Adventure Magazine Cover — page 110: what you’re looking at

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

a -~ wish ~ —s “ ain a « Ce ae ars Col - apprentice in the ! \ - He smiled, seeming outwardly to remain entirely unruffled. “Why—it is that I have come to perceive thy reasons for refusing. For the rest, it~ ___is as I say—the quarry is not worthy of the 5 — hunter.” -Marzak uttered a soft, sneering laugh, as if the true reason of the corsair’s attitude were quite clear to him. He fancied too, : fe and he was right in this, that Sakr-el-Bahr’s odd attitude had accomplished what per- suasions addressed to Asad-ed-Din might - to the-end have failed to accomplish—had afforded him the sign he was come to seek. For it was in'that moment that Asad deter- os Mined to take command himself. “Tt almost seems,” he said slowly, smiling, “as if thou didst not want me. If so, it is unfortunate; for I have long neglected my duty to my son, and I am resolved at last - to repair that error. We accompany thee upon this expedition, Sakr-el-Bahr. Myself I will command aa Marzak shall be my ys of the sea.” ‘Sakr-el-Bahr said not another word in protest against that proclaimed resolve. He salaamed, and when he spoke there was almost a note of gladness in his voice. “The praise to Allah, then, since thou’rt determined. It is not for me to urge further the unworthiness of the quarry since I am the gainer by. thy resolve.” , ‘CHAPTER XXII THE VOYAGE Hs’ resolve being taken, Asad drew 4 Tsamanni aside and spent some mo- ments in talk with him giving him certain instructions for the conduct of affairs ashore. during his absence. That done, and the wazeer dismissed, the Basha himself gave the order to cast off, an order which there was no reason to delay,-since all was now in readiness. The gangway was drawn ashore, the boat- swain’s whistle sounded, and the steersmen ____ leaped to their niches in the stern, grasping _ the shafts of the great steering oars. A second blast rang out, and down the gang- way-deck came Vigitello and two of his mates, all three armed with long whips of _bullock-hide, shouting to the slaves to make ready. And then on the note of a third blast of Larocque’s whistle the fifty-four poised oars dipped to the water, two hun- » Adventure \ dred and fifty bodies bent as one, and when they heaved themselves upright again the great galeasse shot forward and so set out upon her adventurous voyage. From -her _ mainmast the red flag with its green crescent was unfurled to the breeze, and from the crowded mole, and the beach where a long line of spectators had gathered, there burst a great cry of valediction. ‘ That breeze blowing stiffly from the desert was Lionel’s friend that day. Without it his career at the oar might have been short indeed. He was chained, like the rest, stark naked save for a loincloth, in the place nearest the gangway on the first starboard bench abaft the narrow waist-deck, and ere the galeasse had made the short distance between the mole and the island at the end of it, the boatswain’s whip had coiled itself about his white shoulders to urge him. to better exertion than he was putting forth. He had screamed under the cruel cut, but none had heeded him. Lest the punishment should be repeated, he had thrown all his weight into the next strokes of the oar, until by the time the Pefion was reached the sweat was running. down his body and his heart was thudding against his ribs. It was not possible that it could have lasted, and his main agony lay in that he realized it, and saw himself face to face with horrors inconceivable that must await the exhaustion of his strength. e was not naturally robust, and he had led a soft and pampered life that was very far from equipping him for such a test as this. But as they reached the Pefion and felt the full vigor of that warm breeze, Sakr-el- Bahr, who by Asad’s command remained in charge of the navigation, ordered the unfurling of the enormous lateen sails on main and foremasts. They ballooned out, swelling to the wind, and the galeasse surged forward at-a speed that was more than doubled. The order to cease rowing fol- lowed, and the slaves were left to return thanks to Heaven for their respite, and to rest in their chains until such time as their sinews should be required again. The vessel’s vast prow, which ended in a steel ram and was armed with a culverin on either quarter, was crowded with loung- ing corsairs, who took their ease there until the time to engage should be upon them. They leaned on the high bulwarks or squatted in groups, talking, laughing, some ~ , 0)(0)(6) (EOLA) S > Cc 2 (cO)