Adventure Magazine Cover — page 121: what you’re looking at

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

The Sea-Hawk _Asad’s dark, smoldering eyes were all for the girl. They followed her every move- ment as she approached, and never for a mo- ment left her to turn upon her companion. Outwardly she bore herself with a proud dignity and an unfaltering composure under that greedy scrutiny; but inwardly she shrank and writhed in a shame and humilia- tion that she could hardly define. In some measure Oliver shared her feelings, but blent with anger; and urged by them he so placed himself~at last. that he stood between her and the Basha’s regard to screen her from it as he would have screened her from a lethal weapon. Upon the poop he paused, and salaamed to Asad. ‘“‘Permit, exalted lord,” said he, “that my wife may occupy the quarters I had prepared for her before I knew that thou wouldst honor this enterprise with thy presence.” Curtly, contemptuously Asad waved a consenting hand without vouchsafing to— reply in words. Sakr-el-Bahr bowed again, stepped forward, and put aside the heavy réd curtain upon which the crescent was wrought in green. From within the cabin the golden light of a lamp. came out to merge into the blue-gray twilight, and to set a shimmering radiance about the white- robed figure of Rosamund. Thus for a moments Asad’s fierce, de- vouring eyes observed her, then she passed within. Sakr-el-Bahr followed and the ~ screening curtain swung back into its place. The small interior was furnished by a divan spread with silken carpets, a low Moorish table in colored wood mosaics bear- ing the newly lighted lamp, and a tiny brazier in which aromatic gums that were burning and spreading a sweetly pungent perfume for the eam of all True- Believers. | Out of the hodee in the farther corners rose silently Sakr-el-Bahr’s two Nubian slaves, Abiad and Zal-Zer, to salaam low before him. But for their turbans and loin- cloths in spotless white their dusky bodies must have remained invisible, shadowy among the shadows. The captain issued an order briefly, and from a hanging cupboard the slaves took meat and drink and set it upon the low table—a bowl of chicken cooked in rice and olives and prunes, a dish of bread,.a melon, and a clay amphora of water. Then at an- other word from him, each took a naked 119 simitar, and they passed out to place them- selves on guard beyond the curtain. _ This was not an act in which there was menace or defiance, nor could Asad so in- terpret it. The acknowledged presence of Sakr-el-Bahr’s wife in that poop-house rendered the place the equivalent of his harem, and a man defends his harem as he defends his honor; it is a spot sacred to him- self which none may violate, and it is fitting that he take proper precautions against any impiots attempt to do so. | Rosamund sank down upon the divan, and sat there with bowed head, her hands folded iv her lap. Sakr-el-Bahr stood by in silence. for a long moment contemplating her. “Eat,” he bade her at last. need strength and courage, and neither is possible to a fasting body.” She shook her head. Despite her long fast, food was repellent. Anxiety was thrusting her heart up into her throat to. choke her. “T can not eat,” she answered him. “To what end? Strength and courage can not avail me now.’ ‘“‘Never believe that,’ he said. “TI have undertaken to deliver you alive from the perils into which I have brought you, and I shall keep my word.” So resolute was his tone that she looked up at him, and found his bearing equally resolute and confident. “Surely,” she cried, “all chance of escape is lost to me.’ “Never count it lost whilst I am living,” he replied. She considered him a moment} and there was the faintest smile on her lips. “Do you think that you will live long now?” she asked him. ' “Just as long as God pleases,” he replied quite coolly. ‘What is written is written. So that I live long enough to deliver you, then—why, then, faith I sha have lived long enough.” Her head sank. She clasped and un- clasped the hands in her lap. She shivered: slightly. “T think we are both doomed, ” she said in a dull voice. ‘‘For if you die, I have your | dagger still, remember. I shall not survive’ _ you.’ He took a sudden step forward, his eyes gleaming, a faint flush glowing through the tan of his cheeks, Then he checked. Fool! 0)(0)(6) s ~ CONMICG S “Vou will - (EO) - = ~ , " ve ~ ee es uA é g - ph aber Na Sat atv Oct alk tS a Hy jidéeal 9 bi, 52 We i byte Tue sept P paC yal iy opty Pie Som (Ono me Ve ae SY ye. Cane NY md ie ohh My et Shida, al, Ne Serge it Ta Mr id Meh ed dp hate een ee VA EA eee aD pe WED had oe A Na eh edo, 4 = — f a , Bey Ce Tid Aisa. eed & A> At : 7 by th ae en's 4 > a * , “ ~ 4 z ay » ae hy ray, y AARC a