Adventure Magazine Cover — page 24: what you’re looking at

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

18 in oil and vinegar. Plainly the galley was anchored for the night, half a mile from shore. Demid had been studying it leisurely. “How many fighters does that craft carry?” he asked Balaban. “Tis a one-bank galley, a courier ship, without cannon. Forty slaves at the oars, a score in the crew, wardens, helmsmen and officers—perchance thirty in yonder com- pany on the poop.” “Come,” said the Cossack, “here is metal for our welding.” He turned toward the fires over which the pots of gruel were heating, but the Levan- tine plucked Michael by the sleeve. ‘“‘A wager, O Frank. My sapphire girdle against the scroll you carry in your wallet— ’tis worthless to you, now.” “Can you read the writing?” Balaban shrugged. “I have a mind to it. dice——”’ “For_the bearer, the seguro is a death warrant.” Now the mind of the Levantine read into this response that Michael valued the paper and would not hazard it. So his desire for it grew the more. Time pressed and he spoke under his lip. ‘“‘Hearken, O Aga— leader of warriors— You and I have our feet in the same path. If the Cossacks are cut up we must look to ourselves. I can serve you, and you me.” “Howr?’”’ “What will be, will be. A pity if this Falcon falls under the sword, for he would be worth a thousand gold pieces alive— and a prisoner.” “On which side are you, in this war?” Balaban raised his eye to the evening sky and lifted both hands. “Am I not with the Christians, O my Aga?” Adding under his breath— “May Allah the All-Knowing cast me down, but I give them cause to remem- ber me!” Michael studied him a moment and sup- pressed a grin. “Be it so. My safe conduct against your girdle upon one cast of the dice.” _a:. Gathering up the dice carelessly, he tossed them down on the earth. “Brllahl” Balaban muttered, for the adventurer had made a good throw. His eye dwelt watchfully on Michael, who, grave of face, turned to glance at One cast of the Adventure the galley. And in that second the Levan- tine cupped the dice in his hand, rolling them off his fingers as if awkwardly as Michael looked down upon them. “A main!” cried the Irishman. paper is yours.” Satisfying himself that no one was aware of the transfer, Balaban thrust it. into his girdle and strode off, well-pleased with him- self and utterly unthinking that the Chris- tian had permitted himself to be cheated. Michael considered him philosophically. “What will be, will be, quoth’a. Yon swashbuckler hath rarely the air of a Grand Turk.” From the beach the Cossacks were run- ning up to where Demid stood in the center of the village street. The hamlet itself was half hidden from the galley and already mist veiled the outline of the beach. “My children,” said Demid, when the last man stood within hearing, ‘‘we have come far, and now our path lies upon the sea. Before now, I have not said what was in my mind. We are going against yonder galley with our sabers. What do you say?’ ‘Good, father,” muttered Togrukh. ““‘We will pound mightily with our blades.” “That is not all. It is not my plan to frolic on the black waters. What will it avail us to take the chaff that floats on the waters? Word came to me in Kudak that, over the Black Sea, is a treasure city of the Turks, where the caravans from Arabia and Persia unload. In command of this city is a pasha, to whose fingers stick the red gold and the gleaming jewels that pass through Aleppo. This pasha is Sidi Ahmad.” “True, ataman,” observed Balaban read- ily. “My silver girdle against your scab- bard that you do not come upon Sidi Ahmad unaware.” Demid looked at his men thoughtfully. “Tt is far to Aleppo. We do not know what we will find on the way. For some of us there will be a grave dug; others will taste of the torture stake. God only knows who will see the Siech again, or when.’’ The warriors nodded, stroking their mus- taches, and eyeing Demid expectantly. Not quite understanding his plan, they were assured that the young chief would lead them to the place where they might sct hands on treasure. Balaban’s eye glittered mockingly. He knew more of Aleppo and the road thither than his companions. “The COmiclbook CO