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Updated: June 21, 2025
To this again Sakr-el-Bahr replied "Ameen," but an uneasiness abode in his heart summoned thither by the questions Marzak had set him. Were they idle words calculated to do no more than plague him, and to keep fresh in Asad's mind the memory of Rosamund, or were they based upon some actual knowledge? His fears were to be quickened soon on that same score.
"I have lived too little with women to be able to give thee an answer," said the corsair. Marzak winced before a reply that seemed to reflect upon himself. But he returned to the attack. "I compassionate thee that art the slave of duty, driven so soon to abandon the delight of her soft arms. Where hast thou bestowed her, O captain?"
His face was livid, his eyes blared furiously, his hand flew to the jewelled hilt of his scimitar, yet forbore from drawing the blade. Instead he let loose upon Marzak the venom kindled in his soul by this evidence of how shrunken was his authority. "Thou fool!" he snarled. "Look on thy craven's work. See what a devil thou hast raised with thy woman's counsels. Thou to command a galley!
That she could perform this menial service for herself when a mere clapping of hands would have brought slaves to minister to her need betrayed something of her disordered state of mind. She slammed the inner lattice and turned to Marzak. "And now?" quoth she. "Now?" said the lad. "Ay, what now? What are we to do? Are we to lie crushed under his rage until we are ruined indeed? He is bewitched.
Nevertheless he turned to Marzak with a smile of some disdain. "I understood, Marzak, that thou art sailing with us as apprentice." "What then?" quoth Marzak. "Why merely that it might become thee better to be content to observe and learn. Thou'lt soon be telling me how grapnels should be slung, and how an action should be fought."
"Loose thy shaft at that bale, and I loose this at thy throat. I never miss!" he added grimly. There was a startled movement in the ranks of those who stood behind Marzak. In speechless amazement they stared at Sakr-el-Bahr, as he stood there, white-faced, his eyes aflash, his bow drawn taut and ready to launch that death-laden quarrel as he threatened.
Canst thou better such a shot?" His eyes, upon Sakr-el-Bahr's face, watching it closely, observed the pallor by which it was suddenly overspread. But the corsair's recovery was almost as swift. He laughed, seeming so entirely careless that Marzak began to doubt whether he had paled indeed or whether his own imagination had led him to suppose it.
"But being resolved to take her with thee, why not take her openly? Why was she not housed in the poop-house, as becomes the wife of Sakr-el-Bahr? Why smuggle her aboard in a pannier, and keep her there in secret?" "And why," added Marzak, "didst thou lie to me when I questioned thee upon her whereabouts? telling me she was left behind in thy house in Algiers?"
"Indeed, indeed, O my father!" begged Marzak himself. "What?" barked the old Moor. "And is it so? And wouldst thou go forth then against the Spaniard? What knowledge hast thou that shall equip thee for such a task?" "What can his knowledge be since his father has never been concerned to school him?" returned Fenzileh.
He beat his hands together, whereat slaves placed cushions for him upon the ground. He sat, and beckoned Marzak to his side. "And now thy tale!"
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