Harold Lamb

“ He glanced about and reined closer.
“You will have need of all your wit if you live to reach Bokhara. Remember that no Kharesmian has proof against you, and you are fairly safe if you do not betray yourself—so beware of tricks. Remember, too, that it is ever best to face forward and to shun no risk. The Moslems are a folk of many tribes and quarrels—and that is their bane. If a man mocks you, cut him down; if a spy is sent, laugh at him. By all the gods, I have not brought you so far, to find you a weakling!”
Robert reflected that a good Moslem does not swear by more than one god. ”

“ Near the surface of the water they saw a white face surrounded by a mesh of dark hair, and—in the glow of the torches—the silk clad limbs of a woman moving gently with the currents of the pool. A moment more and she sank out of sight, but Will stared wide-eyed at the spot.
“You are from Egypt?” a courteous voice questioned the knight. “And alone—yet sent by the lords of Cairo? Verily, riders are coming from the far ends of the earth to the Throne of Gold. A strange sword!”
The speaker was a handsome Moslem, who made a respectful salaam and studied Robert with unwilling admiration. ”

“ On the other side the boulders fell away to the dark surface of water, and Robert suspected that the stream flowing down the gorge had been penned back by the wall of rocks, forming a pool on the upper side. He was surprized to observe a number of women ranged beside the defenders of the pass—veiled women, variously garbed, but all slender and long-haired, unmistakably youthful. He noticed, too, that the Kankalis had passed on save for Inalzig, who stood beside the captain of the warders. ”

“ Robert looked ahead and found that Will was already scrambling up what seemed to be a solid wall of rock, in reality a mass of boulders, up which the Kankalis were swarming. Whether the rocks had been piled there or had fallen from above, Robert cared little. So steep was the ascent that he was forced to use hands and knees, and water trickled down on his shoulders as he pulled himself up to where a line of men were standing with torches. ”

“ When the last shaft of red light vanished from the tallest of the peaks—the one streaked with tiny spots of something that gave back the glitter of the sun—darkness settled like a cloak upon the serais where the caravans had baited for the night. ”

“ So—thrust her over,” he ordered the warrior who held her fast.
And Inalzig's white teeth flashed under his thin mustache.
“Ha! Would a Cairene act thus?”
Robert had leaped the space between the dam and the ledge. The warrior who stood over the girl released his prey and lifted shield and simitar as he strode to meet the knight.
“Ah no, my lord!” Ellen cried, raising her chained arms eagerly. “Keep to your guise and your own purpose. No man's aid will serve to abate our misfortune, and you would be lost!” ”

“ And you, O young warrior, will taste the mead of a man.” With that he urged his horse up close to the heels of a pair of Kankalis until the dust nearly choked them and hid the rest of the detachment somewhat from view. Thrusting out his hand suddenly, the minstrel gripped Robert's fingers and when he drew away something hard and cold was in the knight's hand. Realizing that he was not to attract attention to himself, Robert did not look down for a moment. ”

“ Her eyes widened in horror as the warrior, grinning, forced her to the very edge of the rock.
“Yonder maid,” observed the keeper of the Gate reflectively, “was taken from among the Franks. We have other women, from Armenia and the Bedawan villages, and they are kept for the pleasure of the Shah. Such is the custom of the forays beyond the border—yet, O ameer, the redbeard may have touched her, and the touch of a dog of an unbeliever is defilement. ”