Adventure Magazine Cover — page 119: what you’re looking at

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

The Sea-Hawk France whence she might return to her own land, and her own people. That done, I should have set about intercepting the Spanish galley, and never fear but that by Allah’s favor I should have succeeded.” “By the horns of Shaitan,” swore Marzak, thrusting himself forward, “he is the very father and mother of lies. Wilt thou explain this desire to be rid of a wife thou hadst but - wed?” he demanded. “Aye,” growled Asad. that?” “Thou shalt hear the truth,” sai a Sakr- el-Bahr. / “The praise to Allah?” mocked Narcak: “But I warn you,” the corsair continued, “that to you it will seem less easy to believe by much than any falsehood I could invent. Years ago in England where I was born I loved this woman and should Have taken her to wife. But there were men and circumstances that defamed me to her so that she would not wed me, and I went forth with hatred of her in my heart. Last night the love of her which I believed to be dead and turned to loathing, proved to be still a living force. Loving her, I came to see that I had used her unworthily, and I urged by a desire above all others to undo the evil I had done.” On that he paused, and after an instant’s silence Asad EES angrily and con- temptuously. “Since when has man expressed his love for a woman by putting her from him?” he asked in a voice of scorn that showed the precise value he set upon such a statement. - “T warned thee it would seem incredible,” said Sakr-el-Bahr. _ “Ts it not plain, O my father, that this marriage of his was no more than a pre- tense?” cried Marzak. “As plain as the light of day,” replied Asad. “Thy marriage with that woman made an impious mock of the True Faith. It was no marriage. It was a blasphemous pretense, thine only aim to thwart me, abusing my regard for the Prophet’s Holy Law, and to set her beyond my reach.” He turned to Vigitello, who stood a little behind Sakr-el-Bahr. “Bid thy men put me this traitor into irons,” he said. ‘Heaven hath guided thee to a wise decision, O my father!” cried Marzak, his voice jubilant. “Canst answer But his was the only —_ note that. ~~ 117 was sounded, his the only voice that was raised. “The decision is More like to guide you both to Heaven,” replied Sakr-el-Bahr, un- De daunted: On the instant he had resolved pea: upon his course. “Stay!’’ he said, raising his hand to Vigi- tello, who indeed, had shown no sign pf stirring. He stepped close up to Asad, and what he said did not go beyond those who stood immediately about the Basha and Rosamund, who strained her ears that she might lose no word of it. “Do not think, Asad,” he said, “that I will submit me like a camel to its burden. Consider thy position well. If I but raise my voice to call my sea-hawks to me, only Allah can tell how many will be left to obey thee. Darest thou put this matter to the test?’”’ he asked, his countenance grave and solemn, but entjrely fearless, as of a man in whom there is no doubt of the issue as it concerns himself, Asad’s eyes glittered dully, his color faded to a deathly ashen hue. “Thou infamous traitor—” he began in a thick voice, his body quivering with anger. “Ah no,” Sakr-el-Bahr interrupted him. “Were I a traitor it is what I should have done already, knowing as I do that in any yS division of our forces, numbers will be | heavily on my side. Let then my silence prove my unswerving loyalty, Asad. Let it weigh with thee in considering my con- duct, not permit thyself to be swayed by Marzak there who recks nothing so that - he vents his petty hatred of me.” “Do not heed him, O my father!” cried Marzak. ‘It can not be that——” “Peace!” growled Asad stricken on a sudden., ~ And there was peace whilst the Basha stood moodily combing his white beard, his glittering eyes sweeping from Oliver to Rosa- mund and back again. He was weighiné what Sakr-el-Bahr had said. He more than feared that it might be no more than true, and he realized that if he were to provoke a mutiny here he would be putting all to the test, setting all upon a throw in which the dice might well be-cogged against him. somewhat ~ If Sakr-el-Bahr prevailed, he would pre- | vail not merely aboard this galley, but throughout Algiers, and Asad would be cast down never to rise again. On the other hand, if he bared his-simitar and called upon the faithful to support him, it might COPMICLOOC SJ ie €O : set J hehe) es “ihe A 2; : S shee : ("os bate th F " ; Pith 1 i e+ ts lie Hg re a PA . ‘ . Tre day Lean e eas 15 by ghd ¢ ide ah Livie were" in P ae mes ra Ee | Wap, od Lee ae | BY i» Jil it ats sta Cees. Hah lO ¥ etek a 4 ‘Ca | y* t ak ie aan ca bigs ta inal il du hema abba Le! OMT E tpt is eee sal cera, a) gaye i i , im) Bae A Sone iad asin ats aS ax , med 4 By Fe? ‘ . fates. ye ys ARE Ay Se td cA A Sak NES adie ok neha ve a AC d e iy iv tel oe i } LG eRe Cems i eM ECR yar Oe ra on , F} cra a Nee, Pe PP te | :