Part 43 (1/2)

But Marzak shrugged his shoulders with make-believe contempt ”I kneould refuse the e a butt that a child could not miss it at this distance”

”If a child could not, then thou shouldst not,” said Sakr-el-Bahr, who had so placed himself that his body was noeen Marzak and the palmetto bale ”Let us see thee hit it, O Marzak” And as he spoke he raised his cross-bow, and scarcely see to take aim, he loosed his shaft It flashed away to be checked, quivering, in the branch he had indicated

A chorus of applause and adreeted the shot, and drew the attention of all the creas toward

Marzak tightened his lips, realizing how completely he had been outwitted willy-nilly he must now shoot at that mark The choice had been taken out of his hands by Sakr-el-Bahr He never doubted that he must cover himself with ridicule in the performance, and that there he would be constrained to abandon this pretended match

”By the Koran,” said Biskaine, ”thou'lt need all thy skill to equal such a shot, Marzak”

”'Twas not the mark I chose,” replied Marzak sullenly

”Thou wert the challenger, O Marzak,” his father reminded him ”Therefore the choice of mark was his He chose a man's mark, and by the beard of Moham the bow fro the ate the contents of that suspicious palmetto bale; but he realized that such a course must now cover him with scorn Slowly he levelled his bow at that distant mark

”Have a care of the sentinel on the hill-top,” Sakr-el-Bahr adrily the youth drew the bow The cord hummed, and the shaft sped to bury itself in the hill's flank a dozen yards from the mark

Since he was the son of the Basha none dared to laugh outright save his father and Sakr-el-Bahr But there was no suppressing a titter to express the artal thyself against Sakr-el-Bahr”

”My as crossed in the ered me and made my aim untrue”

Sakr-el-Bahr strode away to the starboard bulwarks, dee the matter at an end Marzak observed hie hiain” As he spoke he fitted a second shaft to his bow ”Behold!” he cried, and took aiht, Sakr-el-Bahr--heedless now of all consequences--levelled at Marzak the bohich he still held

”Hold!” he roared ”Loose thy shaft at that bale, and I loose this at thy throat I never rimly

There was a startled movement in the ranks of those who stood behind Marzak In speechless amazement they stared at Sakr-el-Bahr, as he stood there, white-faced, his eyes aflash, his bon taut and ready to launch that death-laden quarrel as he threatened

Slowly then, s with unutterable malice, Marzak lowered his bow

He was satisfied His true aim was reached He had drawn his enemy into self-betrayal

Asad's was the voice that shattered that hush of consternation

”Kellamullah!” he bellowed ”What is this? Art thou mad, too, O Sakr-el-Bahr?”

”Ay, mad indeed,” said Marzak; ”mad with fear” And he stepped quickly aside so that the body of Biskaine should shi+eld him from any sudden consequences of his next words ”Ask him what he keeps in that pannier, O my father”

”Ay, what, in Allah's na towards his captain