopes. THE KNIGHT OF THE SILVER CROSS. 19 * He then matured a plot of the most malicious nature against Marontms, which would have driven the iatter into exile and disgrace, with a brand upon his forehead, and ruined him forever. But this was not to be, for a day or two before the blow Avas to fall, the villanous and cruel plans of Artanius were .suddenly cut short by death* ' When the particular? of the plot against Marontius became known to the king, he was indignant, and to recompense the brave soldier for the risk he had run, conferred on him the estates and title of Artanius, and the hand of the lovely Azilla, Their union was blessed with a daughter, who, with her mother's name, inherited her mother's beauty and grace* 'At that time the Saracens and Turcomans made frequent incursions, for the sake of plunder, upon our territory, appearing suddenly near some isolated man- sion, carrying off or slaughtering its inmates, and disappearing with their spoil ere a blow could be struck at them, 1 One beautiful afternoon, about five years after his marriage, Marontius, his wife and child, were enjoying the air, among the tombs we have just left behind, with not more than a dozen attendants, ^when a party of fifty or sixty Turcoman horsemen suddenly surrounded them, and called on them to surrender. ' Placing his beloved ones in the ruined tomb of king Icarus, which they then happened to be passing, Marontius and his followers defied the invaders, and a desperate conflict ensued ; the superior numbers of the foe, however, gave them such a decided advantage, that in a few moments Marontius found himself fight- ing alone, his gallant comrades having all fallen 2 20 THE KXIGHT OF THE SILVER CROSS. beneath the scimitars of the Arabs, and soon after he himself was struck to the ground bleeding and senseless. ' The Turcomans, securing Azilla and her daughter, and seeing a large body of horse rapidly approaching from the city to the rescue of Marontius, made a hasty retreat on their swift desert steeds, leaving thirty of their number on the blood-stained sod in front of the tomb, as proofs of the desperate valor of Marontius and his men. 'The gallant soldier shortly after recovered his senses, but on being informed of the loss of his dear Azilla, and his beauteous daughter, his mind wandered, and since then, for fifteen loner years, he has been the o / pitiable object you have seen him. No trace of his loved ones has ever been discovered. Our late royal master, the present king's father, placed his estates in charge of an overseer, who, at certain times causes proper sustenance to be conveyed to the tomb where he has his abode. ' He never leaves his hermitage, save for the purpose of visiting the scene of his former happiness, the palace of Artanius, through the halls of which he will wander at times for hours, in a musing mood, from which he generally wakes with a wild scream, darts away through the busy streets with incredible swift- ness, passes the gate, and halts not till he reaches his favorite haunt, the ruined tomb of king Icarus.' During the narration of this touching tale, the noble features of the knight gave evidence of the deep interest with which he listened to its details, and his clenched hand and compressed lip plainly showed the feelings with which he regarded the villany of the Turcoman spoilers, in thus rudely severing the fondest ties that bind heart to heart. THE KNIGHT OF THE SILVER CROSS. 21 As Everard concluded, D'Arville raised his mailed hand toward the firmament above him, and with his enthusiastic soul beaming from his manly face, he cried : ' Hear me, high Heaven, and record on thy imper- ishable tablets the vow I make. I swear by all that I hold innocent and beautiful, by all that I hold dear, never to rest till I have traced the spoiler to his den till I have rescued the injured maiden and captive wife from their oppressor till I have again restored them to their bereaved parent and husband's arms, and with the radiance of their affectionate glance, brought again the light of reason to his eyes, and banished from his soul the dread darkness which overhangs the mind wrapt in the gloomy veil of madness. If my vow fails in its accomplishment through want of daring, may my lordly banner be trailed in the dust, my trusty sword be ignominiously broken, and the glory of my knighthood depart from me forever.' Lord Cretolius listened in admiration to this determi- nation, so characteristic of the chivalrous order to which the knight belonged, and Everard felt his heart beat wildly within him, at the thought of the varied adventures through which the warrior must pass ere he could attain the fulfilment of his vow, and in secret almost resolved to own no other leader, and follow the gallant chevalier through the changing scenes of his future course. While these thoughts passed through Everard's mind, the cavalcade halted close in front of the massive gate, in the deep shadow cast by the gigantic wall beneath, and between the heavy bars appeared the long vista of a beautiful street dimly seen in the moonlight the ' street of palms.' 22 THE KNIGHT OF THE SILVER CROSS. CHAPTER III. The street of palms. The street of palaces. The royal levee. The Turcoman princes. Ida Cretolius. An arrival. v THAT noble avenue was aptly named, and was in- deed the street of palms. Paved from side to side with massive blocks of stone, which had lain there for ages, it stretched across the beautiful city, strait as an arrow, and smooth as a polished floor. At some distance from the mansions which bordered it on either hand, two rows of giant palm-trees marked the limits of the foot-paths, and threw their chequered shade upon the broad way beneath, their foliage ever waving in the breeze a welcome to the coming stran- ger and a farewell to the departing friend. Thousands on thousands lined the way as far as the eye could reach, and their overhanging branches form- ed a protecting arch, defending the passer-by from the fervid heats of the summer sun, and the ceaseless drop- pings of the Avinter rain. Over that avenue millions had passed who now slum- THE KNIGHT OF THE SILVER CROSS* 23 bered peacefully in their graves; the lordly senator, the wealthy merchant, the thriving citizen, and the gal- lant soldier, all had gazed delighted on the beauteous vista ; and though, as passing centuries rolled away, these manly forms continually gave place to others, yet still the street of palms seemed the same as Avhen of old it witnessed the triumphal processions of the mighty queen Zenobia, returning to her imperial palace laden with the spoils of conquered nations still seemed the same as when it beheld the entrance of the victorious eagles and desolating legions of the Roman armies, led by the terrible Aurelian. A mile or more from the western gate, an avenue still more beautiful, if possible, than the street of palms, crossed it at right angles, called the street of palaces. At different intervals twenty lordly mansions raised their castellated turrets in the air, each in itself capable of being converted into a strong hold in time of need, each furnished with draw-bridge and portcullis, with donjon-keep and rampart. From the street of palms, the street of palaces rose gradually for half a mile, till it reached the summit of the hill on which^stood the royal palace, the buildings and gardens comprising which covered an area of a square mile. The moon shone full upon the white columns and marble balconies of the magnificent edifice, and from the windows issued a brilliancy of light which put to shame the gentle beams of Luna. Within, music seem- ing like that of fairer spheres, hovered in melody amid the gilded cornices, and shook the tapestried walls with a tremulous motion ; a blaze of radiance from count- less burners illuminated the vast hall, and was reflected 24 THE KNIGHT OP THE SILVER CROSS. back from jewelled coronets and zones gemmed with the pearls of Persia and the diamonds of Golconda. Manly forms were there, clad in the richest vest- ments, and manly hearts beat high with rapture, as amid the mazes of the giddy dance sparkling eyes mer- rily glanced upon their own, and soft voices fell in gen- tle cadences on their delighted ears ; love and beauty seemed to reign supreme, and even majesty bowed to the sweet control, as the king himself led the fairest maiden of his realm through the figures of the olden waltz. Yes, she was the fairest among the daughters of Pal- myra, and the most graceful in her movements ; clad in a dress of purest white, studded with rubies and em- eralds, she moved amid the thronging noblesse in the pride of youthful beauty, admired and courted by all, yet unconscious of her own loveliness. A form of queenly stature, and eyes of dark blue, cheeks and lips of rosy red, and auburn hair flowing in waving ringlets on a snowy neck, conspired to render her one of the most fascinating of her sex, but when to these were added the treasures of a noble intellect, the mind of the auditor insensibly acknowledged her the queen of hearts. Such was Ida, the daughter of Lord Cretolius. In the circling motions of the waltz, the king and his fair partner passed a group of Saracens collected around one of the elaborately carved pillars. Foremost of the group stood two rnanly figures, clad in the richest styles of the Turcoman court, accompanied by a maiden ar- rayed in more than eastern magnificence, around whose elegant and voluptuous for;n f 11 a veil of the costliest texture, through the gauze of which two sparkling eyes were indistinctly seen, brighter than the star of evening, more beautifully blue than the skies of Italy. THE KNIGHT OF THE SILVER CROSS. 25 Their attendants, to the number of an hundred and fifty, chosen from the body-guard of the sultan for their loyalty, strength, and skill in arms, remained at a re- spectful distance from their superiors, and so still were they, that they hardly seemed to breathe, standing in silent sternness like grim statues of the angel of death. No pleasure seemed to fill their warlike bosoms at the sight of the gay scene before them, but the fiery glances which shot continually from their dark, expres- sive eyes, and the frowns which knit their scowling brows, evinced the hatred with which they regarded the race whom they considered their enemies. For awhile the soft measures of the waltz ceased, and the king offered his arm to the fair Ida to conduct her to the balcony. As they passed the Moslem band she thought she heard a deep sigh, and turning in the direc- tion whence it seemed to emanate, her eyes met those of the younger Turcoman, Selim, whose admiring yet sorrowful looks told a tale of heartfelt devotion, which caused her bosom to throb wildly, while her liquid orbs involuntarily were veiled by her drooping eye-lashes. For an instant, the noble-hearted Selim felt a thrill of delighted surprise. Could it be that the blush which mantled her cheek was brought thither by his earnest gaze ? Could it be that the Palmyrene maiden loved the son of her country's foe ? The thought of such hap- piness filled him with hope, and with the ardor of his nation he determined to press his suit at some favorable moment, and seek to win her. The revengeful Hafed had witnessed all, had read in an instant the thoughts of his younger brother, and the answering emotions of the gentle Ida. His malicious soul was filled with deadly hatred towards Selim, whom 26 THE KNIGHT OF THE SILVER CROSS. he envied the regard of the fair being whose loveliness had stirred the deepest fountains of his own heart. It was not strange, for all who looked upon her were charmed by her more than angelic beauty. As the king and Ida stepped out upon the balcony to enjoy the soft breezes of that favored clime after their exercise, the maiden, whose thoughts still dwelt upon the youthful Selim, said, veiling her interest in him studiously : 1 My liege, how long ere you intend giving these Saracen ambassadors a decided answer ? I should not think you would have a moment's hesitation in denying their demands.' 1 Ah, fair lady,' replied the king, ' you do not per- fectly understand the state of affairs in Asia Minor and Syria, or the dangerous position in which we are placed, or you would not counsel me to act as you have said.' ' Well, but what benefit can you possibly derive from keeping them in a state of suspense as to your decision ?' asked the lady Ida ; ' I am sure I should be pleased to see them depart as soon as possible, for the presence of those grim warriors seems to cast a gloom over every amusement, and their sombre and malicious looks fill me with dread.' ' In the present changing state of affairs,' said the king, ^when everything in our vicinity seems to be on the point of a great convulsion, when we know not what the next hour may bring to light, nor what new enemies may spring up to interrupt our peaceful course, it is the wisest policy to remain in a neutral state as long as possible, "that we may take advantage of passing events, and reserve our strength for the last great but inevitable struggle.' THE KNIGHT OF THE SILVER CROSS. 27 ' Then you think,' said Ida, ' if you deny these ambassadors their demands, that it will involve us in a war with the Turcomans and Saracens ?' ' I am assured that such will be the case, fair lady,' replied the king, ' for the vast hordes of the Seljukide sultan are now awaiting but the signal to gather around our beautiful city, and devote it to the horrors of siege, pillage, and rapine, and against their countless numbers we should be unable to cope for an instant unless they were dividend through the jealousy of their leaders or some other cause.' ' That is undoubtedly true,' responded the lady ; i but then it were best for us to meet the danger boldly, and perish in defence of our honor, rather than dis- honor ourselves by surrendering these Christian knights to their pursuers, and doom those who have thrown themselves on our hospitality to a horrible and Lingering death.' ' But then, stern necessity may compel me to this step, fair Ida,' said the king. ' At all events I will deny my answer as long as the Saracen princes seem so well satisfied to remain at our court, and perchance the course of these stirring times may in the interval find occupation for their armies elsewhere.' ' My liege,' responded the lady Ida, ' pardon me, but methinks it would be the very depth of dishonor to deliver up these brave men to the Turcoman ambassa- dors, and if Palmyra disgraces herself by such an act of wrong, I will forever disown my country, and seek a home in some other realm,, where the duties of hos- pitality are better understood, and more honorable principles of conduct prevail.' The fair girl spoke bitterly, and with deep feeling, 3 28 THE KNIGHT OF THE SILVER CROSS. and as the king gazed upon her countenance, in which indignation was clearly depicted, he sought to turn the conversation into some other channel, as her present mood did not suit the base purposes which he secretly cherished towards her in his heart. ' Fair Ida, think no more of it ; I did but jest, to try your spirit and loyalty. And even if I entertained such an intention as regards these knights, your sweet pleadings in their behalf would save them from harm. The moving accents of your silvery voice, the gentle glance of your expressive eye, would gain the cause of any for whom you might intercede, and move my heart to consent to your wishes, even though it were of adamantine mould.' Ida started, but recovering herself, said, in a cold >ne of voice : 1 The air upon this balcony is damp, my liege. Let us return to the hall, for the music calls again to the dance, and I have promised to tread a measure with my Lord Morden. Ah, here he is, just in time to relieve your majesty of your burden/ said she, as the nobleman bowed to the king, and offered his arm. The monarch, in a tone of voice full of deep and hidden meaning, so low that none but the Lady Ida could hear, said : 4 Surely, if it is a burden, it is one I should be proud to bear while life lasts.' Ida proudly drew herself up to her full height, and with a seemingly unconcerned look curtsied to her king, and taking the arm of the noble, suffered the latter to lead her to a prominent place in the forming sets. The chief minister of state now joined the king, saying, as he did so : THE KNIGHT OF THE SILVER CROSS. 29 ' The Lady Ida is more charming to-night than I have ever seen her before, and seems to be the centre of attraction. Even those Turcoman princes acknowl- edge her superior beauty, for my spies tell rne their eyes have almost unconsciously followed her move- ments throughout the whole evening, and the younger one, in particular, pays her a silent, but heartfelt devotion, which I should say was nearly akin to love.' ' Say you so,' replied the king, ' then they shall quickly have their answer, arid receive permittance to depart. Selim is too dangerous a rival to be permitted to remain here, for I know well that the modest and respectful manner in which you say he pays his homage, is better calculated to win her proud heart than the most forward gallantry. By heaven, I love her too well to suffer her ever to love another.' ' But, my liege,' said the minister, in astonishment, ' you would not wish to destroy the fair tenement of beauty to to that is, my liege, I am sure it will be the cause of much trouble, if you persist in carrying out this intention. The Lord Cretolius and his noble son would not tamely submit, and a civil war might be the consequence.' ' I care not much for them,' replied the king, ' since many a mile of sea and land intervenes between us, and perhaps ere this they sleep in the grave. The dangers of their adventurous journey, and the long period which has elapsed since they were heard from, settles that point completely in my mind. The beaute- ous Ida, as yet, knows not that my attentions are the result of a passionate love, but considers them as the gallantries to which she is so accustomed.' ( My liege,' responded the minister, ' her majesty, 30 THE KNIGHT OF THE SILVER CROSS. your royal consort, would find enough to rouse her revengeful spirit, and would not tamely submit to such an act. If you divorced her, she would soon find means to bring the powerful armies of her father, the Byzantine emperor, against you.' ' Then would I league with the Turcoman for his destruction,' exclaimed the king, in anger. ' But what right have you to stand here talking thus to me ? Is a monarch to hear a lecture from a subject ? Away ! leave me ; breathe but a word of what I have said, and I will apply a moral to your sermon that will make you dearly rue its delivery.' The minister bowed, and left him, half in sorrow, and half in indignation, saying to himself : * This must not be. I have been faithful for years to the family of the king, while virtue ruled then- counsels, but I shall never acknowledge the dominion of a vicious monarch, and I shall see if I cannot secretly thwart his purposes. If Lord Cretolius should return now, all would be well.' At that moment, the door of the guard-room opened, and three officers of the guard entered, and having sought the king, one of them addressed him thus : ' My liege, will your majesty deign to hear me ? Two travellers have arrived at the gate, and desire admittance. As your majesty has given orders that no person shall be admitted during the hours of night Avithout your express permission, we have sought your presence to obtain it.' 1 Who, and what are they, that causes the ap- pearance of my brave officers at this unusual hour ?' 1 Lord Cretolius, and his son Everard.' ' Lord Cretolius !' exclaimed the king, with a start of THE KNIGHT OP THE SILVER CROSS. 31 surprise ; ' how un ' unwelcome, he would have said} but quickly recovering himself, and changing the frown on his brow to an affable smile, ' how unexpected, yet how pleasant is this news. Come they alone ?' ' No, your majesty, a knight of the order of St. John, an envoy to your royal highness from Cyprus, is in their company.' ' What, ho ! Duke Cestalius, take the imperial legion of our guard, and speed to the western gate. The long-absent sons of Palmyra are there, Lord Cretolius and the young Everard ; conduct them with due honor to their ancient palace, and there leave them.' At this announcement the dancers ceased, and amid the conversation which ensued, Ida left the hall in delighted haste, and in a very few moments was riding rapidly homewards, surrounded by a band of armed attendants, to prepare a welcome for her father and brother. Knights armed in haste, and nobles mounted their steeds. Hundreds of their followers, with banners and polished arms, set out in advance of the imperial legion, and ere long the brilliant cortege turned into the street of palms, and proceeded towards the western gate. 32 THE KNIGHT OF THE SILVER CROSS. CHAPTER IV. The castle of Cretolius. A gorgeous welcome. The knights of St. John. The lieutenant's tale. An explanation. LADY IDA, having reached her home, gave orders to her couriers to waken the adherents of the house of Cretolius, and call them to the castle. The trumpets of her heralds rang out upon the morning air, and their cries resounded again and again as they shouted : ' Cretolians, rally round your ancient banners, and our sweet Lady Ida. The Lord Cretolius comes from a far land, and the lady calls you to his welcome.' This cah 1 was not without effect, for soon from every dwelling in the vicinity of the castle, and in that quar- ter of the city where it was situated, issued armed men, and ere long the Lady Ida marshalled before her man- sion three thousand sturdy retainers, with helmet and breastplate, with spear, and shield, and scimitar, whose armor shone in the beams of the fast waning moon like silver. Lights glanced past the loop-holes of the castle, and THE KNIGHT OF THE SILVER CROSS. 33 flashed from the casements; servant-maids ran over each other in long passages in their hurry, and waiters tripped against stone stairs in dark corridors. The banqueting hall was cleared of the accumulated rubbish of three years, and the tables were spread with a small but choice repast. Dusty bed-rooms were swept and cleaned, which had not been opened since the noble left his home. Lamps were lighted again, in whose vases mould had been accumulating for months. The Lady Ida seemed to be everywhere. One mo- ment in the court, the next in the hall, then in the high- est turret, to which she often ran to ascertain if she could see aught of the welcome comers. At last, while standing there, she suddenly heard, amid the^ pauses of the breeze, the sound of distant music, and soon the bright torches carried at the van of the cor- tege, appeared, turning into the long street from the street of palms. Nearer and nearer pealed the martial notes, nearer came the banners of the imperial legion, and ere long, while rank after rank filed past the castle with glitter- ing arms and floating plumes of snowy white, the vaulted halls and corridors echoed back the shouts of the armed bands and the answering welcome of the Cretolian retainers, who were drawn up in two long lines on either side of the avenue. Behind the legionaries rode a gay and gallant group of nobles and knights in the most splendid costumes ; and in their midst Ida's quick eye distinguished the loved forms of her father and brother, between whom she saw a chevalier in dark armor, who appeared to be carrying on an animated conversation with them. >4 THE KNIGHT OF THE SILVER CROSS. The gorgeous array stopped in front of the castle. After bowing to the assembled nobles, all of whom re- fused politely an invitation to enter, thinking their pres- ence might mar the pleasure of the family re-union, Lord Cretolius, Everard, and D'Arville, rode across the drawbridge, and found themselves in the spacious court. Here they dismounted and entered the hall, where the lovely Ida threw herself into her parent's arms, and with her eyes gazing into his, murmured : * My father, my dear father !' * My sweet daughter, my dearest Ida ! How have you prospered during our absence ?' ' Well as well as could be expected, when those I loved were away. All I wanted was the presence of yourself and Everard to make my happiness complete. Brother,' said she, turning to Everard, and holding out her hands, which he grasped with affectionate warmth, and imprinted a loss on her lips ' how I have longed for your return !' * Now we are here, we must to-night be happy enough to atone for the dreary hours of absence past,' answer- ed Everard, who then introduced D'Arville. [SEE ENGRAVING.] How they passed the next hour or two in relating incidents, in making inquiries, in telling anecdotes, and describing scenes, as they sat around the banquet-room, while the retainers feasted in the great hall below, we leave the traveller, returned home, to judge ; and sweet was sleep on the eyelids of all when they retired to rest. ####:*#:* The sun was scarce two hours high, when D'Arville THE KNIGHT OF THE SILVER CROSS. 37 and Everard sallied forth from the gateway of the cas- tle to enjoy a walk in the street of palms. Here they came suddenly upon a spacious mansion, embowered in trees, in front of which, to his surprise, D'Arville "saw a number of men engaged in cleaning black armor of the same description as that usually worn by the knights of St. John, but he was still more surprised when some of them, on perceiving him, advanced and greeted him with the salute usually given to a superior officer. Their faces seemed familiar, he entered the gate and discovered that they were no others than the brave knights of his own troop whom he had left a month before in Northern Syria, under 'command of his lieu- tenant. 'Ha!' said he to one, 'how is this? what strange chance hath brought you hither ?' ' That, Sir D'Arville, is a long tale, and cannot be told in a moment. If you will step in, you will find the lieutenant, with the rest of the troop, making mer- ry at the table, and I think he understands .the matter better than I do,' replied the soldier. D'Arville and Everard passed through the porch, and hearing the sound of voices through a half open door, they stopped a moment ere they entered, to view the scene which presented itself. A long table stretched through the apartment, on which were scattered promiscuously, drinking cups, flagons of Avine, baskets of fruit, and other light edibles. Sixty or seventy knights of the order of St. John were seated around it, clad in a sort of military undress, their armor being hung against the walls of the apart- ment on stout hooks made expressly for the purpose. 38 THE KMGHT OF THE SILVER CROSS. At the head of the table the banner of D'Arville was displayed from the ceiling, and beneath it sat the lieu- tenant of the corps and six chevaliers of rank superior to the rest younger sons of noble families, whose purses were too slender to admit of their maintaining themselves in the splendor in which they had been brought up, and their pride too soaring to allow them to be dependent on their more fortunate elder brothers. The drinking cups of all were filled, and they rose to drink a sentiment of one of the chevaliers, which was as follows : ' Death to Palmyra if e'er her king and rulers prove themselves base enough to give us into the hands of our foe.' The cups were hardly drained when D'Arville push- ed open the door and entered, saying : 1 Methinks you have but little fear of death to your- selves, to drink death to Palmyra, within its walls by daylight.' ' An Arville ! an Arville !' shouted many of the knights. ' Welcome to D'Arville !' rang out from every quar- ter. lj ' Fill up, fill up, brave hearts, fill up to the brim, and drink a welcome to the pride of chivalry. Here is a welcome glass to our brave leader,' said the lieutenant, handing a cup of wine to the knight, and another to Everard. ' Now for my toast, since you are all ready : ' May the sword of D'Arville often again cleave a way with ours to the heart of the Moslem camp, as it has often done in by-gone days. May his snowy plume ever be the beacon to guide us through the stormy field of fight, and his life be continued till the THE KXIGHT OF THE SILVER CROSS. 39 last follower of Mahomet shall have perished from the face of the earth.' A round of applause followed this, which made the floor tremble beneath their feet, and D'Arville having announced his friend, they both took seats at the head of the table, amid cries of ' Hail to D'Arville and the future Lord of Cretolius.' ' Now, Sebastian, if it please you,' said D'Arville, * we will be amused with the story of your adventures and those of our brave knights since I last left you in Northern Syria, and the series of adventures which may have caused you to come hither.' ' Well, you shall be gratified, and when you have heard it, you cannot but acknowledge that at least I know how to manage a good retreat,' said the lieuten- ant, Sebastian, laughingly. ' One sunny afternoon, just about a week after you left us, the governor of Anlar, hearing there was a band of Turcoman horse, numbering about two hun- dred, ravaging the country twenty or thirty miles to the south-east, sent us out in pursuit of the knaves, to see if we could not stop their marauding. We rode all the afternoon, and did not see anything of them till nightfall, when we reached the summit of a hill, and perceived, far away over the sands, an encampment which we supposed to be our foes. ' After waiting awhile, and finding no movement among the tents, we concluded they did not see us, and as soon as darkness closed around us, we directed our course towards their position, taking the stars as our guide, and did not doubt that we should be able to reach them by midnight. ' Having no means of judging of the lapse of time, 40 THE JCNIGHT OF THE SILVER CROSS. we supposed it to be a little after midnight, when we halted, having been unable to discover them, but to our surprise the rosy streaks of dawn began to appear in the east, and not long after, the light of morning shoAv- ed us that we had passed them in the night, and there, far behind us, as St. John is my patron, appeared the encampment in the edge of the horizon. Turning in our footsteps we were about to retrace our path, when we saw innumerable other encampments of the same description, both to the east and the west. ' Finding it impossible to return, and seeing the gleam of arms amid a cloud of dust which now seem- ed to be nearing us rapidly, we moved southward as fast as we were able, hoping that we might escape. At night, however, our pursuers, who were double our number, overtook us, and instantly gave us battle. We formed two fronts, as they charged us from two directions, receiving them steadily on the points of our lances, and as they recoiled from the shock, our heavy troopers pressed their light squadrons with such vigor that they were driven back with the loss of thirty men. ' This did not prove sufficient, for in a few moments they returned again to the charge, with cries of " Hafed and conquest," and were again repulsed in the same manner. Finding themselves baffled, they drew off to a safe distance, and held a consultation, after which they separated in different directions, and rode rapidly off. Judging from this that they intended to bring all then- bands against us, we resumed our flight southwards, in hope of reaching this city ere they could overtake us. ' We travelled till midnight, and gained the moun- tains, thirty miles north of this, where we halted till morning. Looking northward, at daybreak, from a THE KX1OHT OF THE SILVER ROSS. 41 summit over which we travelled, we saw the red dress- es of the sultan's guard scattered over the plain, and to the east a body of Arabs^ whose movements indica- ted an intention to intercept our progress, which object they managed to accomplish just as we entered the plain of Palmyra. But they dearly rued it, for our good weapons laid many of them low, and put the rest to flight, and another hour saw us safe within the gate of this fair city.' ' In faith it was a noble venture,' said D' Arville, as the lieutenant concluded, 'and might compare with Xenophon's famed retreat from the armies of Persia.' ' But what did you mean,' asked Everard, ' by giving such a toast as that we heard when we entered the room ? Do you imagine we would drive you from our midst back into the desert, after seeking safety here ?' ' Young man,' replied Sebastian, ' you have not been in the city much of late, or you would have heard that which is on every tongue. Rumors are rife that your king will do even as I have hinted.' ' He dare not thus act,' said Everard ; ' but why do you imagine this of him, or whence had such rumors their origin ?' ' I will tell you as comprehensively as possible. We were scarcely here a week when two Turcoman princes, Hafed, surnamed the Lion of Turkestan, and Selim, the dauntless son of Ben Istam, accompanied by their sister, the princess Azalie, came hither as am- bassadors from the Sultan of Iconium, who threatens to overwhelm this city with his vast armies, unless your king will deliver us up unconditionally to those who pursued us hither.' ' And does the king stop to deliberate whether he shall or not ?' said D' Arville. * Let him tut attempt 42 THE KXIGHT OF THE SILVER CROSS. to give my band into the hands of these scarlet-robed Turcomans, and he shall find, ere he can, blood will flow like water through his streets. At all events, me- thinks I have something for his ear which will make him quickly decide whether he would have us friends or foes.' ' If the king should wish to betray you,' responded Everard, ' I can guarantee to you my assistance and that of my father in your defence, and should it come to blows, we have a noble legion of citizen soldiers, three thousand strong, who would fi;ht to the last for O ' O the honor of Palmyra, and the interest of the house of Cretolius.' ' I thank you,' said D'Arville, as he pressed Everard's hand, ' for the interest you evince towards my warriors and myself; and should I ever have occasion to return it, you will find I am not ungrateful. But we must hasten to your father's house and acquaint him Avith that we have just learned. Sebastian, I would see you ere nightfall at the palace of Cretolius. To-night I am to be presented at court, and as the Turcoman warriors are there as a suite to the ambassador princess, I also, as an envoy, have the right to introduce my own suite. From the known character of Hafed, we may have some bloody 'work there, but at all events, we will be ready for the knaves should they attack us ; therefore, my gallants, polish up your arms and cleanse your doublets, that we may make an appearance calculated to impress favorably the minds of the nobility. For the present, I bid you all adieu.' The knight and Everard now took their leave, the whole band rising from their seats in deference, as the guests passed the threshold, and were soon again in the street of palms on their homeward way. THE KNIGHT OP THE SILVER CROSS. 43 CHAPTER V. D'Arville's reception by the king. Rescue of the princess Azalie, Ingratitude of Hafed^ the Lion of Turkestan. Tlic king's base proposal. Ida's indig- nation. THE evening sun threw his last rays upon the dome of the imperial palace, and gilded the arms of the sen- tries who paced the summits of every tower, and as the light of day faded from without, the spacious halls of the marble edifice gradually became dim and gloomy. An hour passed, and no sound of revelry had been heard around. Nought was there visible to the eye or apparent to the ear, which would have led a chance passer-by, in the silent twilight hour, to imagine that here the majesty of Palmyra held its chosen home. Soon, along the highway, the tread of armed men was heard, and now the appearance of the first noble guest, with a gallant retinue, seemed to be the signal for a change as sudden as it was striking. From every turret gleamed a vivid brightness, from every window 44 THE KNIGHT OF THE SILVER CROSS. issued a radiant light, and every hall of the wide-spread palace became illuminated with a blaze of splendor. Noble succeeded noble, knight followed knight, in rapid succession, and with them came the beauty and the worth of Palmyra. The Turcoman princes, Hafed and Selim, were there with their fair sister, Azalie, attended by their suite of grim Moslem war- riors. All was in readiness ; the king, seated upon a throne of gold, inlaid with emerald and pearl, wore upon his brow the diadem of his race, and in his right hand rested the sceptre which swayed the destinies of his people. Beside him bloomed his youthful queen, a northern violet transplanted to a warmer clime the rose-bud from the banks of the dark-flowing Marmora, blossoming upon the plains of Syria. But now a burst of stirring melody awoke the echoes of the place, and those whose presence all had aAvaited appeared. The heavy footsteps of mailed knights clanked upon the marble floor of the corridor, passed the ante-room, and when the doors swung back upon their pivots, there appeared the envoy of St. John, Lord Cretolius, and Everard. Close upon their footsteps came a hundred veterans of the order, in solid square, armed cap-a-pie, who, as they trode heavily past the Turcoman band, and took their places opposite by direction of a master of ceremonies, cast upon them glances of stern defiance, and received in return looks of dark hatred. The king graciously welcomed the duke and Ever- ard, and as the former presented D'Arville, the monarch extended his hand to the manly warrior, expressing his pleasure at the interview, and desiring to know how he could best meet his wishes. THE KNIGHT OF THE SILVER CROSS. 45 ' Most noble prince of an ancient race,' said D'Ar- ville, ' I come from Alan Grevana, commander in Cyprus, of the order of St. John, and viceroy of the realm, to bring to your knowledge important intelli- gence, of which I am the bearer, and point out dangers in your course which none here have yet discovered. I am the honored instrument of a mighty brotherhood- in-arms, empowered to act and treat with you for the benefit of the order, and the destruction of our mutual foes, and ask, respectfully, that you will grant me a hearing in presence of your assembled senate in secret council.' ' The ambassador of such a puissant ruler as Grevana of Cyprus, and the representative of the gallant knights of the silver cross, whose deeds of chivalric renown have rang throughout Palestine, arid caused Arabia and the East to tremble, hath but to ask, and he shall have ready and sympathizing auditors,' replied the king. ' And when,' said D'Arville, ' shall I have the honor of presenting my message to the king and nobility of this favored city of the orient ?' The king whispered to his minister, and answered : * At the third hour before midday to-morrow, my Lord Cretolius will conduct you to the senate-chamber, where the lords and barons of the realm will meet you. Herald, proclaim aloud our mandate that all may hear.' Three times the herald of the king sounded his bugle, and as the last note died away, a silence prevailed throughout the assemblage, so that the words of the herald were heard by all, as he cried : ' Listen to the word of the king ! Dukes, lords, 4 46 THE KNIGHT OF THE SILVER CROSS. barons, and senators, of this ancient city and this glorious kingdom, we summon you to the senate- chamber of the palace, to-morrow morn, three hours before the sun shall reach the meridian, that you may hear and ponder upon the words of Alan Grevana, commander in Cyprus, of the military order of the knights of St. John of Malta, as delivered by the mouth of his valiant brother-in-arms, Percy D'Arville, knight grand cross of the order, and baronet of the realm. Hear and obey.' After this ceremony, the king descended from his throne, and having assumed his ball-dress, re-appeared, and gave the signal for the festivities to commence. During the time he had been conferring with D'Arville, the Lady Ida had entered, and as she thought, unper- ceived. But the monarch's quick eye discovered her form as she stepped into an alcove and seated herself on the cushions around it, and he now sought her as his partner in the dance. Sir Percy D'Arville laid aside his massive armor, and clad in a dress of dark blue, trimmed with gold, lightly touched the hand of the queen, and with her moved gracefully amid the dancers. Directly over the spot, where stood the Turcoman princess, Azalie, a massive globe, several feet in circum- ference, was suspended, from whose side issued jets of brilliant flame. Some cause had weakened the sup- porting chains which attached it to the ceiling, and the regular vibrations of the music and the dance so tried their power, that one after another snapped in quick succession, just as D'Arville, Avho had perceived the dangerous situation of the princess, snatched her in his arms, and lightly sprang aside with his fair burden, THE KNIGHT OF THE SILVER CROSS. 47 who would otherwise have been inevitably crushed beneath the weight of the heavy globe, as it fell crash- ing to the floor with a startling sound. CJ O The veil of the princess, as it waved out behind her with the quick motion of the knight, was caught by the descending mass and torn from her head, and there, in D'Arville's embrace, close to his manly form, his sur- prised but raptured eyes beheld the loveliest woman they ever had rested on, and as he looked upon her beautiful features, and gazed deep into her soul-lit orbs, which glanced first upon the shivered globe upon the floor, and were then raised to his in gratefulness, and as quickly averted in modest bashfulness, he felt that the citadel of his heart, which he had hitherto held impregnable, had at last fallen, conquere'd by the loveliness of a gentle Moslem maiden. The princess modestly withdrew herself from his arms, a blush mantling her fair brow, and deepening the roses on her cheeks. At this moment, the elder Turcoman, Hafed, sprang forward, with fury displayed in every lineament of his countenance, and seizing the knight quickly and unexpectedly from behind, flung him violently down among the sharp fragments of the globe, exclaiming, as he did so, in the Arabic tongue : 1 Accursed Giaour ! dog of a Christian ! darest thou to touch with thy unclean hand, the peerless daughter of Ben Istam, the pride of the Turcoman tribes! Darest thou to lay thy foul fingers upon the flower of the Euphrates ! By Mahomet, had I my scimitar, did not the infidel monarch fear to let the sons of Turco- mania wear their trusty steel within his polluted hall, I would sever thy head from thy detested body, and give thy carcase to the vulture and carrion beasts of prey !' 48 THE KNIGHT OF THE SILVER CROSS. < Thou art wrong, brother,' said Selim, catching in his arms the form of Azalie, as she sank fainting back- wards, 'and hasty as the desolating simoom which sweeps over the only oasis in the desert. The Christian did nobly and well, and has kept mourning from the tribes of Ben Istam, and wailing from the household of our fathers. May the choicest favors of the prophet fall forever on his head, like the dews of morn, and may his life be sweeter than the air of dawn which hath passed across a thousand fields of roses.' 'Fool!' answered Hafed, 'wilt thou, too, be an infidel dog? Now by the beard of the prophet, I could throw thee upon the senseless shape of this swine-eating Frank, and send thy contemptible soul to the regions of the accursed with a good will.' ' And as for me,' exclaimed Selim, as his fine face flushed with indignation, 'I can meet thee in the strength of a good heart, and with the help of Allah, to whom be all honor, give thee to the eternal stings of a conscience over which ingratitude hovers like the nights of Egypt, and offer the angel of death a fitting victim. I dare you to the trial !' ' Silence !' cried an officer of the guard, having made his way to the spot, with two or three hundred of the imperial legion, ' say but another word, and I will show you both to the darkest dungeons of the palace keep. Your ambassadorship will not save you from such a fate. Back! knights of St. John! for there must be no tumult here in presence of the king !' con- tinued the lieutenant, perceiving the veterans, who had now discovered the cause of the uproar, were endeavor- ing to force a passage through the dancers to the spot. The officer drew his men up in two lines along the THE KNIGHT OP THE SILVER CROSS. 49 hall, one facing the Turcomans and the other the aroused knights, both of whom seemed anxious to sweep away the wall of weapons that intervened, and bathe their hands in each other's blood. Others of the legion now entering, soon succeeded in restoring order, and after some delay all went on as before. In the meantime Selim had placed the princess Azalie in care of a female attendant, and assisted Everard and a few nobles in raising D'Arville from the floor, and conveying him to an adjacent apartment, whither the Lady Ida, leaving the king, also hastened. Here, while employed with the others in endeavoring to restore the knight to consciousness, her eyes often met those of Selim, and once, when her hand acciden- tally touched his, the rich blood leaped into her beautiful face, and gave her eyes a softer expression. She had witnessed the whole scene just past, and heard the words which ensued between Hafed and Selim. As she understood the Arab tongue, she knew from his words that he did not feel any malice towards her nation and race, and his passionate look, while it thrilled her own heart, taught her that love had changed a bitter foe into a warm friend. The Lady Ida, having re-entered the hall, accepted the arm of the king, and at his invitation stepped into a magnificent apartment with him, at the opposite end of the room, whither he said the queen had retired, with her suite of maidens, to view some curiosities which had just been sent to her by her father, from Marmora. As they crossed the threshold, he whispered to an officer of the guard a few words, which she did not distinctly hear. The officer shut the door behind them, and Ida found herself alone with the king ! 50 THE KNIGHT OF THE SILVER CROSS. < My liege, how is this ? I do not see the queen nor her maidens. Did I misunderstand your words, when I imagined I heard you say they were here, examining some curious embroidery from the hands of the Greek maidens ?' asked Ida. Nay, fair lady, you heard rightly,' replied the king. 1 Then where are they ? or why have you deceived me?' { Hear me a few moments, and I would tell you all you would know,' responded the monarch. ' Nay, my liege, I cannot stay alone with you. It were unmaidenly, and if I do not quickly return to the company, will excite remarks hurtful to my pure fame. This is ungenerous in you, my liege.' 1 Let my love be my excuse, for it is all the excuse I have.' ' Love !' exclaimed the fair Ida, in astonishment, * for whom ?' 'For your own beautiful self, sweet girl,' said the king, passionately. 'I love you dearly, fondly, de- votedly. I cannot, will not live without you, for you are dearer to me than all besides. Kingdom, wealth, power, and honor, are nought to me, without your love. Those gently expressive eyes, that charming face, those tempting lips, that voluptuous form, have raised in my own bosom a storm of passion, which ' ' Man ! know you to whom you talk ?' cried the indignant Ida, whose dark blue orbs flashed fire, as the warm blood mounted over bosom, neck, cheeks, and temples, to her very forehead, ' and have you forgotten yourself? Go to your injured queen, confess your fault, tell her what you have dared to do, and ask her forgiveness and that of heaven. Tell her you have THE KNIGHT OF THE SILVER CROSS. 51 spoken of dishonor to a daughter of the house of Cretohus, tell her you have sought to sully the escutch- eon of our lordly race, and tell her that the reward you would bestow upon them for the blood and treasure they have spent in your service, is the basest ingratitude, shown in this attempt to overwhelm them with shame, and then ' ' Fair maiden, you wrong me,' interrupted the king, as he attempted to take her hand, ' hear me but a moment.' ' I have heard too much, sir,' said she. ' Unhand me, or by all that I hold virtuous I will make you repent this. As it is I will publish it to those without, and ask how long they will be ruled by such a villain.' The king laughed hoarsely as Ida rushed to the door, and threw it wide open. She started back in affright, for close at her bosom were the points of a dozen spears, wielded by the guardsmen of the imperial legion, and ere she could recover from her terror, the lieutenant again shut it, and Ida heard the springing of a heavy bolt without. She stood still in thought an instant, and then, turning to the king, cried : ' Allow me to leave this room, and that instantly, or I will raise an alarm that will bring to my relief those who would wreak vengeance upon your guilty head.' ' Try it and see,' replied he. ' I knew what I was doing when I brought you hither, and the wildest shrieks you chose to pour forth would not be able to penetrate these walls. Beware, lest your opposition change my love to hate, for I can hate as well as love.' ' Well, then, I defy you,' said Ida, ' I dare you td* hate me. Do your worst, and you will find that inno- cence and virtue are proofs against such malice as 52 THE KNIGHT OP THE SILVER CROSS". yours. Now, sir, will you cause this door to open or not?' The king hesitated, and thinking for a while, at last came to the conclusion he could not advance his suit at that time, and therefore it would be as well to let her escape him for the present, if he could only get from her a solemn promise never to betray his secret, resolving in his own mind to place other agencies at work for the accomplishment of his intentions. ' I will allow you to leave me, if you will swear not to divulge what has passed between us.' 1 Sir, I will publish it to the four winds of heaven,' said she. 'I will bring upon you the anger of my father and my brother, and teach you that a daughter of our house"is not to be insulted with impunity.' 1 Then you will never leave this place alive !' ex- claimed the king, advancing towards her with a drawn dagger in his grasp 'choose, death or the oath of secrecy !' ' What ! a murderer also ? strike, then, if you dare !' said Ida, boldly facing him. 'Ah, you tremble in every limb, you quail before the fearless glance of innocence, and your coward hand refuses to obey the cruel mandates of your heart !' 'My heart!' exclaimed he, as he staggered back, and clasped the hand from which the dagger fell, upon his brow, ' my heart is agonized with your scorn, and torn with your refusal !' I will promise you not to reveal your actions for a twelvemonth, and thus give you a chance to atone for your fault by good conduct,' said Ida, imagining that the tears fast falling from between his fingers were those of repentance. THE KNIGHT OK THE SILVER CROSS. 53 The king caught at the promise, and cried : ' Sweet girl, I throw myself upon your generosity, I accept your kind promise, I have done bitter wrong. O, do not make this, my error, the cause of my ruin ! It is the first wrong act of my life, and I promise you it shall be the last !' * Well, sir, so let it be. But, remember, dare ever to speak to me again during that twelvemonth, and you shall dearly rue it. My threat I shall hold as inviolable as my promise.' ' Kind angel, I thank you. What ! ho ! without ! allow the Lady Ida instant egress !' At this the bolt flew back, the door opened, and Lady Ida, without deigning a single glance at the apparently weeping monarch, moved proudly from the room, and passing through the guard, "Succeeded in reaching her brother's side in safety, where she was glad to find that it was supposed herself and the king had merely stepped into the balcony of the palace to enjoy the refreshing air. ' Ha, ha !' said the king, as soon as he was alone, * does she imagine I will be thus foiled ? My tears were those of anger and wounded pride. I will soon contrive to get her in my power, in some manner which shall clear me of all suspicion of having connived at her disappearance.' o 54 THE KNIGHT OF THE SILVER CROSS, CHAPTER VI. Tlie knig-hfs guerdon. Hafed's anger. A desperate conflict. The bower of the Lady Ida. Selini's tale of love. Idtfs resolution. D'ARVILLE recovered his senses in the course of an hour, but those around him concluded it would not be advisable to tell him what had passed till his strength was fully restored. His first inquiry was for the Turcoman princess he had saved ; and being told she was in health and unharmed, his mind sought to discover the cause of his present situation, and the means by which he became covered with bruises. He was led to believe that a part of the globe had remained suspended from the wall when the rest fell, but had dropped aftenvards upon him. This seemed perfectly satisfactory, as he asked no more questions. Ere long the hour of departure arrived, and as Lord Cretolius had dispensed with a portion of his guard that evening, it was agreed that the troop of knights should escort the Lady Ida and her father to their home, after which Everard and D'Arville. intended to THE KNIGHT OF THE SILVER CROSS. 55 proceed to the quarters of the corps, and spend a social hour. The knight, therefore, proceeded to don his armor, and the others to make their preparations. While thus engaged, the Moslem passed through the ante-room, and Hafed could not resist the temptation thus offered him, and tauntingly addressed D'Arville as follows : ' How likedst thou," vile Frank, thy resting place among the broken brass of Arda ? was it a pillow for thy knightly head of fitting softness ? By the prophet, thou wert in the very midst of thy glory then.' ' What say you, knave ? Let me understand your words, for they seem to me as senseless as yourself,' said the knight. ' Ha, slave, senseless ! But thou wert senseless a short time since, when I flung thee on the floor, for daring to presume to lay thy accursed hands on the fair princess Azalie,' cried Hafed. ' Begone, knave ; you boast of that it is not in your power to perform. If your imagination leads you thus astray, I am here to prove its wanderings false as the mists of Egypt.' ' I boast not ; Hafed cares not to boast idly, for that which I have said I this night performed. Have the poor tremblers at your side told you otherwise, then I will say their tongues are like the tongues of their race deceitful as the serpent.' ' Is this true ?' said D'Arville, as his now flashing eye glanced quickly from one to the other ; ' is this true ? Does no one contradict it ? There, then, Saracen, is my defiance, and with it take my bitterest malison,' continued he, as he brought his mailed hand down upon the turbaned head of Hafed with such force as to cause the latter to sink at his feet insensible. 56 THE KNIGHT OP THE SILVER CROSS. The knight stalked proudly and indignantly from the apartment, leaving the Turcomans to discover their prince as best they might, and Avas goon engaged in conversation with his friends of the house of Cretolius, as they rode along the highway, escorted by the knights of St. John. The prince Hafed soon recovered, and asked of those who had raised him to call his band around him. They came ; and while he stood an instant to recover his strength and recall his scattered thoughts, they gazed in silence upon his flushed brow, his fiery eye and compressed lip, and intuitively knew there was desperate and deadly work on hand for them. ' Where is my smooth-tongued brother ?' asked he. ' He hath not returned hither to us,' answered a sol- dier, ' since he aided to remove that galliard dog of a Christian from the bed of brass whereon you so boldly laid him.' ' Fool !' cried Hafed, ' he hath doubtless sought to carry his pretty face into the harem of that Christian beauty, in whom he takes such interest. He thinks I know nought of it, but I overheard him, in his dreams last night, talk of scaling her window, and offering her a share of his future throne. Now may all the ghoules in Turkestan seize them, ere either of them touch the sceptre of the East. And that black-mailed Frank, he has smitten a prince of the tribe of Ben Istam, and may the prophet banish me from paradise, if I do not send his soul to wander amid the darkness of Tartarus, ere yon fast-waning crescent shall veil her silver light.' Thus saying, the prince led his warriors to the court- yard, where their armor was deposited, and having seen all accoutred, and mounted on their snowy and THE KNIGHT OF THE SILVER CROSS. 57 powerful steeds, he rapidly took the way in pursuit of the knights, leaving the fair Azalie behind in charge of a dozen of his men. They soon reached the street of palms, and turning towards the eastern gate, crossed a few wide avenues, and drew up before the edifice usually occupied by the knights. Dismounting, they rushed through the gate, passed the garden and entered the house, hoping to effect a surprise, but no one was within, and they returned to their horses, Hafed hurriedly addressing his followers thus: ' 'Tis better that it should be so, for now we will meet them in the broad street, where our nimble steeds and glancing scimitars will give us an advantage over their S!OAV squadrons. Follow, and let us form our ranks in yon dark lane, from whence we can dash into their midst sudden as the snows which every spring glide in a crushing avalanche adown Turkestan's moun- tain sides. Follow, and let our course be as the simoom of the desert which sweeps onward in silent destructiveness.' Having led them to a narrow lane, where darkness was thick and gloomy, where the moon fell not a lane which entered the street of palms at right angles he there formed them, and seemingly, to the chance passer, nought within that dim lane indicated that in its obscurity the Moslem awaited, with deadly intent, the approach of the Christian knights. #*=*#**#* ' Yes,' said D'Arville to Everard, ' you are right. We are now near our quarters, and Avhen we are safe within its walls, I will tell you many a tale of bold adventure that will make you wish for knightly honors.' 58 THE KNIGHT OF THE SILVER CROSS. 1 1 shall be glad to listen,' responded Everard, and then, as the idea entered his mind, ' but methinks the style in which you bearded the traitorous Hafed would form the ground-work for a bitter hatred. He is said to be as unforgiving and revengeful in character, as he is relentless in his treatment of his Christian cap- tives, and daring in his attempts to capture them.' ' His hatred is nothing,' replied D'Arville, ' for mine is doubly strong. If he would seek revenge he shall have it, but it shall be mine to give it, in answer to the fall he gave me this night. I care not for him, and only hope he will give me the chance of meeting him face to face. Then, with the help of St. John, my good sword shall maintain and defend the defiance I sent him. Would that he and his troop of wolfish slaves were here now, and I would shoAV you of what stuff our gallant knights are made. You should see a combat worth witnessing.' ' He is here, in your path, Prankish dog !' cried Hafed, dashing suddenly from his hiding-place, and aiming a blow at the head of D'Arville ; ' death to the infidel. Warriors of Ben Islam, forward, forward ! strike till the red blood shall stream upon your scimitars like crimson rain. Onward for the glory of the mountain-tribe Alla-il- Allah ! Alla-il- Allah! He is great, and Mahomet is his prophet. Onward, like the scathing lightning, warriors of the scarlet turban.' One moment within the dark lane was heard the quick trampling of steeds, the ringing of arms and accoutrements ; the next, the Moslem burst forth from the entrance into the bright moonlight, which bathed their glittering sabres in silver, and dashed into the dark ranks of the knights of St. John, who were scattered in an instant before this unexpected charge. THE KXIGHT OF THE SILVER CROSS. 59 < Rally, knights of St. John, rally !' cried D'Arville, as he fought hand to hand A\ ith Hafed. ' Will you let the despised slaves of an easiern tyrant trample you down thus ? Rally, for God ard St. John, knights of the silver cross ; strike for the glory of your order.' Quickly recovering, the dark-mailed soldiers of the cross gathered their iron phalanx, and pressed upon the Moslem from every quarter, mingling their ranks with those of the scarlet-robed foe, till the scene seemed variegated with red and black. Bright scimitars shone downwards in the moonlight, and while piercing shriek or stifled groan gave evidence of then* deadly effect, they rose again tinged with a ruddier dye. Steel rang against steel, and shivered lance and broken shield gave out a clear sound on the midnight air. Higher and fiercer rose the strife louder and sterner the heavy blows resounded through the firmament, as the shining weapons crashed through helmet and breastplate, or were met by a warding stroke. Mingled were the cries of ' Alla-il- Allah ;' 'St. John and the silver cross ;' ' onward for Ben Istam and glory ;' ' strike for St. John and victory ;' and amid the tumult, where gleamed the diamonds in the helmet of Hafed the Lion of Turkestan, the snowy plume of D'Arville, the pride of chivalry, waved above the fiercely-contested scene of strife. The rush of the Moslem charge had separated these leaders, but now, as the hand of Hafed smote the dauntless and gallant Everard from his horse, D'Arville caught sight of the Turcoman, and his irresistible weapon cleft a way through the intervening followers of Mahomet, leaving behind him a line of dead, till his steed bounded against that of the prince, and he cried : 60 THE KNIGHT OF THE SILVER CROSS. Now, base ingrate, I am ready to take back the guerdon of my regard I gave thee in the palace ante- room that stunning blow. Come on, and let me see if thou canst be as bold in the field as when thou took me at a vantage in the hall. St. John and victory, but that was well-aimed,' said he, as he warded the stroke of Hafed's light scimitar, and brought his own weapon down towards the prince's head, ' see if that will be truer to the mark.' Hafed, by touching his steed with the spur, evaded the blow, and then springing forward, struck his scimitar into the face of the knight, inflicting a wound on his cheek. ' Ha ! have I you there, Christian slave ? am I a boaster now ? Now will I send thy soul to the region of despair ; now will I strike for Ben Istam and the prophet thus and thus.' As he said this, Hafed attempted to sheath his scimitar in D'Arville's throat, but the latter, with a blow of his weapon, shivered that of the Turcoman in pieces, and as the prince gave back, the gallant knight shouted, swinging his heavy sword against the head of Hafed: ' And I strike, knave, for St. John and the holy cross, before whom the prophet and thy race must fall, as thou shalt before my arm.' The form of Hafed quivered an instant, and then fell senseless into the arms of a follower, who bore the body rapidly away on his swift steed, shouting : ' The lion of our tribe has fallen. Sons of Ben Istam, your gallant leader has been smote to the earth by the white-plumed Frank. Hafed leaveth the field to the victor.' THE KNIGHT OF THE SILVER CROSS. 61 These words were the signal for a flight of the assailants, who now turned with deep execrations, and followed the course taken by the rider bearing the inanimate form of their prince. The moon's cold rays fell on a scene of blood in that fair street of palms. The pavement Avas strewn with broken arms, and side by side on the cold stone lay the Moslem warrior and the gallant knight, in the calm sleep of death. Many a manly cheek was blanched, and many a noble heart had ceased its pulsations. Twenty of the soldiers of the silver cross had fallen in the encounter, and forty of the chivalric sons of Ben Istam bit the dust. Everard was raised from his unpleasant situation and conveyed into the armory of the knights, which was close at hand. Here the physician of the corps examined his wounds, and pronounced them not dan- gerous, and not of a nature to have any other effect than a few minutes' insensibility. On hearing this> the knight involuntarily exclaimed : ' Heaven be praised, for it were indeed a pity should this brave youth have perished thus in a street-fight. I hope he may live to become an honored member of the order. I'faith, it was a galliard fray, and a wel- come one, and gallantly have my brave knights performed their devoirs. ######## The chamber occupied by the Lady Ida was in the wing of the castle of Cretolius, overlooking the inner garden of the court, from whence a trellis ran up over her window, and wreathed itself around the casement, hanging down in graceful festoons upon a little ledge a few feet below. This ledge ran around the whole 62 THE KNIGHT OF THE SILVER CROSS. wing, and terminated at the stairs leading up the western front. At this time the moon shone from the opposite side of the window, so that a dark shade was cast upon the garden, and the face of the wall whence her window looked forth was wrapt in its gloom. This chamber was large and spacious, and though originally a sleeping apartment, was now used as a boudoir by the Lady Ida, who retired to rest in an adjacent room. In the boudoir were seen the innumer- able little articles of vertu which constitute one of the chief charms of these bowers of beauty, and musical instruments were dispersed in convenient situations. The furniture was of the most magnificent description, * and soft couches and crimson hangings gave the whole an air of ease and comfort, quite in contrast with its outward appearance. A bright light burned in the centre of the ceiling, which threw its radiant flood into the remotest corner, into the deepest crevice, and flashed out from the window in splendor. Upon the softest couch, with her side toward the window, sat the Lady Ida, looking like the very impersonification of beauty. Her soft, white hands supported her cheek, and her eyes were turned upon the floor in thoughtful mood, while images of the past and dreams of a delicious future floated through her mind. She was alone, yet not alone, for in her fancy she saw the youthful Selim at her feet, a welcome suppliant. His loving glances shot through her mem- ory, and the thrilling touch of his hand, so well remembered, while hanging over D'Arville in the ante- room of the palace, again recurred to her mind, and she felt within warm hope sending its happy influence through her frame. THE KNIGHT OF THE SILVER CROSS. 63 1 Selim,' she sighed, in Arabic, t why art thou not here ?' A whisper met her raptured ear : ' Selim is here, bright star of Palmyra, Selim is near thee.' She raised her eyes, and there, just kneeling at her feet, the form of Selim bent in love, and as he took her hand and pressed it to his ruby lips, he said : 1 Fair Ida, disdain me not, spurn me not. I love thee dearly. Thou art dearer to me than his desert home to the ranger of the winged steed, thou art fairer to me than the sunny valleys of my own smiling land are to the sons of Ben Istam. Thou art all to me. O, beauteous Ida, look in smiles upon him who bends at thy feet a suppliant for thy favor ; tell me that I am sometimes in thy thoughts. But why should I ask, when the softly-lisped accents of my name fell on my ears but now ? You do, you do love me, dearest, dearest Ida.' The blushing maiden suffered him to retain her hand, although her eyes remained modestly drooped towards the floor. He covered it with kisses, and then, passing his arm around her waist, clasped her for a moment to his bosom. The light of joy beamed brighter from her eye the blush deepened upon her cheek, but she lingered in his embrace ; she, the proud belle of the Palmyrene court, in the embrace of a Turcoman, one of her country's dreaded foes. ' Say that you love me ; tell me that I am not hateful to you, flower of Palmyra, light of my eyes ; give me a word, a glance, to tell the fond truth, and the token shall be forever cherished in my memory.' 64 THE KNIGHT OF THE SILVER CROSS. For an instant the light of love flashed from her eyes into his own, as she tremblingly raised them, and ao-ain veiled their loving glance with her silken lashes. ' May the blessings of paradise be yours, fair Ida, and the dews of prosperity fall forever on thy gentle head. O, will you not share with me the throne of Ben Istam and my father's realm? Thousands of maidens shall attend your every wish, tens of thousands of the bravest sons of Istam shall defend your every step, and your nod shall be life or death to millions. Will you not fly with me on my desert steed to the land of the rose and the laurel ? Tell me, dear love tell me, delight of my soul, and keep me not in sus- pense.' As Selim concluded this impassioned appeal, the Lady Ida's face became painfully agitated, as if some severe struggle was going on in her mind ; and then rising with determined air, she retreated a few steps, and thus addressed him : ' Selim, it cannot be. Dearly as I love you and now, at the moment I am about ordering you to quit me, it would be selfish in me to deny it dearly as I love you, I cannot be yours. I am a Christian maiden, brought up to abhor your religion, your race and your customs ; you are a Turcoman and a Mahomedan, trained from infancy to the bloody task of destroying the soldiers of the cross taught to consider woman of no apparent value other than a mere toy to pass away an idle hour or two with, and then coop her up in your closely-guarded harems, to sigh away a life of cap- tivity ' * Nay, maiden, hear me, I pray you, and doom not one you love to a fate worse than captivity, darker than death,' interrupted Selim, eagerly and passionately. THE KNIGHT OF THE SILVER CROSS. 65 ' Do not interrupt me, for it is in vain. True, you have, in the case of your sister Azalie, departed from your usual rule in bringing her into the presence of your sex, but that was an exception, and doubtless matter of policy. I consider woman as ordained to make the life of her husband happy, to mould society, and be equal Avith her lord. Therefore, and also for the reason that your , people and mine are bitter enemies, we must part, inevitably and at once.' ' Maiden,' exclaimed Selim, ' why should you be so cruel ? Why should you utter such piercing words to wound my heart ? I am not your enemy, and for your sweet sake, I shall ever be the advocate of your people at my father's court. Do not banish me forever. Tell me, at least, that I may seek you again in a month or more, and I will leave you contented, and revel in the hope thus held out to me !' ' Why should this be so ? It is best for both that we should never meet again, if we cannot be united,' said Ida, as the tears came into her resolute but loving eyes. 1 Why, do you ask ? Because it will save the soul of him you love from destruction, and light his dark course with the morning star of hope. Gem, fairer than the East can boast, refuse me not this boon, this parting request, and I will call on Allah to bless thee forever and ever.' Ida pondered a moment on the request of the youth, and then replied, in a half-mournful tone of voice : ' Be it as you say, but not so soon. Three months must intervene ere you see me again, and in that time it may be that changes may give you more cause for hope than we than you at present have. Adieu.' 66 THE KNIGHT OF THE SILVER CROSS. The Lady Ida held out her hand to him, but Selim folded her to his breast, imprinted on her lips a last, fond kiss, and murmuring in the ear of the blushing maiden a few fond sentences, he tore himself away, as approaching footsteps echoed along the corridor, threw over his shoulders a long cloak, and placing on his head a peasant's hat, stepped through the window and disappeared. Ida watched his course along the ledge without, tijl he reached the tower-stairs, descended them, and van- ished beneath the arched gateway of the castle. She then drew her curtains, called her maidens to disrobe her, and was soon slumbering upon her couch, dreaming of change, and union with the loved one of her heart. THE KNIGHT OF THE SILVER CROSS. 67 CHAPTER VII. Selim's surprise. TJie flying Moslem. Hafed's recovery. The princess Azalie. Selim's solitary ride by moon- light. The flaunted castle. A daring adventure. WHEN Selim left Lady Ida, after passing out of the castle gate, he crossed the street to a shady nook op- posite the lordly Cretolian mansion, where he had fastened his trusty steed, and loosing the bridle clasps, mounted and rode slowly along in the moonlight, on his way to the Saracen quarters, which, hoAvever, he was destined not to reach that night. As he thus proceeded, wrapt in meditation upon the events of the last hour, and lost in ecstatic thought at the idea of having gained the love of the peerless Lady Ida, he imagined he heard a strange and unusual sound echoing through the midnight air, and listening atten- tively, distinguished the uproar of human voices, and the ringing of steel against steel. Putting his horse to the trot, he moved rapidly for- ward, and as he neared the street of palms, the lelies or war-cries of Alla-il- Allah ! fell distinctly on his ear, mingled with the well-remembered shouts of St. John 68 THE KNIGHT OF THE SILVER CROSS. and victory. These sounds ceased as he reached the avenue, and in their place the clattering of hoofs coming fiercely forward startled him, and as he turned the corner he found himself borne away irresistibly by the rush of the flying Moslem. In vain he tried to curb the noble animal whose back he bestrode, in vain attempt- ed to turn his head aside ; Avith the bit grasped firmly between his teeth, the powerful beast followed the im- pulse of the moment, and fled with the flying. 'Sons of Ben Istam, cease your coward flight. Knaves, 'tis Selim would wake you to your senses. May the ban of Eblis fall upon your traitorous souls, if you draw not the rein. Slaves, I tell you, stop. Why should you thus rush heedlessly along when none pursue ?' This appeal produced the desired effect, for the Moslem gradually reined in their chargers, and gather- ed around the young prince Selim to await his further pleasure. ' What meaneth all this, and wherefore your coward flight ? Speak truly, or by the beard of Mahomet you shall dearly rue it.' The aga, or captain of a hundred, replied with a salaam : ' Your brother, the prince Hafed, may he li ve a thous- and years, was not satisfied with giving the black knight a fall in the palace, but must needs attack him and his troop of devils near their quarters, and the con- sequence is, that with the help of Eblis, the black knight and his demon followers have sent us away with 'the loss of a third of our number, the best of our veterans.' And where is Hafed ? is he among the fallen ?' asked Selim. THE KNIGHT OF THE SILVER CROSS. 69 ' The prince hath fallen, but we know not whether he be dead or not. Yonder he lieth, across the back of that warrior's steed.' ' Ha, he moveth,' said Selim, ' take him off quickly, and bring hither in thy helmet Avater from yon trough.' The prince Hafed was lifted from in front of the soldier who had borne him aAvay from the fray, and seated upon a bench in the porch of a neighboring man- sion : water was poureoT plentifully over his head, and soon he was able to take a draught from the helmet, of the refreshing liquid, after which he revived sufficiently to say, in a faint tone of voice : ' Selim, Azalie is still at the palace. Hadst thou not better take one half of the troop and seek her ? May my star be dim, but that blow the Prankish dog dealt me had Avell nigh crushed my skull, but thanks to the strength of my helmet rim, I can still live to be avenged upon him for it. Had lie struck an inch or two higher, he would have saved himself much trouble.' ' I will go for Azalie,' answered Selim. ' In the meanwhile, sons of Ben Istam, form with your lances a warrior's litter, and convey the prince Hafed to our abiding-place, for he is still too weak to move alone. Thirty of yon, follow me.' Thus saying, Selim turned his steed, and followed by a number of the Turcoman warriors made the best of his way to the palace of the king of Palmyra. Here, in the ante-room, he found the princess Azalie patiently awaiting her escort. ' Brother Selim, how pleased am I you have come at last. My endurance has been almost exhausted, and I have been in such a state of trembling anxiety ever since Hafed left me, that if you could have known my 6 70 THE KXIGHT OF THE SILVER CROSS. thoughts you would have pitied me ; for I knew, by his determined words and bearing, and fierce looks, when we parted, that he meditated something dreadful.' ' Calm yourself, flower of the Euphrates,' said Selim, as he led her and her attendant maiden to their horses, and assisted them to mount, ' calm yourself, for Hafed is not hurt. A slight bruise from the sword of that Christian knight stunned him, but his armor proved good, and he will be able to be in the saddle, again, ere the dawn shall call the nobles of Palmyra to their senate- chamber.' ' I am joyful, but I you have you heard ' Azalie seemed much confused, and stopped ab- ruptly. ' What is it that embarrasses you, sweet sister what would you know ? Let us ride ahead, and when alone, you may ask Selim freely what you will, and he will answer,' said the prince. ' That that Prankish knight is he has he fallen ?' asked Azalie. For an instant, surprise held Selim silent ; lifting the edge of his sister's veil suddenly, he looked upon her blushing cheek, and read in her downcast eyes a tale that filled him with emotion, and then, as he dropped the tissue, he exclaimed, in a deep, impressive tone : ' Azalie, deny it not you love this Christian knight.' ' Nay, nay. I did not say so,' cried Azalie, l but he saved my life, and I feel grateful to him. Nothing more nothing more.' ' Azalie, you cannot deceive me ; it is useless to at- tempt it. You love this foe of your kindred, this war- rior, brought up to hate, and trained to deslroy our race,' said Selim, fiercely, but dare to think ' THE KNIGHT OF THE SILVER CROSS. 71 Azalie raised her veil, and sending a searching glance through his eyes into his very heart, inquired, in a meaning tone : ' And is the prince Selim faultless in this respect ? Does he know of no Christian maiden for whose love he would give all he possesses ? Does his heart not thrill with the tender passion, and has not the fair flower of the house of Cretolius left its fragrance in his bosom ? Selim, I have seen all, I have watched the warm gaze with which you regarded her, and I know that you love her ; I have caught the modest glances she bestowed in return, and I read in her starry orbs the love she felt for you. And, Selim, can you blame Azalie for that of which you yourself are a participant ?' The eyes of Selim fell before those of Azalie, and as she concluded, he extended his hand toward her, with the single word, ' Sister.' Azalie dropped her hand in his, murmuring, ' Brother.' It was enough. The secrets of each were known to the other, and they now reposed in each other the ut- most confidence ; and Selim determined to aid in gain- ing the happiness of Azalie, even though it should be needful to surrender her to the keeping of the black- mailed foeman of Ben Istam. For awhile they rode in silence, Azalie feeling too timid to repeat the question she had at first put to Selim, respecting the safety of the gallant knight who had saved her life. The prince, however, was not long in divining the nature of her thoughts, and with a delicacy natural to his kind heart, unasked, informed her : ' The brave warrior of the snowy plume fought nobly against Hafed and his band, and it was his warlike arm that struck our brother down. Hafed received his 72 THE KNIGHT OF THE SILVER CROSS. deserts, and glad am I that he hath met with this re- verse ; for his ingratitude towards the preserver of my dear Azalie merits no kindness from me, neither does the hatred I have perceived growing upon his heart to- wards me latterly permit me to sympathize with him in his defeat. Had I been present, I assure you this at- tempt would not have been made, for I would have Avithdrawn from his band those warriors under my im- mediate command, and thus made his numbers too few to allow of making the attack. The Prankish chieftain escaped the fray unharmed. May the blessing of the prophet rest upon his head !' ' Thank you, my brother, for your sympathy. But tell me what will the lords of Palmyra say to this? Think you it will not bring us into trouble ?' asked Azalie. * Nay,' answered Selim, ' they will trouble them- selves but little about a combat in which the followers of Mahomet have been defeated and put to flight, no farther than to glory in the momentary fall of the Lion of Turkestan. By the beard of the prophet, but I could lead our followers back to the fray, and teach these nobles that the arms of our race may yet be invincible. I could die on the scene of battle, to wipe away this stain on the valorous fame of Ben Istam, the dauntless tribe.' * No, brother,' said Azalie, imploringly, ' think not of it. Do not let your pride overcome your affection for your sister, or your love for the Lady Ida, so far as to permit you to seek the destruction of the race of her you love, and the death of him I ' 1 Why do you stop, dear sister ? fear not to confide in me,' said Selim, changing the proud, stern tone in THE KNIGHT OF THE SILVER CROSS. 73 which he had spoken, to one of gentler import. ' You would say, the death of him you love. Nay, that I never could, for the debt of gratitude with which I am overwhelmed, when I gaze on you, and think that but for him, the pride of Ben Islam's mighty tribe, the joy of the house of Othman would now have been in the seventh heaven among the houris of paradise, and our lent would have been clothed in mourning, when all this crosses my mind, I feel towards Ihe brave D'Arville as a brother.' ' Thus it should be, Selim ; thus should the princes of Ben Islam regard those who have Avon iheir graleful remembrance. Bui, brolher, we are near home, and musl soon meet Hafed, whose reproaches for being absent from the fray, and for assisting the bruised knight in Ihe palace, will, I know, sling you lo mad- ness ; bul do not, I pray you, draw your scimitar, lest I should mourn one brother fallen by the hands of another.' ' Sister,' said Selim, fondly, ' you are ever thus, ever mindful of me, ever thoughlful of my inlerests, and I cannot repay you other lhan by acceding to your re- quest. Though his taunts should be more painful than the tormenls of Eblis, yet will I not touch my weapon, and in my endurance you will find a proof of my affec- tion for you.' ' Selim, how kind you are. The blessings of Heaven rest on you.' ' And the glories of paradise rest on your head a thousand years, sweet sister ; but now we are here, I will see you enter in safety, and then pass an hour in Ihe moonlil slreets, for I feel no inclination to rest at present, after the events of the evening. My guards 74 THE KNIGHT OF THE SILVER CROSS. may also retire to their apartments, as I need no attend- ants.' Thus saying, Selim turned his steed, and rode leisurely along the street of palms, till he came to a broad ave- nue crossing it at right angles, the street of Artanius, down which he proceeded, alone and unattended, re- volving in his mind the best plan of obtaining the hand of the dear being to whom he had pledged his love, and recalling to his memory the soft words of affection which she had spoken in answer to his passionate ap- peal. Absorbed in these delicious reveries, he noticed not the surrounding objects, and suffered the rein to hang idly in his hand, while the charger which bore him took his own course over the pavement. Full half an hour had elapsed in this manner, when the horse of Selim stumbled over a clod of turf, and nearly fell. Selim started from his waking dreams, drew the rein tight, and as the animal recovered a firmer footing, the prince looked around, and to his surprise found himself traversing an unfrequented road near the city walls, passing amid neglected gardens and ruined edifices, the remains of Palmyra's former grandeur, dim memorials of a glorious past. The moon's cold rays fell on a gigantic pile, which stood in silent gloom at the roadside, the massive tur- rets of which shot high up into the still air, and looked in dim sorrow over the desolate scene. The broad expanse of the dark stone of which the Avails were built, showed no gleam of light through loophole or casement, and the dry moat and broken gate told of unnoticed decay. As Selim gazed, he felt a sense of awe cross his mind, which to his daring soul was a pleasurable sense, though to one less adventurous, less THE KNIGHT OF THE SILVER CROSS. 75 fond of the marvellous, the scene would have been replete Avith terror. Suddenly a single light gleamed through an embrasure, high, high up in one of the old towers, and then disappeared. ' Ha !' said Selim, ' and is this the haunted palace of which the sons of Palmyra stand so much in dread ? Is it of this edifice that the neighboring traders in the street of palms have told so many and such wondrous tales of fearful import to the warriors of my band ? Is it from hence that groans and shrieks issue forth at the witching midnight hour, at times, and startle the chance traveller from his propriety ? Is this the scene of the wild legends which have thrilled many hearts with the spirit of adventure so often of late ? Now, Allah be praised, I shall have a chance to put my mettle to the proof, and see if these strange stories of the haunted palace of an extinct line of nobles be true.' With these words, Selim put spurs to his steed, and soon reached the front of the grim building, over the mouldering draAvbridge of which he urged his way. He still wore the Palmyrene cloak and hat, which he had donned before he made his way to the boudoir of the Lady Ida, and its ample folds effectually hid from view the shining corslet, the gemmed doublet, and the glittering arms of a Moslem prince. ' How strangely sounds my horse's hoof upon this echoing bridge. Ha ! it is the haunted palace ; I know it by the tiger's head carved over the massive arch, and the brown portcullis standing at the side. How damp this arched way seems, as if it had collected the moisture of centuries to chill the heart of the darin^ 1 o one who should first tread beneath its dropping ceil, 76 THE KNIGHT OF THE SILVER CROSS. and bid him turn ere Ha! what ails thee, Leila?' said he, as the snowy steed on which he was mounted shied, and pricked its ears in terror ; ' what ails thee ? dost thou see aught in yon dark nook to cause thee thus to give back ? That is no shadow ! by Eblis, that is no shadow. Come forth, my trusty blade, and we will sound the recess with thy shining length, and see what it will bring to light. Ha! have I stirred you?' As Selim said this, his scimitar was torn violently from his hand, and thrown upon the ground, and the next instant a gigantic figure bounded from the dim nook, glided away across the wide court-yard, and disappeared within a doorway leading into a tower, on the opposite side of the building. ' Now, may Mahomet aid me,' said he, as he stooped to pick up his weapon ; ' but that was nothing of this world. Such motion by my beard, it moved as swiftly over the ground as Azrael, the dark angel of death. How my heart bounds with excitement, and anticipa- tion of further wonders. May the ghoules of Turkes- tan seize me,. but here is a tinge of blood upon my trusty scimitar, as if fingers of flesh and blood had grasped its potent edge. This is encouragement enough to seek farther.' Leading his horse to the edge of the inner gate, he fastened him to a staple in the wall, and then crossed the court and entered at the turret door, through which he had witnessed the disappearance of the gigantic form. Here he found himself in a square chamber, from which two doors opened on either hand, and in front, a narrow winding stair led upward. Selim tried 'the THE KNIGHT OF THE SILVER CROSS. 77 fastenings of both doors, Avhich were locked, and knowing that the dark figure could not have come out again without being perceived, the prince drew his cloak closely around his left arm, and with his scimitar in his right hand, resolutely ascended the winding stairs. The dimness was such, that he had to feel his way, step by step, save occasionally, when he passed a loop- hole where the moonlight streamed in and made darkness visible. Now and then, he came to short landing-places, or platforms, on the stairs, from which doors had originally opened, all of which he tried and found fast. Step after step, he made his adventurous way, step after step, he rose upAvard through the gloom, step after step, in endless duration, till his brain seemed almost to reel with the continued turnings of the staircase, and the stifling closeness of the atmosphere oppressed his breathing. Soon, however, the moonlight streamed down upon his head from above, from the entrance opening from the topmost stair upon the roof of the turret, and soon the pure fresh breezes of heaven delighted the senses of Selim, as he inhaled their delicious softness, and stood upon the summit of the tower. In surprise he looked around him : * How is this ? no one here ? and I tried every door I passed as I came up. Mahomet help me, but this is strange. I shall begin to believe these peasant stories if such an adventure happens to me again. Now there is nothing for me but to descend, and see if I can see aught from without the castle walls, but I ere I proceed to do so, I will enjoy this beautiful prospect a few moments. 7 78 THE KMOfff OF THE SILVER CROSS. From the high turret whence he gazed, Selim could see over all Palmyra, save that small portion hidden by the eminence in which stood the royal palace, two miles distant from him. At least one third of the space within the walls was occupied by ruined dwellings and neglected gardens, most of which were in the immedi- ate vicinity and close beneath him, and as he looked forth, Selim felt his heart expand with the beauty of the scene. His eye sought, among the rest, the palace of Cretolius, and he almost fancied he could see the light burning within the boudoir of Ida, but in that he was mistaken, for she had retired full an hour before, soon after he had left her. A loud sound from the court of the palace now attracted his attention, and looking over the parapet of the tower, Selim saw, far below him, his snowy steed prancing and bounding as if in fear, and evidently attempting to break the bridle which fastened him. The cause of his alarm was apparent, for close beside him, Selim distinguished, near the gate, a dim form, motionless as a statue, who appeared to be regarding the animal with surprise, or at least, Selim so judged, as the dark arms were raised in the attitude denoting that feeling. As Selim looked, the figure moved toward the animal, as if to seize its head, when the charger broke away suddenly, and rushed out the gate and over the drawbridge with clattering hoofs. The prince stopped but a moment to lift a stone from the ruined parapet, and topple it over the edge, whence it went crashing downward with a terrific sound. Ere it had reached the pavement below, the adventurous Turcoman was on his way down the winding stairs again, descending THE KNIGHT OF THE SILVER CROSS. 79 as rapidly as the darkness which prevailed within would allow. At last he reached the bottom, and emerged into the court-yard again, scimitar in hand. Carefully and softly he picked his way across the area, listening attentively to every sound, and reached the place where he had fastened his steed. To his astonishment he could find no traces of the broken bridle, and he thoughtfully made his exit from the gate, intending to find the runaway charger, and afterwards return to the castle and continue his explorations. Proceeding out into the road, he found the traces of hoofs, and following them for some distance, came to a gate leading to a vast enclosure adjacent to the city wall. As the animal had evidently entered this en- closure, he continued to trace the marks of the peculiar shoes worn by the horses of the Turcoman emir's guardsmen, and after an hour's search discovered him, motionless, in a corner, covered with perspiration, and all in a tremor from head to foot. As soon as the faithful steed perceived his master, he gave a whinny of delight, and advanced to meet him. The prince addressed a few words of encouragement to him, patting him fondly on the shoulder, and led him towards the road again. On examining the broken bridle, a piece was discovered to be missing about a foot in length but whither could it have gone ? It Avas not in the road, nor in the castle court, for the prince would have seen it, had it been. Could the dark figure have taken it, and if so, what was his object ? what could he want of it ? The prince, on reaching the road, took the Palmy- rene cloak from his shoulders, and laid it over the back 80 THE KNIGHT OF THE SILVER CROSS. of the steed, that he might not catch cold by standing still after his hot run. Mounting, he directed his course back toward the haunted palace, and on arriving there rode round the outside to discover from what window the light he had seen issued, and endeavoring to find some indications by which he might be guided in his farther search. None appearing, the richly-dressed Selim, divested of his cloak, led his charger into the palace yard. After a short search, he succeeded in finding a room on the ground floor, in which he might secure his horse, by closing the door, till he should again need him, thus preventing his again escaping. This being accomplished, the prince strode up the broad staircase leading to the great hall, and after looking around to see if all was still in the court-yard, while his arms and magnificent dress gleamed in the moonbeams, he boldly opened the door and entered I THE KNIGHT OF THE SILVER CROSS. 81 CHAPTER VIII. The senate-chamber of Palmyra. A stormy session. D" 1 ArvilW s disappointment. The maniac. The knights defiance. Hafed's threat. THE rosy tinge of morn appeared in the east, and slowly the sun rose above the horizon, bringing a day filled Avith importance to the interests of Palmyra, a day in which Fate expanded his sable wings, and dropped their sombre folds over the senate-house. And when the sun, at his meridian, poured a golden flood of radiance through the palaces of that fair city, his rays could not warm the noble hearts oppressed with sad- ness, or dispel the gloomy shades of anticipated evil which held sway in the bosoms of the bravest in the realm. Within the walls of the senate-chamber, the nobles and barons of Palmyra sat, hi seats of most luxuri- ant softness, engaged in anxious conjectures as to the nature of the communication they expected to receive from the envoy of the knights of St. John, to hear whose message they were now especially assembled, according to the order of the monarch. 82 THE KNIGHT OF THE SILVER GROSS. The walls of the chamber were plain, but the ceiling, supported by twenty exquisitely carved pillars of Grecian marble, glowed above their heads in all the magnificence of burnished gold, and sparkling gems. The windows, high and broad, were covered with partially drawn curtains of the most ethereal blue, clasp- ed at the sides Avith silver, and from their tops projected inwards a broad capital or cap-stone of marble, ele- gantly wrought, over Avhich the silver fastenings min- gled in contrast with the blue folds of the curtain, making a fit hiding-place for the daring spy who should chance to seek a knowledge of the secrets of state-policy dis- cussed by the noble rulers of the kingdom. At the upper end of the chamber stood the mag- nificent throne of the king, and opposite, a cushioned seat of beautiful embroidery marked the place to be occupied by the envoy of St. John when he should ap- pear. Twenty-one lords and a hundred barons fill- ed the hall, clothed in their senatorial robes, and without the doors a hundred of the imperial legion held strict guard, while a thousand of the guardsmen, in full armor, awaited in the courtyard the orders of their sovereign. A movement among the guards attracted the atten- tion of the senators, and simultaneously two doors were thrown open, through one of which appeared the king and his ministers, and through the other entered the Lord Cretolius and Everard, accompanied by D'Arville, the knight-envoy. All rose as they entered, and remained standing till they had taken their scats. Everard, who was, in virtue of his heirship to the hon- ors of Lord Cretolius, a baron, sought his allotted place among the minor order of senators. THE KNIGHT OF THE SILTER CROSS. 83 The doors having been shut, and the guards forbid- den to admit any others, the herald of the king arose, at a given signal, and after sounding liis bugle thrice to attract attention and command silence, as was custom- ary, spoke thus : ' Chosen ones of Palmyra, hear ye the words of King Iscora, ruler of this mighty realm. Ye have been gathered to hear the mission sent to our great monarch by Grevana of Cyprus, that dauntless soldier of the silver cross, and advise thereon as best suiteth you in honor and in judgment. Percy D' Arville, knight grand cross of the order of St. John, the king giveth thee a welcome and by his pleasure you have permission to speak. Arise, and declare to us the words of thy chief> Grevana of Cyprus.' As the herald concluded, D' Arville arose, and said : ' Most potent majesty of Palmyra, and ye noble senators : my mission is of boundless importance to you and yours. It is a mission, your decision on which involves either safety or ruin to this fair city. I am empowered to treat with you of a concert of action against the Turcoman and the Saracen ; a concert in which will join the Greek emperor with his mighty armies and countless treasures of gold ; the gallantry of St. John, with their well-trained knights and black- mailed warriors, invincible on the stormy field and un- shrinking in the contest ; and the soldiers of the king- dom of Palestine, led by their most renowned princes and most powerful leaders. Besides these, a host of the chivalry of Europe wait but our call, to pour into our aid in all the panoply of glorious might.' ' And what,' said the king, ' would you have us to do ? Take part in this wild scheme, and bring down 84 THE KNIGHT OF THE SILVER CROSS. upon our heads the overwhelming numbers of the Mogul conqueror, and the bold riders of the sultan of Iconium ?' ' You are in happy ignorance of passing events. Know you not, that on the death of the great Mogul, his boundless empire has become broken in pieces ?' asked the knight. ' Know you not, that the emirs and chiefe of the tribes have declared their separate inde- pendencies, -and that the Saracen power is also destroy- ed in fact, though in name it still exists ? Yet this is all true. But I came to warn you of a more danger- ous foe, of the insidious Turcoman, the sultan of Iconium, whose many emirs are clamorous to be led against Palmyra.' ' The sultan of Iconium,' exclaimed the king, ' is our warmest friend, and you know little when you hint at his being our enemy. He may be an enemy of St. John, as I should judge from his sending hither the princes Hafed and Selim, the sons of the emir of the tribe of Ben Istam, to ask of us the delivery of your fugitive band of knights.' ' I tell you, by the patron of our order,' earnestly ex- claimed D'Arville, ' you are mistaken in this, and you will, ere long, if you take not my warning, find that your confidence is misplaced. The sultan of Iconium is even now intriguing with his neighbors, and making secret preparations to bring against you his armed bands, in answer to the prayers of his warlike princes and emirs.' ' If he comes, we must purchase peace,' said the king, in a determined voice ; ' for we cannot oppose him, and must do the best to avert the threatened danger.' THE KNIGHT OF THE SILVER CROSS. 85 ' Purchase peace ?' * Descend to bribery ?' ' Never, never !' were the words echoed from different parts of the hall, as many of the senators rose to speak in answer to this unexpected proposition of the king. ' I have said it,' replied the monarch, sternly. ' My Lord Morden, since you continue standing, methinks you would say something on the subject.' ' Yes, and what I say I feel assured will meet with a response from the bosom of every true Palmyrene. Ere we degrade ourselves so far as to offer the accurs- ed Saracen a bribe, ere AVC thus stoop to purchase that safety which our own right arms should achieve, ere we do this, may our bones lie bleaching on the burn- ing sand beyond our eastern wall, may every stone be toppled from its place in this fair edifice, may every wife be a widow, every mother childless, and every child an orphan. Ere I shall consent to this detestable act, my blood shall moisten the floor of this chamber, and my last breath be spent in defending our good fame. Death, rather than safety purchased at the ex- pense of honor !' Loud cries of applause rent the air as Lord Morden concluded ; the king rose from his seat with an angry glance in his eye, and the red flush of passion tinging his features, though his compressed lips were bloodless. Standing a moment to collect himself, lie said in a bit- ter tone of voice : ' And is there no other here to keep the fire of anar- chy in a flame by the moving eloquence of his breath, no other to defy a foe who is yet far away ?' ' There is the Baron Cretolius can echo from his heart the words of the noble Morden, and join him hand in hand in his noble resolve in defying the ene- 86 THE KNIGHT OF THE SILVER CROSS. my of our race and yielding up our lives rather than our honor.' Still louder rang the cries of applause, as Everard reseated himself after the delivery of his opinion, and still darker grew the brow of the king, as he asked : ' Most valiant sirs, which of you can tell me how we are to meet the foe whose enmity you thus seek, and where we shall find the hosts we need to meet them, or the resources necessary for the maintenance of our legions ?' ' I, for one,' said the aged Lord Cretolius, ' can bring into the field the gallant legion of Cretolians, the three thousand retainers of our house, and for a year supply from my coffers every want. My son, the Baron Everard, shall lead them to the strife, and perish rather than yield the victory.' ' And is it so ?' cried the king ; ' am I deserted by all in whom I placed confidence ? and is the policy which has carried us in safety through the storms of the last / century, through the fearful scenes of the crusaders, and which saved us from the destroying Mogul is this policy to be trodden under foot as useless, and thrown aside in this perilous hour ?' ' Nay,' replied one of the barons, ' we said not so. All we have declared is, that we would rather die than stoop to bribe the sultan of Iconium. The necessity for that death, however, has not yet come, for even if the knowledge imparted us by this gallant envoy of St. John is true, which I doubt, we know not but some internal commotion of foreign war may occupy the Turcomans and Saracens, ere they find time to bring their tribes against us.' ' Another !' exclaimed the king. * Another to say THE KNIGHT OF THE SILVER CROSS. 87 die rather than consent to a peaceful settlement of our difficulties, by the poAver of gold. Are ye all traitors ? Let me know, I implore you. Let those in whose bosoms the sentiments of the four nobles who have spoken finds an answering echo, arise, that I may knoAv on what I can depend.' In answer to this appeal three-fourths of the nobles and barons present sprang to their feet, and stood in silence, gazing upon the monarch, with firmness and pride in then 1 features. 4 So be it, then. Blame not me,' said the king. * Blame not me when the Turcoman hordes shall gather around your walls ; blame not me when the shrieks of famishing children and the Avail of standing Avives and mothers shall break upon your ears ; blame not me Avhen the besiegers shall enter your gates, and through your kennels blood shall flow like Avater, and in your streets the bodies of Palmyra's braA r est and best shall be piled in heaps ; Avhen her noble sons and daughters shall become ghastly carcases in the highways, food for the canker Avorm or the ravening vulture ; Avhen the smoke of burning mansions shall hover over this beau- tiful city like a funeral pall. Blame not me then, but hide your OAvn faces in bitter consciousness of haA r ing incurred these calamities by your OAvn Avilful perverse- ness and stubborn pride of heart.' The king, Avhose breath Avas exhausted by the vehe- mence with Avhich he had uttered these Avords, threAv himself upon the seat of the throne, and covering his face Avith his hands, remained silent. ' We Avill not blame you,' cried Lord Morden, ' for ere these things can come upon us, many of us Avill sleep in the land of the foe, and die before the Avails of 88 THE KNIGHT OF THE SILVER CROSS. Iconium. Think you we will sit idly here, and permit the sultan to hem us in ? No, but we Avill marshal bur hosts, and with fioAving banners and shining steel, march forth to meet the red-robed sons of Turkestan and the Euphrates, and give them battle on their own despotic soil.' Again a shout of applause shook the pillars, and echoed, along the vaulted ceiling, high above which a* demon laugh seemed to ring in the astonished ears of the nobles. Each looked around to see whence it pro- ceeded, but none could tell. ' Nobles of Palmyra, what answer give you to the proposal of my chief, Grevana of Cyprus ?' asked D'Arville. The king raised his head from his hands : ' Sir Percy Arville, you have heard the words of our nobles ; you have listened to the declaration of their suicidal intentions ; and do you not know what your answer will be ? If you do not, I cannot tell you more than this, that we will not join you iri your warlike scheme, as our attention must be turned to securing our safety by peaceable means ; for it is not now with us as in the days of Zenobia, when our walls held mil- lions of inhabitants, and hundreds of thousands marched forth from our gates to the conquest of Egypt, Arabia and Persia. Now, but fifty thousand men will answer our call to arms, and the four millions of our people of the times of the ancient queen, have dwindled to a tenth part at the present day.' ' This, then, is my answer,' replied D'Arville, bitter- ly. ' Well, then, in the name of St. John, I wish to know whether you intend to deliver my brave band in- to the hands of the emissaries of the sultan ? You THE KNIGHT OF THE SILVER CROSS. 91 would mate with the Saracen in remaining neutral while your friends are at war with him, yet let me warn you against attempting to purchase peace by such an act of perfidy as the betrayal of my brave knights ; for if you do, our allied powers will sweep you from the earth ere we meet the eastern sultans.' ' I care not,' said the king, angrily ; ' let them come.' ' Knight of the Silver Cross,' said one of the nobles, ' fear not for your noble troop, for there is scarcely a senator present that would not die, rather than suffer your Christian warriors to be delivered to this de- struction.' At this moment a lieutenant of the guard entered, after tapping loudly at the door with his sword-hilt, and speaking aloud to the king, said : ' My liege, the prince Hafed waiteth without, and demands instant admittance to your hearing. Is it your will that he should be admitted ?' ' It is, 1 briefly replied the king. The rush of footsteps was heard in the corridor, and the Moslem prince, with demoniac anger visible in his countenance, entered, his hair floating wildly round his shoulders, unconfined by a turban or other cover- ing. [SEE ENGRAVING.] ' Dogs, hounds, slaves, give me my brother ! Where have you put the prince Selim ? Speak, whither have you carried the dauntless son of Ben Istam ? and in what dungeon of your accursed fortress have you placed him ? The fiends of Eblis seize you, if you do not answer truly. Doth no one say aught ? Now, by the beard of Mahomet, King Iscora, if you find him not 92 THE KNIGHT OF THE SILVER CROSS. ere night-fall, your head shall pay the penalty. Ay, frown, and show your teeth, dogs of Mahoun, slaves of the Frank, for you dare not bite. I have said it, his head shall fall for that of Selim, and if the sun goes down ere my eyes look upon my brave brother, you may look to see the black standard of the prophet float- ing on the mountain summits, and the snowy steeds of Ben Islam's mighty tribe coursing around your walls, while from over the desert the countless thousands of Iconium's great sultan shall gather for your destruction. Vile tools of a Prankish dog, I have sworn it, arid by the tomb of the prophet it shall be.' Again that startling laugh echoed through the hall, and its fearful sound sent a thrill of terror to every heart. Even Hafed, the lion of Turkestan, stood in silent amazement. ' Yes, Saracen, yes, ; it shall be ; you shall have your brother, when the knaves of the desert are flying before the victor nobles of Palmyra. I will meet you on the battle-field, and give him to you ; but you will not know the snowy skull, you will not believe they are his bones, for I will scrape with my fingers every vestige of humanity from them. I will give his flesh to the memory of my wife and child, and with his blood wipe away a score from the tablet of my revenge. Ha ! ha ! ha ! go, Saracen, go, or I will add thee to my victims.' At the first part of this wild sentence, every eye had followed the direction of the sound, and there, high up on the stone ledge projecting from the top of a window, half-hidden by the ample curtain which flowed from just above, stood the form of the maniac Marontius, from whose dark and gun-burnt visage gleamed hi* THE KNIGHT OP THE SILVER CROSS. 93 glaring eye-balls like stars in the night, and his white teeth seemed to glisten with exultation. As they looked, he drew his gigantic form from its hiding-place, and seizing the edge of the curtain, let himself down gradually, till he reached the floor, after which, he strode towards the Saracen Prince Hafed, and stood in front of him, gazing into his face with baleful looks of hatred. v In his hand he held a piece of strong Morocco leather, which had evidently once formed part of a bridle, and bore, stamped in its texture, a number of Arabic characters. The prince stepped back into the middle of the guardsmen of the imperial legion, and drew his scimi- tar, evidently mistrusting the benevolent intentions of the maniac. ' Ha ! ha ! vain boaster, where is thy vaunted courage ? Poor fool, I will not touch thee, but let thee live to bring hither thy hordes to glut my vengeance. There is my guerdon.' Saying this, the maniac threw the bridle on the floor, and darted swiftly away, through the open door, overthrowing several of the guards in his impetuous course, and was soon in the open air. When order was restored, the king caused the door to be again shut, and addressed Hafed, who, having recov- ered from the surprise into which the appearance of the maniac had thrown him, was now pacing the lower end of the room like a tiger impatient of confinement. ' Prince Hafed, you say the noble Selim hath disap- peared. When did you last see him ?' 1 Last night, he left the princess Azalie at the door of our quarters, and rode off unattended, since when he hath neither been seen, nor bat why do you ask ?' 94 THE KNIGHT OF THE SILVER CROSS. cried Hafed, angrily, ' you who have caused him to be abducted, why do you ask where he is, or where I saw him ? You know, and may my soul be forever ban- ished from paradise, and may Eblis seize me in his demon grasp, if I do not make you feel my ven- geance, ere a week hath past. Remember, I must see prince Selim ere yon sun tips with gold the sum- mit of that distant mountain, or I shall that hour leave your detested city, and seek my warriors, who now wait but the signal to sweep you away from the face of the earth, and avenge in your blood the wrongs of the prince Selim, the pride of Ben Istam.' ' Knave of a Saracen,' cried D'Arville, ' begone with thy braggart boastings, or I. will make thee feel the edge of that weapon which so nearly ended thy life a few hours since. Bring thy foemen hither, if thou darest, and I will meet thee in the bloody fray again, and see if my arm cannot strike a surer blow.' ' So be it, slave, swine-eating Frank, so be it. If your coward soul will permit you, be there where you have said, and I will revenge that blow. Nobles of Palmyra, you have heard my words REMEMBER.' Having said this, in a tone of voice which breathed the wildest defiance and the most ferocious hatred, the Lion of Turkestan strode proudly from the senate- chamber of Palmyra. THE KNIGHT OF THE SILVER CROSS. 95 CH A P T E R IX. The hall of Cretolius. The knighfs resolution. Sellings disappearance. HafecPs departure in anger. TJie knight in the haunted palace. The dungeons. A discovery, THE table in the festive hall of the palace of Cretolius was spread with delicacies, tempting to the sight and luxuriant to the taste. The luscious fruits of the East, the wines of Shiraz and Cyprus, and the dainty viands of the oriental cuisiniere, stood at intervals upon the embroidered cloth. The last rays of the setting sun streamed against the crimson window-curtains from without. Within, lights of colored wax illuminated the hall. Seated at the table, engaged in conversation, were the Lady Ida and her father, Lord Cretolius, who seemed to be anxiously waiting for the appearance of Everard and their knightly guest. The countenance of the Lady Ida betrayed unusual emotion, and her voice had a tremulous sound, as she said : ' Would that they were here, that we might know 8 96 THE KNIGHT OF THE SILVER CROSS. whether this prince Selim hath been found or not, for if he is not, you say we must expect the horrors of war !' < It is even so, my daughter,' said Lord Cretolius, sadly, ' but yet, there is stiU some hope that we may avert the threatened danger, by setting forth the true state of our affairs to the council of the Turcoman tribes at Iconium, of which the emir of Ben Istam, the father of the princes, is a member. Therefore, if this Hafed leaves us in anger to-night, it has been decided by our senate that Everard and myself are to be sent as ambassadors to the court of Iconium. If so, we leave at dawn to-morrow.' On hearing this, the Lady Ida thought of the con- duct of the king towards her, and spoke earnestly to her father. 1 0, take me with you, send me anywhere, but do not leave me here alone again, or you will never see me more. I cannot tell you why I think so, but there is a strong impression on my mind that such will be the case.' ' Wherefore this sudden alarm, my daughter ?' ' I may not tell you, now, but a year from this time you shall know all, and then you will say that my fears were well grounded,' answered Ida. The venerable nobleman pondered an instant, and replied : ' Well, I will not seek to know your secret. Never- theless, I dare not convey you to the Turcoman court, lest some of the emirs should take a fancy to your beauty, and carry you away from me by force, to immure you in a harem.' ' That is no more than I have good reason to expect if I stay here,' replied the Lady Ida, with a shudder. THE KNIGHT OF THE SILVER CROSS. 97 ' Indeed ! then nothing remains for me but to place you in the care of the English baron, of whose honor and courage D'Arville has often spoken,' said Lord Cretolius ; * ' but let us drop this subject, as I hear approaching footsteps.' Everard and D'Arville now entered, and in answer to the anxious inquiries of Lord Cretolius, the knight remarked as he took a seat at the table : ' The die is cast, nobles of Palmyra, the fate of your fair city is in the hands of your foe. Selim hath not been found, and scarce one short hour since, I saw the prince Hafed and his lovely sieter Azalie, with their grim band of attendants, pass swiftly out of the eastern gate, and ere they had proceeded a mile over the desert, hundreds of their scarlet-riders appeared from every direction and joined their array.' ' And are there no tidings of the prince Selim ?' asked Lord Cretolius, in surprise. ' None,' replied D'Arville. ' The only trace we have of him is this Turcoman bridle, which the maniac Marontius left behind him in the senate-chamber, after his defiance of the prince Hafed. Everard picked it up, and as from this we judged that Selim had fallen into the hands of the maniac, we have been engaged since noon, with five hundred horsemen in scouring the city and vicinity, and have caused heralds to proclaim a reward to any one who should find him, but our efforts were unsuccessful.' ' Have you been to the ruined tomb of king Icarus, without the city walls, where the maniac often passes his time, at this season of the year ?' asked Lord Cretolius. ' We have,' replied Everard, ' and we found no 98 THE KNIGHT OF THE SILVER CROSS. traces of the lost prince. The fragments of D'ArviUe's silken doublet were still there, but as nothing, seemed to have been disturbed since the night of his adventure, and no fresh-spilt blood was discernible on the altar where Marontius usually immolates his victims, we have come to the conclusion that the prince is still alive, and somewhere in the city. The maniac has perhaps had no chance to convey his prisoner out of the city without discovery.' 'It is strange,' said D'Arville, 'that he will never slay his victims anywhere but at the ruined tomb. Knowing this, I have given orders that a strict watch should be kept at all the gates, and told the guards neither to permit the maniac egress or ingress.' ' Have you searched in the palace of Artanius ?' asked the Lady Ida, with a tremulous voice, and a blanched cheek. The knight gazed a moment on her pale and anxious countenance ere he replied, in a sympathizing tone : ' We have, fair lady ; we have searched it from turret to courtyard, and passed through the gloomy dungeons beneath.' 'There is one place,' said Everard, suddenly, 'we have not explored, and now the thought strikes me, it is probable that we might find Selim there. I speak of the decayed castle of the Marontian family, of which the maniac is the last descendant. This palace is in a deserted neighborhood, about a mile and a half hence, and is said to be haunted. None of the lower orders of people dare approach it after nightfall alone, and strange stories are prevalent of supernatural appear- ances seen, and of wild shrieks often heard from hence.' THE KNIGHT OF THE SILVER CROSS. 99 ' The very thing, by my halidom,' exclaimed D'Ar- ville, with sparkling eyes, ' and the very place for an adventure. We will go thither at once, and see if we can discover aught of the missing Selim. I cannot defer it till daAvn, for to-morrow I must leave you, to seek the fulfilment of the vow you heard me make a night or two ago, to restore the captive Azilla and her daughter to the maniac's arms. I have nothing further to keep me here, for I have despatched couriers to G-revana of Cyprus, with the news of the failure of niy. mission to your king, and by a messenger who has just > arrived thence, I hear that the emperor of the Byzan- tines has withdrawn from the league against the Turcomans and Saracens, so that, deprived of his powerful aid, the project falls through. What say you, Everard, shall we have a stirring adventure, in this haunted castle ?' ' I am ready,' answered Everard ; ' when shall we start, and what retinue shall we take with us ? It is dark at present, and the moon will not rise for two hours.' ' We must be there, before then, so that we may have as many hours of moonlight as possible to pros- ecute our search. I will take sixty of my knights, and a hundred of the imperial legion, and a couple of troops of your retainers Avould also be acceptable to guard without the castle, so that if any one is within they cannot escape unseen,' said D'Arville. The knight and Everard, having finished their meal, arose to make their preparations, and ere an hour had elapsed the train of armed men started from the palace gate. On reaching the street of palms they were joined by the soldiers of the imperial legion, for whom 100 THE KNIGHT OF THE SILVER CROSS. a courier had been sent, and soon after, by the knights of St. John, in full armor. The whole array passed from the avenue into the street of Artanius, down which they proceeded in the dim twilight, as rapidly as the darkness would allow. As they neared the ruined castle, the moon gradually rose above the horizon, and lit up the desolate scene around them. All eyes were fixed upon the dark building in front, when the light which Selim had seen on the previous evening gleamed past the casement of the same turret, and disappeared, drawing exclamations of surprise from some of the troop, and of fear from others. Hurried conversations were carried on among the soldiers, many of whom, awe-struck, would have returned, had they not been rather fearful of the ridicule of their companions, which would inevitably be their portion should they display so much pusillanim- ity as to retire precipitately. The troop having reached the castle, the knights and the soldiers of the legion, to the number of a hundred and sixty, trotted across the drawbridge and into the courtyard, where they dismounted and tethered their steeds to the pieces of stone lying here and there upon the ground. D'Arville arid Everard, after disposing the two hundred retainers of the house of Cretolius in con- venient groups around the outer Avails, entered the gate, leaving a strong guard beneath the arch, and another at a postern-entrance in the rear of the build- ing. The Baron Everard, folio Aved by tAventy of the order bearing lighted flambeaux, proceeded to examine one wing of the edifice, and the knight, AA-ith a like number THE KNIGHT OF THE SILVER CROSS. 101 o v f his troop, entered the opposite wing. They ascended the creaking staircases, passed through dusty corridors, looked into chambers ceiled with jasper, on whose floors ancient furniture lay mouldering, broke the rusty fastenings of doors which had been closed for years, and looked forth from the high turrets, upon the moonlight scene below. Nothing of the object of their search met their eyes or ears, and both parties descended unsuccessfully to the courtyard again. They now concluded to search the centre of the building, which as yet they had not entered, and the baron and the knight now ascended the broad flight of steps up Avhich Selim had trodden ere he last looked upon the moonlit earth, and breathed the free air of heaven. Throwing open the door the party passed the threshold, and the massive panneled oak swung to behind them, seemingly of its own accord, with a stunning noise. Simultaneously therewith, a strange appalling sound fell upon their ears, and the brave warriors gazed at each other in silent awe ; the voice of D'Arville, however, recalled them to their self-pos- session. But, in the meanwhile, an incident had occurred at the little postern-gate in the rear of the castle, rather startling in its nature. The guard posted there were carrying on a whispered conversation with each other, when their attention was attracted by a snapping sound behind them, preceded by a terrific shriek, and the next instant, heavy bolts were drawn from within, the postern-gate opened, and a tall, dark figure appeared in the shade of the arch. Ere they recovered from their surprise, the giant form sprang forth, smote to the earth those in his 102 THE KNIGHT OF THE SILVER CROSS. immediate path, and bounded away, howling, over the neglected gardens. A few of those who were mount- ed gave close chase, and Avere soon hidden from view by the intervening shrubbery, though the clatter of their horses' hoofs was heard for a considerable time, till at length the sound died away in the distance. Many of the retainers gathered around the open postern, and peered fearfully into the dark recess, straining their eyes in vain to discover anything amid the gloom. All were lost in wonder and conjecture as to the nature of the apparition, some maintaining that it was the Evil One himself, while others laughed at the surmises of their more credulous and superstitious companions, and persisted in declaring that the giant figure was no other, than that of the maniac Marontius. In the palace-hall, when the dismal echoes of the noise which had thrilled the hearts of the knights with awe had died away, D'Arville addressed Everard thus : ' Whence came that sound, from above or below ?' ' Methought it was from below,' answered Everard. ' To me it seemed directly beneath our feet,' said the knight, ' and therefore methinks we had better search the dungeons of the place. Call in the rest of our knights.' This order was obeyed, and they entered the hall and gazed in silence on the faded banners displayed from the walls, banners which the warrior-lords of the house of Marontius had so often borne at the head of their followers and retainers in bloody frays and sternly contested fields. They curiously examined the family arms, a tiger's head surrounded, with stars, carved here and there upon the wainscot, from which the tapestry THE KNIGHT OF THE SILVER CROSS. 103 had long since fallen away in dusty shreds, and their chivalric hearts were oppressed with sadness as they witnessed these memorials of the decay of a noble and lordly race. Two doors opened from each end of the hall into the corridors of the adjacent wings, and the knight looked in vain for some mode of descent to the dungeons beneath. Finally, his eye fell upon two rings set in the mouldings at the sides of the deep and commodious fire-place, and as he took hold of one and forcibly pulled it, a small panel opened, and discovered to his view heavy spr n ^s and a massive knob. ' Ha, what have we here ? By my faith, some mystery will soon be brought to light, or I am mistaken in my conjectures,' said D'Arville, as he touched the springs, and drew the knob. The whole side casing of the chimney seemed to open on hidden hinges, and displayed to view the entrance of a gloomy staircase of brown stone, up which the damp air of the dungeons beneath poured in a flood, causing the knight toshiver with its chilli- ness. 1 Now for an adventure, Everard ; here is the way to the strongholds of the keep, and if I trace not its course, may my plume be dragged in the mire.' The ring on the other side of the chimney being drawn, disclosed another aperture of a similar charac- ter. ' What say you, D'Arville, shall I descend this stair- case with twenty of the knights, and you the other, and try to discover the mysteries of this place ? ? asked Everard. ' The very thing,' answered D'Arville, ' we will do 9 104 THE KNIGHT OF THE SILVER CROSS. so, and see what will come of it. The rest of you throw open the doors which look into the courtyard, and keep strict watch over these entrances, that we may not be accidentally fastened down ourselves. Follow, warriors of St. John.' Having thus spoken, D'Arville led his score of knights down one staircase, while Everard and his band fearlessly descended the other. The flambeaux carried by the party of D'Arville scarcely sufficed to light the gloomy way, and as they went downwards, step by step, upon the damp and slippery stairs, the close smell of the dungeons and its noisome air fell unpleasantly on their senses. On reaching the foot of the staircase, they found themselves in a broad space, the sides of which were invisible, as the light of their torches was insufficient to illumine the almost impenetrable darkness which sur- rounded them like a pall. Following the course of the wall, D'Arville tried in vain to discover aught by which he might be guided in his farther progress. Having proceeded fifty or sixty paces, they came to the corner of the underground area, and turned into a vaulted passage, lined on either side with massive doors, of plated iron, whose rusty fastenings they in vain essayed to unloose doors which they imagined concealed the dungeons in whose recesses brave men had wasted away in the strength of manhood, and through whose arched chambers the sighs of despair- ing victims had often breathed in misery and loneliness. Leaving this vaulted passage, they entered another broad area, taking their way directly across the centre, and reached the opposite side. They followed other passages, and moved through labyrinthine mazes, till THE KN'IGHT OF THE SILVER CROSS. 105 at last their further progress was prevented by a blank stone wall. They now essayed to return, but lost their way in the gloom. For the space of twenty minutes they wandered hither and thither, shouting at the top of their voices, in hopes that the party of Everard might be at hand and hear them. No answer was returned, and they mournfully kept on their course, anxiously looking for some mode of egress. D'Ar- ville's undaunted heart quailed not, neither did a shade of uneasiness cross his mind, for danger was his constant companion in the perilous scenes of knight- errantry, and here, in this wild and uncertain adventure, he was at home. ' In faith, these dungeons spread so widely, I think they must extend beneath the whole space covered by the castle. Fear not, brave spirits, he who hath in providence brought us hither, will not suffer us to perish. Ha ! St. John help us, but that was a fearful note !' The latter exclamation was called forth by a deep groan, similar to that which had startled them when they first entered the hall above, but whose effect, in their present situation, was, if possible, still more start- ling. ' Now will our adventure have a fitting denouement,' said D'Arville, as he led his men in the direction whence the sound seemed to proceed ; ' let us see if we cannot, with the help of Heaven, fathom this mystery. St. John, but there is a gleam of light against yonder Avail, and I think it proceeds from the mouth of that passage. Listen.' All stood still, and held their breath. The sound of approaching footsteps, and the rattling of arms, fell on their ears, as they listened. 106 THE KNIGHT OF THE SILVER CROSS. 'It is our comrades,' said the knight, joyfully. * What, ho, St. John and victory, who cometh there, I pray ?' The voices of Everard and his band echoed back a loud reply, and the next instant they appeared in view. ' What success, D' Arville ; have you heard or seen aught ?' ' We have been lost among these vaults, and have seen nothing but the dripping Avails we passed ; but as for hearing, we heard asrain that unearthly note which O ' * first led us to descend hither, and in faith, it had an awful cadence. Ha ! there it is again.' The groan seemed to ring again close in their ears, and was followed by a faint, and hardly perceptible cry. ' This way,' said Everard ; ' if that voice proceeded not from this niche, then my senses deceive me. Here is an iron door, fastened on the outside, but these heavy bolts defy my utmost strength. D' Arville, you are of more powerful stature, see if you can loose them.' The whole band of knights gathered around the little niche, and held their blazing torches aloft in the gloom, Avhile D' Arville, applying his mailed hand to the bolts, sprang them with difficulty, and drew open the heavy door. A voice from within met his ear, supplicating in the Arabic tongue, for a cooling draught of water. Seizing a torch from a follower, D' Arville and Ever- ard entered, followed by a number of the knights, and there, stretched on a rude couch, lay the form of the prince Selim, bound hand and foot, with a heavy weight resting on his lower limbs, and a cord around THE KNIGHT OF THE SILVER CROSS. 107 his forehead fastening him to the head-board. His eyes, bloodshot with long gazing at the darkness, turned imploringly to those of the knight, and as those present cut the cords which bound him, removed the weight, and raised him to a sitting position, his grati- tude sparkled in his looks, and he said, in a weak voice : ' May the blessings of Allah rest on you, Frankish knights, and the choicest gifts of Heaven fall on the head of the noble Cretolius. I have passed a weary vigil, arid Allah be praised, I am restored again to freedom. But I am parched with thirst. Give me drink, I pray you.' By D'Arville's direction the knights raised Selim in their arms, his bruised and stiffened limbs refusing their office, and gently conveyed him to the staircase, and up into the hall, Everard leading the way. Water having been procured from a neighboring well, near a hut occupied by a poor peasant, the prince Selim was soon sufficiently revived by the cooling fluid, as to be able to speak freely. In answer to his inquiry for his brother Hafed, and the princess Azalie, he was told the cause and manner of their departure. With a firm tone, he cried : ' He cared not much for me, or he would not have gone without me ; but I can read his intentions, and thanks to your kindness, and the blessings of Allah, I will live to share that throne which he soon intends to seize. He would gladly see me perish, for then, when our father dies, the whole poAver of Ben Islam's mighty tribe would fall beneath his sway. But, by the beard of Mahomet, it shall never be while I have life.' D'Arville listened to these words in silence and 108 THE KNIGHT OF THE SILVER CROSS. treasured their import in his heart. Everard, who was all impatience to learn the means by which Selim had been entrapped, and through Avhose agency, said : Prince Selim, how earnest thou hither ? I pray you tell me, that we may punish your abductors ?' 1 There was but one, and he a gigantic savage, of ferocious aspect. I feel too weak to tell you more at present, and if you will ask me hereafter, I will give you all the information in my power.' 'So be it, brave son of Turcomania, but till then, since your troop have gone, you must take up your stay with us. At dawn, my father and myself go on a mission to your emirs at Iconium, and if you like, we will have a litter for you in our train.' ' I thank you, and gladly accept your hospitality, but ere we go, let some of your troop seek my steed. I left him in the porter's lodge, tightly confined, that he might not escape while I rambled over the castle,' said Selim. The steed having been brought out, and a litter formed for Selim, the bugle of the knight called his retinue to horse. As they rode over the drawbridge, the trumpet of Everard collected the Cretolians around him, and the group who had guarded the postern-gate related their Avonderful tale of the pursuit of the dark figure by their companions, who had not yet returned. Before the armed bands of D'Arville and Everard reached the street of palms, however, they were over- taken by the detachment just mentioned, who reported that they chased the giant form for a mile, till at last he had disappeared in a narrow alley through which their steeds could not follow. THE KNIGHT OF THE SILVER CROSS. 109 CHAPTER X. The desert journey. The Turcoman pursuit. The knighfs appearance. The Euphrates. Arthur De Montfort. Selim's fearful tale. The knighfs plea- sant thought. WITHIN the palace of Lord Cretolius all were stirring at dawn. Lady Ida donned her riding-dress, Lord Cretolius and Everard clasped upon their forms the breastplate and corslet, and placed upon their brows the well-wrought helmets, from whose peaks drooped the long blue plume of their house. In the courtyard four hundred retainers were busy polishing their armor and testing the strength of their shining blades, and in the stables within the eastern wing, grooms were hastily preparing noble steeds for the desert journey of the Cretolians. Amid the confusion incident to such a scene, but one person seemed unmoved, and that was Sir Percy D'Arville, who stood listlessly upon the platform of the broad staircase leading to the great hall, half support- ing himself against the ponderous balustrade, and gazing in contemplative mood upon the active prepa- rations going forward in the courtyard before him. 110 THE KNIGHT OF THE SILVER CROSS. His thoughts were two-fold first he thought of the search of the injured wife of Marontius and his daugh- ter, on which he was on that day to start, and next his mind wandered to the scene two nights before in the king's palace, when he saved the Moslem princess, Azalie, from impending destruction. Sweetly his mem- ory dwelt upon the beauty of the peerless maiden, while he recalled her grateful looks as she hung pas- sive in his arms, and now he felt that he loved the daughter of Ben Istam's race with the whole strength of O O his enthusiastic and ardent mind. His reverie was interrupted by the appearance of Everard and Lord Cretolius, accompanied by two esquires supporting the footsteps of Selim. The latter was unbounded in his expressions of gratitude towards D'Arville, and promised nobly to repay the obligations conferred on himself and his sister Azalie by the ac- tivity and courage of the knight. He was then assisted lo a litter, borne by two powerful horses, on which he was placed in an easy position. ' Well, Sir Percy, you start not with us, then, this morning, in pursuit of the accomplishment of your vow. Did 1 not understand you to say, last night, that you would start on your ' knightly mission this morning ?' ' I so intimated,' replied D'Arville, ' but, Sir Everard, I have some preparations to make, which should have been completed yesterday afternoon, had not our search for yon Turcoman prince occupied both time and attention.' * What preparations have you to make ?' asked Everard. * You shall know hereafter,' responded D'Arville, ' but now, I pray you, direct me to some dealer in haber- de- THE KNIGHT OF THE SILVER CROSS. 113 dasheries, whom you think trustworthy, and able to keep his tongue between his teeth, that I may purchase of him some disguises.' ' The Jew Isaac is the very person you wish,' said Lord Cretolius, ' and if you desire it we will give you a guide to his quarters. You need not fear to let him know aU your intentions, for he is a bitter enemy to the Saracens, and besides, he has his garret stocked with dresses of every imaginable fashion, and armor of all descriptions.' The knight having accepted the offer of a guide, Lord Cretolius called an esquire of his troop, one Arte- mas, and gave him the proper orders. D'Arville stop- ped but an instant to pay his respects to the Lady Ida, who now appeared in her riding-dress, and then strode down the steps, saying : 1 1 shall not bid you farewell, for ere night shall fall, or you can reach the castle of the Baron De Montfort, I will be with you. For the present, adieu.' Following the footsteps of Artemas, the knight made hi3 way across the courtyard, the retainers saluting him, passed out of the gate, and was lost to sight. By this lime the retainers were in readiness, the horses were brought forth, and each holding his bridle rein, stood in respectful silence, the whole drawn up in sections of ten, awaiting the sjgnal to mount. Lord Cretolius and Everard assisted the Lady Ida to her palfrey, and then, after placing themselves in the sad- dles of their own chargers, gave the loud trumpet call ' to horse !' [SEE ENGRAVING.] In an instant the four hundred stout retainers sprang 114 THE KXIGHT OF THE SILVER CROSS. upon the backs of their impatient steeds, and followed their masters through the massive arch and over the drawbridge. Lord Cretolius and Everard rode on each side of the Lady Ida, and behind them came the litter of prince Selim, whose eyes were often bent upon the graceful form of the Cretolian maiden, or rested on her lovely features as she carelessly turned her head aside to gaze upon some distant object. As the troop turned into the street of palms, the Lady Ida looked back to take a parting view of their castle, now far be- hind ; and as she did so, her eyes rested on the happy face of Selim, whose loving glance she rewarded with a hah bashful smjle, and quickly turned her head again with a brighter color on her cheeks. The denizens of the street of palms were now just opening the blinds of their tenements, and the shop- keepers exposed to view their various commodities, to tempt the eyes and empty the pockets of the passers- by. This was the chief mart of the city, and side by side with the low dram-shop appeared the magnificent saloon, while in close contiguitv with the rou[h build- O ing of the dealer in vegetables or fruit, the magnificent casements of the jeweller or broker displayed then- treasured heaps of gold and precious stones. Many curious glances were cast upon the troop ere they reached the eastern gate, and the foot-passenger stopped in his course to look, while the inmates of the bordering mansions ceased their avocations to speculate upon the probable import of the procession, which they saw was prepared for a journey, for the news of what had taken place in the senate-chamber the day previous was not yet spread abroad by the busy tongues of the gossips. THE KNIGHT OF THE SILVER CROSS. 115 Arrived at the eastern gate, the guards on duty there opened it at the sight of the king's seal on the creden- tials of Lord Cretolius, respectfully presenting arms as the Cretolians passed out, and took the road leading towards the river Euphrates ; the season being favora- ble, and the sun being so far southward as to have but little power comparatively, they were not much incom- moded by the heat. All day long the sturdy steeds bore their burdens, and nothing occurred to alarm the troop, till just towards evening, when one of them rode up to Lord Cretolius, and thus addressed him : 1 My lord, there is a cloud of dust to the westward, in the midst of which I can plainly see the gleam of arms. If I mistake not, they are in pursuit of us, who- ever they may be, as they seem to be coursing in this direction.' At this, Everard rode to the rear of the corps, and gazing intently on the distant troop, was enabled to distinguish the red dresses of the Turcoman tribes, who rapidly approached. He spoke to Lord Cretolius, in the hearing of prince Selim, as follows : ' My father, they are the Moslem, and I fear harbor evil designs upon us. However, as near as I can judge, they are few in number and not worthy a second thought, unless they should gather other bands against us.' ' If they wear the red dress of our race,' said Selim, ' ye need not mind them, for few among the emirs but know the son of Ben Istam, and they will bow to my mandates. Thus, instead of being enemies, at my orders they will form part of your escort, and add to your security.' 'Then we shall lose nothing by our kindness to you. I pereeive,' said the Lady Ida, playfully. 116 THE KNIGHT OF THE SILVER CROSS. * You will not, fair maiden,' ansAvered Selim, ear- nestly, ' for ere harm shall reach you, the blood of Selim shall stain the sands, and his last breath be spent in your defence.' Everard looked thoughtfully upon the passionate eyes of the prince and the blushing cheek of his sister Ida, but said nothing. Ere long the troop in their rear came closer into view, and as the sinking sun, an hour after, left twilight to reign supreme over the dim ex- panse of desert, forty stalwart riders, clothed in the garb of the Moslem, and mounted on powerful steeds of jetty blackness, came up beside the Cretolians, and moved in a parallel course, at a respectful distance. They were led by a warrior bearing upon his limbs the dress and insignia of a Turcoman prince, who, leaving his men, reined his charger in at the side of Lord Cretolius and Everard, who regarded his move- ments with suspicion, and whispered, in a familiar tone : 1 Did I not tell you I would be with you ere night- fall ? You see I have kept my promise.' 1 D'Arville, is it you !' exclaimed Lord Cretolius. ' Well, as I am here, I should never have penetrated your disguise, had I not heard your voice,' said Ever- ard. ' I am accustomed to such adventures,' replied D'Ar- ville, ' and have learned discretion by experience.' ' But who are these in your train ? they have the ap- pearance of your foes, the Moslem,' said Everard. ' Nay, then, they are not what they appear,' said D'Arville. ' Your guide, Avho introduced me to the Jew Isaac, this morning, at your orders, aided me in procuring the promise of as many Saracen dresses as I THE KNIGHT OF THE SILVER CROSS. 117 should need. Thereupon I went to the quarters of my gallant knights, and finding eighty of them in their hall, inquired in a loud tdne, that all might hear, who of them could speak the Arabic tongue. At least one half answered my question, and having proved the truth of their assertions by addressing a few sentences to each, I led the way to the Jew Isaac, where they were fitted with skull-caps of steel to wear beneath their turbans, and with these scarlet dresses. ' Leaving the rest of my troop in charge of Sebastian, my lieutenant, with strict orders not to stir from the walls of the city, I called the chosen knights to take their disguises, in a small bundle on their saddles, and bidding adieu to Palmyra, soon left its gates far behind. When out of sight of the city, we dismounted, donned our Turcoman disguises over our armor, and then re- suming our course, followed Avith rapidity the traces of your march in the desert sand, and have thus at last overtaken you.' ' And so you have fairly started on your adven- turous pilgrimage in search of the wife and child of Marontius ?' said the Lady Ida, inquiringly. ' Yes, fair lady, and with the help of Heaven and St. John, I intend to prosecute my search through every danger, till I have accomplished the objects of my vow,' replied D'Arville. ' But ere you can do so,' said Ida, ' methinks you will have to pass through many perilous scenes, and dare many fearful encounters and adventures.' ' I know it,' said D'Arville, proudly, ' and in such a life of danger I am at home. Better, far better, is it to strengthen the soul by trial, than to remain in idleness. The projects of our order against the Moslem have 118 THE KNIGHT OF THE SILVER CROSS. fallen to the ground, and nothing now is left me to satiate the restless longings of my soul, but the glorious deeds and noble actions of knight errantry.' As he concluded, the voice of Selim fell upon the ear of D'Arville. ' Prince of the scarlet turban, who art thou, and whence comest thou ? I pray thee tell me.' ' And who art thou that askest ?' replied D'Arville. ' I am Selim, the younger of the princes of Ben Is- tam, and the brother of Hafed, the Lion of Turkestan.' ' Ha ! do I behold the dauntless Selim ! Now may I rejoice, for I have seen the hope of the emirs of La- conia and the Euphrates. Mine eyes behold the morn- ing star that beo.meth above the dark clouds of the Mogul destruction, and heraldeth the glorious dawn of a brighter day which soon will rise over the children of Allah and the prophet,' said D'Arville. ' How admirably t-he knight imitates the style and manner of the Arabic diction,' whispered Ida to Eve- rard. ' Prince of a strange tribe, tell me who thou art, since I have answered thy question,' said Selim. ' I am Arnil, of the far distant land of the Tigris. Near Mossoul my father's tribe dwell, and their tents are scattered along the river side. Few are the lances of our house, for those who follow in my train are a tenth part of our race. Yet they are as bold as the lion that springs from the thickets of the far east, and determined in battle as the sons of Ben Istam. I have heard of your Avar like renown, and I came hither to aid you in reaching that throne you seek.' 1 Ha !' exclaimed the prince Selim, ' how knowest thou that ? Now by the beard of the prophet, I never' TUB KNIGHT OF THE SILVER CROSS. 119 breathed it to mortal man, yet hast thou read my thoughts, as easily as the eastern magi read the heavens.' ' "Wilt thou accept my proffered aid, mighty prince ?' said D'Arville. ' I have read thy intentions, but I can tell thee that will startle thee still more. Thy brother Hafed seeketh the dominion of Laconia and the east for himself, and when it is his, you will perish, for he intends to rule alone, and hold undivided power.' ' Is it so, indeed ! then I must bestir myself, for, by the beard of Mahomet, he shall not wrest from me that which I have determined to have. Mine was the pro- posal to seize the fallen sceptre of Iconium, to re-instate the empire which the Mogul swept away, and Hafed promised to join me in the project on condition of ruling conjointly with me. But now, since he would deprive me of all power when we shall have gain- ed it, I vow, with the blessing of Allah, that his course of villany shall end, and I,, instead of Hafed, shall be the sultan of the restored empire of Asia Minor. Prince of the Tigris, I accept thy gallant steel and proffered assistance, and when Selim shall become the founder and dictator of the Othman power, thou shall not be forgotten.' D'Arville simply saying ' So be it,' gave his hand to Selim, in token of the ratification of their compact, and then rode again to the head of his troop, and putting spurs to his horse, galloped with his men towards the river Euphrates, which they reached in another hour, and crossed by means of a bridge spanning its clear stream. At a distance of a mile from the banks of the river beyond, an eminence rose gently from the surround- ing plain, which was quite fertile, and dotted here and 120 THE KNIGHT OF THE SILVER CROSS. there with small houses, to the number of three or four hundred, whose outward appearance presented a mix- ture of the English and Saracen styles of building. On the summit of this eminence a vast rock was perched, and founded on its stony area, a dark castle, of gothic architecture, rose into the air. This was the home of Arthur, Baron De Montfort, who was known among the Moslem as ' the good-hearted knight.' The baron represented himself to be a relation of the famous Simon De Montfort, Earl of Leicester, in Eng- land, and when the latter seized upon the weak mon- arch, Henry III, and his son Edward, Arthur joined the army of his powerful relative. The earl, however, unwisely released the young prince, Edward, who thereupon gathered an army, and met the usurper, Simon, on the bloody field of Everham, put his forces to flight, and slew the earl. Arthur, deeming it unsafe to remain longer in Eng- land, embarked with his treasures for France, and when Louis IX of France led the last crusade against the Saracen in 1248, Arthur, with a thousand devoted fol- lowers, joined the expedition, but in the disastrous bat- tles which ensued he lost half his men, and being taken prisoner with the rest, gave up all hope of ever return- ing to his native land, and consented to become a vassal of the great Mogul, whose armies swept away the Saracen empire and that of Iconium. Fixing his res- idence here, on the banks of the Euphrates, he had passed forty years in pursuing the avocations of peace, and by his quiet demeanor and kind acts, together with the many arts he imparted to his neighbors, he had gained the esteem of the Moslem, and was permitted to remain unmolested amid the wild scenes of turmoil which surrounded him. THE KNIGHT OF THE SILVER CROSS. 121 Rapidly the knight, Sir Percy D'Arville, approached the eminence with his troop, and soon alter blew a bugle before the gate of the castle. The porter, imag- ining them to be a troop of Moslem, called his master, but the latter, on hearing the voice of D'Arville, caused the drawbridge to be dropped, whereupon the knights rode across it, gazing carelessly into the chasm which it spanned, and entering the courtyard, dismounted. The knight and the baron, meanwhile, retired to a pri- vate apartment, where the former disclosed the state of affairs at Palmyra, spoke of his own mission, and gave the baron a hint to address him in no other way than as the prince Arriil, whenever Selim should be present. Orders were given to prepare for the reception of the corning guests, and the two warriors continued their conversation. They were at last aroused by the trampling of hoofs upon the drawbridge, and looking from a casement, beheld the retainers of the house of Cretolius filing into the courtyard beneath them. Lord Cretolius, Everard, and Ida, had dismounted, and were entering the hall, followed by the esquires supporting prince Selim. Hastening down into the hall, the baron met and wel- comed his guests, and led them into the chamber where a sumptuous repast had been provided by the attendants, and the travellers sat down with a good appetite. By chance, the Lady Ida and Selim sat side by side, and directly opposite them the knight and Everard ; the baron and Lord Cretolius were at some distance, at the other end of the table, engaged in carrying on a private conversation. Selim, seeing that the knight and Everard were intent upon their own affairs, in a like 10 122 THE KXIGHT OF THE SILVER CROSS. manner, softly Avhispered to Ida, in a tone so low that he thought none could overhear : ' Bright being, I am but too happy to be at thy side. Would that this happiness might be mine forever. Thou art lovelier in my eyes than the dawning of morn, fairer than the rose of Persia. Thou knowest how de- votedly I love thee, beautiful daughter of Palmyra, and canst thou not trust thy welfare in the keeping of thy loved Selim ? O, if thou wilt, thou shalt be more powerful than the queen of Byzantium, and if thou wishest, thy throne shall be firmly established in the great city of Constantine. For thee, lovely houri, bright star of paradise, shall Selim's glittering blade cleave a path to power, for thee shall his right arm wield the trenchant steel, and at thy feet he will lay the wealth of principalities, the coronets of rulers.' Deeper and deeper mantled the blush over the cheek of the Lady Ida, faster beat her throbbing heart, and brighter was the downcast eye. Gathering her forti- tude, she spoke thus, in a soft voice, which fell on Selim's senses like fairy music : 1 Selim, this must not be. I told you the feelings of my heart, the determination of my mind, a night or two ago, and said that you might see me when three months had passed away. But if you say more now, I will never permit you to look on me again. I must retire a moment to recover from my confusion, for should my brother know what you have said to me- he would my father would I mean I could not be in your presence another instant.' Arising from the table, she left the room, unperceived by her father or Baron Arthur; and Selim, lest his eyes should betray his feelings, dropped his gaze upon THE KNIGHT OF THE SILVER CROSS. 123 his plate, not daring to look at the young men opposite, and appeared to be engaged in discussing the viands before him, though his appetite was gone. But the incident had not escaped the watchful eyes of D'Arville, who, when the prince first spoke to Ida, had caught a few of the impassioned sentences uttered by Selim, and directed Everard's attention to them. 1 Everard, notice the impassioned manner in which yon prince speaks to your sister. Nay, do not let your tongue loose now, but veil the angry glance of your eyes a moment, and let us witness the denouement.' ' In faith, she seemeth well pleased,' replied Everard, compressing his lips, ' and look at the telltale blood flushing her face, and see her veiled lips. Are not the emotions visible in her face signs of love ?' ' So I should say,' replied D'Arville, ' and it is no more than I suspected, yesterday even, when we brought the news of Selim's disappearance to her ears. Her pallid cheeks and anxious eye told me a tale ther.' ' See, she speaks,' said Everard, * and rather severely I should judge, but she does not raise her eyes.' ' By my halidom, Everard, he loves her !' said Ar- ville, as Ida left the room ; ' what a change came over his face as she spoke, and now see what despairing sadness sits on his handsome features.' ' This must go no farther,' said Everard. ' Nay, keep still, and we will talk of that hereafter, when we seek our room, and by that means we will be better able to take such measures as you may decide upon. Here she comes back as if nothing had hap- pened, and see, his face brightens up again with happiness.' 124 THE KNIGHT OF THE SILVER CROSS. As the knight spoke the Lady Ida entered with averted eyes, and reseated herself. D'Arville, to pre- vent any unpleasant remarks from Everard, asked Selim: ' Brave prince of Ben Istam, how hast thou received the injuries which render thee unable to walk ?' * Noble Arnil,' answered the prince, ' it is a strange tale, and hath much in it of fearful import, but thou shall hear it, and judge for thyself.' The prince Selim commenced the tale of his adven- ture the night but one previous, and portrayed forcibly its various details, till he arrived at the point of his narrative where he described his entrance to the hall. ' I drew the door open, and crossed the threshold, but its hinges seemed to turn of themselves, and sprang it to behind me with a loud noise. Sounds of an uncertain nature seeming to issue from above, I sought some means by which to ascend, and at last, after a patient search, came upon a broad stairway, up which I trod, and ascended several flights. At last I reached a heavy panelled entrance, through which I passed, and forced myself within a spacious chamber, where were scattered some broken scimitars and shields, which I remarked bore the arms of the tribe of Ben Istam. This astonishing discovery led me to make some exclamations of wonder, which were interrupted by a demon laugh that sent the blood in chilling streams, and then I felt myself seized from behind, and conveyed forcibly out of the room, and down the stairs, by something seeming to have superhuman power. A voice of furious sound spoke to me : ' " Fool, hast thou come to claim the arms of the spoiler ? Know that myright hand struck to the earth THE KNIGHT OF THE SILVER CROSS. 125 those who wielded them, Avhen my adored Azilla was torn from my arms by the villains of the desert ? Know that those scimitars you gazed on but now in yon chamber, were powerless before the strength of Maron- tius ? And now, wretch, thou shall follow their possessors to the depths of despair !" ' Borne high aloft, I- could not see the one Avho carried me into the hall. The side of a fire-place seemed to open, and I was conveyed down stone steps into a damp and gloomy place, and was thrown into a dungeon, and fastened so cruelly that I would have died of torture, had not yon noble youth and gallant knight rescued me, after I had lain there in agony a whole day.' The features of D'Arville lit up wilh pleasure as he murmured to himself : ' Then the spoilers of Marontius bore the arms of Ben Istam's tribe. Now is my vow in a fair way of being accomplished, and by following the steps of this noble Selim in the guise of a Moslem prince, I shall yet restore the fair Azilla and her daughter to their beautiful home.' 126 THE KMGHT OF THE SILVER CROSS. CHAPTER XL Lady Ida at the castle of De Montfort. Continuation of the journey of Lord Crctolius. Attack of the mountaineers* They recognize Selim, and sivear alle- giance to him. Sudden appearance of three riders with news of the villany of king Iscora. Return of Everard to Palmyra. Cretolius and prince Selim continue their journey. Surprising' incident. AT daybreak, the gallant D'Arville was awakened by the golden beams of the rising sun, which came in through the casement of the turret-chamber where he had slept, and shone brightly on his armor hanging on the opposite Avail. He was wont to be up before the sun, but had lain awake so long the previous night, after retiring, thinking upon the words of prince Selim, in relation to the arms the latter had seen in the haunt- ed palace, that he slept later than usual. He had concluded, in his mind, that the best mode of procedure for the purpose of accomplishing his vow, was to win the confidence and esteem of prince Selim, in the guise of a Saracen emir, and then to throw aside his assumed dress, make a confidant of THE KNIGHT OF THE SILVER CROSS. 129 Selim, and entreat his powerful aid for the discovery of the captive Azilla and her daughter. Rising, D'Arville donned his armor, placed over it the magnificent Saracen disguise he had assumed, and descended to the breakfast-room bekm , where the rest were already assembled. During the discussion, at the table, it was decided that the Lady Ida should stay at the castle of De Montfort a week or two, with forty of the Cretolian retainers, till her father and brother should return from their embassy to Iconium. [SEE ENGRAVING.] This being decided, the trumpet of Everard called to the saddle, and having bidden adieu to the Baron Arthur, Lord Cretolius and Everard with their retainers, rode out the gate, followed by D'Arville and his dis- guised knights escorting the litter of the prince Selim. It was a delicious morning. The cool autumnal breeze fanned the brows of all, and imparted ita exhilarating influence to every bosom. Their course lay along the smooth Euphrates, whose rippling waters sparkled clear as crystal in the sun's bright beams, and its murmuring stream sent to their delighted ears the soft melody of nature's music. Around them, on the eastern bank, along which they travelled, bloomed flowers of every hue, while a smiling landscape spread itself beneath the rays of the rising luminary, far to the east. But across the river, the desert of Syria stretched away from the western bank, a boundless expanse of sparkling sand. Ere night-fall, they lost sight of the desert, and for five days made their way amid the varied scenery of 130 THE KNIGHT OF THE SILVER CROSS. the Euphrates. On the sixth morning, however, prince Selim thought it would be best to leave the direct route, and take one more to the westward, which would be safer and more secluded ; the course they had been pursuing, being that travelled by the wild tribes of the mountains in their incursions to the south- ward. The seventh day, in passing a defile, the train of Cretolians was suddenly attacked on all sides by the fierce mountaineers, and in the desperate fight which ensued, at least one half of the retainers were killed and wounded. Everard's voice encouraged his fol- lowers throughout, his gallant arm working wondrous destruction amid the foe. Even the aged Lord Cretolius wielded the keen scimitar which for twelve years had rested in polished idleness in its sheath, and fought in the van, till a stroke from some missile weapon stunned him, and he fell senseless in the arms of his household. Selim, D'Arville, and the disguised knights were at least a mile behind when the fray commenced, but rode rapidly up to the scene, on perceiving the flashing of arms among the rocks far ahead, and hearing the sound of conflict. The prince had recovered from his bruises so far as to be able to mount his white steed again, and he now urged D'Arville's band toward the scene of turmoil, where they arrived in time to save the remnant of the Cretolians from destruction. When the mountaineers saw the red dresses of D'Arville's band intervene between them and their prey, they fell back, imagining they were part of the sultan's guard. Five of their chieftains advanced, without attendants, and seeing that one of the two princes who appeared to be in command of the scarlet THK KNIGHT OF THE SILVER CROSS. 131 riders was the youthful Selim, they greeted him with low obeisances. Some of their followers, knowing the prince, spoke his name to others, and the mountain rocks soon sent back the echoes of a thousand wild voices, as they shouted : 1 Hail to the dauntless son of Ben Istam ! hail to the hope of the Turcoman tribes ! May he reign forever.' ' You hear,' whispered D'Arville, ' they hail you as a monarch, and to you the people of these savage regions look, as to one whom they have chosen to re-instate the fallen empire of the Turcoman tribes, and sway the mighty sceptre of a sultan.' The eyes of Selim were lit with pleasure, and ambi- tious thoughts swelled within his bosom at D'Arville's words, though he replied briefly, ' the time has not yet come,' and then addressing himself to the chiefs, who awaited his mandates in respectful silence : ' Emirs of the mountain tribes, these are not foes whom you have slain, for they come not with warlike intent, but in peace, as the messengers of the beautiful city, Palmyra. They have come to seek peace from the emirs of Laconia and the north ; wherefore, then, have you done this ?' ' Gallant prince,' replied the oldest chief, ' had we known this, we would have restrained our warriors from the prey ; but the lion of your tribe, Hafed, hath sent messengers throughout all our borders, calling on us to destroy the inhabitants of the beautiful city wherever we found them. He said that the rulers of Palmyra had slain you secretly, and he is gathering the hosts of the north, with the war-cry of " vengeance and conquest." ' 11 132 THE KNIGHT OF THE SILVER CROSS. 'Is it so ? then, emirs, listen. The artful Hafed knew that I had disappeared, and while the sons of Palmyra searched for me, he sat still. Ere ten hours had passed, he departed from the city, and left me to my fate. Emirs, he hateth me, and would gladly have me removed from his path to power ; choose thei between us.' ' By the beard of the prophet, the cruel Lion of Turkestan, the oppressive Hafed, shall never tread the mountain tribes beneath his feet,' replied the chief. 4 We will have none but the dauntless Selim to sway the sceptre over us. May he reign a thousand years, and his children be mighty in the earth.' ' Emir, I thank you,' replied Selim. ' Hafed would lead you to the conquest of Palmyra, but Selim shall show you the path to the spoil of Byzantium, and the dominion of Asia Minor, and when Selim is Othman, he will not forget you.' ' Hail to the dauntless Selim !' rang again from a thousand tongues. ' Prince of Ben Islam,' said another chief, ' we will shout your name from every mountain summit, we will send it along every valley, we will speak it in the tents of every Iribe, and when thou shalt call us to thy coronation, when thou shalt bid us follow thee to conquest, or seek our aid to place thee on the throne we would see thee fill, we will gather around thy banner a hundred chieftains of our race, and swell thy host with twenty thousand bold mountaineers. Allah preserve thee, hope of a thousand tribes, and continue thy life to victory and power.' The emirs now led the way to a small village be- yond the mountain, whither the wounded Cretolians THE KNIGHT OF THE SILVER CROSS. 133 were carried and their wants supplied. Lord Cretolius recovered soon from his insensibility, and was able to speak, but it was deemed prudent for him to be kept quiet a day or two, that he might not experience any ill effects from the blow he had received, his age rendering the physician fearful on the subject. The whole train were therefore well pleased to accept the hospitalities of the mountaineers, which Everard re- marked were more welcome than their hostilities. Many of the neighboring chiefs came to pay their respects to the prince " Selim, and assure him of their support, and the next day was passed in friendly trials of skill between the disguised knights and the chiefs, in which the latter were most successful in the use of missiles, while the former proved themselves expert in the use of the sabre, and not one was found to dare a second trial of arms with prince Arnil, as D'Arville called himself. The mountaineers Avere curious to know wherefore the warriors of prince Arnil wore such weapons ; D'Arville told them it was in consequence of a religious vow, made by the tribe of his father, not to touch the scimitar till they should see the revival of their faded power. The second day after the fray, the aged Lord Cre- tolius being considered out of danger, the train again resumed their course towards the tents of Ben Istam, and the knight spent the hours of travel in discussing with Selim the ambitious projects of the latter, and exciting him to gather around him at once his friends, and declare himself the sultan of Iconium. For thirty years no monarch had sat on the vacant throne of Laconia, since the destroying course of the Mogul conqueror had embraced their dominions in his own, 134 THE KNIGHT OF THE SILVER CROSS. and when the usurper died, the emirs of the different provinces regained a separate independence. Still, however, the temporary chief of their council was known as the sultan of Iconium, but it was an empty title. Now, however, through the endeavors of the two princes of Ben Istam, the emirs began to consider favorably the project of re-uniting their powers, and forming again a mighty empire. The only ones on whom they could agree as being the most suitable to fill the vacant throne, were Hafed and Selim, in whose favor they were nearly equally divided, though Selim enjoyed the greatest popularity among the youthful princes of the different tribes, while Hafed's cruel and overbearing disposition was rapidly gaining for him bitter enemies, and his insolent assumption of authority bid fair to change friends to foes. Towards evening, a trooper rode up to the group of leaders, from the rear of the escort of Cretolians, and thus addressed Lord Cretolius : ' May it please you, my lord, three riders on swift steeds follow our course, as if to overtake us, and from their motions I should judge they were beckoning us to halt for them.' Everard rode aside to a small eminence, and after gazing a moment along the path they had come, gave orders to his retainers to halt. The other leaders were soon at Everard's side, and as D'Arville looked at the comers he said : ' They are two emirs of the mountain tribes we left this morn, and the other, I should judge from his garb, is a follower of Ben Istam. Now, may Allah grant we have another adventure on hand, for my warriors of the Tigris are impatient for the fray.' THE KNIGHT OP THE SILVER CRO93. 135 A few minutes sufficed to bring the three riders up to the band of nobles, and while the two emirs paid their respects to the prince Selim, the third stranger addressed himself to Lord Cretolius. The latter was somewhat surprised at hearing one in the Turcoman dress speak in the tongue of Palmyra, and in answer to the stranger's request, the noble and Everard retired a short distance from the rest to hear his message. 1 My Lord Cretolius, I have had a dangerous ride among the mountains, and have taken this longer course in pursuit of you for the sake of security, and happy will my Lord Morden be when I shall tell him on my return that I have succeeded in accomplishing my mission. He sends you this note, by my hands. You seem surprised, but I am no Saracen, and merely a faithful follower of the noble Morden.' Lord Cretolius took the letter, and having read it, handed it to Everard, with a mournfully thoughtful expression in his face. As Everard perused it, how- ever, his countenance became flushed with indignation, and he cried : ' The base ingrate ! and is it thus he repays us for our services ? Was it for this he sent us on this danger- ous mission ? Would that I could be in Palmyra a few short hours, and I would teach him a bitter lesson, I would give him cause to repent his vileness. Here, D'Arville, read, read, and then say what should befall the ungrateful wretch who dares to contemplate such an insult to our ancient house.' ' My name is not D'Arville,' said the knight, with a cautioning look, l but Arnil, prince of the tribe of the Tigris, whose warriors reside on the green banks of the swift flowing Tigris.' 136 THE KNIGHT OF THE SILVER CROSS. ' The prince and the emirs notice you not,' said Lord Cretolius, ' therefore come further this way, and read a tale of the basest villany ever thought of by man.' D'Arville did so, and as he concluded, he exclaimed : 1 You ask me what should befall him ? He should be hurled headlong from his throne, and trampled in the dust, and by my halidom, Avere we there together, we would soon raise such a tempest of wrath about his ears, that he would feel the very foundations of his power tremble beneath him, and hear the dread rumbling of the volcano whose explosion should bury him in the ashes of oblivion. But what intend you to do?' 1 We will return,' cried Everard ; ' we will return, and marshalling our gallant legion, publish through the streets of Palmyra, in every palace-hall, his base- ness, and accepting the proffered aid of the powerful Lord Morden, call around our standard all who would see the cause of virtue and justice triumphant, and then summon the spoiler to disgorge his prey. If he refuses, or if one hair of her head be injured, let him beware ! for with power in our hands, a scene of fearful strife will ensue, and the terrible contest be continued either till he is torn from his throne, or the last retainer of our -lordly house shall have perished.' 1 Were it not for my vow,' cried D'Arville, I would return with you, and with my gallant knights join your array. But as it is, my vow of knight-errantry binds me to one object, and I may not do as I Avould wish. Heaven and St. John speed you, and aid you in your daring enterprise. Shall you leave us now ?' 'Instantly,' said Everard, 'think you not so, my father?' * J THE KNIGHT OF THE SILVER CROSS. 137 { I do,' replied Lord Cretolius. ' Take with you all of our troop but fifty, and make a rapid progress on your mission. Spare not the spur, rest not, neither turn aside, and when ihou hast rescued the flower of our house from her perilous position, and punished the aggressor, then I will welcome you as worthy of my name. Falter in this, and I will disown you.' ' So be it, my father,' said Everard. i And now for my preparations. Ere yon sun shall set I must reach the mountain pass, and ere four days shall have passed, the hoofs of my steed shall echo beneath the gateway of Palmyra.' The retainers of Cretolius were now ordered to disencumber themselves of every unnecessary article, and all but fifty directed to retrace their footsteps, and ride as rapidly as possible homewards. Everard told the lieutenants that he would soon follow and overtake them, and the astonished troop, without a question, rode swiftly away across the plain. The prince Selim, in surprise, inquired the reason of this unexpected movement, and was told that strange news, brought by the messenger who came with the two emirs, rendered it necessary for Everard instantly to return to Palmyra. ' Farewell, my noble preserver,' said Selim, ' and may the blessings of Allah rest forever on the head of him who rescued me from the gloomy dungeon of the haunted castle. If ever you meet the dark-mailed knight, D'Arville, tell him that Selim holds him also in grateful remembrance. Say to the Lady Ida, that that I cherish her memory. Adieu.' Everard embraced his father, and then turning to the 138 THK JLMUHT OF THE SILVER CROSS. knight, grasped his hand, with a parting word, while D'Arville, handing him a ring, whispered : ' Take this token, and when you reach Palmyra, seek my lieutenant Sebastian, give him this, and tell him I desire him to assist you in rescuing your fair sister. You may confide in him as a friend, for he is true as steel, and will bring to your aid the forty knights of my troop whom I left in his charge. Adieu.' ' Hold,' said Selim. ' Emirs of the mountain tribes, take a thousand of your followers, and guard this friend of Selim safely to his home, and your services shall be remembered.' ' The prince Selim hath but to command, and we obey,' said one of the emirs. ' Remember, son of Ben Istam, we wait but the signal to gather to your aid. The blessings of Allah rest on you. Farewell.' With low obeisances the emirs withdrew, and at the side of Everard, were soon urging their rapid way across the fertile plain, in order to overtake the retain- ers, who were now at a considerable distance on their return. The aged nobleman gazed sorrowfully upon the receding figure of his son, and when a slight ele- vation interrupted the view, he reined his steed toward the north again, saying, mournfully, as he resumed his course, and the party moved forward : ' Prince of the Tigris, it may be that I have looked for the last time upon the noble Everard, and that ere yon sun shall have six times run his daily course the banner of our lordly race will have been rent, the brave retainers of our house will sleep in death, and our glo- rious fame and name have perished before the power of the base insulter.' ' And it may be,' said the knight, endeavoring to THE KNIGHT OF THE SILVER CROSS. 139 raise the drooping spirits of Lord Cretolius, ' and it may be, ere your forebodings will be accomplished, that the retainers of your house with their allies may have torn the despot from the seat he has desecrated, your fame may have become more lasting, and the victorious Everard may have placed the banner of your race upon the battlements of the royal palace.' The evening now began to fall, and the prince direct- ed the course of the party towards a wooded hill at some distance, on the summit of which a single large mansion, built in the Saracen style, stood alone, and seemed to promise accommodations for the three lead- ers and their followers. On making their way through the wood, and emerging into the little plain on the brow of the hill, they discovered the house was tenantless, and therefore took possession without scruple. Wood was brought in, and huge fires built, as the evening proved a little chilly, and after a few hours of conver- sation, and a ramble through the house, all retired to a welcome rest. At dawn all was astir, but as the prince Selim knew he was but a day's march from Iconium, near which his father held dominion, he was in no hurry to depart, and preparations for the morning meal was made lei- surely. While this was going on, the knight ascended to one of the upper rooms of the deserted mansion, and looked forth upon the landscape. While thus occupied a servant was sent to call him down, but the man soon returned with a request that the prince Selim should come up instantly, as a favor. The prince wonderingly ascended the stairs, and on entering the room in which stood the knight, found him gazing earnestly from a window which opened to the 140 THE KXIOHT OF THE SILVER CROSS. northward. As D'Arville heard the step of the prince, he exclaimed : ( In faith, prince Selim, that is no cloud tinted with the rosy flush of mom which I behold in the edge of the horizon. Either my eyes deceive me much, or I see the followers of the prophet ; the scarlet robes of our Moslem race are easily to be seen by daylight.' Selim looked, and there, far away to the northward, in the edge of the sky, appeared a red streak, which while he grazed, seemed raduallv to STOW larger. v O ' Now, by the beard of the prophet, it is the sons of Ben Islam, the dauntless warriors of our tribe. Look, as they descend the face of the distant hill, how their dress contrasts with the dark color of the ground. You are right, prince Arnil, they are the followers of the prophet. Doubtless, Hafed leads them to the conquest of Palmyra, but he shall be foiled this time, as there is a crescent in his host, he shall. I have said it, and I will maintain my words, or die.' ' Let us descend,' replied D'Arville, ' and meet them in their course. They may take another direc- tion ere they reach us.' Selim and D'Arville soon w r ent down the staircase to the apartment below, and communicated their dis- covery to Lord Cretolius. The news spread rapidly from mouth to mouth, till all within the walls of the mansion knew it. The meal being concluded, D'Ar- ville and Lord Cretolius marshalled their respective fol- lowers, and with the prince Selim passed the wood and issued into the open plain. For three hours they steadily held their way, but could obtain no view of the approaching Moslem, as a hill intervened. As they reached the top of the hill and began its THE KNIGHT OF THE SILVER CROSS. 141 ascent, they heard the mu^ic of the Turcoman bands floating in the air, and on gaining the summit, a troop of light cavalry galloped around them at a distance as if to reconnoitre. And now a scene of magnificence met their eyes ; for there, below them, just rising from the plain, to ascend the eminence, marched fifteen thousand warriors of the tribe of Ben Islam in battle array, while on their flanks five thousand of the swift horsemen of their race, with scarlet robes and flashing scimitars, coursed along the plain on their snowy chargers. D'Arville ranged his disguised knights along each flank of the Cretolian retainers, and as Selim took up his station in front, the knight and Lord Cretolius or- dered a halt, and reined in their steeds upon either hand of the prince. There upon the summit waved the long blue plumes of the little band of Cretolians. Upon the plain below moved the twenty thousand sons of Ben Istam in pride and power. It was a fearful moment for all but the prince Selim. He gazed with glistening eye upon his gallant tribe, and in silence awaited their recognition. In vain his look sought Hafed amid the group of magnificently dressed emirs, who rode amid the foremost band he was not there. When the Moslem riders perceived the new-comers upon the hill, they dashed in large numbers along the sod, and wheeled close in their front. 1 The prince Selim !' ' The dauntless rider !' ' Allah be praised, we see him again.' ' Welcome to Ben Is- tam's pride.' ' He lives, he lives.' Such were the shouts that rent the air, such were the words that issued from countless lips, and as the joy- ful import of the cry met the ears of the slower moving THE KNIGHT OF THE SILVER CROSS. footmen behind, they sent up to the heavens a wild echo of triumphant pleasure that rang out like the voice of a whirlwind. On every side they pressed around the prince, with exclamations of delight, and it was with difficulty that he could preserve the little band of his escort from being crushed to death in the crowd. After a while order was restored, and the warriors of Ben Islam withdrew to a respectful distance, leaving their chiefs in a group before the prince. After gazing proudly round upon the circling thousands, Selim spoke : ' Chiefs of my father's tribe, whither bend you your warlike course ?' ' Dauntless Selim, we move toward the beautiful city of the Syrian plain. Hafed, the Lion of Turkestan, hath called us to arms, to revenge your murder by the Palmyrenes, but Allah be praised, we see you again.' 4 And where is my brother Hafed ?' asked Selim. * He leadeth forty thousand of the Seljukide Turks along the route of the pleasant Euphrates, and thirty thousand warriors of the tribes of Turcomania have taken the course beyond the western mountains. Our- selves, with the gallant sons of Ben Istam are to pur- sue the mountain road. The prince Hafed left three days hence, and ere this, must have come in sight of the desert.' * This must not be, chiefs. The Palmyrenes harmed me not, but I lost myself in a ruined castle. They have sent hither this aged man, Lord Cretolius, to seek for peace. This noble prince is Arnil, whose father is an emir by the Tigris.' * Hail to the reverend head ; welcome to the youth- ful warrior.' THH KNIGHT OF TUB SILVER CROSS. 143 ' Chiefs of Ben Istam, I ask of you a boon in token of welcome,' said Selim. ' Ask, and we will be happy to serve thee,' replied an emir. ' Go not forth to the field, but return with your prince to Iconium,' responded Selim. Some dissatisfaction seeming to manifest itself among the chiefs at this proposal, the prince, at a hint from D'Arville, thought that now was the time to strike for empire, for if these went with Hafed to the Avar, he would place those who were partisans of Selim in the front of the battle, that they might perish, and thus weaken the chance of the latter of gaining a sultan's throne. With a firm voice, and a resolute look, he said : ' Chiefs of Ben Istam, choose between Selim and Hafed. I will bear his tyranny no more, by the beard of the prophet. Hafed would direct you to the con- quest of a single city, of almost impregnable strength ; Selim would show you the way to the hearts of the Byzantine empire, and lead you to the conquest of a thousand cities. Choose, and may Allah give you wisdom ; Hafed and a city, or Selim and an empire.' ' Selim and an empire !' ' Death to the Greek !' was the reply from the ambitious emirs, while, ' Long live Selim Othman, sultan of Turcomania !' was echoed by the thousands of Ben Islam's warlike tribe who had thronged around to hear. ' Back then to Iconium, in the name of Allah !' cried Selim. 144 THE KNIGHT OF THE SILVER CROSS. CHAPTER XII. Plans of King- Iscora. Their frustration, and hoiv. Lady Ida at De Montf art's. She visits a ruined monastery ; is waylaid, and made prisoner by the rob- bers. KING ISCORA was alone. The chamber in which he sat, lit by two lofty windows, from whose arched tops scarlet curtains drooped, was furnished as much for ease and comfort, as for magnificent display. Within this place of secret council none dared to tread, except a favored few ; without, faithful guards watched day and night, that no curious eaves-dropper should hear the state secrets discussed by the ministers and states- men of the realm. The monarch sat, on a soft cushioned seat, with his arms folded, and his head half resting on the pillowed back, gazing through the window in meditative mood. It was nearly noon, on the same day in the morning of which Lord Cretolius and his companions left with their escort, to seek the emirs of distant Laconia, and the king was now all impatient for the return of his spies creatures who would have stained their hands THE KNIGHT OF THE SILVER CROSS. 145 with the blood of the innocent, at his command, or dared the most fearful adventures for a slight reward. With a smile of exultation, he said, as a thought crossed his mind : ' Ha, ha, ha, now I will Avin the guerdon, now will I prove her threat. How well I managed, by conferring the honor of the embassy to the Moslem on her father and brother, to get them -out of the way. Ere they re- turn I shall have revelled in her charms, I shall have stolen the bright jewel of the house of Cretolius. Ere they return, did I say ? As for that matter, I think they can never again see Palmyra, for with their small escort, the warlike bands which have of late filled the mountain fastnesses between here and Iconium, will enevitably cut them off to a man. But they have been so long absent on their travels that they do not know the exact state of affairs in the north, and will be unex- pectedly destroyed in some of the dangerous defiles of the mountains. The Lady Ida is here alone, and now I will have a bitter revenge for her biting scorn, and teach her what it is to look with proud disdain upon a monarch's suit, and threaten him with punishment. But if I mistake not, the footsteps in the corridor sound like Kasid's heavy tread, and now I hear his voice de- manding admittance. Without there, open to the new comer.' In obedience to this command the door was opened, and a tall and powerfully-formed man, in splendid cos- tume, but with a cap pulled down over his brows, en- tered. When he had passed the guard, so that the lat- ter could not see his face, he doffed the cap, and as the door was closed, advanced toward the king, and stood before him in respectful silence. 146 THE KNIGHT OF THE SILVER CROSS. * How now, Kasid, wherefore lookest thou so gloomy? Has aught gone wrong in this affair of the lady ?' My liege, I fear to say, lest my unworthy head should fall.' ' Speak on, and when thou hast finished, thou shalt know how long thou hast to live,' replied the king, briefly. ' As it is, so must it be. I cannot now change past events,' said the chief Kasid. The Lady Ida went with her father.' * Ha ! gone !' echoed the king, who with a dark look, and a firm expression, continued fiercely' Say on.' * My liege, pardon me, and let not thine anger fall on me. I saw them leave the gate, but sent two of my men to trace their course, and in the garb of the Cretolian retainers they managed to join the band of Lord Cretolius. Two or three others I sent to mingle with the household at the castle, and from them I have learned since, that the servants of Cretolius say that the Lady Ida is to stay at the castle of the Baron De Mont- fort, beyond the Euphrates, with about forty followers, till her kindred return from Laconia.' 1 Kasid, thou hast saved thy head,' said the monarch ; ' for since the lady is within a day's ride of Palmyra, all will yet go well. But ere thou reapest the reward I promised you, you must convey her hither, and secretly ; if 'tis done within a week, the sum shall be doubled.' ' My liege, you are generous, and to serve so good a master I would go any length. Before yon sun shall have six times run his daily course, she shall be in your power. But there is another piece of news I have of strange import. The prince Selim was found THE KNIGHT OF THE SILVER CROSS. 147 last night by the envoy of St. John and the Baron Everard, having been taken by the maniac and con- fined in the ruined castle of the ancient Marontian family.' * My rival come to light again ? where is he now ?' * He departed with Lord Cretolius,' replied the chief. A dark flash crossed the monarch's countenance, while he rose from his seat suddenly, and paced the room backward and forward with quick steps, saying : ' The fates seem to conspire against me, Kasid ; this is a bad affair, and I would that the knight of St. John had been in Tophet ere he showed his face here to beard me in my senate-chamber, and disconcert my plans. Had I known what would have come to pass, he should have vanished from the sight of men ere he could have done this. Now the prince Selim will ac- company the Cretolians, and guard them by his power from the fate which I hoped awaited them among the mountains. Worse, worse than that ; he is now, per- haps, at her side, whispering to her of love. But what care I ? I shall have her, or perish. What are your in- tentions, and how will you get her ?' 1 1 will find means, my liege ; and if no other way succeeds, I can soon, with the aid of your gold, gather around me a band of Saracens strong enough to storm the castle of De Montfort, and tear her from her pro- tector,' answered Kasid. * Rather than lose her, you shall have all the gold my treasury contains. Away, now, and use secrecy and despatch.' ' I will, my liege. You shall hear from me soon. Adieu.' 12 148 TI1E KNIGHT OF THE SILVER CROSS. So saying, the robber-chief, for such he was, with- drew, and after throwing over his shoulders a capacious cloak of coarse make, which entirely concealed his rich dress, took his way through the streets to a gloomy- looking and half-ruinous mansion in Avhat was called the ruined quarter, and disappeared through the door. Within the walls of this mansion dwelt seventy des- perate men, many of them the dregs of the last crusade, others, outlawed Saracens. The chief, Kasid, was of the latter class, and in youth had been an emir of the Tigris ; but his fearful crimes and cruel nature render- ing him odious to his people, he was compelled to fly to avoid their anger, and chose the robber's course as a means of revenging himself. He raised this band of desperadoes, and at times made fearful and bloody in- cursions into the land he once oppressed, slaughtering without mercy all of his own kindred and tribe who fell in his way. He had now come to Palmyra secret- ly, at a message from the monarch, ready for any work of evil with which he miorht be commissioned, and had O * been assigned this mansion just mentioned, as a hiding- place for himself and his troop. But he was not so secure as he imagined ; for one of the Palmyrene lords had witnessed the arrival of the fero- cious-looking band, wrapped in their coarse cloaks, and being suspicious of their purposes, kept his thoughts to himself, but sent a faithful servant to trace them. This servant, who was a shrewd fellow, found means to ingratiate himself into the favor of two or three of the robbers, and was introduced to the troop as a new recruit, being instantly admitted to a share in the revels which were now going on in the mansion. When the chief entered, the robbers were gathered THE KNIGHT OF THE SILVER CROSS. 149 around three tables in the largest room of the house, drinking and carousing, and among them the shrewd servant was already quite a favorite, though he had been in their company but an hour or two. With care- ful watchfulness he abstained from drinking too much, while from his quondam companions he received re- marks on the apparent strength of his head to resist the effects of the great quantity of liquor he seemed to have swallowed. This they considered as an excellent quality, and hailed him as a worthy comrade. The expedients to which he resorted to keep up this appearance, were ingenious in the extreme, such as pouring a goblet half full of water, and letting it stand till he had an opportunity to fill it up with the darker and weaker wine, so that it appeared to be the light colored wine of Syria, after mixture with water. The Syrian wine was very strong, and with his cup raised he would challenge the others to drink. Much of it he poured in his bosom, and spilt some on the floor, so that the two vases of wine in front of him had disappeared before those around had half finished theirs. At this stage he feigned intoxication, and dropped over upon the floor, apparently senseless. While he thus lay, listening to the conversation of the robbers, and treasuring its import in his mind, the chieftain Kasid entered, and after looking around, en- joined silence : ' Is the new comer here ? if he is, let him leave the room, for till his fidelity has been perfectly proved he may not hear our secrets. Where is he ? I see him not.' ' He is here, upon the floor,' said a robber. ' You need not fear that he will reveal any secrets, for he is 150 THE KNIGHT OF THE SILVER CEOS*. . too drunken to hear them. He hath finished two vases of wine, and lays like a stone.' On hearing this, the chief thought no more of him, but proceeded to unfold to his men the result of his con- versation with the king, and gave them the story of his plot against the Lady Ida, and the manner in which it was to be carried out, stating that they were to start on their mission that very night. After promising each a liberal reward in case of success, Kasid gave orders that no one should leave the house during the day, and then left the apartment. For two hours longer the servant lay on the floor, with untiring patience, till nearly all the robbers had ended their carouse in insensibility, revolving in his mind the best mode of escape. A dozen of the band were still occupied Avith their wine at the other end of the table, and the man, after gazing at them for awhile, rose softly on his hands and knees, and crept carefully through the open door, which was close behind him, in- to the entry. Looking down the stairs which led to the front entrance, he saw four of the band on guard ;n the vestibule, and therefore made his way into the upper story of the mansion. Here he looked forth from the windows, but could find no way to escape. Going down to the hall again, he resumed his position, deter- mined to wait till the rest of the robbers should have followed the example of their comrades. One after the other they fell back in their seats, into a sound sleep, and soon nothing broke the stillness which reigned in this long deserted mansion, save the heavy breathing of the sleeping villains, and the indistinct voices of the sentries below. Again rising, the valet gently closed and fastened the THE KNIGHT OF THE SILVER CROSS. 151 door, that the sentries might not come up and surprise him in the midst of his operations. Going to the case- ment he opened it, and looked out, but to his disap- pointment he saw, seated on a broken pillar which lay on the ground, two of the robbers engaged in conver- sation. Knowing he had no time to spare, he recon- noitered the room carefully, hoping that some new mode of escape might cross his mind, but none appear- ing, he approached the broad fire-place and peered up the broad chimney. Seeing that there was a spike some distance up, almost within reach of his hand, large enough to afford him a firm footing, could he once mount upon it, he looked further, and to his joy discovered others above it, when his eye had become a little accustomed to the darkness. He now returned to the door, unfastened it, laid his cap on the sill of the casement, and entering the fire- place once more, sprang up, caught hold of the spike, and by means of his prodigious strength drew himself up, till he could reach the next a foot above. In this way, he soon obtained a foothold, and by means of the spikes, which he found were placed at regular intervals, ascended about twenty feet till he reached a niche a yard square, set in the side of the chimney, where he considered himself safe. Here he remained in silence, listening anxiously to hear what might pass below. No sound came up the dark aperture, however, till by the dimness of the place he knew that twilight prevailed. Then he heard the voices of the robbers recovering from their drunken sleep, and as the minutes passed, the clatter of cups and platters told him that supper was on hand. The en- trance of the chieftain, and his orders to depart, were 152 THE KNIGHT OP THE SILVER CROSS. followed by an inquiry for himself, and loud excla- mations of surprise at the discovery of his absence. He now became fearful they would discover his hiding-place, but was rejoiced to find that they at last concluded he had escaped through the open casement, as his cap lay on the sill. When another hour was spent, he heard the trampling of their feet down the stairs, and some time having elapsed after the sound of their voices died away, he descended and found they had gone. It was now long after dusk, and the valet, leaving the house, made the best of his way towards the palace of his master, Lord Sicimus, in whose presence he found himself ere an hour had elapsed, and related his adventures circumstantially, and the substance of all he had heard or gathered from the conversation of the rob- bers. Lord Sicinius heard his tale with astonishment and indignation, and ordering his horse, rode rapidly to the palace of Lord Morden, whom he found at home, and to whom he communicated the story of his valet. Lord Morden, who entertained a warm friendship for Ida, determined to save her at all events, and as Lord Sicinius had a high regard for Lord Cretolius, having been comrades in the Saracen wars in youth, and fought side by side in many a stern conflict, he offered his assistance to Lord Morden, and that of his three sons, barons of the realm. The two nobles, after a long consultation, concluded to send a letter to the absent ambassador, by a swift messenger, informing him of what they had heard, and the valet was chosen as being the most trustworthy bearer they could find. He was sent for, and enthusiastically acceded to the proposition made him by the nobles, more through a THE KNIGHT OF THE SILVER CROSS. 153 spirit of gallantry, than because of the promised re- ward. Lord Morden wrote the billet himself, not wish- ing to trust the secret to his secretary ; and it having been sealed, the valet secured it in a thin case in his sandal, after which, he proceeded to make his prepara- tions for departure. A Turcoman disguise was procured, and mounted on a swift steed the valet took his way, with early dawn, from the city gate, and proceeded along the mountain road northward. * * # # * # When Lord Cretolius and his troop left the castle of De Montfort, the Lady Ida, after bidding her kindred adieu, and waving her hand to the warm-hearted Selirm ascended to the highest turret of the castle, and watched their course for two long hours, till the band of retain- ers dwindled to a mere speck in the distance, and the scarlet dresses of D'Arville's troop were no longer to be seen. From her elevated position, she could gaze over a vast extent of territory, and after looking upon the houses which dotted the plain beloAv, her eyes fol- lowed the windings of the Euphrates, which lay like a silver serpent on the landscape ; and in the dim dis- tance, thirty miles away, she saw a hill rising from its banks, on whose summit appeared a dark spot, the na- ture of which she was unable to conjecture. Feeling somewhat oppressed at the absence of her father and brother, and knowing that theirs was a dan- gerous mission, she did not feel sufficiently composed to appear at the table of De Montfort, and for three or four days confined herself entirely to the tower allotted to her use. On the evening of the fourth day, however, her sadness had somewhat passed off, and she 154 THE KNIGHT OF THE SILVER CROSS. joined the aged baron Arthur in his hall, and spent a few hours with him. In the course of conversation, among other things, the hill and its dark summit came to mind, and in an- swer to a question of her own, the baron told her the dark spot she noticed was a ruined -monastery, which had fallen before the fury of the Saracens a century or more before, and stood on the summit of the hill. Ida had heard of monasteries, and some strange stories of this particular ruin occurring to her mind, she told the baron she thought she would like to visit it, and after a further conversation, it was decided she should start after the first meal next morning, with her retainers, while a strong party of the baron's troopers should ac- company her. The night passed away, and at dawn the Lady Ida arose, and gave her lieutenant the necessary orders. De Montfort sent out messengers and sjave notice to u seek those who have thus performed his behests ? Chey have fled to the northward, arid with them they \)ear the Lady Ida, and ere your heavy armed soldiers can overtake them, they must fly on the wings of the wind. O, Mahomet, Eblis, my heart, my heart kill me, I pray thee ; this pain is ' The commander's eye saw the wretch's last gasp, his fearful struggle, and then spurring his horse across the court, plunged down the northern slope of the hill at the head of his followers, in pursuit of Kasid and his robber band, who were now two miles away. For six long hours the hot chase was kept up, for six long hours the noble steeds of the Britons bore them on, but the swifter steeds of the robbers, and their lighter burthens, rapidly increased the distance between the parties, and when at last the sun set in splendor in the west, the riders of De Montfort could scarcely dis- cern the distant fugitives. Twilight gradually settled upon the plain, and still the iron-hearted pursuers kept on till the darkness of night wrapped all things in its gloom, and the bright stars shone merrily overhead. Then they ceased their course, and not till then did they rein up their weary chargers, and ascended the side of a neighboring hill which loomed dimly in the atmosphere close in front. The noble animals which had borne them sixty miles that day were cared for, and then the tired troopers took their rest within a sheltering grove, and slept calmly through the dim watches of the night. 160 THE KNIGHT OF THE SILVER CROSS. CHAPTER XIII. Affairs in Palmyra. Entry of a troop, in disguise. Sudden appearance of Everard before the king-, and his demand. The result. Desperate battle at the palace, between the Palmyrene nobles and the troops of king Iscora. ELEVEN days had elapsed after the departure of Lord Cretolius and his party from Palmyra, and during that time, the yeomen of the city occupied themselves in preparing to meet the storm of war which the Lion of Turkestan had threatened to bring upon them. The armorers and blacksmiths were working night and day, the former in constructing and repairing coats of mail, helmets and bucklers; the latter in making ready tremendous engines of defence to place along the walls of the city. The cutlers were reaping a golden harvest, and the workers of plumes and doublets filled their coffers with silver. Experienced engineers with large parties of laborers were employed in strengthening various parts of the city walls ; in the squares of the city subalterns were busily drilling the retainers of their lords, and barons TIIE KNIGHT OF THE SILVER CROSS. 163 marshalled their troops hither and thither, while through the strongly-guarded gates, wagons constantly entered, laden with the harvest from the surrounding fields, or traced their way thither with grain and fruits from the neighboring mountains. In the midst of these warlike preparations, a body of Cretolian retainers, one hundred and fifty strong, passed in at the northern gate, 'apparently under the command of two lieutenants and a centurion, who represented themselves as a part of Lord Cretolius's escort, sent back as unnecessary. Beside the centurion rode a youth of middle height, whose dark skin and straight black hair, gave him the appearance of a native of distant India. He spoke not at the gate, but pulled his cap down over his brows, and kept close to the officer, looking neither to the right nor left. [SEE ENGRAVING.] Having traversed the street of palms to that of pal- aces, they turned aside, and reaching the castle of Cretolius, entered and dismounted in the courtyard. The castle guard gathered around with eager questions, to which the new-comers answered not a word, but followed their leaders in silence into the great hall, fastening the doors behind them. Wonder and sur- prise were predominant in the bosoms of those without, and fearing something was wrong, the seneschal soon gathered three or four hundred men, determined to arrest the party when they should come out, and placed his band in the entry close to the door. The bolt was sprung within a few minutes after, and as the door slightly opened, and a face looked through 164 THE KNIGHT OF THE SILVER CROSS. the aperture to discover the cause of the uproar with- out, the seneschal pushed it violently open, and rushed in with his followers, demanding the cause of the strange proceedings of the new-comers. The centurion, without a word, pointed to a window, at which half hidden by a curtain, stood the Indian youth, before mentioned, with his back toward them. The seneschal strode to the spot, and gazed in the face of the Indian ; a word in his ear caused him to start, and the curtain being close drawn, both remained concealed behind its folds for a few minutes, during which the seneschal's band remained silently awaiting the result, but closing up the entrance to the hall with their array. Suddenly the curtains parted, and the seneschal gave an order that his guard should leave the hall, and speedily notify the whole legion of retainers to hold themselves in readiness to gather at a moment's notice to strike for the honor of the house of Cretolius. The wondering band slowly retired to obey his orders, closing the door behind them, which was instantly fastened by the seneschal. Some time after, seven couriers left the castle gate, and during the lapse of another hour, nine horsemen rode into the courtyard at different times, dismounted, and were ushered into the great hall. None of the astonished retainers thronging the courtyard saw their faces, for they were hidden in the folds of their large cloaks, and their plumed helmets were so close upon the brow that their eyes only were visible. But the golden spur which graced their heels, and the graven work on their helmets, plainly indicated they were of the higher ranks of society. As each entered the hall, the cloak was laid aside, THE KNIGHT OF THE SILVER CROSS. 165 displaying the form of a Palmyrene noble, armed from head to foot as if for the fight. The last to arrive was Lord Morden, who was preceded but a few minutes by Lord Sicinius and his three sons, and around the poorly-dressed Indian they gathered a duke, five lords, and three barons, each addressing a word of sympathy to the former as they took his hand. Upon the brows of all, reste4 a stern, determined expression, and in their eyes a look of thoughtful severity was mingled with mournfulness for they were there to conspire against the peace of Palmyra, and to bring just punishment upon the guilty monarch who had dared to attempt to destroy the honor of one of their number, by tearing the fair Ida from her friends and home. ' We must not give back in this enterprise,' said Lord Sicinius, ' for a principle is at stake. If the king is suffered thus with impunity to destroy the fair fame of one noble family, he will think himself privileged to do the same to others. Therefore we must persevere, for we might as well perish by the sword, as by the machinations of a despot.' ' 'Tis even so,' said Lord Morden, ' and we must now permit Everard to seek the king and demand the Lady Ida, and if she is not restored, sound the call to arms, and pluck the tyrant-spoiler from his throne. What say you, Everard ?' ' I am ready,' said the Indian, for it was Everard in disguise. ' But ere I go, let me know what chance of success we have in case of an appeal to arms.' ' Lord Sicinius and his sons can bring four thousand to the field, the other three lords each two thousand,' replied Lord Morden. ' These, with my own legion of 166 THE KNIGHT OF THE SILVER CROSS. two thousand, the duke's of three thousand, and your own, will make a force of eighteen thousand men.' ' Eighteen thousand against thirty-six thousand ? 'tis fearful odds,' said Everard. * Nay,' said Lord Sicinius, ' the king cannot have so many. At least, ten thousand of our citizens will neither fight against their king for us, nor for him in such an unjust cause as his, and consequently, will remain neutral, and if to this, we add a couple of thousand who will join our standards when the villany of our monarch shall have been sounded through the streets, our forces will be nearly equal.' ' Let us depart then, instantly,' replied Everard, ' for the palace.' ' One moment,' said the duke. l Everard, it is best that when you face the king, you should, in case of his refusal to restore the beauteous Lady Ida, say nothing of our intentions, that our blow may be the surer for being unexpected.' ' Yes,' said Lord Morden, ' it is. And now let us seek our own castles, call together our retainers secretly, marshal them in our courtyards, and wait the decision of the king. Everard shall send us couriers to give us notice in case of his refusal.' The mode of operations had been previously arranged by the nobles, and after Everard, who was to be the nominal leader, as he was the most injured, had re- ceived his instructions in attentive silence, the nine nobles left the castle, and separated to their different homes. An hour after, having laid aside his Indian disguise, and wiped from his face the stains with which he had darkened it, Everard issued from the hall into the THE KNIGHT OF THE SILVER CROSS. 167 courtyard, where nearly a thousand Cretolians were gathered, engaged in conversation on the strange events of the morning, and wondering what could have caused the orders they had received to be ready at a moment for the combat. His appearance, though it excited astonishment, was hailed with enthusiasm, and as he rode from the castle gate with the band who had accompanied him into, the hall, he was followed by shouts of greeting. Taking his way to the royal palace, he there found the couriers of the conspirators assembled. Dismount- ing, he entered the palace, and, luckily for himself, found the king in one of the ground apartments, looking into the avenue ; when the lacquey who conducted him hither retired, he thus addressed the surprised mon- arch : ' My liege, my unexpected return has filled you with astonishment, but you doubtless know the reason. I have come to demand of you my lovely sister, whom your minions have torn from the protection of the Baron De Montfort, by force, and for what purpose you best know. Where is she ?' ' Baron Cretolius, I have not looked upon her face since last she danced with me in the palace hall, on the evening when your father introduced the envoy of St. John,' replied the monarch. 'It is useless to evade my question,' responded Everard, firmly. * I asked you not when you saw her. Again, I repeat it, where is she V