Part 23 (1/2)
But Asad shook his head ”It is not for me to naht set the price too high, and that were unjust to thee, or too low, and that were unjust to others ould acquire thenio”
”It shall be done,” said Sakr-el-Bahr, daring to insist no further and disserin
Very soon thereafter he departed upon that errand, giving orders, however, that Rosamund and Lionel should be kept apart from the other prisoners until the hour of the sale on the morrohen perforce they ered with his father after Oliver had taken his leave, and presently they were joined there in the courtyard by Fenzileh--this woht, said iers
CHAPTER VIII MOTHER AND SON
Early on the morrow--so early that scarce had the Shehad been recited--caalley which had co boat, aboard of which there was a young Morisco as being conducted over seas to Algiers The news of which the felloas the bearer was of such urgency that for twenty hours without intermission the slaves had toiled at the oars of Biskaine's vessel--the capitana of his fleet--to bring her swiftly home
The Morisco had a cousin--a New-Christian like himself, and like himself, it would appear, still a Muslia Thisout for sea to convey to Naples the gold destined for the pay of the Spanish troops in garrison there Through parsialley was to be afforded no escort, but was under orders to hug the coast of Europe, where she should be safe froed that she would be ready to put to sea in a week, and the Morisco had set out at once to bring word of it to his Algerine brethren that theyMorisco for his news, bade him be housed and cared for, and promised hialley be captured That done he sent for Sakr-el-Bahr, whilst Marzak, who had been present at the intervieith the tale of it to hisinto a passion when he added that it was Sakr-el-Bahr had been suht be entrusted with this fresh expedition, thus proving that all her crafty innuendoes and insistent warnings had been soat her heels, she swept like a fury into the darkened room where Asad took his ease
”What is this I hear, O my lord?” she cried, in tone and manner more the European shrew than the subo upon this expedition against the treasure-galley of Spain?”
Reclining on his divan he looked her up and doith a languid eye
”Dost know of any better fitted to succeed?” quoth he
”I know of one whon adventurer One who is entirely faithful and entirely to be trusted
One who does not attearnered in the name of Islam”
”Bah!” said Asad ”Wilt thou talk forever of those two slaves? And who on of thine?”
”Marzak,” she answered fiercely, flinging out an ar forward her son ”Is he to waste his youth here in softness and idleness? But yesternight that ribald mocked him with his lack of scars Shall he take scars in the orchard of the Kasbah here? Is he to be content with those that come frohter and leader of the Children of the Faith that himself he may follow in the path his father trod?”
”Whether he so follows,” said Asad, ”is as the Sultan of Istaerents here”
”But shall the Grand Sultan appoint him to succeed thee if thou hast not equipped him so to do? I cry sha in due pride in thine own son”
”May Allah give me patience with thee! Have I not said that he is still over young”
”At his age thyself thou wert upon the seas, serving with the great Ochiali”
”At his age I was, by the favour of Allah, taller and stronger than is he I cherish hio forth and perchance be lost to rown”
”Look at him,” she coht take pride in Is it not tiirt a scialleys?”