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Updated: June 21, 2025
That done, I should have set about intercepting the Spanish galley, and never fear but that by Allah's favour I should have succeeded." "By the horns of Shaitan," swore Marzak, thrusting himself forward, "he is the very father and mother of lies. Wilt thou explain this desire to be rid of a wife thou hadst but wed?" he demanded. "Ay," growled Asad. "Canst answer that?"
And yet it was proven now that they had been right in their estimate of this traitor, whilst he himself had been a poor, blind dupe, needing Marzak's wit to tear the bandage from his eyes. Slowly he went down the gangway, followed by Marzak, Biskaine, and the others. At the point where it joined the waist-deck he paused, and his dark old eyes smouldered under his beetling brows. "So," he snarled.
He looked away from Asad a moment; he had a glimpse of the handsome flushed face of Marzak at his father's elbow, of Biskaine, Tsamanni, and the others all staring at him in amazement, and even of some grimy sunburned faces from the rowers' bench on his left that were looking on with dull curiosity. He smiled, seeming outwardly to remain entirely unruffled.
Wilt thou simper and gape and trifle away thy days whilst that dog-descended Frank tramples thee underfoot, using thee but as a stepping-stone to the power that should be thine own? And that be so, Marzak, I would thou hadst been strangled in my womb."
Asad heard and understood that Marzak, too, perceived what was here to do; tighter upon him became temptation's grip; but tighter, too, became the grip of a temptation of another sort. Before his fierce eyes there arose a vision of a tall stately maiden with softly rounded bosom, a vision so white and lovely that it enslaved him. And so he found himself torn two ways at once.
On the point of loosing the bolt he paused. "Marzak!" he called. "Here, thou prince of marksmen, is a butt for thee!" From the poop-deck whence with his father he too was watching the swimmer's head, which at every moment became more faint in the failing light, Marzak looked with cold disdain upon his challenger, making no reply. A titter ran through the crew. "Come now," cried Sakr-el-Bahr.
Slowly then, smiling with unutterable malice, Marzak lowered his bow. He was satisfied. His true aim was reached. He had drawn his enemy into self-betrayal. Asad's was the voice that shattered that hush of consternation. "Kellamullah!" he bellowed. "What is this? Art thou mad, too, O Sakr-el-Bahr?" "Ay, mad indeed," said Marzak; "mad with fear."
If so, it is unfortunate; for I have long neglected my duty to my son, and I am resolved at last to repair that error. We accompany thee upon this expedition, Sakr-el-Bahr. Myself I will command it, and Marzak shall be my apprentice in the ways of the sea." Sakr-el-Bahr said not another word in protest against that proclaimed resolve.
In the courtyard were left none but Asad, Marzak and the janissaries, and Sakr-el-Bahr with Ali and Jasper.
"All things are possible to Allah!" said Sakr-el-Bahr, in tones of incredulity, as if he suggested not without a suspicion of irony that it was incredible there should be anything in all the world that could elude the penetration of Marzak. The youth bowed to him in acknowledgment.
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