The Sea-Hawk

e of such pageants to impress the mob-was such as never yet had been seen in the narrow streets of Algiers upon the return of any corsair. It was full worthy of the greatest Musl

g Saharowis. After them followed yet more corsairs, and then mounted, on a white Arab jennet, his head swathed in a turban of cloth of gold, came Sakr-el-Bahr. In the narrower streets, with their white and yellow washed houses, which presented blank windowless walls broken here and there by no more than a slit to admit light and air, the spectators huddled themselves fearfully into doorways to avoid being crushed to death by the camels, whose burdens bulging on either side entirely filled those narrow ways. But the more open spaces, such as the strand on either side of the mole

akr-el-Bahr; and welcome him it did, with such vocal thunder that an echo of

way of the Kasbah they padded into the vast courtyard to be ranged along two sides of it by their Saharowi drivers, and there brought clumsily to their knees. After them followed but some two score corsairs as a guard of honour to their leader. They took their stand upon either side of the gateway after profoundly s

Sakr-el-Bahr which Fenzileh's crafty speech and craftier reticence had planted in them. But at sight of the corsair leader himself his countenance cleared

hrusting forward, he stalked with great dignity to the foot of the divan followed by Ali and a mahogany-faced fellow, turbaned and red-

is knees and prostrated himse

d His peace upon thee, my

, gave him a welcome that caused the spying Fenzileh to cle

rned and in health, my son. Already hath my old heart been glad

d greatly though Asad's expectations had been fed already by Othmani, th

ncerned-for in these ventures all were partners, from the Basha himself, who represented the State down to the meanest corsair who had manned the victorious

nted his new officer to the Bashal as one upon whom the grace of Allah had descended, a great fighter and a skilled seaman, who had offered up

Nasrani dogs in the ranks of the soldiers of the Faith, and that it was unwise to

th an eye in which scorn and

ver. And bethink thee, O son of Asad, that when thou dost in thy little wisdom cast scorn upon those whom Allah has blessed and led from the night wherein they dwelt into the bright noontide of

p and stood biting his lip and glowering upon the corsa

the very father of wisdom as of valour." And thereupon he gave welcome to Master Lei

Asad, went to take their stand on guard at the gateway. Then the Basha beat his hands together, and to the slaves who

e, the slaves placed before them a savoury stew

rs into the earthenware bowl, leading the way for Sakr-el-Bahr and Marzak, and

d had praised him in high and lovi

h slaves that thou didst undertake this

reply. "I went to rove the seas in the Prophet's

y would cross thy path," said Marzak, in t

y that Asad scarce needed to hear the words that so cunningly gave the li

eartily, the more heartily since it rebutted insin

defeated. He had been soundly schoo

this I do not understand," he m

as if he suggested-not without a suspicion of irony-that it was incredible there

content to take thence but two poor slaves, since with thy followers and the favour of the All-seeing thou might easily have taken fifty times that number."

gh-sounding phrase of Faith would answer. And explanation was unavoidable, an

occasioned some alarm. Moreover, it was night-time when we landed, and I dared not adventure the lives of my follow

d upon the brow of Asad,

l upon a slumbering village all unconsciou

out the heart something of the undercurrents at work against him and all the p

s son to his lieutenant with that lowering

tone. He met Asad's glanc

re so my lord

thee is

aid? Do I take my orders or am I to be guided by Othmani? If so, best set Othmani in my place, give him the comm

to anger," Asad repro

as this from which I am returned laden with spoils that might well be the fruits of a year

a passion that was entirely simulated. He must bluster here, and c

ave done speaks eloquently with its own voice. What he would have had me do might well have ended in disaster. Had it so ended, would the blame o

e, the light hard eyes aflash and the sweeping gestures of contempt with which they were del

The scowl faded from his face to be

-el-Bahr, this

ciliation in the face of the Basha, now open

e serves with little reck to life. In this very expedition was I wounded nigh unto d

blaze of that question, and Sakr-

him. "I have been

ruise of mine I determined to land and seize one who some years ago did injure me, and between whom and me there was a score to settle. I exceeded my intentions in that I carried off two prisoners instead of one. These prisoners,

quoth Asad, but wit

oon to ask in some reward for

it, m

o keep these cap

his affection for Sakr-el-Bahr, and his desire to soothe him now that

rsair shall subtract so much as the value of an asper from his booty until the

el-Bahr. "But thou art

ce. And the law I have recited thee applies even should the corsair raider be the Basha himself. These slaves of thine mus

r white face of Marzak and the gleaming expectant eyes, looking so hopefully f

en, and forthwith will I

e replied. "I might set the price too high, and that were unjust to thee, or too low,

l-Bahr, daring to insist no fur

Rosamund and Lionel should be kept apart from the other prisoners until the hour

resently they were joined there in the courtyard by Fenzileh-this woman