The sun had set, and the evening prayer was being recited aboard the galeasse, her crew all prostrate4. Perceiving this, she drew back again instinctively5, and remained screened by the curtain until the prayer was ended. Then putting it aside, but without stepping past the Nubians who were on guard, she saw that on her left Asad-ed-Din, with Marzak, Biskaine, and one or two other officers, was again occupying the divan6 under the awning7. Her eyes sought Sakr-el-Bahr, and presently they beheld8 him coming up the gangway with his long, swinging stride, in the wake of the boat-swain’s mates who were doling9 out the meagre evening meal to the slaves.
Suddenly he halted by Lionel, who occupied a seat at the head of his oar3 immediately next to the gangway. He addressed him harshly in the lingua franca, which Lionel did not understand, and his words rang clearly and were heard — as he intended that they should be — by all upon the poop.
“Well, dog? How does galley-slave fare suit thy tender stomach?”
Lionel looked up at him.
“What are you saying?” he asked in English.
Sakr-el-Bahr bent10 over him, and his face as all could see was evil and mocking. No doubt he spoke11 to him in English also, but no more than a murmur12 reached the straining ears of Rosamund, though from his countenance13 she had no doubt of the purport14 of his words. And yet she was far indeed from a correct surmise15. The mockery in his countenance was but a mask.
“Take no heed16 of my looks,” he was saying. “I desire them up yonder to think that I abuse you. Look as a man would who were being abused. Cringe or snarl17, but listen. Do you remember once when as lads we swam together from Penarrow to Trefusis Point?”
“What do you mean?” quoth Lionel, and the natural sullenness18 of his mien19 was all that Sakr-el-Bahr could have desired.
“I am wondering whether you could still swim as far. If so you might find a more appetizing supper awaiting you at the end — aboard Sir John Killigrew’s ship. You had not heard? The Silver Heron is at anchor in the bay beyond that headland. If I afford you the means, could you swim to her do you think?”
Lionel stared at him in profoundest amazement20. “Do you mock me?” he asked at length.
“Why should I mock you on such a matter?”
“Is it not to mock me to suggest a way for my deliverance?”
Sakr-el-Bahr laughed, and he mocked now in earnest. He set his left foot upon the rowers’ stretcher, and leaned forward and down his elbow upon his raised knee so that his face was close to Lionel’s.
“For your deliverance?” said he. “God’s life! Lionel, your mind was ever one that could take in naught21 but your own self. ’Tis that has made a villain22 of you. Your deliverance! God’s wounds! Is there none but yourself whose deliverance I might desire? Look you, now I want you to swim to Sir John’s ship and bear him word of the presence here of this galeasse and that Rosamund is aboard it. ’Tis for her that I am concerned, and so little for you that should you chance to be drowned in the attempt my only regret will be that the message was not delivered. Will you undertake that swim? It is your one sole chance short of death itself of escaping from the rower’s bench. Will you go?”
“But how?” demanded Lionel, still mistrusting him.
“Will you go?” his brother insisted.
“Afford me the means and I will,” was the answer.
“Very well.” Sakr-el-Bahr leaned nearer still. “Naturally it will be supposed by all who are watching us that I am goading23 you to desperation. Act, then, your part. Up, and attempt to strike me. Then when I return the blow — and I shall strike heavily that no make-believe may be suspected — collapse24 on your oar pretending to swoon. Leave the rest to me. Now,” he added sharply, and on the word rose with a final laugh of derision as if to take his departure.
But Lionel was quick to follow the instructions. He leapt up in his bonds, and reaching out as far as they would permit him, he struck Sakr-el-Bahr heavily upon the face. On his side, too, there was to be no make-believe apparent. That done he sank down with a clank of shackles25 to the bench again, whilst every one of his fellow-slaves that faced his way looked on with fearful eyes.
Sakr-el-Bahr was seen to reel under the blow, and instantly there was a commotion26 on board. Biskaine leapt to his feet with a half-cry of astonishment27; even Asad’s eyes kindled28 with interest at so unusual a sight as that of a galley-slave attacking a corsair. Then with a snarl of anger, the snarl of an enraged29 beast almost, Sakr-el-Bahr’s great arm was swung aloft and his fist descended30 like a hammer upon Lionel’s head.
Lionel sank forward under the blow, his senses swimming. Sakr-el-Bahr’s arm swung up a second time.
“Thou dog!” he roared, and then checked, perceiving that Lionel appeared to have swooned.
He turned and bellowed31 for Vigitello and his mates in a voice that was hoarse32 with passion. Vigitello came at a run, a couple of his men at his heels.
“Unshackle me this carrion33, and heave it overboard,” was the harsh order. “Let that serve as an example to the others. Let them learn thus the price of mutiny in their lousy ranks. To it, I say.”
Away sped a man for hammer and chisel34. He returned with them at once. Four sharp metallic35 blows rang out, and Lionel was dragged forth from his place to the gangway-deck. Here he revived, and screamed for mercy as though he were to be drowned in earnest.
Biskaine chuckled36 under the awning, Asad looked on approvingly, Rosamund drew back, shuddering37, choking, and near to fainting from sheer horror.
She saw Lionel borne struggling in the arms of the boatswain’s men to the starboard quarter, and flung over the side with no more compunction or care than had he been so much rubbish. She heard the final scream of terror with which he vanished, the splash of his fall, and then in the ensuing silence the laugh of Sakr-el-Bahr.
For a spell she stood there with horror and loathing38 of that renegade corsair in her soul. Her mind was bewildered and confused. She sought to restore order in it, that she might consider this fresh deed of his, this act of wanton brutality40 and fratricide. And all that she could gather was the firm conviction that hitherto he had cheated her; he had lied when he swore that his aim was to effect her deliverance. It was not in such a nature to know a gentle mood of penitence41 for a wrong done. What might be his purpose she could not yet perceive, but that it was an evil one she never doubted, for no purpose of his could be aught but evil. So overwrought was she now that she forgot all Lionel’s sins, and found her heart filled with compassion42 for him hurled43 in that brutal39 fashion to his death.
And then, quite suddenly a shout rang out from the forecastle.
“He is swimming!”
Sakr-el-Bahr had been prepared for the chance of this.
“Where? Where?” he cried, and sprang to the bulwarks44.
“Yonder!” A man was pointing. Others had joined him and were peering through the gathering45 gloom at the moving object that was Lionel’s head and the faintly visible swirl46 of water about it which indicated that he swam.
“Out to sea!” cried Sakr-el-Bahr. “He’ll not swim far in any case. But we will shorten his road for him.” He snatched a cross-bow from the rack about the mainmast, fitted a shaft47 to it and took aim.
On the point of loosing the bolt he paused.
“Marzak!” he called. “Here, thou prince of marksmen, is a butt48 for thee!”
From the poop-deck whence with his father he too was watching the swimmer’s head, which at every moment became more faint in the failing light, Marzak looked with cold disdain49 upon his challenger, making no reply. A titter ran through the crew.
“Come now,” cried Sakr-el-Bahr. “Take up thy bow!”
“If thou delay much longer,” put in Asad, “he will be beyond thine aim. Already he is scarcely visible.”
“The more difficult a butt, then,” answered Sakr-el-B ahr, who was but delaying to gain time. “The keener test. A hundred philips, Marzak, that thou’lt not hit me that head in three shots, and that I’ll sink him at the first! Wilt50 take the wager51?”
“The unbeliever is for ever peeping forth from thee,” was Marzak’s dignified52 reply. “Games of chance are forbidden by the Prophet.”
“Make haste, man!” cried Asad. “Already I can scarce discern him. Loose thy quarrel.”
“Pooh,” was the disdainful answer. “A fair mark still for such an eye as mine. I never miss — not even in the dark.”
“Vain boaster,” said Marzak.
“Am I so?” Sakr-el-Bahr loosed his shaft at last into the gloom, and peered after it following its flight, which was wide of the direction of the swimmer’s head. “A hit!” he cried brazenly53. “He’s gone!”
“I think I see him still,” said one.
“Thine eyes deceive thee in this light. No man was ever known to swim with an arrow through his brain.”
“Ay,” put in Jasper, who stood behind Sakr-el-Bahr. “He has vanished.”
“’Tis too dark to see,” said Vigitello.
And then Asad turned from the vessel’s side. “Well, well — shot or drowned, he’s gone,” he said, and there the matter ended.
Sakr-el-Bahr replaced the cross-bow in the rack, and came slowly up to the poop.
In the gloom he found himself confronted by Rosamund’s white face between the two dusky countenances54 of his Nubians. She drew back before him as he approached, and he, intent upon imparting his news to her, followed her within the poop-house, and bade Abiad bring lights.
When these had been kindled they faced each other, and he perceived her profound agitation55 and guessed the cause of it. Suddenly she broke into speech.
“You beast! You devil!” she panted. “God will punish you! I shall spend my every breath in praying Him to punish you as you deserve. You murderer! You hound! And I like a poor simpleton was heeding56 your false words. I was believing you sincere in your repentance57 of the wrong you have done me. But now you have shown me. . . . ”
“How have I hurt you in what I have done to Lionel?” he cut in, a little amazed by so much vehemence58.
“Hurt me!” she cried, and on the words grew cold and calm again with very scorn. “I thank God it is beyond your power to hurt me. And I thank you for correcting my foolish misconception of you, my belief in your pitiful pretence59 that it was your aim to save me. I would not accept salvation60 at your murderer’s hands. Though, indeed, I shall not be put to it. Rather,” she pursued, a little wildly now in her deep mortification61, “are you like to sacrifice me to your own vile62 ends, whatever they may be. But I shall thwart63 you, Heaven helping64 me. Be sure I shall not want courage for that.” And with a shuddering moan she covered her face, and stood swaying there before him.
He looked on with a faint, bitter smile, understanding her mood just as he understood her dark threat of thwarting65 him.
“I came,” he said quietly, “to bring you the assurance that he has got safely away, and to tell you upon what manner of errand I have sent him.”
Something compelling in his voice, the easy assurance with which he spoke, drew her to stare at him again.
“I mean Lionel, of course,” he said, in answer to her questioning glance. “That scene between us — the blow and the swoon and the rest of it — was all make-believe. So afterwards the shooting. My challenge to Marzak was a ruse66 to gain time — to avoid shooting until Lionel’s head should have become so dimly visible in the dusk that none could say whether it was still there or not. My shaft went wide of him, as I intended. He is swimming round the head with my message to Sir John Killigrew. He was a strong swimmer in the old days, and should easily reach his goal. That is what I came to tell you.”
For a long spell she continued to stare at him in silence.
“You are speaking the truth?” she asked at last, in a small voice.
He shrugged67. “You will have a difficulty in perceiving the object I might serve by falsehood.”
She sat down suddenly upon the divan; it was almost as if she collapsed68 bereft69 of strength; and as suddenly she fell to weeping softly.
“And . . . and I believed that you . . . that you. . . . ”
“Just so,” he grimly interrupted. “You always did believe the best of me.”
And on that he turned and went out abruptly70.
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1
chafing
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| n.皮肤发炎v.擦热（尤指皮肤）( chafe的现在分词 )；擦痛；发怒；惹怒 | |
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forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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oar
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| n.桨，橹，划手；v.划行 | |
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prostrate
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| v.拜倒，平卧，衰竭；adj.拜倒的，平卧的，衰竭的 | |
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instinctively
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| adv.本能地 | |
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divan
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| n.长沙发；（波斯或其他东方诗人的）诗集 | |
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awning
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| n.遮阳篷；雨篷 | |
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beheld
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| v.看，注视( behold的过去式和过去分词 )；瞧；看呀；（叙述中用于引出某人意外的出现）哎哟 | |
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9
doling
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| 救济物( dole的现在分词 )； 失业救济金 | |
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10
bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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11
spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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12
murmur
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| n.低语，低声的怨言；v.低语，低声而言 | |
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13
countenance
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| n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同 | |
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14
purport
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| n.意义，要旨，大要；v.意味著，做为...要旨，要领是... | |
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15
surmise
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| v./n.猜想，推测 | |
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16
heed
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| v.注意，留意；n.注意，留心 | |
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17
snarl
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| v.吼叫，怒骂，纠缠，混乱；n.混乱，缠结，咆哮 | |
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18
sullenness
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| n. 愠怒, 沉闷, 情绪消沉 | |
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mien
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| n.风采；态度 | |
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amazement
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| n.惊奇，惊讶 | |
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21
naught
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| n.无，零 [=nought] | |
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villain
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| n.反派演员，反面人物；恶棍；问题的起因 | |
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23
goading
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| v.刺激( goad的现在分词 )；激励；（用尖棒）驱赶；驱使（或怂恿、刺激）某人 | |
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24
collapse
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| vi.累倒；昏倒；倒塌；塌陷 | |
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25
shackles
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| 手铐( shackle的名词复数 )； 脚镣； 束缚； 羁绊 | |
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26
commotion
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| n.骚动，动乱 | |
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astonishment
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| n.惊奇，惊异 | |
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28
kindled
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| （使某物）燃烧，着火( kindle的过去式和过去分词 )； 激起（感情等）； 发亮，放光 | |
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29
enraged
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| 使暴怒( enrage的过去式和过去分词 )； 歜； 激愤 | |
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30
descended
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| a.为...后裔的，出身于...的 | |
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31
bellowed
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| v.发出吼叫声，咆哮（尤指因痛苦）( bellow的过去式和过去分词 )；（愤怒地）说出（某事），大叫 | |
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32
hoarse
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| adj.嘶哑的，沙哑的 | |
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carrion
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| n.腐肉 | |
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34
chisel
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| n.凿子；v.用凿子刻，雕，凿 | |
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35
metallic
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| adj.金属的；金属制的；含金属的；产金属的；像金属的 | |
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36
chuckled
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| 轻声地笑( chuckle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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37
shuddering
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| v.战栗( shudder的现在分词 )；发抖；（机器、车辆等）突然震动；颤动 | |
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38
loathing
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| n.厌恶，憎恨v.憎恨，厌恶( loathe的现在分词)；极不喜欢 | |
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39
brutal
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| adj.残忍的，野蛮的，不讲理的 | |
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40
brutality
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| n.野蛮的行为，残忍，野蛮 | |
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41
penitence
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| n.忏悔，赎罪；悔过 | |
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42
compassion
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| n.同情，怜悯 | |
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43
hurled
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| v.猛投，用力掷( hurl的过去式和过去分词 )；大声叫骂 | |
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44
bulwarks
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| n.堡垒( bulwark的名词复数 )；保障；支柱；舷墙 | |
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45
gathering
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| n.集会，聚会，聚集 | |
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46
swirl
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| v.(使)打漩，(使)涡卷；n.漩涡，螺旋形 | |
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47
shaft
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| n.(工具的)柄，杆状物 | |
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48
butt
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| n.笑柄；烟蒂；枪托；臀部；v.用头撞或顶 | |
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49
disdain
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| n.鄙视，轻视；v.轻视，鄙视，不屑 | |
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50
wilt
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| v.(使)植物凋谢或枯萎；(指人)疲倦，衰弱 | |
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51
wager
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| n.赌注；vt.押注，打赌 | |
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52
dignified
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| a.可敬的，高贵的 | |
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53
brazenly
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| adv.厚颜无耻地；厚脸皮地肆无忌惮地 | |
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54
countenances
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| n.面容( countenance的名词复数 )；表情；镇静；道义支持 | |
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55
agitation
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| n.搅动；搅拌；鼓动，煽动 | |
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56
heeding
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| v.听某人的劝告，听从( heed的现在分词 ) | |
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57
repentance
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| n.懊悔 | |
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58
vehemence
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| n.热切；激烈；愤怒 | |
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59
pretence
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| n.假装，作假；借口，口实；虚伪；虚饰 | |
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60
salvation
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| n.（尤指基督）救世，超度，拯救，解困 | |
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61
mortification
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| n.耻辱，屈辱 | |
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62
vile
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| adj.卑鄙的，可耻的，邪恶的；坏透的 | |
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63
thwart
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| v.阻挠，妨碍，反对；adj.横(断的) | |
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64
helping
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| n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的 | |
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65
thwarting
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| 阻挠( thwart的现在分词 )； 使受挫折； 挫败； 横过 | |
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66
ruse
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| n.诡计，计策；诡计 | |
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67
shrugged
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| vt.耸肩（shrug的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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68
collapsed
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| adj.倒塌的 | |
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69
bereft
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| adj.被剥夺的 | |
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70
abruptly
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| adv.突然地，出其不意地 | |
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