Adventure Magazine Cover — page 52: what you’re looking at

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

46 he has hidden it, while Sidi Ahmad was absent.” “Fool! The pasha has not left the Wolf’s Ear. Gold dinars and costly jewels are to be his sinews. With them he can buy swords and swordarms.”’ “True. And yet I have not counted more than a score of guards about the tower that is called the Wolf’s Ear.” “Few can be trusted. And now—the Peacel’’ The janizary rose a little unsteadily and swaggered off. When Michael turned over to ease his cramped limbs he beheld the son of the thief squatting in the shadows, inspecting the most valuable of the daggers that the warrior had worn in his belt. The old man nodded approvingly and returned to the gentle sputtering of his pipe. BUYERS in the suk were few, be- cause every householder was busied in laying out the best of his rugs and hangings, in stall and balcony to prepare for the festival. Some felt of Michael’s muscles, as he stood, naked to the waist in the glaring sun above the two Arabs who knelt at ease. But they passed on after learning the price . of the Frankish slave. Others stared curiously at his strange hat and long boots, and walked on to where women were offered. Michael saw dark-haired Ar- menians, and statuesque Georgians, with many Persian maids standing near him; these waited patiently until a trade was made, then followed their masters off the square with the passivity of animals. Michael preferred to watch the riders that trotted by along the street leading to the castle gate. His attention was drawn back presently by the crying of some Spanish girls, taken— he heard related—by a raid of corsairs on the coast of that country. Their mother had just been sold to a stout Turk, who was berating the slave merchant for the uproar caused by the children. Michael saw the trader strike the girls with his staff, and, instinctively he took a step toward them. Then, recollecting his plight, ata _ snarl from the Arab he turned back. But not before the eye of a tall sheik, wrapped to the cheek-bones in the folds of his white robe, had fallen upon him. The newcomer strode over to Michael and stud- ied him for a full moment. Adventure ‘“‘At what price is this one offered?” The Arab called a thousand greetings upon the stranger and said that it was no more than two hundred dinars, that Michael had an excellent disposition, was strong as a horse, and “He has been a galley slave.” The stranger pointed to the thick wrists and gnarled arms of the cavalier. ‘‘A hundred is enough, the tax to be paid by you-——” “O blind and small-of-wit——”’ A powerful hand freed itself from the folds of the other’s dress and the Arab’s face changed visibly as he saw a seal ring on the thumb before his eyes. “O father of blessings ge “Deliver him to my men.” The stranger moved on, leisurely, with his long stride and was lost in the throng. Meanwhile a group of armed servants closed around the cavalier after paying the Arab his price, which he took dourly enough now that the man of the seal ring was gone. But Michael did not move. Down the street came a clash of cymbals and a shouting of guards, pushing the crowd back. Those around him rose to peer at the commotion, and a joyful shout from the street was echoed in the market place. A body of Janizaries moved into view, escorting a splendid white camel on which a canopy of carpets half-concealed the slender form of a woman. ‘““‘Way for the messenger of the mighty, the merciful Mustapha, Protector of Islam, Sword of Muhammad! Way for the dis- tinguished aga and the gift he brings!”’ So cried the soldiery, and the rabble roared jn glee when the handsome noble on a blue-veined Arab barb—he who rode direct- ly before the camel—began to cast hand- fuls of silver coin over the uplifted heads. Michael noticed that the aga sat his high- . peaked saddle like a rider born, that his | turban was sewn with pearls, and the fringe of his caftan glittered with gold thread. ‘“‘Allah’s blessing upon the giver! Ten thousand welcomes to the aga, the victo- rious, the youthful lord, El Kadhr.”’ So cried the multitude, and Michael’s eyes sparkled. The man who came as the Sultan’s messenger was Demid. His beard had been clipped short and parted in the middle, after the northern fashion, but no other disguise—save the garments, plundered perhaps from some — COMG HOO S CO