, but the very limit of the resources
at her immediate disposal. Gone, too, with that bid was all hope of
profit to himself.

But Sakr-el-Bahr, impassive as Fate, and without so much as deigning to
bestow a look upon the quivering eunuch, said again--

"Another hundred, O dalal."

"One thousand and six hundred philips!" cried the dalal, more in
amazement than to announce the figure reached. Then controlling his
emotions he bowed his head in reverence and made confession of his
faith. "All things are possible if Allah wills them. The praise to Him
who sends wealthy buyers."

He turned to the crestfallen Ayoub, so crestfallen that in the
contemplation of him Tsamanni was fast gathering consolation for his own
discomfiture, vicariously tasting the sweets of vengeance. "What say you
now, O perspicuous wazeer?"

"I say," choked Ayoub, "that since by the favour of Shaitan he hath so
much wealth he must prevail."

But the insulting words were scarcely uttered than Sakr-el-Bahr's great
hand had taken the wazeer by the nape of his fat neck, a growl of anger
running through the assembly to approve him.

"By the favour of Shaitan, sayest thou, thou sex-less dog?" he growled,
and tightened his grip so that the wazeer squirmed and twisted in an
agony of pain. Down was his head thrust, and still down, until his fat
body gave way and he lay supine and writhing in the dust of the sok.
"Shall I strangle thee, thou father of filth, or shall I fling thy soft
flesh to the hooks to teach thee what is a man's due from thee?" And as
he spoke he rubbed the too daring fellow's face roughly on the ground.

"Mercy!" squealed the wazeer. "Mercy, O mighty Sakr-el-Bahr, as thou
lookest for mercy!"

"Unsay thy words, thou offal. Pronounce thyself a liar and a dog."

"I do unsay them. I have foully lied. Thy wealth is the reward sent thee
by Allah for thy glorious victories over the unbelieving."

"Put out thine offending tongue," said Sakr-el-Bahr, "and cleanse it in
the dust. Put it forth, I say."

Ayoub obeyed him in fearful alacrity, whereupon Sakr-el-Bahr released
his hold and allowed the unfortunate fellow to rise at last, half-choked
with dirt, livid of face, and quaking like a jelly, an object of
ridicule and cruel mockery to all assembled.

"Now get thee hence, ere my sea-hawks lay their talons on thee. Go!"

Ayoub departed in all haste to the increasing jeers of the multitude and
the taunts of Tsamanni, whilst Sakr-el-Bahr t