The Brethren Part 17

"Of course we will," added Wulf. "Still, that country must be worth travelling in."

Then boats came out to greet them from the sh.o.r.e--for at that time Beirut was in the hands of the Franks--and in the shouting and confusion which followed they saw no more of this merchant Thomas. Nor did they seek him out again, since they thought it unwise to show themselves too curious about the Sheik Al-je-bal.

Indeed, it would have been useless, since that trader was ash.o.r.e two full hours before they were suffered to leave the s.h.i.+p, from which he departed alone in a private boat.

At length they stood in the motley Eastern crowd upon the quay, wondering where they could find an inn that was quiet and of cheap charges, since they did not wish to be considered persons of wealth or importance. As they lingered here, somewhat bewildered, a tall, veiled woman whom they had noted watching them, drew near, accompanied by a porter, who led a donkey. This man, without more ado, seized their baggage, and helped by other porters began to fasten it upon the back of the donkey with great rapidity, and when they would have forbidden him, pointed to the veiled woman.

"Your pardon," said G.o.dwin to her at length and speaking in French, "but this man--"

"Loads up your baggage to take it to my inn. It is cheap, quiet and comfortable--things which I heard you say you required just now, did I not?" she answered in a sweet voice, also speaking in good French.

G.o.dwin looked at Wulf, and Wulf at G.o.dwin, and they began to discuss together what they should do. When they had agreed that it seemed not wise to trust themselves to the care of a strange woman in this fas.h.i.+on, they looked up to see the donkey laden with their trunks being led away by the porter.

"Too late to say no, I fear me," said the woman with a laugh, "so you must be my guests awhile if you would not lose your baggage.

Come, after so long a journey you need to wash and eat. Follow me, sirs, I pray you."

Then she walked through the crowd, which, they noted, parted for her as she went, to a post where a fine mule was tied. Loosing it, she leaped to the saddle without help, and began to ride away, looking back from time to time to see that they were following her, as, indeed, they must.

"Whither go we, I wonder," said G.o.dwin, as they trudged through the sands of Beirut, with the hot sun striking on their heads.

"Who can tell when a strange woman leads?" replied Wulf, with a laugh.

At last the woman on the mule turned through a doorway in a wall of unburnt brick, and they found themselves before the porch of a white, rambling house which stood in a large garden planted with mulberries, oranges and other fruit trees that were strange to them, and was situated on the borders of the city.

Here the woman dismounted and gave the mule to a Nubian who was waiting. Then, with a quick movement she unveiled herself, and turned towards them as though to show her beauty. Beautiful she was, of that there could be no doubt, with her graceful, swaying shape, her dark and liquid eyes, her rounded features and strangely impa.s.sive countenance. She was young also--perhaps twenty-five, no more--and very fair-skinned for an Eastern.

"My poor house is for pilgrims and merchants, not for famous knights; yet, sirs, I welcome you to it," she said presently, scanning them out of the corners of her eyes.

"We are but squires in our own country, who make the pilgrimage,"

replied G.o.dwin. "For what sum each day will you give us board and a good room to sleep in?"

"These strangers," she said in Arabic to the porter, "do not speak the truth."

"What is that to you?" he answered, as he busied himself in loosening the baggage. "They will pay their score, and all sorts of mad folk come to this country, pretending to be what they are not. Also you sought them--why, I know not--not they you."

"Mad or sane, they are proper men," said the impa.s.sive woman, as though to herself, then added in French, "Sirs, I repeat, this is but a humble place, scarce fit for knights like you, but if you will honour it, the charge is--so much."

"We are satisfied," said G.o.dwin, "especially," he added, with a bow and removing the cap from his head, "as, having brought us here without leave asked, we are sure that you will treat us who are strangers kindly."

"As kindly as you wish--I mean as you can pay for," said the woman. "Nay, I will settle with the porter; he would cheat you."

Then followed a wrangle five minutes long between this curious, handsome, still-faced woman and the porter who, after the eastern fas.h.i.+on, lashed himself into a frenzy over the sum she offered, and at length began to call her by ill names.

She stood looking at him quite unmoved, although G.o.dwin, who understood all, but pretended to understand nothing, wondered at her patience. Presently, however, in a perfect foam of pa.s.sion he said, or rather spat out: "No wonder, Masouda the Spy, that after hiring me to do your evil work, you take the part of these Christian dogs against a true believer, you child of Al-je-bal!"

Instantly the woman seemed to stiffen like a snake about to strike.

"Who is he?" she said coldly. "Do you mean the lord--who kills?"

And she looked at him--a terrible look.

At that glance all the anger seemed to go out of the man.

"Your pardon, widow Masouda," he said. "I forgot that you are a Christian, and naturally side with Christians. The money will not pay for the wear of my a.s.s's hoofs, but give it me, and let me go to pilgrims who will reward me better."

She gave him the sum, adding in her quiet voice: "Go; and if you love life, keep better watch over your words."

Then the porter went, and now so humble was his mien that in his dirty turban and long, tattered robe he looked, Wulf thought, more like a bundle of rags than a man mounted on the donkey's back. Also it came into his mind that their strange hostess had powers not possessed by innkeepers in England. When she had watched him through the gate, Masouda turned to them and said in French:

"Forgive me, but here in Beirut these Saracen porters are extortionate, especially towards us Christians. He was deceived by your appearance. He thought that you were knights, not simple pilgrims as you avow yourselves, who happen to be dressed and armed like knights beneath your gambesons; and," she added, fixing her eyes upon the line of white hair on G.o.dwin's head where the sword had struck him in the fray on Death Creek quay, "show the wounds of knights, though it is true that a man might come by such in any brawl in a tavern. Well, you are to pay me a good price, and you shall have my best room while it pleases you to honour me with your company. Ah! your baggage. You do not wish to leave it. Slave, come here."

With startling suddenness the Nubian who had led away the mule appeared, and took up some of the packages. Then she led them down a pa.s.sage into a large, spa.r.s.ely-furnished room with high windows, in which were two beds laid on the cement floor, and asked them if it pleased them.

They said: "Yes; it will serve." Reading what pa.s.sed in their minds, she added: "Have no fear for your baggage. Were you as rich as you say you are poor, and as n.o.ble as you say you are humble, both it and you are safe in the inn of the widow Masouda, O my guests--but how are you named?"

"Peter and John."

"O, my guests, Peter and John, who have come to visit the land of Peter and John and other holy founders of our faith--"

"And have been so fortunate as to be captured on its sh.o.r.e by the widow Masouda," answered G.o.dwin, bowing again.

"Wait to speak of the fortune until you have done with her, Sir--is it Peter, or John?" she replied, with something like a smile upon her handsome face.

"Peter," answered G.o.dwin. "Remember the pilgrim with the line of white hair is Peter."

"You need it to distinguish you apart, who, I suppose, are twins.

Let me see--Peter has a line of white hair and grey eyes. John has blue eyes. John also is the greater warrior, if a pilgrim can be a warrior--look at his muscles; but Peter thinks the more. It would be hard for a woman to choose between Peter and John, who must both of them be hungry, so I go to prepare their food."

"A strange hostess," said Wulf, laughing, when she had left the room; "but I like her, though she netted us so finely. I wonder why? What is more, brother G.o.dwin, she likes you, which is as well, since she may be useful. But, friend Peter, do not let it go too far, since, like that porter, I think also that she may be dangerous. Remember, he called her a spy, and probably she is one."

G.o.dwin turned to reprove him, when the voice of the widow Masouda was heard without saying:

"Brothers Peter and John, I forgot to caution you to speak low in this house, as there is lattice-work over the doors to let in the air. Do not be afraid. I only heard the voice of John, not what he said."

"I hope not," muttered Wulf, and this time he spoke very low indeed.

Then they undid their baggage, and having taken from it clean garments, washed themselves after their long journey with the water that had been placed ready for them in great jars. This, indeed, they needed, for on that crowded dromon there was little chance of was.h.i.+ng. By the time they had clothed themselves afresh, putting on their s.h.i.+rts of mail beneath their tunics, the Nubian came and led them to another room, large and lighted with high-set lattices, where cus.h.i.+ons were piled upon the floor round a rug that also was laid upon the floor. Motioning them to be seated on the cus.h.i.+ons, he went away, to return again presently, accompanied by Masouda bearing dishes upon bra.s.s platters. These she placed before them, bidding them eat. What that food was they did not know, because of the sauces with which it had been covered, until she told them that it was fish.

After the fish came flesh, and after the flesh fowls, and after the fowls cakes and sweetmeats and fruits, until, ravenous as they were, who for days had fed upon salted pork and biscuits full of worms washed down with bad water, they were forced to beg her to bring no more.

"Drink another cup of wine at least," she said, smiling and filling their mugs with the sweet vintage of Lebanon--for it seemed to please her to see them eat so heartily of her fare.

They obeyed, mixing the wine with water. While they drank she asked them suddenly what were their plans, and how long they wished to stay in Beirut. They answered that for the next few days they had none, as they needed to rest, to see the town and its neighbourhood, and to buy good horses--a matter in which perhaps she could help them. Masouda nodded again, and asked whither they wished to ride on horses.

"Out yonder," said Wulf, waving his hand towards the mountains.

"We desire to look upon the cedars of Lebanon and its great hills before we go on towards Jerusalem."

"Cedars of Lebanon?" she replied. "That is scarcely safe for two men alone, for in those mountains are many wild beasts and wilder people who rob and kill. Moreover, the lord of those mountains has just now a quarrel with the Christians, and would take any whom he found prisoners."

"How is that lord named?" asked G.o.dwin.