Part 40 (2/2)
Sakr-el-Bahr said not another word in protest against that proclaimed resolve He salaaladness in his voice
”The praise to Allah, then, since thou'rt detere further the unworthiness of the quarry since I aainer by thy resolve”
CHAPTER XV THE VOYAGE
His resolve being taken, Asad drew Tsa him certain instructions for the conduct of affairs ashore during his absence That done, and the wazeer disave the order to cast off, an order which there was no reason to delay, since all was now in readiness
The gangas drawn ashore, the boatswains whistle sounded, and the steers the shafts of the great steering-oars A second blast rang out, and down the gangway-deck ca whips of bullock-hide, shouting to the slaves to make ready And then, on the note of a third blast of Larocque's whistle, the fifty-four poised oars dipped to the water, two hundred and fifty bodies bent as one, and when they heaved thealeasse shot forward and so set out upon her adventurous voyage Froreen crescent was unfurled to the breeze, and fro line of spectators had gathered, there burst a great cry of valediction
That breeze blowing stiffly from the desert was Lionel's friend that day Without it his career at the oar ht have been short indeed He was chained, like the rest, stark naked, save for a loincloth, in the place nearest the gangway on the first starboard bench abaft the narroaist-deck, and ere the galeasse had made the short distance between the mole and the island at the end of it, the boatswain's whip had coiled itself about his white shoulders to urge hi forth He had screamed under the cruel cut, but none had heeded him Lest the punishht into the next strokes of the oar, until by the ti down his body and his heart was thudding against his ribs It was not possible that it could have lasted, and his ony lay in that he realized it, and saw himself face to face with horrors inconceivable that th He was not naturally robust, and he had led a soft and pa him for such a test as this
But as they reached the Penon and felt the full vigour of that warm breeze, Sakr-el-Bahr, who by Asad's coation, ordered the unfurling of the enormous lateen sails onto the wind, and the galeasse surged forward at a speed that wasfollowed, and the slaves were left to return thanks to Heaven for their respite, and to rest in their chains until such tiain
The vessel's vast prohich ended in a steel ram and was aring corsairs, who took their ease there until the tih bulwarks or squatted in groups, talking, laughing, soar their weapons or their ariht of a score or so of bloodthirsty ruffians squatting about hieous poop was fitted with a spacious cabin, to which adained by two archways curtained with stout silken tapestries upon whose deep red ground the crescent rought in brilliant green Above the cabin stood the three cressets or stern-lailded iron surmounted each by the orb and crescent As if to continue the cabin forward and increase its size, a green awning was erected from it to shade almost half the poop-deck Here cushi+ons were thrown, and upon these squatted now Asad-ed-Din with Marzak, whilst Biskaine and some three or four other officers who had escorted hie, were lounging upon the gilded balustrade at the poop's forward end, immediately above the rowers' benches
Sakr-el-Bahr alone, a solitary figure, resplendent in caftan and turban that were of cloth of silver, leaned upon the bulwarks of the larboard quarter of the poop-deck, and looked iers which by noas no lo sunshi+ne
Asad watched hi brows, then summoned him He came at once, and stood respectfully before his prince
Asad considered him a moment solemnly, whilst a furtive malicious smile played over the beautiful countenance of his son
”Think not, Sakr-el-Bahr,” he said at length, ”that I bear thee resent is the sole cause of lected duty--to Marzak, which at last I have undertaken to perform” He seemed to excuse himself almost, and Marzak misliked both words and tone Why, he wondered, must this fierce old hout Christendoant infidel was concerned?
Sakr-el-Bahr bowed solemnly ”My lord,” he said, ”it is not for hts that may have led to them It suffices me to know thy wishes; they are my law”
”Are they so?” said Asad tartly ”Thy deeds will scarce bear out thy protestations” He sighed ”Sorely was I wounded yesternight when thy e thwarted me and placed that Frankish e of thine, as all Muslims must--for all that in itself it was unlawful But there!” he ended with a shrug ”We sail together once again to crush the Spaniard Let no ill-will on either side o'er-cloud the splendour of our task”
”Ameen to that, my lord,” said Sakr-el-Bahr devoutly ”I almost feared”
”No more!” the Basha interrupted hi, which is why I have loved thee as a son”
But it suited Marzak not at all that the matter should be thus dis from his father, upon what indeed amounted to a speech of reconciliation Before Sakr-el-Bahr could make answer he had cut in to set him a question laden icked intent
”Hoill thy bride beguile the season of thine absence, O Sakr-el-Bahr?”
”I have lived too little oive thee an answer,”
said the corsair