I tell thee, Marzak,
that did thy father die to-morrow Sakr-el-Bahr would be proclaimed Basha
of Algiers in his stead, and woe betide us then. And Asad-el-Din grows
old. True, he does not go forth to fight. He clings to life and may
last long. But if he should not, and if Sakr-el-Bahr should still walk
the earth when thy father's destiny is fulfilled, I dare not think what
then will be thy fate and mine."
"May his grave be defiled!" growled Matzak.
"His grave?" said she. "The difficulty is to dig it for him without
hurt to ourselves. Shaitan protects the dog."
"May he make his bed in hell!" said Marzak.
"To curse him will not help us. Up, Marzak, and consider how the thing
is to be done."
Marzak came to his feet, nimble and supple as a greyhound. "Listen
now," he said. "Since I must go this voyage with him, perchance upon
the seas on some dark night opportunity may serve me."
"Wait! Let me consider it. Allah guide me to find some way!" She beat
her hands together and bade the slave girl who answered her to summon
her wazeer Ayoub, and bid a litter be prepared for her. "We'll to the
s?k, 0 Marzak, and see these slaves of his. Who knows but that
something may be done by means of them! Guile will serve us better than
mere strength against that misbegotten son of shame."
"May his house be destroyed!" said Marzak.
CHAPTER IX
COMPETITORS
The open space before the gates of the s?k-el-Abeed was thronged with a
motley, jostling, noisy crowd that at every moment was being swelled by
the human streams pouring to mingle in it from the debauching labyrinth
of narrow, unpaved streets.
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