d by in a sulky mood, with no notion of
doing his father's will by holding out an olive branch to the man who
was like to cheat him of his birthright ere all was done. Yet was it he
who greeted Sakr-el-Bahr when the corsair set foot upon the poop.

"Does the thought of the coming fight perturb thee, dog of war?" he
asked.

"Am I perturbed, pup of peace?" was the crisp answer.

"It seems so. Thine aloofness, thine abstractions...."

"Are signs of perturbation, dost suppose?"

"Of what else?"

Sakr-el-Bahr laughed. "Thou'lt tell me next that I am afraid. Yet I
should counsel thee to wait until thou hast smelt blood and powder, and
learnt precisely what fear is."

The slight altercation drew the attention of Asad's officers who were
idling there. Biskaine and some three others lounged forward to stand
behind the Basha, looking, on in some amusement, which was shared by
him.

"Indeed, indeed," said Asad, laying a hand upon Marzak's shoulder, "his
counsel is sound enough. Wait, boy, until thou hast gone beside him
aboard the infidel, ere thou judge him easily perturbed."

Petulantly Marzak shook off that gnarled old hand. "Dost thou, O my
father, join with him in taunting me upon my lack of knowledge. My youth
is a sufficient answer. But at least," he added, prompted by a wicked
notion suddenly conceived, "at least you cannot taunt me with lack of
address with weapons."

"Give him room," said Sakr-el-Bahr, with ironical good-humour, "and he
will show us prodigies."

Marzak looked at him with narrowing, gleaming eyes. "Give me a
cross-bow," he retorted, "and I'll show thee how to shoot," was his
amazing boast.

"Thou'lt show him?" roared Asad. "Thou'lt show him!" And his laugh rang
loud and hearty. "Go smear the sun's face with clay, boy."

"Reserve thy judgment, O my father," begged Marzak, with frosty dignity.

"Boy, thou'rt mad! Why, Sakr-el-Bahr's quarrel will check a swallow in
its flight."

"That is his boast, belike," replied Marzak.

"And what may thine be?" quoth Sakr-el-Bahr. "To hit the Island of
Formentera at this distance?"

"Dost dare to sneer at me?" cried Marzak, ruffling.

"What daring would that ask?" wondered Sakr-el-Bahr.

"By Allah, thou shalt learn."

"In all humility I await the lesson."

"And thou shalt have it," was the answer viciously delivered. Marzak
strode to the rail. "Ho there! Vigitello! A cross-bow for me, and
another for Sakr-el-Bahr."

Vigitello sprang to obey