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Throughout the vessel's length came the rustle and stir of waking men. A voice clamoured somewhere on the forecastle. Then the flap of the awning was suddenly whisked aside and Asad himself appeared with Marzak at his elbow. From the starboard side as suddenly came Biskaine and Othmani, and from the waist Vigitello, Jasper that latest renegade and a group of alarmed corsairs.
Sakr-el-Bahr watched the Basha's averted, gleaming eyes under their furrowed, thoughtful brows, he saw Marzak's face white, tense and eager in his anxiety that his father should consent. And since his father continued silent, Marzak, unable longer to contain himself, broke into speech. "He is wise, O my father!" was his crafty appeal. "The glory of Islam above all else!
Never yet had he led into battle the men of this crew and brought them forth again in triumph and enriched by spoil. So now they set their own judgment against his. To them it seemed a recklessness as, indeed, Marzak had suggested to linger here, and his mere announcement of his purpose was far from sufficient to dispel their doubts.
"Why... it is that I have come to perceive thy reasons for refusing. For the rest, it is as I say, the quarry is not worthy of the hunter." Marzak uttered a soft sneering laugh, as if the true reason of the corsair's attitude were quite clear to him.
"If this wind holds we shall be under the Point of Aguila before sunset, which will be something to boast of hereafter," he promised. Marzak, however, seemed but indifferently interested; his eyes continued awhile to stray towards that palmetto bale by the mainmast. At length, without another word to Sakr-el-Bahr, he made his way abaft, and flung himself down under the awning, beside his father.
He is approaching manhood, and it is time he entered the service of Allah and the State. It is my desire that he sail as thy lieutenant on this voyage, and that thou be his preceptor even as I was thine of old." Now here was something that pleased Sakr-el-Bahr as little as it pleased Marzak.
Faster beat the tomtom marking the desperate time, and faster in response to it came the creak and dip of oars and the panting, stertorous breathing of the rowers. "Lay on! Lay on!" cried Asad, inexorable. Let them burst their lungs they were but infidel lungs! so that for an hour they but maintained the present pace. "We are drawing away!" cried Marzak in jubilation. "The praise to Allah!"
Up, Marzak, and consider how the thing is to be done." Marzak came to his feet, nimble and supple as a greyhound. "Listen now," he said. "Since I must go this voyage with him, perchance upon the seas on some dark night opportunity may serve me." "Wait! Let me consider it. Allah guide me to find some way!"
From behind her lattice, still breathless from the haste she had made, and with her whelp Marzak at her side, Fenzileh had witnessed that first angry return of the Basha from the house of Sakr-el-Bahr.
That jackal has enchanted him, so that he must deem well done all that is done by him. Allah guide us here, Marzak, or thou'lt be trampled into dust by Sakr-el-Bahr." Marzak hung his head; slowly he moved to the divan and flung himself down upon its pillows; there he lay prone, his hands cupping his chin, his heels in the air. "What can I do?" he asked at last.
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