Part 30 (1/2)
The dalal, who had conceived that the li now in fresh amazement The mob crowed and cheered and roared between enthusiashtened to see another chae hiht and left, and through it into the open strode Sakr-el-Bahr They recognized him instantly, and his na multitude
That Barbary name of his conveyed no infor turned to the entrance she did not see hinized his voice, and she had shuddered at the sound She could , nor what the purpose that surely underlay it to account for the extraordinary excite what dastardly purpose Oliver ht intend to serve, but now that she heard his voice that wonder ceased and understanding took its place He had hung there so until all competitors but one should have been outbidden, and now he stepped forth to buy her for his own--his slave! She closed her eyes a ht not prevail in his intent Any fate but that; she would rob hi her to sheathe a poniard in her heart as that poor Andalusian girl had done A wave almost of unconsciousness passed over her in the intensity of her horror For a round seemed to rock and heave under her feet
Then the dizziness passed, and she was herself again She heard the crowd thundering ”Ma'sh'Allah!” and ”Sakr-el-Bahr!” and the dalal cla sternly for silence When this was at last restored she heard his exclaer buyers! What sayest thou, O wazeer Ayoub?”
”Ay!” sneered Tsamanni, ”what now?”
”One thousand and three hundred,” said Ayoub with a quaver of uneasy defiance
”Another hundred, O dalal,” came from Sakr-el-Bahr in a quiet voice
”One thousand and five hundred,” screa not only the limit imposed by his mistress, but the very limit of the resources at her immediate disposal Gone, too, with that bid was all hope of profit to himself
But Sakr-el-Bahr, i to bestow a look upon the quivering eunuch, said again--
”Another hundred, O dalal”
”One thousand and six hundred philips!” cried the dalal, ure reached Then controlling his emotions he bowed his head in reverence and s are possible if Allah wills them The praise to Him who sends wealthy buyers”
He turned to the crestfallen Ayoub, so crestfallen that in the conte consolation for his own discoeance ”What say you now, O perspicuous wazeer?”
”I say,” choked Ayoub, ”that since by the favour of Shaitan he hath sowords were scarcely uttered than Sakr-el-Bahr's great hand had taken the wazeer by the nape of his fat neck, a growl of anger running through the assembly to approve him
”By the favour of Shaitan, sayest thou, thou sex-less dog?” he growled, and tightened his grip so that the wazeer squirony of pain Doas his head thrust, and still down, until his fat body gave way and he lay supine and writhing in the dust of the sok
”Shall I strangle thee, thou father of filth, or shall I fling thy soft flesh to the hooks to teach thee what is afellow's face roughly on the ground
”Mercy!” squealed the wazeer ”Mercy, O hty Sakr-el-Bahr, as thou lookest for mercy!”
”Unsay thy words, thou offal pronounce thyself a liar and a dog”
”I do unsay them I have foully lied Thy wealth is the reward sent thee by Allah for thy glorious victories over the unbelieving”
”Put out thine offending tongue,” said Sakr-el-Bahr, ”and cleanse it in the dust Put it forth, I say”
Ayoub obeyed him in fearful alacrity, whereupon Sakr-el-Bahr released his hold and allowed the unfortunate fellow to rise at last, half-choked with dirt, livid of face, and quaking like a jelly, an object of ridicule and cruel et thee hence, ere my sea-hawks lay their talons on thee Go!”
Ayoub departed in all haste to the increasing jeers of the multitude and the taunts of Tsamanni, whilst Sakr-el-Bahr turned him once more to the dalal
”At one thousand and six hundred philips this slave is thine, O Sakr-el-Bahr, thou glory of Islam May Allah increase thy victories!”