Tell her that she was asked to wed either of us who would bow the knee to Mahomet, and to be the head of his harem, and I think that she will not blame us." "Never would I have spoken again to him who answered otherwise," exclaimed Rosamund, and Saladin frowned at the words.

"Oh! my uncle," she went on, "you have been kind to me and raised me high, but I do not seek this greatness, nor are your ways my ways, who am of a faith that you call accursed.

Let me go, I beseech you, in care of these my kinsmen." "And your lovers," said Saladin bitterly.

"Niece, it cannot be.

I love you well, but did I know even that your life must pay the price of your sojourn here, here you still should stay, since, as my dream told me, on you hang the lives of thousands, and I believe that dream.