Part 42 (1/2)
Already the as failing them, and it became necessary to take to the oars, as h the coves narrow neck in the becaloon beyond So Sakr-el-Bahr, in his turn, lifted up his voice, and in answer to his shout caitello's whistle brought his ownthe benches ordering the rowers to make ready, whilst Jasper and a half-dozen Musliinning to flap in the shi+fting and interave the word to row, and Vigitello blew a second and longer blast The oars dipped, the slaves strained and the galeasse ploughed forward, ti kept by a boatswain's mate who squatted on the waist-deck and beat a to on the poop-deck, shouted his orders to the steersmen in their niches on either side of the stern, and skilfully the vessel was oon whose depths were crystal clear Here before co to rest, Sakr-el-Bahr followed the invariable corsair practice of going about, so as to be ready to leave his ain at a side the rocky buttresses of a gentle slope that was utterly deserted by all save a feild goats browsing near the suolden flower, about the base of the hill Higher, a few gnarled and aged olive trees reared their grey heads frolint as of silver
Larocque and a couple of sailors went over the bulwarks on the larboard quarter, dropped lightly to the horizontal shafts of the oars, which were rigidly poised, and walking out upon theained the rocks and proceeded to make fast the vessel by ropes fore and aft
Sakr-el-Bahr's next task was to set a watch, and he appointed Larocque, sending him to take his station on the sue of vieas to be corew re the seas as a simple corsair he had used this cove both for purposes of ambush and concealment There were, he said, few harbours in all the Mediterranean so admirably suited to the corsairs' purpose as this; it was a haven of refuge in case of peril, and an unrivalled lurking-place in which to lie in wait for the prey He reut-Reis, a fleet of six galleys, their presence entirely unsuspected by the Genoese ad with three caravels and seven galleys
Marzak, pacing beside his father, listened but half-heartedly to these reminiscences His mind was all upon Sakr-el-Bahr, and his suspicions of that palmetto bale were quickened by the manner in which for the last two hours he had seen the corsair hovering thoughtfully in its neighbourhood
He broke in suddenly upon his father's memories with an expression of as in his mind
”The thanks to Allah,” he said, ”that it is thou who coes have been neglected”
”Not so,” said Asad ”Sakr-el-Bahr knows thee point afore-tiested that this would be the very place in which to await this Spanish craft”
”Yet had he sailed alone I doubt if the Spanish argosy had concerned hireatly There are other matters on his ht How e has he spent thus He is as ain him Observe hi his old head and sighing over so ination be for ever feeding on thy malice? Yet I blame not thee, but thy Sicilian mother, who has fostered this hostility in thee Did she not hoodwink e?”
”I see thou hast forgot last night and the Frankish slave-girl,” said his son
”Nay, then thou seest wrong I have not forgot it But neither have I forgot that since Allah hath exalted iers, He looks to me to deal in justice Come, Marzak, set an end to all this Perhaps to-ht as that never again wilt thou dare say evil of him Come, make thy peace with him, and let me see better relations betwixt you hereafter”
And raising his voice he called Sakr-el-Bahr, who iway Marzak stood by in a sulkyout an olive branch to the ht ere all was done Yet was it he who greeted Sakr-el-Bahr when the corsair set foot upon the poop
”Does the thought of the co of war?” he asked
”Am I perturbed, pup of peace?” was the crisp answer
”It seens of perturbation, dost suppose?”
”Of what else?”
Sakr-el-Bahr laughed ”Thou'lt tell me next that I am afraid Yet I should counsel thee to wait until thou hast smelt blood and powder, and learnt precisely what fear is”
The slight altercation drew the attention of Asad's officers ere idling there Biskaine and soed forward to stand behind the Basha, looking, on in some amusement, which was shared by hi a hand upon Marzak's shoulder, ”his counsel is sound enough Wait, boy, until thou hast gone beside hie hinarled old hand ”Dost thou, Oe My youth is a sufficient answer But at least,” he added, prompted by a wicked notion suddenly conceived, ”at least you cannot taunt me with lack of address eapons”
”Give hiood-huies”
Marzak looked at hi eyes ”Give me a cross-bow,” he retorted, ”and I'll show thee how to shoot,” was his a boast
”Thou'lt show hi loud and hearty ”Go snity