Adventure Magazine Cover — page 105: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

Syatys The Sea-Hawk “But the hadi?’ ’ she inquired, and by the question he knew that she was won to his way of saving her. “T said the kadz or his superior. Asad himself shall be our priest, his followers our witnesses.’ “And if he refuses? He will refuse!” she cried, clasping her hands before her in her ~excitement. “T shall not ask him. surprize.” “Tt—it must anger him. He may avenge I shall take him by ' himself for what he must deemia trick.” . “Aye,” he answered, wild-eyed. ‘I have _ thought of that, too. But it is a risk we 3? must run. If we do not prevail, then “T have the dagger,’’ she cried fearlessly. “And for me there will be therope or the sword,” he answered. ‘Be calm! They come!” ee But the steps that Lee up the stairs were Ali’s. He flung upon the terrace in alarm. ° “My lord, my lord! Asad-ed-Din is here in force. He has an armed following with him!”’ “There is naught to fear,” said Sakr-el- Bahr, with every show of calm. “All will be well.” " Asad swept up the stairs and out upon that terrace to confront his rebellious lieu- tenant. After him came a dozen .black- robed janissaries with simitars along which the light of the torches rippled in little runnels as of blood. The Basha came to a halt before Sakrgel- Bahr, his arms majestically folded, his head thrown back, so that his long white beard jutted forward. “T am returned,” he said, “to employ force where gentleness will not avail. Yet I pray that Allah may have lighted thee to a wise frame of mind.” “He has, indeed, my lord,” replied Sakr- el-Bahr. “The praise to Him!” exclaimed Asad in a voice that rang with joy. ‘The girl then!”’ . And he held out a hand. Sakr-el-Bahr stepped back to her and took her hand in his as if to lead her for- ward. Then he spoke the fateful words. “In Allah’s Holy Name and in His All- seeing eyes, before thee, Asad-ed-Din, and in the presence of these witnesses I take this woman to be my wife by the merciful law of the Prophet of Allah the All-wise, the All-pitying.”’ The words were out and the thing was 103 done before Asad had realized the corsair’s intent. A £asp of dismay escaped him; then © his visage grew inflamed, his eyes blazed. __ ._ But Sakr-el-Bahr, cool and undaunted before that royal anger, took the scarf that lay about Rosamund’s shoulders and raising it flung it over her head, so that her face was covered by it. “May Allah rot off the hand of him who in contempt of our Lord Mahomet’s holy _ Bs law may dare to unveil that face, and may Allah bless this union and cast into the pit ~ of Gehenna any whoshall attempt to dissolve a bond that is tied in His All-seeing eyes.” It was formidable. Too formidable for Asad-ed-Din. Behind him his janissaries like hounds in leash stood eagerly awaiting his command. But none came. He,stood there breathing heavily, swaying a little, and turning from red to pale in the battle that was being fought within him between rage and vexation on the one hand and his profound piety on the other. And as he yet hesitated perhaps Sakr-el-] assisted his piety to gain the day. “Now you will understand why I would not yield her, O mighty Asad,” he said. “Thyself hast thou oft and rightly re- proached me with my celibacy, reminding me that it is not pleasing in the sight of Allah, that it ig unworthy a good Moslem. At last it hath pleased the Prophet to send me such a maid as I could take to wife.” Asad bowed his head. ‘What is written is written,” he said in the voice of one who admonishes himself. Then he raised. his arms aloft. “Allah~ is All-knowing,” he declared. “His will be done!”’ _ “Amen,” said Sakr-el-Bahr very solemnly and with a great surge of thankful prayer to his own long-forgotten God. The Basha stayed yet a moment, as if he would have spoken. Then abruptly he turned and waved a hand to his janissaries. “Away!” was all he said to them, and stalked out in their wake. CHAPTER XXI THE SIGN frROM behind her lattice, still breathless from the haste she had made, and with her whelp Marzak at her side, Fenzileh had witnessed that first angry return of the Basha from the house of Sakr-el-Bahr. GOMmIG JOO é