Part 49 (1/2)

Lionel looked up at hilish

Sakr-el-Bahr bent over hi No doubt he spoke to hilish also, but noears of Rosah from his countenance she had no doubt of the purport of his words And yet she was far indeed from a correct surmise The mockery in his countenance was but a”I desire them up yonder to think that I abuse you Look as a e or snarl, but listen Do you reether from Penarrow to Trefusis Point?”

”What do you mean?” quoth Lionel, and the natural sullenness of his mien was all that Sakr-el-Bahr could have desired

”I aht find ayou at the end--aboard Sir John Killigrew's shi+p You had not heard? The Silver Heron is at anchor in the bay beyond that headland If I afford you the means, could you swim to her do you think?”

Lionel stared at hith

”Why should I gest a way for hed, and he mocked now in earnest He set his left foot upon the rowers' stretcher, and leaned forward and down his elbow upon his raised knee so that his face was close to Lionel's

”For your deliverance?” said he ”God's life! Lionel, your ht but your own self 'Tis that has made a villain of you Your deliverance! God's wounds! Is there none but yourself whose deliverance I ht desire? Look you, noant you to swim to Sir John's shi+p and bear hialeasse and that Rosamund is aboard it 'Tis for her that I am concerned, and so little for you that should you chance to be drowned in the attee was not delivered

Will you undertake that swim? It is your one sole chance short of death itself of escaping froo?”

”But how?” deo?” his brother insisted

”Afford me the means and I will,” was the answer

”Very well” Sakr-el-Bahr leaned nearer still ”Naturally it will be supposed by all who are watching us that I a you to desperation Act, then, your part Up, and attempt to strike me Then when I return the blow--and I shall strike heavily that noto swoon Leave the rest to me Now,” he added sharply, and on the word rose with a final laugh of derision as if to take his departure

But Lionel was quick to follow the instructions He leapt up in his bonds, and reaching out as far as they would permit him, he struck Sakr-el-Bahr heavily upon the face On his side, too, there was to be no make-believe apparent That done he sank doith a clank of shackles to the bench again, whilst every one of his fellow-slaves that faced his way looked on with fearful eyes

Sakr-el-Bahr was seen to reel under the blow, and instantly there was a commotion on board Biskaine leapt to his feet with a half-cry of astonishment; even Asad's eyes kindled with interest at so unusual a sight as that of a galley-slave attacking a corsair Then with a snarl of anger, the snarl of an enraged beast al aloft and his fist descended like a hammer upon Lionel's head

Lionel sank forward under the blow, his senses swi up a second ti that Lionel appeared to have swooned

He turned and bellowed for Vigitello and his itello came at a run, a couple of his men at his heels

”Unshackle me this carrion, and heave it overboard,” was the harsh order ”Let that serve as an example to the others Let them learn thus the price of mutiny in their lousy ranks To it, I say”

Away sped a man for hammer and chisel He returned with the out, and Lionel was dragged forth froway-deck Here he revived, and screah he were to be drowned in earnest

Biskaine chuckled under the awning, Asad looked on approvingly, Rosa fro in the ar over the side with no more compunction or care than had he been so much rubbish She heard the final scream of terror hich he vanished, the splash of his fall, and then in the ensuing silence the laugh of Sakr-el-Bahr

For a spell she stood there with horror and loathing of that renegade corsair in her soul Her ht to restore order in it, that she ht consider this fresh deed of his, this act of wanton brutality and fratricide And all that she could gather was the firm conviction that hitherto he had cheated her; he had lied when he swore that his aim was to effect her deliverance It was not in such a nature to know a gentle ht be his purpose she could not yet perceive, but that it was an evil one she never doubted, for no purpose of his could be aught but evil So overwrought was she now that she forgot all Lionel's sins, and found her heart filled with compassion for him hurled in that brutal fashi+on to his death

And then, quite suddenly a shout rang out fro!”