at, and so taken on board
the dark ship, whither they bore me.

And once on board they took little heed of me. Only they bound me more
securely with cords that cut my ankles, and threw me in a corner of
their craft amid some baggage. One that I judged to be Mahmud the
Terrible came and gazed on me with a dark smile, but said no word.

Now, after two hours or more, I heard a voice say from the tiller,
"Straight for St. Martin's Point!" and in a short time we came to anchor
in a certain harbour. I know not of a surety, for mine eyes were
blinded, but I guess it was Moulin Huet. And presently I was partly
unbound, set upon my feet, and made to walk. So, blindfolded and
miserable, I entered again that dear island, that I had left for
Normandy but two nights before.

CHAPTER X.

How I was brought before _Le Grand Sarrasin_, and of his magnificence.
How I saw _Folly_ in his chamber, and was lodged in a cavern under
earth.

It is long years ago since I was borne up the Castle Hill, the prisoner
of the Moors, but I stand not upon any high hill even to-day to look
down without remembering how I felt on that day, when the bandage was
torn from my eyes, and I looked round, dazzled at first by the daylight.
But there was that in me, in that I was young, and had all my boyhood
been taught true faith in Heaven, which even now rose up and persuaded
me that come what might a man could bear it, and that no evil man could
by any means force out of a true man's lips that which he would fain not
say.

Before me rose a bright pavilion of green and gold, and two great
sentries in rich raiment with pikes stood either side of the entrance,
letting none pass without a countersign.

Then as my captor drew me rudely onwards towards the entrance, I
guessed, as they stood speaking with the sentries ere we entered, that
this was the Pavilion of Le Grand Sarrasin.

We entered, and found ourselves in a rich antechamber, spread with
carpets of Turkey, whereon men in glossy cloaks trod to and fro in
converse or lay at ease. A fair curtain of blue silk was drawn across an
inner entrance, guarded by two negro lads in scarlet. Awhile we waited,
but at length a page came through the curtain, and with a low obeisance
to Mahmud called us to follow him, and we went into a second chamber,
wherein was no daylight, but only great lighted lamps of silver, that
swung melancholy in the gloom. As mine eyes used themselves to the dim
light, I saw it