An hour ago the watchmen on the towers reported that they saw two horses galloping across the plain beneath a double burden, pursued by soldiers whom from their robes they took to be Assassins.

So, as I have a quarrel with the Assassins, I crossed the bridge, formed up five hundred men in a hollow, and waited, never guessing that it was you who fled.

You know the rest--and the Assassins know it also, for," he added grimly, "you have been well avenged." "Follow it up," said Wulf, "and the vengeance shall be better, for I will show you the secret way into Masyaf--or, if I cannot, Godwin will--and there you may hurl Sinan from his own towers." Hassan shook his head and answered: "I should like it well, for with this magician my master also has an ancient quarrel.

But he has other feuds upon his hands," and he looked meaningly at Wulf and Godwin, "and my orders were to rescue the princess and no more.

Well, she has been rescued, and some hundreds of heads have paid the price of all that she has suffered.