Adventure Magazine Cover — page 111: what you’re looking at

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

The Sea-Hawk : 109. = of them tailoring and repairing garments, “My lord,” he said, “it is not forme to others burnishing their weapons or their question thy resolves or the thoughts that. armor, and one swarthy youth there was may have led to them. If suffices me to | who thrummed a gimri and sang a melan- know thy wishes; they are my law.” ea choly Shilha love-song to the delight of a ‘Are they so?” said Asad tartly. “Thy score or so of bloodthirsty ruffians squatting deeds will scarce bear out thy protesta- __- about him in a ring of variegated color. tions.” The gorgeous poop was fitted with a He sighed. spacious cabin, to which admission was “Sorely was I wounded yesternight when gained by two archways curtained with thy marriage thwarted me and placed that stout silken tapestries upon whose deep red Frankish maid beyond my reach. Yet I - ground the crescent was wrought in brilliant respect this marriage of thine, as all Moslems green. Above the cabin stood the three must—for all that in itself it was unlawful. crescents or stern-lamps, great structures of ‘But there!’’ He ended with a shrug. “We gilded iron surmounted each by the orb sail together once again to crush the and crescent. As if to continue the cabin Spaniard. Let no ill-will on either side forward and increase its size, a green awning o’ercloud the splendor of our task.” was erected from it to shade almost half the “Amen to that, my lord,” said Sakr-el- poop-deck. Here cushions were thrown, Bahr devoutly. “T almost feared and upon these squatted now Asad-ed-Din “No more!” the Basha interrupted him. ~ with Marzak, whilst Biskaine and some “Thou wert never a man to fear any- three or four other officers who had escorted thing, which is why I have loved thee asa him aboard and whom he had retained be- son.” : side him for that voyage, were lounging But it suited Marzak not at all that the upon the gilded balustrade at the poop’ ’s matter should be thus dismissed, that it forward end, immediately: above the rower’s should conclude upon a note of weakenin benches. / from his father, upon what indeed soacimtel ' Sakr-el-Bahr alone, a solitary figure, to a speech of reconciliation. Before Sakr- . resplendent in caftan and turban that were _ el-Bahr could make answer he had cut in to of cloth of silver, leaned wpon the bulwarks _ set hin#& question laden with wicked intent... of the larboard quarter o the poop-deck, “How will thy bride beguile the season of and looked moodily back.upon the receding thine absence, O Sakr-el-Bahr?”’ city of Algiers which by now, was no more “T have lived too little with women to be than an agglomeration of white cubes piled able to give thee an answer,” said, te. up the hillside in the morning sunshine. corsair. Asad watched him silently a while from Marzak winced before a reply that sceniell under his beetling brows, then summoned to reflect upon himself. But he returned him. He came at once, and stood respect- to the attack. fully before his prince. “T compassionate thee that art the slave _ Asad considered him a moment solemnly, of duty, driven so soon to abandon the de- whilst a furtive, malicious smile played over light of her soft arms. Where hast thou the beautiful countenance of his son. bestowed her, O captain?” “Think not, Sakr-el-Bahr,”’ he said at “Where should a Moslem bestow his wife __ xe length, “that I bear thee resentment for but according to the biddings of the SNe what befell last night or that that happening Prophet—in the house?” | : is the sole cause of my present determina- Marzak sneered. tion. I had a duty—a long-neglected duty— “Verily, I marvel at thy fortitude in - to Marzak, which at last I have undertaken quitting her so soon!” Se to perform.” But Asad caught the,sneer, and stared = He seemed to excuse himself almost, and at his son. Marzak misliked both words and tone. “What cause is there to marvel in that Why, he wondered, must this fierce old man a true Moslem should sacrifice his inclina- who had made his name a terror through- ... tions to the service of the Faith?” out Christendom be ever so soft and yield- His tone was a rebuke; but it left Marzak ing where that stalwart and arrogant infidel undismayed. The youth sprawled grace- was concerned? fully upon his cushions, oneleg tucked under ss Sakr-el-Bahr bowed eee. him. ¢ |