Part 23 (2/2)
”Indeed, indeed, O ed Marzak himself
”What?” barked the old Moor ”And is it so? And wouldst thou go forth then against the Spaniard? What knowledge hast thou that shall equip thee for such a task?”
”What can his knowledge be since his father has never been concerned to school his that are the natural fruits of thine own omissions?”
”I will be patient with thee,” said Asad, showing every sign of losing patience ”I will ask thee only if in thy judgment he is in case to win a victory for Islahtly I answer thee that he is not And, as straightly, I tell thee that it is full tio upon this expedition that he may learn the trade that lies before him”
Asad considered a moment Then: ”Be it so,” he answered slowly ”Shalt set forth, then, with Sakr-el-Bahr, hast
”I could find hio forth as the servant of another?”
”As the pupil,” Asad amended ”What else?”
”Were I a man, O fountain of my soul,” said she, ”and had I a son, none but myself should be his preceptor I should so mould and fashi+on him that he should be another me That, Oto another and to one whom despite thy love for him I cannot trust Go forth thyself upon this expedition with Marzak here for thy kayia”
Asad frowned ”I grow too old,” he said ”I have not been upon the seas these two years past Who can say that I may not have lost the art of victory No, no” He shook his head, and his face grew overcast and softened by wistfulness ”Sakr-el-Bahr cooes with hian, then checked A Nubian had entered to announce that Sakr-el-Bahr was co the orders of his lord in the courtyard Asad rose instantly and for all that Fenzileh, greatly daring as ever, would still have detained him, he shook her off impatiently, and went out
She watched his departure with anger in those dark lovely eyes of hers, an anger that went near to fillaring sunshi+ne beyond the door, a silence dwelt in the cool darkened chamber--a silence disturbed only by distant trills of silvery laughter from the lesser women of the Basha's house The sound jarred her taut nerves She ether To answer her caress, lithe andin her ear was of ,” she snapped to vent some of her fierce petulance ”Tell theain disturb ress went out, and silence followed, for those other lesser ladies of the Basha's hareem were more obedient to the commands of Fenzileh than to those of the Basha himself
Then she drew her son to the fretted lattice co the courtyard, a screen from behind which they could see and hear all that passed out yonder Asad was speaking, infor Sakr-el-Bahr of what he had learnt, and what there was to do
”How soon canst thou put to sea again?” he ended
”As soon as the service of Allah and thyself require,” was the prompt answer
”It is well, my son” Asad laid a hand, affectionately upon the corsair's shoulder, entirely conquered by this readiness ”Best set out at sunrise to- to o forthwith to give orders to prepare,” replied Sakr-el-Bahr, for all that he was a little troubled in his alleys shalt thou take?”
”To capture one galley of Spain? My own galeasse, no more; she will be full equal to such an enterprise, and I shall be the better able, then, to lurk and take cover--a thing which ht well prove impossible with a fleet”
”Ay--thou art wise in thy daring,” Asad approved hie”
”Have I thy leave to go?”
”Amanhood, and it is time he entered the service of Allah and the State It is e, and that thou be his preceptor even as I was thine of old”
Now here was so that pleased Sakr-el-Bahr as little as it pleased Marzak Knowing the bitter enmity borne him by the son of Fenzileh he had every cause to fear trouble if this project of Asad's were realized