The Omaha morning bee., 1924-05-31
THE SEA-HAWK
! ar, rorssG%,Gr Ss. r, Part Two By Rafael Sabatini.

| the island at the end OF II, the boat-
swains whip had coiled itself about
his white shoulders to urge him 10
better exertion than he was putting
forth. He had screamed under the
cruel cut, but none had needed him.
! Lest the punishment should be re
Ipeated, he had thrown all his weight
| into the next strokes of the oar. until
by the time the Penon was reached
the sweat was running down his body
and his heart was thudding against
l. his ribs. 1t was not possible that 1t
could have lasted, and his main agony
llay in that he realized II, and saw
| himself face to face with horrors in.
conceivable that must await the ex-
haustion of his strength. He was
not naturally robust, and he had led
soft and /pampered life that was
very far from equipping him for such
a test as this.
But as they reached the Penon and
felt the full vigor of that warm
breeze, Sakr- l-Bahr, who by Asad 8
command remained in charge of the
navigation, ordered the unfurling OF
the enormous lateen sails on main
and foremasts. They ballooned out,
swelling to the wind, and the galeasse
surged forward at a speed that was
more IIldn uOuDleu L ne OIuel " tcdsS
rowing followed and the slaves were
left to return thanks to heaven for
their respite, and to rest in their
chains until such time as their sinews
should be required again.
The vessels vast prov, which end
ed in a steel ram and was armed
with a culverin on either quarter,
was crowded with lounging corsairs,
who took their ease there until the
time to engage should be upon them.
They leaned on the high bulwarks orl
squatted in groups. talking. laughing,
some of them tailoring and repairing
garments, others Furnishing their
weapons or their armor. and one
swarthy youth there was who
thrummed gimri and sang melan-
choly Shilha love song to the delight
of score or so of bloodthirsty ruf
fans squatting about him in a ring
of variegated color.
The gorgeous poop was fitted with
Ia spacious cabin, to which admission
was gained by two archways cur.
tanned with stout sillten tapestries
upon whose deep red ground the
crescent was wrought in brilliant
green. Above the cabin stood the
three cressets or stern lamps, great
each by the orb and crescent. AS II
to continue the cabin forward and
increase its size, a green awning was
erected from it to shade almost half
the poop deck. Here cushions were
shown, and upon these squatted now
Asad- -ed-Dn with Marzak, whilst Bis. |
kaine and some three or four other
officers who had escorted him aboard
and whom he had retained beside him |
for the voyage, were lounging upon |
the gilded balustrade at the poop's |
forward end. Immediately above the |
rcwers' benches.
Sakr-el-Bahr alone, a solitary figure, |
resplendent in caftan and turban that
were of cloth of silver. leaned upon
the bulwarks of the larboard quarter
OF the poop deck. and looked moodily |
back upon the receding city Of Al |
giers which by now was no more than
an agglomeration of white cubes piled |
up the hillside in the morning sun
shine.
Asad watched him silently awhile |
from under his beetling brows, then
summoned him. He came at once. |
and stood respectfully before his |
prince.
Asad considered him a moment sol |
emnly, whilst a furtive malicious |
smile played over the beautiful counte. |
nance of his son.
"rhink not, Sakr Bahr," he said |
at length. that | bear thee resent
ment for what befell last night or that
happening is the sole cause of my
present determination. | had a duty
"a long neglected duty-to Marzak. |
which at last 1 have undertaken to
perform" He seemed to excuse him. |
self, almost, and Marzak misliked both |
words and tone. Why. he wondered. |
must this fierce old man. who had
made his name a terror throughout |
Christendom, be ever so soft and
yielding where that stalwart and AFRO.
CANT infidel was concerned?
Sakr-elBahr bowed solemnly. MY
lord" he said, "it is not for me to
question thy resolves or the thoughts
that may have led to them. 1t suf-
fees me TO know thy wishes: they are
my law"
Are they so?" said Asad tartly
Thy deeds will scarce bear out thy
protestatlons. lie sighed. "Sorely |
was | wounded yesternight when thy
marriage thwarted me and placed that
Frankish maid beyond my reach. Yet
I respect this marriage Of thine. ms
all Musims must-for all that in It.
self 1t was unlawful. But there he
ended with a shrug We sail together
once again to crush the Spaniard !
Let no Ill will on either side DER
cloud the splendor of our task"
"Ameen to that my lord" sadi
Sakr-el Bahr devoutly. Il almost
feared :"
"No morer' the Basha interrupted
him. Thou vert never man to fear
|anything, which Is why ! have loved
thee as SON"
But it suited Marzak not at all that
the matter should be thus dismissed, |
that it should conclude upon a note |