Part 44 (1/2)
”How?” said Sakr-el-Bahr, and he smiled never so faintly ”Hast thou not said that this purpose was revealed by what I did? Rather, then, I think is it for me to ask thee for some such information I do assure thee, lect the task entrusted e of her presence , and perhaps persuade thee to forget all that I have done for the glory of Isla her secretly aboard
”My real aim, since you must know it, was to land her soht return to her own land, and her own people That done, I should have set about intercepting the Spanish galley, and never fear but that by Allah's favour I should have succeeded”
”By the horns of Shaitan,” swore Marzak, thrusting himself forward, ”he is the very father and mother of lies Wilt thou explain this desire to be rid of a wife thou hadst but wed?” he derowled Asad ”Canst answer that?”
”Thou shalt hear the truth,” said Sakr-el-Bahr
”The praise to Allah!” mocked Marzak
”But I warn you,” the corsair continued, ”that to you it will seem less easy to believe by land where I was born I loved this woman and should have taken her to wife But there were men and circumstances that defamed me to her so that she would not wed ht the love of her which I believed to be dead and turned to loathing, proved to be still a living force Loving her, I caed by a desire above all others to undo the evil I had done”
On that he paused, and after an instant's silence Asad laughed angrily and contemptuously ”Since when hasher from him?” he asked in a voice of scorn that showed the precise value he set upon such a statement
”I warned thee it would seem incredible,” said Sakr-el-Bahr
”Is it not plain, O e of his was no more than a pretence?” cried Marzak
”As plain as the light of day,” replied Asad ”Thy e with that woe It was a blaspheard for the Prophet's Holy Law, and to set her beyond itello, who stood a little behind Sakr-el-Bahr ”Bid thy men put uided thee to a wise decision, O my father!” cried Marzak, his voice jubilant But his was the only jubilant note that was sounded, his the only voice that was raised
”The decision is uide you both to Heaven,” replied Sakr-el-Bahr, undaunted On the instant he had resolved upon his course
”Stay!” he said, raising his hand to Vigitello, who, indeed had shown no sign of stirring He stepped close up to Asad, and what he said did not go beyond those who stood immediately about the Basha and Rosaht lose no word of it
”Do not think, Asad,” he said, ”that I will submit me like a camel to its burden Consider thy position well If I but raise my voice to call my sea-hawks to me, only Allah can tell how many will be left to obey thee Darest thou put this rave and solemn, but entirely fearless, as of a man in whom there is no doubt of the issue as it concerns hilittered dully, his colour faded to a deathly ashen hue ”Thou infaan in a thick voice, his body quivering with anger
”Ah no,” Sakr-el-Bahr interrupted him ”Were I a traitor it is what I should have done already, knowing as I do that in any division of our forces, numbers will be heavily onloyalty, Asad Let it weigh with thee in considering my conduct, nor per so that he vents his petty hatred of me”
”Do not heed him, O my father!” cried Marzak ”It cannot be that”
”Peace!” growled Asad, somewhat stricken on a sudden
And there was peace whilst the Basha stoodfro what Sakr-el-Bahr had said He ht be no more than true, and he realized that if he were to provoke aall upon a throhich the dice ainst him
If Sakr-el-Bahr prevailed, he would prevail not iers, and Asad would be cast down never to rise again On the other hand, if he bared his sciht chance that recognizing in him the exalted of Allah to whom their loyalty was due, they would rally to hiht be probable Yet the stake he put upon the board was too vast The ga yet had appalled, and it scarce needed a muttered caution from Biskaine to deterain, his glance now sullen ”I will consider thy words,” he announced in a voice that was unsteady ”I would not be unjust, nor steer my course by appearances alone Allah forbid!”
CHAPTER XVIII SHEIK MAT
Under the inquisitive gaping stare of all about the each other in silence for a little spell after the Basha's departure The very galley-slaves, stirred fros so curious and unusual, craned their sinewy necks to peer at them with a flicker of interest in their dull, weary eyes