h to his soul. The truth of it
was not to be contested. He was humiliated and shamed. Yet was he not
conquered of his madness, nor diverted from his course. Before he could
make answer, the tall martial figure of Biskaine came up the companion.

"Well?" the Basha greeted him eagerly, thankful for this chance to turn
the subject.

Biskaine was downcast. His news was to be read in his countenance. "The
task appointed me was difficult," said he. "I have done my best. Yet
I could scarce go about it in such a fashion as to draw definite
conclusions. But this I know, my lord, that he will be reckless indeed
if he dares to take up arms against thee and challenge thine authority.
So much at least I am permitted to conclude."

"No more than that?" asked Asad. "And if I were to take up arms against
him, and to seek to settle this matter out of hand?"

Biskaine paused a moment ere replying. "I cannot think but that Allah
would vouchsafe thee victory," he said. But his words did not delude the
Basha. He recognized them to be no more than those which respect for him
dictated to his officer. "Yet," continued Biskaine, "I should judge thee
reckless too, my lord, as reckless as I should judge him in the like
circumstances."

"I see," said Asad. "The matter stands so balanced that neither of us
dare put it to the test."

"Thou hast said it."

"Then is thy course plain to thee!" cried Marzak, eager to renew his
arguments. "Accept his terms, and...."

But Asad broke in impatiently. "Every thing in its own hour and each
hour is written. I will consider what to do."

Below on the waist-deck Sakr-el-Bahr was pacing with Vigitello, and
Vigitello's words to him were of a tenor identical almost with those of
Biskaine to the Basha.

"I scarce can judge," said the Italian renegade. "But I do think that it
were not wise for either thou or Asad to take the first step against the
other."

"Are matters, then, so equal between us?"

"Numbers, I fear," replied Vigitello, "would be in favour of Asad. No
truly devout Muslim will stand against the Basha, the representative of
the Sublime Portal, to whom loyalty is a question of religion. Yet they
are accustomed to obey thee, to leap at thy command, and so Asad himself
were rash to put it to the test."

"Ay--a sound argument," said Sakr-el-Bahr. "It is as I had thought."

Upon that he quitted Vigitello, and slowly, thoughtfully, returned
to the poop-deck. It was his hope--his only hope no