Adventure Magazine Cover — page 51: what you’re looking at

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

The Witch of Aleppo Michael’s captor bought oil and vegetables and coffee from the shops within the seraz wall, enough for three men. Holding up the skirts of his long cloak, and using his tongue in lieu of elbows to clear a passage, _ he conducted his prisoner to the wide gal- lery that ran around the court, where in rows oi cubicles, raised a foot or so off the floor, motley groups of visitors sat about dung fires, cooking each one a different thing with a different smell. The Arab ousted a worried looking Jew from the cell he selected for himself, and built up the fire started by the Jew who really was in the wrong seraz and knew it and was glad to get off with a whole skin. As soon as they had eaten their fill they trussed Michael up, and the son went off to see that their camels were not stolen or to steal others himself, and the sire squatted comfortably to listen to the scraps of talk that floated up from the coffee house with- in the arcade of the seraz. : Michael could make nothing out of the bedlam of tongues, until a dandified jani- zary strolled past the cell, noticed the water-pipe of the old Arab and asked for a whiff in the name of Allah the Compassionate. 7 The elegant one had a fierce beard and a stock of blades and hand-guns in his girdle that would have aroused the instant envy of the boy who had left; moreover the taint of forbidden wine was heavy upon him. “Set it between thy hands.” The Arab extended the stem of the hubble-bubble across Michael’s prostrate form, so that the warrior was forced to squat on the other side of the prisoner, thus precluding a knife thrust from either. The Arab, being in from the hills, desired to hear gossip, and he drew information from the janizary in such masterly fashion that Michael gave keen attention. He heard that he was to be sold on the morrow, since a Zineh or festival began the next day, when all the shops were to be closed. This festival had been ordered by Sidi Ahmad, to celebrate the arrival of a courier from the sultan. Sidi Ahmad, then, was in Aleppo. Meanwhile the forces of the pasha were being ordered up from the Persian border and the Euphrates. A detachment of mamelukes had crossed over from Egypt and was waiting in Damascus.’for march- ing orders. 45 “‘The Sidi will strike a great blow when he goes against the Franks,’ boasted the warrior. “True. The slaying of infidels is pleasing in the sight of Allah. And yet—and yet, the master of Aleppo has grown too great for Aleppo. It may be that he will also strike a blow for himself at Constantinople, and thou and I may yet serve Sultan Ahmad instead of Sultan Mustapha.” The janizary muttered and handed back the pipe stem after wiping it with his sleeve. Glancing around cautiously, he leaned over Michael to whisper: “Then our backs would be strength- ened—we would have a wiser head to lead the faithful. No man is as crafty as—the Wolf’s Ear.” ‘Perhaps it is written.” ‘“‘Aye, he is ghazt.” “In the hills there was talk of this and that. Some said Sidi Ahmad had been seen in Egypt, others that he had‘gone upon the sea for some purpose. He hides his thoughts.” ‘Allah, those were lies.” The janizary opened his beard in a soundless laugh. “Sidi Ahmad has kept to the Wolf’s Ear, like a squirrel to its nest. For months he has not mounted his horse. I have seen it.” The old Arab puffed at his pipe thought- fully. ‘‘When you look at a stone do you see a mountain? When you watch a horse can you answer for its master? Sidi Ahmad is one among ten thousand; you say he is here, and I must have dreamed by hasheesh when I beheld him riding like the devil of the air when the moon was last full.” “You must have dreamed, waggle-beard.” Michael was pleased that no one had word of the Cossacks as yet—if indeed they were nearing Aleppo. The two fell to talking of the riches of Sidi Ahmad, the Arab with an eye to thievery probing shrewdly at where the treasure was kept in the castle. But the soldier was cau- tious here. ‘“‘Where, if not under the hand of the waztr, the treasurer?” : “You are doubtless a captain of many. Only yesterday it is said that the wazir collected a new tax from the suk, the market-place. Allah alone knows how heavy are the money bags of Sidi Ahmad. The wazir must be tormented with doubt if the treasure is guarded by men—surely cCOmiclboolks CO