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. "Why... it is
that I have come to perceive thy reasons for refusing. For the rest, it
is as I say, the quarry is not worthy of the hunter."

Marzak uttered a soft sneering laugh, as if the true reason of the
corsair's attitude were quite clear to him. He fancied too, and he was
right in this, that Sakr-el-Bahr's odd attitude had accomplished what
persuasions addressed to Asad-ed-Din might to the end have failed to
accomplish--had afforded him the sign he was come to seek. For it was in
that moment that Asad determined to take command himself.

"It almost seems," he said slowly, smiling, "as if thou didst not want
me. 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. He salaamed, and when he spoke there was almost a note of
gladness in his voice.

"The praise to Allah, then, since thou'rt determined. It is not for me
to urge further the unworthiness of the quarry since I am the gainer by
thy resolve."

CHAPTER XV. THE VOYAGE

His resolve being taken, Asad drew Tsamanni aside and spent some moments
in talk with him, giving him certain instructions for the conduct of
affairs ashore during his absence. That done, and the wazeer dismissed,
the Basha himself gave the order to cast off, an order which there was
no reason to delay, since all was now in readiness.

The gangway was drawn ashore, the boatswains whistle sounded, and the
steersmen leapt to their niches in the stern, grasping the shafts of the
great steering-oars. A second blast rang out, and down the gangway-deck
came Vigitello and two of his mates, all three armed with long whips
of bullock-hide, shouting to the slaves to make ready. And then, on the
note of a third blast of Larocque's whistle, the fifty-four poised oars
dipped to the water, two hundred and fifty bodies bent as one, and when
they heaved themselves upright again the great galeasse shot forward and
so set out upon her adventurous voyage. From her mainmast the red flag
with its green crescent was unfurled to the breeze, and from the