Part 47 (1/2)
He tossed back his turbaned head ”To understand is soiveness But ere forgiveness can be accepted the evil done must be atoned for to the full”
”If possible,” said she
”It must be made possible,” he answered her with heat, and on that he checked abruptly, arrested by a sound of shouting fronized the voice of Larocque, who at dawn had returned to his sentinel's post on the su the ht
”My lord! My lord!” was the cry, in a voice shaken by excite chorus from the crew
Sakr-el-Bahr turned swiftly to the entrance, whisked aside the curtain, and stepped out upon the poop Larocque was in the very act of cla over the bulwarks amidshi+ps, towards the waist-deck where Asad awaited him in company with Marzak and the trusty Biskaine The prow, on which the corsairs had lounged at ease since yesterday, was now a seethingto the rail and even down the gangway in their eagerness to learn what news it was that brought the sentinel aboard in such excited haste
From where he stood Sakr-el-Bahr heard Larocque's loud announcehted at dawn, my lord!”
”Well?” barked Asad
”She is here--in the bay beneath that headland She has just dropped anchor”
”No need for alarm in that,” replied the Basha at once ”Since she has anchored there it is plain that she has no suspicion of our presence
What uns, flying the flag of England
”Of England!” cried Asad in surprise ”She'll need be a stout vessel to hazard herself in Spanish waters”
Sakr-el-Bahr advanced to the rail
”Does she display no further device?” he asked
Larocque turned at the question ”Ay,” he answered, ”a narrow blue pennant on her ed with a white bird--a stork, I think”
”A stork?” echoed Sakr-el-Bahr thoughtfully He could call to lish blazon, nor did it seeht the sound of a quickly indrawn breath behind hi in the entrance, not more than half concealed by the curtain Her face shohite and eager, her eyes ide
”What is't?” he asked her shortly
”A stork, he thinks,” she said, as though that were answer enough
”I' faith an unlikely bird,” he commented ”The fellow is mistook”
”Yet not by ued by solance, he stepped quickly up to her, whilst below the chatter of voices increased
”That which he takes to be a stork is a heron--a white heron, and white is argent in heraldry, is't not?”
”It is What then?”
”D'ye not see? That shi+p will be the Silver Heron”