my nature to be harsh with those who
follow me." And that was all.

Asad from amazement had passed quickly to admiration and a sort of
contrition, into which presently there crept a poisonous tinge of
jealousy to see Sakr-el-Bahr prevail where he himself alone must utterly
have failed. This jealousy spread all-pervadingly, like an oil stain. If
he had come to bear ill-will to Sakr-el-Bahr before, that ill-will was
turned of a sudden into positive hatred for one in whom he now beheld a
usurper of the power and control that should reside in the Basha alone.
Assuredly there was no room for both of them in the Bashalik of Algiers.

Therefore the words of commendation which had been rising to his lips
froze there now that Sakr-el-Bahr and he stood face to face. In silence
he considered his lieutenant through narrowing evil eyes, whose message
none but a fool could have misunderstood.

Sakr-el-Bahr was not a fool, and he did not misunderstand it for a
moment. He felt a tightening at the heart, and ill-will sprang to life
within him responding to the call of that ill-will. Almost he repented
him that he had not availed himself of that moment of weakness and
mutiny on the part of the crew to attempt the entire superseding of the
Basha.

The conciliatory words he had in mind to speak he now suppressed. To
that venomous glance he opposed his ever ready mockery. He turned to
Biskaine.

"Withdraw," he curtly bade him, "and take that stout sea-warrior with
thee." And he indicated Marzak.

Biskaine turned to the Basha. "Is it thy wish, my lord?" he asked.

Asad nodded in silence, and motioned him away together with the cowed
Marzak.

"My lord," said Sakr-el-Bahr, when they were alone, "yesterday I made
thee a proposal for the healing of this breach between us, and it was
refused. But now had I been the traitor and mutineer thou hast dubbed
me I could have taken full advantage of the humour of my corsairs. Had I
done that it need no longer have been mine to propose or to sue.
Instead it would have been mine to dictate. Since I have given thee
such crowning proof of my loyalty, it is my hope and trust that I may be
restored to the place I had lost in thy confidence, and that this being
so thou wilt accede now to that proposal of mine concerning the Frankish
woman yonder."

It was unfortunate perhaps that she should have been standing there
unveiled upon the poop within the range of Asad's glance; for the sight
of her it may