"Thou art the very father of wisdom as of valour." And thereupon
he gave welcome to Master Leigh, whom he hailed to the ranks of the
Faithful under the designation of Jasper-Reis.
That done, the renegade and Ali were both dismissed, as were also the
janissaries, who, quitting their position behind Asad, went to take
their stand on guard at the gateway. Then the Basha beat his hands
together, and to the slaves who came in answer to his summons he gave
orders to set food, and he bade Sakr-el-Bahr to come sit beside him on
the divan.
Water was brought that they might wash. That done, the slaves placed
before them a savoury stew of meat and eggs with olives, limes, and
spices.
Asad broke bread with a reverently pronounced "Bismillah!" and dipped
his fingers into the earthenware bowl, leading the way for Sakr-el-Bahr
and Marzak, and as they ate he invited the corsair himself to recite the
tale of his adventure.
When he had done so, and again Asad had praised him in high and loving
terms, Marzak set him a question.
"Was it to obtain just these two English slaves that thou didst
undertake this perilous voyage to that distant land?"
"That was but a part of my design," was the calm reply. "I went to rove
the seas in the Prophet's service, as the result of my voyage gives
proof."
"Thou didst not know that this Dutch argosy would cross thy path," said
Marzak, in the very words his mother had prompted him.
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