? Ah, don't
waste time in words!"

"Be it so, then," he replied gravely, and moved away a step, then
checked. "You had best come with me," he said.

Obediently she complied and followed him, and some there were who stared
as these two passed down the gangway, yet none attempted to hinder her
movements. Enough and to spare was there already to engage the thoughts
of all aboard that vessel.

He thrust a way for her, past the boatswain's mates who stood over the
slaves ferociously plying tongues and whips, and so brought her to the
waist. Here he took up the lantern which had been muffled, and as
its light once more streamed forth, Asad shouted an order for its
extinction. But Sakr-el-Bahr took no least heed of that command. He
stepped to the mainmast, about which the powder kegs had been stacked.
One of these had been broached against its being needed by the gunners
on the poop. The unfastened lid rested loosely atop of it. That lid
Sakr-el-Bahr knocked over; then he pulled one of the horn sides out of
the lantern, and held the now half-naked flame immediately above the
powder.

A cry of alarm went up from some who had watched him. But above that cry
rang his sharp command:

"Cease rowing!"

The tomtom fell instantly silent, but the slaves took yet another
stroke.

"Cease rowing!" he commanded again. "Asad!" he called. "Bid them pause,
or I'll blow you all straight into the arms of Shaitan." And he lowered
the lantern until it rested on the very rim of the powder keg.

At once the rowing ceased. Slaves, corsairs, officers, and Asad himself
stood paralyzed, all at gaze upon that grim figure illumined by the
lantern, threatening them with doom. It may have crossed the minds of
some to throw themselves forthwith upon him; but to arrest them was the
dread lest any movement towards him should precipitate the explosion
that must blow them all into the next world.

At last Asad addressed him, his voice half-choked with rage.

"May Allah strike thee dead! Art thou djinn-possessed?"

Marzak, standing at his father's side, set a quarrel to the bow which
he had snatched up. "Why do you all stand and stare?" he cried. "Cut
him down, one of you!" And even as he spoke he raised his bow. But his
father checked him, perceiving what must be the inevitable result.

"If any man takes a step towards me, the lantern goes straight into
the gunpowder," said Sakr-el-Bahr serenely. "And if you shoot me as you
intend, Mar-zak, or i