ambush and concealment. There were, he said, few harbours
in all the Mediterranean so admirably suited to the corsairs' purpose
as this; it was a haven of refuge in case of peril, and an unrivalled
lurking-place in which to lie in wait for the prey. He remembered
once having lain there with the formidable Dragut-Reis, a fleet of six
galleys, their presence entirely unsuspected by the Genoese admiral,
Doria, who had passed majestically along with three caravels and seven
galleys.

Marzak, pacing beside his father, listened but half-heartedly to these
reminiscences. His mind was all upon Sakr-el-Bahr, and his suspicions
of that palmetto bale were quickened by the manner in which for the
last two hours he had seen the corsair hovering thoughtfully in its
neighbourhood.

He broke in suddenly upon his father's memories with an expression of
what was in his mind.

"The thanks to Allah," he said, "that it is thou who command this
expedition, else might this coves advantages have been neglected."

"Not so," said Asad. "Sakr-el-Bahr knows them as well as I do. He has
used this vantage point afore-time. It was himself who suggested that
this would be the very place in which to await this Spanish craft."

"Yet had he sailed alone I doubt if the Spanish argosy had concerned him
greatly. There are other matters on his mind, O my father. Observe him
yonder, all lost in thought. How many hours of this voyage has he spent
thus. He is as a man trapped and desperate. There is some fear rankling
in him. Observe him, I say."

"Allah pardon thee," said his father, shaking his old head and sighing
over so much impetuosity of judgment. "Must thy imagination be for ever
feeding on thy malice? Yet I blame not thee, but thy Sicilian mother,
who has fostered this hostility in thee. Did she not hoodwink me into
making this unnecessary voyage?"

"I see thou hast forgot last night and the Frankish slave-girl," said
his son.

"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. Come, make thy peace with
him, and let me see better relations betwixt you hereafter."

And raising his voice he called Sakr-el-Bahr, who immediately turned and
came up the gangway. Marzak stoo