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Updated: June 21, 2025
Sakr-el-Bahr crossed to Asad's side, and begged for a word alone with him. "I am alone," said the Basha curtly. "Marzak is nothing, then," said Sakr-el-Bahr. "I have long suspected it."
Yet it seemed to inspire no fear in Fenzileh, that congenital shrew whose tongue not even the threat of rods or hooks could silence. "I shall pray Allah to restore sight to thy soul, O father of Marzak," she panted, "to teach thee to discriminate between those that love thee and the self-seekers that abuse thy trust." "How!" he roared at her. "Art not yet done?"
"Nay, then thou seest wrong. I have not forgot it. But neither have I forgot that since Allah hath exalted me to be Basha of Algiers, He looks to me to deal in justice. Come, Marzak, set an end to all this. Perhaps to-morrow thou shalt see him in battle, and after such a sight as that never again wilt thou dare say evil of him.
"The unbeliever is for ever peeping forth from thee," was Marzak's dignified reply. "Games of chance are forbidden by the Prophet." "Make haste, man!" cried Asad. "Already I can scarce discern him. Loose thy quarrel." "Pooh," was the disdainful answer. "A fair mark still for such an eye as mine. I never miss not even in the dark." "Vain boaster," said Marzak. "Am I so?"
Let it weigh with thee in considering my conduct, nor permit thyself to be swayed by Marzak there, who recks nothing so that he vents his petty hatred of me." "Do not heed him, O my father!" cried Marzak. "It cannot be that...." "Peace!" growled Asad, somewhat stricken on a sudden.
"To hit the Island of Formentera at this distance?" "Dost dare to sneer at me?" cried Marzak, ruffling. "What daring would that ask?" wondered Sakr-el-Bahr. "By Allah, thou shalt learn." "In all humility I await the lesson." "And thou shalt have it," was the answer viciously delivered. Marzak strode to the rail. "Ho there! Vigitello! A cross-bow for me, and another for Sakr-el-Bahr."
Marzak interposed petulantly, to exclaim that already were there too many erstwhile Nasrani dogs in the ranks of the soldiers of the Faith, and that it was unwise to increase their number and presumptuous in Sakr-el-Bahr to take so much upon himself. Sakr-el-Bahr measured him with an eye in which scorn and surprise were nicely blended.
She beat her hands together and bade the slave girl who answered her to summon her wazeer Ayoub, and bid a litter be prepared for her. "We'll to the sok, O Marzak, and see these slaves of his. Who knows but that something may be done by means of them! Guile will serve us better than mere strength against that misbegotten son of shame." "May his house be destroyed!" said Marzak.
"I tell thee, O father of Marzak, that I should hail it gladly. Why, hear me now. Thou settest store by deeds, not words. Tell me, then, is it the deed of a True-Believer to waste substance upon infidel slaves, to purchase them that he may set them free?" Asad moved on in silence. That erstwhile habit of Sakr-el-Bahr's was one not easy to condone.
"Indeed, indeed," said Asad, laying a hand upon Marzak's shoulder, "his counsel is sound enough. Wait, boy, until thou hast gone beside him aboard the infidel, ere thou judge him easily perturbed." Petulantly Marzak shook off that gnarled old hand. "Dost thou, O my father, join with him in taunting me upon my lack of knowledge. My youth is a sufficient answer.
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