H. A. Lamb

“ Piles of fruit lay rotting about the floor.
"It is time," chattered the Kurd, who was sipping at a goblet of wine, "Halen ibn Shaddah showed himself. He comes to the banquet-place every night, and we drink to him. Drink, Khlit—are not Cossacks born with a grape in their mouths? You are lucky to be alive, for Rashideddin is a viper without mercy."
"Who is this Rashideddin?" asked Khlit, setting down the wine, for it was not to his liking.
"Oh, he is the wise man of the arch-prophet—the master of Alamut. He knows more magic than all the Greeks and dervishes put together. ”

“ I placed my rifle against a bamboo and kneeled, plunging head and arms into the delightful pool. Ten years of the South Sea Islands should have taught me better. But then every one forgets, once in a while.
I sat by the stream, allowing the sun to dry the moisture on my head and musing on the splendid handiwork of the Lord which fringed me in. It might have been several moments before I swung around, at a cry from the girl.
Mary was, perhaps, a hundred yards away. And she was struggling with Johnny Gorai. The wrinkled face of the islander was alight with evil. ”

“ How can that be?”
“This is your child,” said the lad, smiling, and speaking as if he were talking to a child. He glanced at Mary reassuringly. I was afraid we would receive an arrow from her guardians.
It was a long moment that the two of them faced each other, the old man’s countenance tense, and the girl still uneasy. She conquered her fear. It may be that the ties of blood are stronger than we know. Or the lad’s voice, vibrant with love, may have calmed her.
Matthew Burnie took his child’s hand and touched her face. She watched him wonderingly. ”

“ No man has ever called me a coward, but our strength was sapped by hunger—we had no armor or firearms. We were acting on the mad whim of the Ferang, and for the first time in his life my master had put aside my advice for another's—that of the merchant who made me carry the pot of swine-flesh.
We passed the open place where Said Afzel had planned to camp. We knew now that the caravan could not be far away, and Shirzad Mir sent the boy ahead to spy. He ran swiftly, like a young mountain goat. ”

“ What is your mission with the Lord of Alamut?"
"Tell the unbeliever we have come to join the Refik, where there is no law—" began Toctamish, but Khlit motioned him to silence.
"Take us to Sheik Halen ibn Shaddah, and we will tell him our mission, Iba Kabash," he retorted. "We are not men to parley with slaves."
The man of white and gold had grown impatient, and spoke a few angry words to Iba Kabash, who cringed. Several of the bowmen ranged themselves beside them, and the throng pushed past, leaving a single torch with the Kurd, who motioned to Khlit to follow him. ”

“ Toctamish tried in vain to throw off the grip that pinned his arms to his side.
"One without understanding," the Tatar growled, "here is a dog of a Cossack who would rather slay than eat. This is the Khlit I told of, the one with the curved sword. Are you a child at play?"
"Nay, you are the child, Toctamish," shrilled the woman, "for you would fight when the Cossack would eat. He means no harm. Allah keep you further from the wine cask! Put up your sword. Have you forgotten you are man and I am mistress?" ”

“ You know how the stage of a theater is darkened in an exciting moment, and then the spotlight is whisked on, showing somebody dead, or a pair of burglars robbing a safe. It was something like that when the searchlight on the bridge of the Badger flared out into the darkness. It groped around for a couple of seconds; then it lit on the ship that had been firing with the big gun. And I could hardly keep from whooping with delight.
There it was, plain as if in the spotlight at a show, my derelict, with the wrecked decks and rusty ironwork. ”

“ This idea had been born of hours of thought when Barclay had been alone on his schooner in the South Pacific. He had had plenty of time to think. The life of a South Seas trader is quieter than many narrators choose to picture it.
Between dickering with islanders for copra and pearl-shell, and hours of selecting arrows and shark’s teeth-swords for the tourist trade, the germ of the idea had grown. Barclay had sought and patiently accumulated pearls, bartering them for California-made clothing, knives, calico, pipes, and tobacco and English currency with the Kanakas. ”

“ The astrologer spoke to Iba Kabash in another tongue and the Kurd went to a corner of the room where a pile of rugs and cloths lay. Selecting a long, white cloth, he laid it in front of Khlit. This done, he stepped back, licking his thick lips softly.
"Tell the Cossack what you have done, Iba Kabash," said Rashideddin.
"This cloth," whispered the Kurd, "is a shroud, Khlit. The astrologer may call his men and lay you in it dead, unless you say you have no god. Do as your friend—remember I have given you good advice. You are in a place where your life is worth no more than a dagger-thrust. ”

“ XIII RASHIDEDDIN went straight to the winding stairs that led to his own apartment. At the foot of these stairs Khlit, who had traced the astrologer closely, paused. It would not be easy to go farther without being seen. And this Khlit wanted to avoid. He believed that Rashideddin was having him watched, and that the Khirghiz had attended him to the divan under orders. And at all costs he must be free to act that night.
Rashideddin, thought Khlit, sensed something impending. In some way the magician of Alamut kept himself informed of what went on in the citadel. His spies were everywhere. ”

“ Tonight there were no men issuing from Alamut. And it was only when one of the herds moved across the face of the moon that Khlit saw the tips of Tatar helmets moving among the horses, and understood why the horses seemed more numerous than before.
Even as Berca had promised, the Tatar horde was approaching the gate of Alamut. One of the herds reached the river's edge and pressed on, in the shadow of the hillside. Khlit could see the faces of men peering at him, and catch the glint of their spears. He gave a hasty glance at his companion. The man was sleeping heavily. ”

“ How was I to know that I blundered?
“The girl distresses you, Sir Weyand,” I said bluntly. “Why not give her to Said Afzel? Then she will have a master. It is true that you do not desire a slave?”
“Death's life, Abdul Dost!” he swore. “It is true.” He fell silent. “That might be best. Krishna Taya must be cared for. I think Said Afzel is fond of her. She is no more than a child.”
I did not smile.
So it came to pass that Krishna Taya consented to serve Said Afzel. She gathered up her belongings in a bundle and went to the dwelling of the Uzbek prince. ”

“ With this the Tatar rolled over in his skins and kept silence. Wearying of questioning him, Khlit rose and went to the door of Berca's cabin. Toctamish, he meditated, was not one who could invent answers to questions out of his own wit. Either he spoke the truth, or he had been carefully taught what to say. Khlit was half-satisfied that the girl's and the Tatar's story was true in all its details, strange as it seemed. Yet he was wise, with the wisdom of years, and certain things troubled him.
It was not customary for a Tatar of rank to follow the leadership of a woman. ”

“ McKechnie scanned the bulk of the wreck with shrewd eyes.
"Oh aye," he grunted; "I need no word from the saints. If Dixon was swept over the side did all the crew follow him? Out o' love for the man that fed them lousy tucker and strung them up by their thumbs? No, Mr. Gordon; if ye had brains instead o' ballast in your top-hamper, ye would know that if any o' her company had stuck to the Sweet Alice, they would have lived, for she is not broken up. And Dixon was no man to risk his life when others would serve instead."
The Scotchman swept his arm across the vista of the shore. ”

“ Swords flashing in dark tunnels, where naught was heard but the gasping of men bitten by steel and the sound of bodies falling to the earth. Wailing and lamentation in the gardens under the date trees which were the evil paradise of Halen ibn Shaddah, and the splash of stricken women in the canals. Dark-faced, squat men in mail and fur cloaks trampling through treasure-rooms where the riches of a thousand caravans and a hundred cities stood.
Never had the followers of Kiragai Khan taken spoil so rich. ”

“ All these Fu Chen heeded not. He slipped quietly up the Bowery for two or three blocks. His wrinkled face was expressionless; his back bent from the toil of the laundry; his hands hidden in his sleeves. Only a slight widening of the faded, slant eyes showed that Fu Chen sought something of unusual interest near the narrow streets which are the entrance to Chinatown.
At a corner saloon he looked up quickly at the windows of the second floor. A dingy sign proclaimed a pool-parlor. He entered a hallway, but did not seek the pool-room. ”

“ I answered him sternly, "I am better than that dog; if I have not faith, he is better than I." I laid a hand on my sword. "If you wish a quarrel——"
"Peace!" cried the voice of Shirzad Mir behind us. "It is time we mounted."
He was leading a fine gray stallion, and Iskander Khan had Wind-of-the-Hills. Likewise, the Kirghiz gave to us two good bows and quivers full of arrows—also he brought his own sword from the tent and girded it on Shirzad Mir. What man could do more than Iskander Khan did for us? ”

“ Then the Khirghiz men looked around for Toctamish, but the stocky Tatar had disappeared in the throng. Khlit, who had missed nothing of what happened, thought to himself that it was well that the dagger had been in the hand of Toctamish, not of the Syrian. Plainly, he thought, the Khirghiz murderers had been fellows, without knowing, to the Syrian. And he wondered how men of many races came to be banded together, not knowing that he was to wonder soon, and very greatly, at other things. ”

“ Berca came and sat by Khlit's head, feeling his hot forehead with a small hand. She wrapped her thin cloak tightly about her and rested her chin on her two hands, gazing at the round moon in the water.
"A man must be crafty and wise," she repeated softly, "yet, lo, it is a weak girl, a creature of the false prophet's paradise, who leads him. ”

“ A man could pray a thousand times with one word."
"And now?"
"We do not pray."
Pushing a way through the crowd recklessly with his elbows, the Khirghiz gained a place where he and Khlit could see the array of the divan. In the center of a cleared space in one of the larger chambers stood Halen ibn Shaddah, easily marked by his great height and the cloak that shadowed his face. Around him were grouped certain men in heavy turbans and green embroidered coats. These Khlit recognized as Daikebirs, emissaries of the master of Alamut. ”

“ Looking into them, Khlit could see nothing. The room was still and deserted except for the two. Khlit wished that others had been there. He felt ill at ease, and sucked at his pipe loudly.
"In the place of darkness, of the spirit Munkir," said Rashideddin, "there are no stars. Yet when men are alive they can look on the stars. Few can read them. From Alamut I have seen them, and learned many things. Do they read the stars in your country, Cossack?" ”

“ Under Khlit's gaze she scowled. Abruptly she stepped to his side and watched him with frank curiosity.
"Do you leave courtesy outside when you enter a dwelling, Cossack?" she demanded. "You come unbidden, with dirty boots, and you flourish your curved sword in front of Toctamish who would have killed you because he is crafty as a Kurdish farsang, and feared you. I do not fear you. You have a soiled coat and you carry a foul stick in your mouth."
Khlit grunted in distaste. He had small liking for women. This one was neither Tatar nor Circassian nor Georgian, yet she spoke fair Tatar. ”

“ Startled, Khlit moved his hand to his throat, where hung a small, gold cross. Iba Kabash was making hasty signs to him which he did not see.
"Aye, Rashideddin," said he gravely, "the batko has told me about the cross which I carry, and it is a talisman against evil. Hey, it has been good, that cross, because I have killed many and am still living."
"Evil?" said Rashideddin, and moved a jeweled chessman to another square. "The earth is evil. If a saint handles earth it becomes gold. ”

“ II THE Cossack's meditation was interrupted by the girl, who motioned to the Syrian to set his stew before Khlit.
"Eat," she cried impatiently, pointing to the steaming bowl. "You are hungry, Father of Battles, and I would speak with you. A man speaks ill on an empty belly, although a woman needs not food nor wine to sharpen her wits. Eh, look at me and say, Father of Battles, is it not true I am beautiful, that men would die for me? It is given to few to look at me so closely." ”

“ The hillmen of Santo, generations ago, must have seen the Bible in the hands of the Quiros party. And the dwarfs had treasured it, when it came into their possession, believing it to be a “devil-devil” symbol, what we would call a talisman. And they treasured the girl Mary. It was natural, under the circumstances, that they gave her the book.
And Mary, being a woman, saw nothing desirable in the worn leather covers. Yet the hillmen had told her, repeating the tales handed down by their fathers, that it was a talisman. And she believed them. ”

“ As Khlit watched, Halen ibn Shaddah moved along the balcony among the eaters. On the banquet floor a murmur grew into a shout—
"Blessed be he that has unmade all laws; who is master of the akd; chief of chief, prophet of prophets, sheik of sheiks; who holds the keys of the gate of paradise."
Iba Kabash shouted as if in ecstacy, rising on his knees and beating his palms together, as the group of the sheik came nearer them. Once or twice Khlit saw Halen ibn Shaddah beckon to a man who rose hastily and followed the Dais. Iba Kabash, he thought, was drunk, yet not in a fashion known to Cossacks. ”

“ The bearer was just setting down the jar between them. Said Afzel was near-by, lying at full length.
“Ho, Abdul Dost!” cried Shirzad Mir, who had a quick eye. “You have come like a dog at the smell of meat in the pot. Nay, do not leave us. Come, here is another bowl. Said Afzel will not need his. He is rightly named the dreamer; he has taken opium until he is like a full-fed snake,”
I looked at the Uzbek. His head was slack on the carpet, crushing the white heron plume on the turban. His olive face was red and he breathed heavily, while his slant eyes were glazed. ”

“ I felt it, and I believe Jack Stuart did as well.
Johnny Gorai was staring at her, making a queer clucking noise which drew my attention. I saw that his gaze had shifted and was searching the surrounding treetops. His wrinkled face told a plain story. He was not, it seemed, surprised at seeing the girl. Rather, he was looking around for possible companions. That is the impression I received, and it proved I was not much mistaken.
Life is curious in many ways. ”

“ After some delay, a dirty tribesman was thrust beside the man of white and gold.
"Wherefore are you here?" the tribesman, who seemed to be a Kurd, asked in broken Russian, "and what is your purpose? Be brief, for the Dais are impatient to march. Are you a Christian, Cossack?"
"Say that you are not," whispered Toctamish, who had caught what was said, "for none with a god can go into the mountain."
"A dog will give up his faith," snarled Khlit, "but a Cossack does not deny God and the Orthodox Church. Aye," he responded to the Kurd, "I am a Christian. ”

“ Truly, I thought, the madness of Sir Weyand had brought us to an evil place. If a patrol of Uzbek horsemen should come behind us we would be caught between them and the caravan.
Even a brave man feels a prickling of the flesh when he knows not what is before and behind him. The mad fantasy of the other two had veiled their minds from danger. Shirzad Mir, to make matters worse, set Sir Weyand and me to rolling some stones into the path from the slope. While we were doing this he dismounted and led our three horses by a roundabout path up to the top of the cliff. ”

“ He had no case against Braddock.
“There’s Mahoney,” he meditated; “maybe I can get my hands on him.”
“It won’t do you much good if you do. He’s sold you stock in his company. Probably Mahoney owns a worthless acre of land somewheres about—in the Sound, perhaps. Some kind of a plant, with a wood jetty and a carpenter driving nails into a scabby barge that ’ll never feel salt-water again. Enough to keep him within the law.”
Henderson shrugged his shoulders.
“You have only your word against his, Barclay, that he faked a sale of our stock and his breed is clever. They know the blue-sky laws.” ”

“ Are you one, oh, Sparrow, to fight alone against a powerful chief? Where are your men that you told Toctamish of. Devil take me, if I'll put my head in the strong-hold of any sheik, as you call him."
Berca bent nearer, rising on tiptoe so her breath was warm in his ear.
"My men are hillmen who will not attack until they see an enemy flee. Also, they have seen men who opposed Halen ibn Shaddah set over a fire, with the skin of their feet torn off. The master of Alamut is all powerful here. Are you afraid, whom they call the Wolf?" ”

“ Instantly Channa had sprung back, his eyes wide with terror. The action had alarmed the spearmen, and for an instant there were prospects of a free-for-all fight between the islanders and the marines. Barclay had quieted the disturbance, wondering at the fear of Channa for a dead fish.
The commander of the Thor looked up as he saw a boat approaching the war-ship from the schooner. The boat drew up beside the gunboat's ladder, and a few minutes later the stalwart form of Skipper William McKechnie strode aft. ”

“ Show me the way out of Alamut."
"And your promise," queried Berca, "to cut off the head of Halen ibn Shaddah?"
Khlit was silent. True, he had promised, and was in honor bound to Berca.
"Likewise, Berca," he said moodily, "you said that there was a plan. Why do you keep the plan hidden in your mind, if there is one? Better be in good faith with me. Say how Halen ibn Shaddah can be killed."
"How should I kill so strong a man?" she laughed softly. "The Koran reads that Allah weakens the stratagems of misbelievers. Also that they who store up evil shall taste what they store up. ”

“ The horsemen were headed directly toward the caravan.
"Robbers," said Toctamish briefly; "there will be a fight."
"A poor one, it seems," growled Khlit. "The Kurds are leaving us as fast as their horses can take them and your countrymen like the looks of things little—they have not drawn sword or bow."
In truth, the Tatars who were acting as guard, sat their horses stolidly, while the dismayed traders added to the confusion by rushing about frantically, trying to assemble their goods. Khlit turned his attention, in disgust to the oncoming horsemen, and counted a bare two score. ”

“ The jewels gleamed in the turban of the Rajput and he laughed more than once, but Jani Beg did not laugh.
Nearer they came and nearer. I could see the sweat on the donkeys' shoulders and marked the outline of the powder boxes under the packs:
God has given me keen sight, and all that followed I saw clearly. I saw the Rajput halt the donkey-men and order them off with a contemptuous gesture and Jani Beg and Sir Weyand peer at the packs as if to make sure of what they held. I saw the beasts begin to nuzzle for grass to crop and Raja Man Singh ride up to the waiting two. ”

“ Braddock smiled sceptically.
“Trader’s tales—eh? I guess you figure you’ll get more for your stuff by the telling of ’em. Stories don’t sell pearls in N’York.” Bending over the objects in question, he did not see the surprise that flashed into Barclay’s gray eyes. After all, South Seas traders were not common in the metropolis, and the captain’s speech savored of fiction—if it had not been true.
Barclay placed a heavy hand over his pearls.
“If ye do not believe me, Mr. Braddock,” he growled, “we’ll not do business. I’m a man of my word. These pearls come from the islands.” ”

“ Shirzad Mir pushed through the bewildered bearers swiftly. Half of the camelmen had fled. One or two of the eunuchs drew their scimitars when my lord came near the camels on which were the women, but when they saw the plight of Said Afzel, with my lord's sword at his ear, they threw down their weapons.
It was a sorry gathering that we grouped against the cliff wall. Eunuchs and slaves are masters of brave words, but I have yet to see the ones who will face danger to their bodies without shrinking. ”

“ Evil, says Abulghazi, is slow to die. The wickedness of Alamut lived, and around it clung the shadow of the power that had belonged to Hagen ben Sabbah—a power not of god or man—who was called by some sheik, by others the Old Man of the Mountain, and by himself the prophet of God. ”

“ We are not yet mad."
"We are like to be so from hunger or thirst," replied the Ferang, "if we do not better our fortunes. I heard you say we had no place to flee, and so we must attack."
"Khanjut?" smiled Shirzad Mir almost mockingly.
But the Ferang was not in jest.
"If we had a few score followers, it would not be a bad plan. But that is for you to decide, Shirzad Mir. You know the country. If I think of a plan, I will tell you." ”

“ An elephant has a thick hide, but he is sensitive and nervous as a woman—and the boiling grease was very hot. Most Alast lifted up his trunk and bellowed his pain. Then he charged forward. The howdah, with Said Afzel and Kasim Kirlas, slipped its girths as Most Alast shook himself—the fat had missed the howdah, to my sorrow—and the two went to earth.
Then Most Alast dashed among the riders. Several horses leaped over the slope in their fright. Finding himself against the stones, the elephant turned in the narrow path and charged back against the camels, which gave way before him. ”

“ Many things were in my mind as I drove the donkeys up to Khanjut, following after Shirzad Mir and Sir Weyand. I thought of the reckless honor of Shirzad Mir that had let Jani Beg depart unharmed, because of his pledge. I wondered whether one of us would live to tell of the Uzbek storm that would be launched upon us because Sir Weyand had guarded the life of Krishna Taya when Jani Beg lusted for vengeance. But among these thoughts one was uppermost. It was a verse from the Koran.
Who knows what is in the heart of a woman? ”