Adventure Magazine Cover — page 27: what you’re looking at

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

The Witch of Aleppo When a dozen of them swarmed down the steps to the runway after the revs, Ayub stepped forward to meet them. But he felt an elbow in his ribs, and looked down to see Michael slip past him. The cavalier took his stance in the center of the narrow bridge, and the light from the spluttering torches glittered on the slender rapier. Perforce the big Cossack hung back, for to press against Michael would be to throw him off balance, and already a youthful warrior was rushing upon the rapier point. Gliding rather than running, the Turk struck down at the slender weapon of the cavalier. Then, leaping bodily through the air aS a panther springs, he brought down his left arm that held a curved dagger. Quickly as the Turk attacked, the wrist of the swordsman forestalled him. Mi- chael’s rapier flickered around the simitar and passed through the heart of the Turk, who fell heavily to the planks. Drawing his blade clear at once, Michael faced the bearded captain who came on crouching, shield advanced before his throat, . mail encasing his body. Thus, he presented no opening for a thrust. His black eyes over the round, leather shield glittered. Twice he cut powerfully at Michael’s head, and twice the curved blade slithered off the rapier that moved only in tiny circles before his eyes. ‘Reload your hand-guns, dog brothers,” snarled Ayub over his shoulder to his men who pressed close behind him. ‘ Michael studied the eyes of his foeman, and when the reis lunged three inches of steel passed into his knotted forearm, and withdrew, all in the same instant. Pain maddened the Moslem who began to slash fiercely, yet as he did so, felt the burning dart of the rapier point into his biceps. Foam flew out on his beard, and he lunged with all his remaining strength. In so doing he let the shield drop just a little, and, swifter than the eyes of the intent spectators could follow, the rapier flashed into the beard of the Moslem and its point came out at the nape of his neck. He coughed once convulsively and straightened to the toes. Then Ayub thrust the cavalier aside and rushed with his mates upon the captain’s followers. Long pistols barked in the Cossacks’ hands, and smoke swirled around the twisting figures. A shout of dismay went up from the poop 21 at the fall of the rets, and Michael, satisfied with what he had accomplished, saw that more Cossacks had come up under Togrukh who dripped blood and water alike as he moved. All hope of victory now left the janizaries who fought stubbornly in: knots and were cut down by the heavier weapons of, the Cossacks. To the astonishment of the Moslems, when a score of them were still on their feet, Demid held up His arm and offered quarter. “‘Mashallah!’’ cried one, his lips snarling. ‘“‘Are we to be thrown to the rowers?” “On my head,” Demid made answer in their tongue, “‘it shall not be.” First a few and then many, the simitars clattered to the deck and Togrukh gathered them up. Above decks, resistance on the galley was at an end. TAKING with him one of the un- wounded janizaries Demid made his way down the steps into the after- castle, the long, narrow cabin that perched on the upward slope of the galley’s stern. Several Cossacks hastened after him, to ransack the castle. A great lanthorn, gleaming with many colors, revealed a confusion of carpets and mattresses, tabourets that still bore little bowls of coffee, garments and the chests of the Moslem warriors. Incense was burning and its pungent scent mingled with the acrid odor of powder. The cabin seemed deserted, and the Cossacks, listening, heard only the splash of bodies thrown over the galley’s rail and the thumping of booted feet overhead. What held their attention at once was the pair of glistening black forms erect against a heavy teak lattice at the upper end of the cabin. Two Ethiopians stood here, upon a kind of dais. They were naked to the waist and they held drawn simitars; only the sweat that shone on their skin and their rolling eyes marked them as living beings, so still did they stand. ‘“‘What men are these?” Demid asked the captive. “Eunuchs of the mighty, the merciful Protector of the Faith. They are a guard set over the treasure.” “Bid them throw down their weapons.” “O my lord, a higher command has been Jaid upon them by one greater than I.” The soldier lifted his hands indifferently. “Also, they are deaf mutes,” cCOmiclbook CO