[Illustration] The Brethren by H. Rider Haggard Contents Dedication AUTHOR’S NOTE. PROLOGUE Chapter I. By The Waters of Death Creek Chapter II. Sir Andrew D’Arcy Chapter III. The Knighting of the Brethren Chapter IV. The Letter of Saladin Chapter V. The Wine Merchant Chapter VI. The Christmas Feast at Steeple Chapter VII. The Banner of Saladin Chapter VIII. The Widow Masouda Chapter IX. The Horses Flame and Smoke Chapter X. On Board the Galley Chapter XI. The City of Al-Je-Bal Chapter XII. The Lord of Death Chapter XIII. The Embassy Chapter XIV. The Combat on the Bridge Chapter XV. The Flight to Emesa Chapter XVI. The Sultan Saladin Chapter XVII. The Brethren Depart from Damascus Chapter XVIII. Wulf Pays for the Drugged Wine Chapter XIX. Before the Walls of Ascalon Chapter XX. The Luck of the Star of Hassan Chapter XXI. What Befell Godwin Chapter XXII. At Jerusalem Chapter XXIII. Saint Rosamund Chapter XXIV. The Dregs of the Cup Dedication R.M.S. Mongolia, 12th May, 1904 Mayhap, Ella, here too distance lends its enchantment, and these gallant brethren would have quarrelled over Rosamund, or even had their long swords at each other’s throat. Mayhap that Princess and heroine might have failed in the hour of her trial and never earned her saintly crown. Mayhap the good horse “Smoke” would have fallen on the Narrow Way, leaving false Lozelle a victor, and Masouda, the royal-hearted, would have offered up a strangely different sacrifice upon the altars of her passionate desire. Still, let us hold otherwise, though we grow grey and know the world for what it is. Let us for a little time think as we thought while we were young; when faith knew no fears for anything and death had not knocked upon our doors; when you opened also to my childish eyes that gate of ivory and pearl which leads to the blessed kingdom of Romance. At the least I am sure, and I believe that you, my sister, will agree with me, that, above and beyond its terrors and its pitfalls, Imagination has few finer qualities, and none, perhaps, more helpful to our hearts, than those which enable us for an hour to dream that men and women, their fortunes and their fate, are as we would fashion them. H. Rider Haggard. To Mrs. Maddison Green. “_Two lovers by the maiden sate, Without a glance of jealous hate; The maid her lovers sat between, With open brow and equal mien;— It is a sight but rarely spied, Thanks to man’s wrath and woman’s pride._” — Scott AUTHOR’S NOTE: