Part 40 (1/2)
Asad considered his son with a so out if the argosy is to be intercepted,” he said ”If Sakr-el-Bahr does not command, who shall, in Heaven's name?”
”Try rim wistfulness ”Art weary of life, O aleasse to destruction?”
”Thou art less than just, O my father,” Marzak protested
”Yet more than kind, O my son,” replied Asad, and they went on in silence thereafter, until they caside, and all about her there was great bustle of preparation for departure Porters way that connected her with the shore, carrying bales of provisions, barrels of water, kegs of gunpowder, and other necessaries for the voyage, and even as Asad and his followers reached the head of that gangway, four negroes were staggering down it under the load of a huge pal from staves yoked to their shoulders
On the poop stood Sakr-el-Bahr with Othmani, Ali, Jasper-Reis, and soway paced Larocque and Vigitello, two renegade boatswains, one French and the other Italian, who had sailed with hie for the past two years Larocque was superintending the loading of the vessel, bawling his orders for the bestowal of provisions here, of water yonder, and of powder about thea final inspection of the slaves at the oars
As the palroes to set it down by thethe it up to the stern and place it in the poop-house
Asad had dismounted, and stood with Marzak at his side at the head of the ganghen the youth finally begged his father hi him to come as his lieutenant and so learn the ways of the sea
Asad looked at hi He went aboard, Marzak and the others following him It was at this moment that Sakr-el-Bahr first became aware of the Basha's presence, and he caalley If there was a sudden uneasiness in his heart his face was calant and steady as ever
”May the peace of Allah overshadow thee and thy house, O”We are on the point of casting off, and I shall sail the ”
Asad considered him with eyes of wonder So ether see incredible, unless, indeed, it were accompanied by a conscience entirely at peace
”It has been proposed to me that I shall do more than bless this expedition--that I shall co Sakr-el-Bahr closely He observed the sudden flicker of the corsair's eyes, the only outward sign of his inward dismay
”Command it?” echoed Sakr-el-Bahr ”'Twas proposed to thee?” And he laughed lightly as if to dish was a tactical error It spurred Asad He advanced slowly along the vessel's waist-deck to the ed with ain to look into the face of Sakr-el-Bahr who stepped along beside hih?” he questioned shortly
”Why? At the folly of such a proposal,” said Sakr-el-Bahr in haste, too rew the Basha's frown ”Folly?” quoth he ”Wherein lies the folly?”
Sakr-el-Bahr estion that such poor quarry as waits us should be worthy thine endeavour, should warrant the Lion of the Faith to unsheathe hisscorn, ”thou the inspirer of a hundred glorious fights in which whole fleets have been engaged, to take the seas upon so trivial an errand--one galeasse to swoop upon a single galley of Spain!
It were unworthy thy great naesture he contemptuously dismissed the subject
But Asad continued to ponder him with cold eyes, his face inscrutable
”Why, here's a change since yesterday!” he said
”A change, my lord?”
”But yesterday in the e me to join this expedition and to co with deliberate eone, when, scied side by side aboard the infidel, and thou didst beseech ain beside thee And now” He spread his hands, anger gathered in his eyes ”Whence this change?” he deht in his own toils He looked away frolimpse of the handsome flushed face of Marzak at his father's elbow, of Biskaine, Tsa at hirimy sunburned faces fro on with dull curiosity
He s outwardly to remain entirely unruffled ”Why it is that I have co For the rest, it is as I say, the quarry is not worthy of the hunter”
Marzak uttered a soft sneering laugh, as if the true reason of the corsair's attitude were quite clear to hiht in this, that Sakr-el-Bahr's odd attitude had accoht to the end have failed to accon he was come to seek For it was in that moment that Asad determined to take com, ”as if thou didst not want lected my duty to my son, and I am resolved at last to repair that error We accompany thee upon this expedition, Sakr-el-Bahr Myself I will command it, and Marzak shall be my apprentice in the ways of the sea”