Adventure Magazine Cover — page 140: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

896 “To revert to the illustration which opened our conversation,” he said affably. “The log went down the fiord—in spite of yesterday’s landslide. Well, in spite of political landslides, while your Excellency retains your seat in the Castle of the Jeka, I shall confidently expect no log to go up!” As things go, an unfortunate simile, this. For as the two companions stepped aboard the waiting launch and passed with her out into the broader expanse of the lake, the log moved—against the current. Perhaps something which had held it in position moved—something which swam softly as a water-rat swims, up into the rushes and through them to where a beech spinney linked them with foliage to the slope of the hill—something which crept ashore into this ambush, shaking water from eyes that were certainly those of Uiko the fisherman. CHAPTER XVI SARRASCO HAS AN INSPIRATION pi TINY crowd had gathered around the embankment end as the launch fussed across the lagoon and slowed beside the block of unhewn stone that took the place of a wharf. Curiosity drew Mr. Gresham from the shade of the little veranda of his hut where he had been immersed in plans and specifications. Agnew, who had been at his side, followed his chief as a matter of course. Gessi, with a gesture to a couple of his underlings, bade them assist the mooring and followed to see that it was efficiently done. Katrine left on her easel an unfinished sketch of the distant hills fronted by the marshes, and strolled slowly forward to join her father. Behind her Vilip and Jovan made a respectful escort. The launch came to a standstill. Esuli Bey’s brilliant smile was flashed upward and his hand rose in an elaborate salute. He climbed the slope of the embankment with haste but without loss of dignity and stood at attention. “The Signor Gresham?” he hazarded politely and in English. Gresham. came forward with a hand outstretched. ‘‘Here,”’ he said gravely. ‘And you, signor, are—?”’ ‘Murad Esuli, at your service, signor. I am responsible for the. Governorship of these poor acres of the Vodra district. I come to offer to you my homage and the assurance of my desire to serve you in any Adventure way youmay command. May I present the Commandante Sarrasco, who is doing me the honor of visiting me in my seclusion?” Sarrasco bowed profoundly. Gresham, waiting gravely till this display of deference was completed, held out his hand and in his turn presented his daughter and the engineer. The Turk raised his eyes to Katrine with that undefinable but at the same time recog- nizable expresson of—guilt (I search vainly for any other word which approaches my meaning) that the Oriental, in spite of Western training, continues to use when confronted by the unveiled woman. And his bow emulated Sarrasco’s in lithe defer- ence. “Signorinar”’ he said. ‘‘A very surpris- ing pleasure this. You are actually daring the discomforts of our wilds in the pursuit of—art?”? He made a little inquiring ges- ture toward the deserted easel. A flush deepened on her cheek. In spite of herself she half glanced in Agnew’s direc- tion. ‘““No, Excellency,” she smiled. ‘Art is my distraction. 1 came to inform myself— to be educated. To us in America the Balkan is a sealed book. Now to me a seal is always a challenge. So I have come to break it.”” He lifted his hands to ex- press amazement. The Italian imitated him. “An American lady—on the Vodra!” they deprecated in chorus. “TI credit my eyes—with delight, but with difficulty,” added the Commandante. She bowed demurely—she laughed. “You overwhelm me,” she said. ‘‘How can IT answer you. By an offer of refreshment? There is raki here—in some abundance, I fear, judging by the energy displayed by some of our workmen an evening back. Is a knife-point the only permissible conclu- sion to an argument in your dominions, Excellency?” = The smile on Esuli’s lips hardened. {‘At your dictation, signorina,”’ he said slowly, “T will make any form of argument unpop- ular among these—cattle! Is it worth your concern to point out to me the ring- leaders?” She looked a little startled. “I had no thought of being serious,” she protested, “except in my invitation. And we are not limited to raki. There is even whisky among our resources. And wine.” ) C© MICLOOKS CO