urtained with stout silken tapestries upon
whose deep red ground the crescent was wrought in brilliant green. Above
the cabin stood the three cressets or stern-lamps, great structures of
gilded iron surmounted each by the orb and crescent. As if 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 thrown, and
upon these squatted now Asad-ed-Din with Marzak, whilst Biskaine and
some three or four other officers who had escorted him aboard and whom
he had retained beside him for that voyage, were lounging upon the
gilded balustrade at the poop's forward end, immediately above the
rowers' 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 Algiers which by now was no more than an agglomeration of white cubes
piled up the hillside in the morning sunshine.

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 solemnly, whilst a furtive malicious smile
played over the beautiful countenance of his son.

"Think not, Sakr-el-Bahr," he said at length, "that I bear thee
resentment for what befell last night or that that happening is the
sole cause of my present determination. I had a duty--a long-neglected
duty--to Marzak, which at last I have undertaken to perform." He seemed
to excuse himself 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 arrogant infidel was concerned?

Sakr-el-Bahr bowed solemnly. "My lord," he said, "it is not for me to
question thy resolves or the thoughts that may have led to them. It
suffices me to know thy wishes; they are my law."

"Are they so?" said Asad tartly. "Thy deeds will scarce bear out thy
protestations." He sighed. "Sorely was I wounded yesternight when thy
marriage thwarted me and placed that Frankish maid beyond my reach. Yet
I respect this marriage of thine, as all Muslims must--for all that
in itself it 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 o'er-cloud the splend