The Sea-Hawk

Spanish fishing boat, aboard of which there was a young Morisco who was being conducted over seas to Algiers. The news of which the fellow was the bearer was of

a to convey to Naples the gold destined for the pay of the Spanish troops in garrison there. Through parsimony this treasure-galley was to be afforded no escort, but was under orders to hug the coast of Europe, where she shou

sent for Sakr-el-Bahr, whilst Marzak, who had been present at the interview, went with the tale of it to his mother, and beheld her fling into a passion when he added that it was Sa

she swept like a fury into the dar

the European shrew than the submissive Eastern slave. "Is Sakr-el-B

nd down with a languid eye. "Dost know of

One who is entirely faithful and entirely to be trusted. One who does not attem

forever of those two slaves? And

that ribald mocked him with his lack of scars. Shall he take scars in the orchard of the Kasbah here? Is he to be content with those that come from the

he Sultan of Istambul, the Sublime Portal, s

ast not equipped him so to do? I cry shame on thee, O father of M

with thee! Have I not said t

wert upon the seas, servi

r than is he. I cherish him too dearly to let him go forth an

on as another might take pride in. Is it not time he girt a sc

O my father!" beg

st thou go forth then against the Spaniard? What know

erned to school him?" returned Fenzileh. "Dost thou sneer at sh

losing patience. "I will ask thee only if in thy judgment he i

l thee that it is full time he were. Thy duty is to let him go upon

so," he answered slowly. "Shalt set f

Bahr?" cried F

him no bette

forth as the ser

" Asad amended

and fashion him that he should be another me. That, O my dear lord, is thy duty to Marzak. Entrust not his training to another

say that I may not have lost the art of victory. No, no." He shook his head, and his face grew overcas

nd was awaiting the orders of his lord in the courtyard. Asad rose instantly and for all that Fenzil

oor, a silence dwelt in the cool darkened chamber-a silence disturbed only by distant trills of silvery laughter from the lesser women of the Basha's house. The sound jarred her taut nerve

d to vent some of her fierce petulance. "Tell them I

lesser ladies of the Basha's hareem were more obedient to

from behind which they could see and hear all that passed out yonder. Asad was s

thou put to sea

f Allah and thyself requi

r's shoulder, entirely conquered by this readiness. "Best set out at s

re," replied Sakr-el-Bahr, for all that he was a little t

eys shalt

l equal to such an enterprise, and I shall be the better able, then, to lu

," Asad approved him. "May Alla

thy leav

entered the service of Allah and the State. It is my desire that he sail as thy li

d Marzak. Knowing the bitter enmity borne him by the son of Fenzileh he

a with us to-morrow, O Asad? There is none like thee in all Islam, and what a joy were

. "Dost thou, too,

none could have urged it more fervently than I, for none knows so well as I the joy of battle against the infidel under thy command and the glory of prevailin

hite beard, his eagle eyes growing n

e do m

ood of fighters I have raised up keep that which my arm conquered and maintain my name and the glory of the Faith upon the seas." He leaned upon Sakr-el-Bahr's shoulder a

lse," was the answer. "But my

the company, and went to bid Othmani make ready his great galeasse, equipping it

where Fenzileh and Marzak still lingered. He went to tell them that in compliance wi

t impatience he foun

at the more endearing were her epithets the more vicious was her mood, "do then

out of his habitual indulgen

bowing her head, whilst behind her the

kr-el-Bahr to take the seas under his tutelage and to emulate the skill and valour

ilst his detestation of this adventurer who threatened to usurp the pl

Nasrani," he answered hoarsely, "he shall be w

hat words are these to me?" He advanced upon Marzak until Fenzileh in sudden terror stepped between and faced him, like a lioness springing to defend her cub. But the Basha, enraged now by this want of submission in his so

o? By the Koran! too long have I endured her evil foreign ways, and now it seems she has taught thee how to tread them after her and how to beard thy very father! To-morrow thou'lt take the sea with

life had he seen his father in a rage so royal. Yet it seemed to inspire no fear in Fenzil

Marzak," she panted, "to teach thee to discriminate between th

ed at her. "Ar

eath for having counselled thee out of my gr

d, with concentrated anger,

is a woman, tall and of that white beauty which is the gift of Eblis to these Northerners. What is his purpose with her-that he would not show her in the suk as the law prescribes, but comes slinking

ooped, caught her by the

His aspect terrified her at last and ma

his voic

nta!

or. "My lord, my lord!" she whimpered. "Stream

ve done ten years ago and more. We'll have the rods t

e had dared him. "Pity! Pity!" She grovelled and embraced his knees. "In the name of the Pitying the Pitiful be merciful u

For even as at that moment Ayoub-the sleek and portly eunuch, who was her wazeer and chamberlain-loomed in the

tuously he shook himself free of her grasp, turned and stalked majestically out, wearing his anger like a royal m

ts shelves an earthenware jar, placed there so as to receive the slightest breeze. From it she poured water into a little cup and drank greedily. That she could perfo

ttice and turned to Marz

said

eed? He is bewitched. That jackal has enchanted him, so that he must deem well done all that i

d flung himself down upon its pillows; there he lay p

do?" he as

ething must be done, and soon. May his b

up. "Whilst we plan and plot, and our plans and plots come to naught save to provo

y eyes "I too have thought of that," said she. "I could hire me

e the risk onc

en what would our profit be in his deat

ly done we should

Sakr-el-Bahr-may Allah wither him!-is a god in their eyes. Bethink thee of the welcome given him! What Basha returning in triumph was ever greeted by the like? These victories that fortune has vouchsafed him have made them account him divinely favoured and protected. I tell thee, Marzak, that did thy father die to-morrow Sakr-el-Bahr w

be defiled!"

y is to dig it for him without hurt t

is bed in hell

us. Up, Marzak, and consider

ten now," he said. "Since I must go this voyage with him, perch

summon her wazeer Ayoub, and bid a litter be prepared for her. "We'll to the s?k, O Marzak, and see these slaves of his. Who knows

be destroyed!