Then he put me on one of the led horses and the soldier mounted the other, and we departed at a gallop.

All that evening and last night we rode hard, but in the darkness the soldier left us, and I do not know whither he went.

At length we came to that mountain shoulder and waited there, resting the horses and eating food which the Arab had with him, till we saw the embassy, and among them two tall knights.
"'See,' said the old Arab, 'yonder come the brethren whom you seek.

See and give thanks to Allah and to Masouda, who has not lied to you, and to whom I must now return.' "Oh! my heart wept as though it would burst, and I wept in my joy--wept and blessed God and Masouda.

But the Arab, Son of the Sand, told me that for my life's sake I must be silent and keep myself close veiled and disguised even from you until we reached Jerusalem, lest perhaps if they knew me the embassy might refuse escort to the princess of Baalbec and niece of Saladin, or even give me up to him.
"Then I promised and asked, 'What of Masouda ?' He said that he rode back at speed to save her also, as had been arranged, and that was why he did not take me to Jerusalem himself.