Through parsimony this
treasure-galley was to be afforded no escort, but was under orders to
hug the coast of Europe, where she should be safe from all piratical
surprise. It was judged that she would be ready to put to sea in a
week, and the Morisco had set out at once to bring word of it to his
Algerine brethren that they might intercept and capture her.
Asad thanked the young Morisco for his news, bade him be housed and
cared for, and promised him a handsome share of the plunder should the
treasure-galley be captured. That done he sent for Sakr-el-Bahr, whilst
Marzak, who had been present at the interview, went with the tale of it
to his mother, and beheld her fling into a passion when he added that it
was Sakr-el-Bahr had been summoned that he might be entrusted with this
fresh expedition, thus proving that all her crafty innuendoes and
insistent warnings had been so much wasted labour.
With Marzak following at her heels, she swept like a fury into the
darkened room where Asad took his ease.
"What is this I hear, 0 my lord?" she cried, in tone and manner more the
European shrew than the submissive Eastern slave. "Is Sakr-el-Bahr to
go upon this expedition against the treasure-galley of Spain?"
Reclining on his divan he looked her up and down with a languid eye.
"Dost know of any better fitted to succeed?" quoth he.
"I know of one whom it is my lord's duty to prefer to that foreign
adventurer.
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