Part 22 (1/2)
”Dost say that it is presumptuous to win a convert to the banner of Our Lord Mahomet?” quoth he ”Go read the Most Perspicuous Book and see what is there enjoined as a duty upon every True-Believer And bethink thee, O son of Asad, that when thou dost in thy little wisdom cast scorn upon those whoht wherein they dwelt into the bright noontide of Faith, thou dost cast scorn upon me and upon thine own mother, which is but a little matter, and thou dost blaspheme the Blessed name of Allah, which is to tread the ways that lead unto the Pit”
Angry but defeated and silenced, Marzak fell back a step and stood biting his lip and glowering upon the corsair, what time Asad nodded his head and smiled approval
”Verily art thou full learned in the True Belief, Sakr-el-Bahr,” he said ”Thou art the very father of wisdoh, whonation of Jasper-Reis
That done, the renegade and Ali were both dis their position behind Asad, went to take their stand on guard at the gateway Then the Basha beat his hands together, and to the slaves who caave orders to set food, and he bade Sakr-el-Bahr to coht that they ht wash That done, the slaves placed before thes with olives, limes, and spices
Asad broke bread with a reverently pronounced ”Bisers into the earthenware bowl, leading the way for Sakr-el-Bahr and Marzak, and as they ate he invited the corsair himself to recite the tale of his adventure
When he had done so, and again Asad had praised hi terms, Marzak set hilish slaves that thou didst undertake this perilous voyage to that distant land?”
”That was but a part of n,” was the calm reply ”I went to rove the seas in the Prophet's service, as the result of ives proof”
”Thou didst not know that this Dutch argosy would cross thy path,” said Marzak, in the very words his mother had prompted him
”Did I not?” quoth Sakr-el-Bahr, and he smiled confidently, so confidently that Asad scarce needed to hear the words that so cunningly gave the lie to the innuendo ”Had I no trust in Allah the All-wise, the All-knowing?
”Well answered, by the Koran!” Asad approved him heartily, the more heartily since it rebutted insinuations which he desired above all to hear rebutted
But Marzak did not yet own hiuileful Sicilianin all this I do not understand,” he s are possible to Allah!” said Sakr-el-Bahr, in tones of incredulity, as if he suggested--not without a suspicion of irony--that it was incredible there should be anything in all the world that could elude the penetration of Marzak
The youth bowed to hied, ”how it ca reached those distant shores thou wert content to take thence but two poor slaves, since with thy followers and the favour of the All-seeing thou ht easily have taken fifty tienuously into the corsair's swarthy, rugged face, whilst Asad frowned thoughtfully, for the thought was one that had occurred to him already
It became necessary that Sakr-el-Bahr should lie to clear hi phrase of Faith would answer And explanation was unavoidable, and he was conscious that he could not afford one that did not go a little lame
”Why, as to that,” said he, ”these prisoners rested from the first house upon which we came, and their capture occasioned soht-time e landed, and I dared not adventure the lives oftheht have risen to cut off our good retreat”
The frown remained stamped upon the brow of Asad, as Marzak slyly observed
”Yet Othe all unconscious of thy presence, and thou didst refuse”
Asad looked up sharply at that, and Sakr-el-Bahr realized with a tightening about the heart soainst hilean infor
”Is it so?” de fro look that rendered his face evil and cruel
Sakr-el-Bahr took a high tone He e
”And if it were so my lord?” he de thy wisdom I disbelieved nify what Othuided by Othive him the command and the responsibility for the lives of the Faithful who fight beside hinant snort