m.

But swift as thought, Sakr-el-Bahr--heedless now of all
consequences--levelled at Marzak the bow which he still held.

"Hold!" he roared. "Loose thy shaft at that bale, and I loose this at
thy throat. I never miss!" he added grimly.

There was a startled movement in the ranks of those who stood behind
Marzak. In speechless amazement they stared at Sakr-el-Bahr, as he stood
there, white-faced, his eyes aflash, his bow drawn taut and ready to
launch that death-laden quarrel as he threatened.

Slowly then, smiling with unutterable malice, Marzak lowered his bow.
He was satisfied. His true aim was reached. He had drawn his enemy into
self-betrayal.

Asad's was the voice that shattered that hush of consternation.

"Kellamullah!" he bellowed. "What is this? Art thou mad, too, O
Sakr-el-Bahr?"

"Ay, mad indeed," said Marzak; "mad with fear." And he stepped quickly
aside so that the body of Biskaine should shield him from any sudden
consequences of his next words. "Ask him what he keeps in that pannier,
O my father."

"Ay, what, in Allah's name?" demanded the Basha, advancing towards his
captain.

Sakr-el-Bahr lowered his bow, master of himself again. His composure was
beyond all belief.

"I carry in it goods of price, which I'll not see riddled to please a
pert boy," he said.

"Goods of price?" echoed Asad, with a snort. "They'll need to be of
price indeed that are valued above the life of my son. Let us see these
goods of price." And to the men upon the waist-deck he shouted, "Open me
that pannier."

Sakr-el-Bahr sprang forward, and laid a hand upon the Basha's arm.

"Stay, my lord!" he entreated almost fiercely. "Consider that this
pannier is my own. That its contents are my property; that none has a
right to...."

"Wouldst babble of rights to me, who am thy lord?" blazed the Basha, now
in a towering passion. "Open me that pannier, I say."

They were quick to his bidding. The ropes were slashed away, and the
front of the pannier fell open on its palmetto hinges. There was a
half-repressed chorus of amazement from the men. Sakr-el-Bahr stood
frozen in horror of what must follow.

"What is it? What have you found?" demanded Asad.

In silence the men swung the bale about, and disclosed to the eyes of
those upon the poop-deck the face and form of Rosamund Godolphin. Then
Sakr-el-Bahr, rousing himself from his trance of horror, reckless of
all but her, flung down the gangway to assist her from the panni