The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Brethren, by H. Rider Haggard

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Title: The Brethren

Author: H. Rider Haggard

Release Date: November 7, 2004 [EBook #2762]

Language: English

Character set encoding: ASCII

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The Brethren

by H. Rider Haggard

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.

Contents:

Author's Note
Prologue
Chapter One: By the Waters of Death Creek
Chapter Two: Sir Andrew D'Arcy
Chapter Three: The Knighting of the Brethren
Chapter Four: The Letter of Saladin
Chapter Five: The Wine Merchant
Chapter Six: The Christmas Feast at Steeple
Chapter Seven: The Banner of Saladin
Chapter Eight: The Widow Masouda
Chapter Nine: The Horses Flame and Smoke
Chapter Ten: On Board the Galley
Chapter Eleven: The City of Al-je-bal
Chapter Twelve: The Lord of Death
Chapter Thirteen: The Embas