Adventure Magazine Cover — page 122: what you’re looking at

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

_. How could he so have misread her meaning even for a moment? Were not its exact _ limits abundantly plain, even without the - words which she added a moment later. _ “God will forgive me if I am driven to : it—if I choose the easier way of honor; for Fast honor, sir,’’ she added clearly for his benefit, “Gs ever the easier way, believe me.’ _-“T know,” he replied contritely. “I would ‘to God I had followed it.” He paused there, as if hoping that his expression of. penitence might evokeesome answer from her, might spur her to vouch- _ safe him some word of forgiveness. Seeing that she continued, mute and absorbed, he sighed heavily, and turned to other _ matters. “Here you will find all that you can require,” he said. ‘Should you lack aught you have but to beat your hands together, one or the other of my slaves will come to you. If you address them in French they that was impossible, as you’ll perceive.” He stepped to the entrance. “You are leaving me?” she questioned him in sudden alarm. “Naturally. But be sure that I shall be very near at hand. And meanwhile be no less sure that you have no cause for im- mediate fear. At least, matters are no worse than when you were in the pannier. Indeed, much better, for some measure of ease and comfort is now possible to you. So be of good heart; eat and rest. God guard -—_-you!- I shall return-soon after sunrise.’ . Outside on the poop-deck he found Asad > alone now with Marzak under. the awning. Night had-fallen, the great crescent lanterns on the stern rail were alight and cast a lurid glow along the vessel’s length, picking out the shadowy forms and gleaming faintly on the naked backs of the slaves in their serried ranks along the benches, many of them bowed already in attitudes of uneasy slumber. Another lantern swung from the _ mainmast, and yet another from the poop- rail for the Basha’s convenience. Overhead the clustering stars glittered in a cloudless - sky of deepest purple. The wind had fallen ‘entirely, and the world was wrapped in still- ness broken only by the faint rustling break of waves upon the beach at the cove’s end. Sakr-el-Bahr crossed to Asad’s side, and begged for a word alone with him. _ “Tam alone,” said the Basha curtly. / Adventure “Marzak is nothing, then,” said Sakr-el- Bahr. “T have long suspected it.”’ Marzak showed his teeth and growled inarticulately, whilst the Basha, taken aback by the ease reflected in the captain’s careless, mocking words, could but quote a line of the Koran with which Fenzileh of late had often nauseated him. ‘“‘“A man’s son is the partner of his soul. T have no secrets from Marzak. Speak, then, before him, or else be silent and depart.” “He may be the partner of thy soul, Asad,” replied the corsair with his bold mockery, “but I give thanks to Allah he is not the partner of mine. And what I have to say in some sense concerns my soul.” “T thank thee,” cut in Marzak, “for the justice of thy words. To be the partner of thy soul were to be an infidel unbelieving dog.” “Thy tongue, OQ Marzak, is like thine . _archery,” said Sakr-el-Bahr. Ew. will understand you. I would I could have ~ a brought a woman to minister to you, but “Aye—in that it pierces treachery,” was . the swift retort. “Nay—in that it aims at what it can not hit. Now, Allah, pardon me! Shall I grow angry at such words as thine? Hath not the One proven full oft that he who calls me infidel dog is a liar predestined to the Pit? Are such victories as mine over the fleets of the unbelievers vouchsafed by Allah to an infidel? -Foolish hJasphemer, teach thy tongue better ways lest the All-wise strike thee dumb.” “Peace!” growled Asad. gance is out of season. ss “Happy so,’ laugh. “And my good sense, ‘too, it seems. Since thou wilt retain beside thee -this partner of thy soul, I must speak before him. Have I thy leave to sit?” Lest such leave should be denied him he dropped forthwith to the vacant place beside Asad and tucked his legs under him. “Lord,” he said, “there is a rift dividing us who should be united for the glory of Islam.”’ “Tt is of thy making, Sakr-el-Bahr,” was the sullen answer, “and it is for thee to mend it.” “To that end do I desire thine ear. The cause of this rift is yonder.” And he jerked his thumb backward over _his shoulder toward the poop-house. “Tf we remove that cause, of a-surety the rift itSelf will vanish, and all will be well again between us.” (E) IOOK (C ’ said Sakr-el-Bahr, with a “Thine arro-— (E@)