Argosy All-Story Weekly, Vol. 146 No. 4 — page 35: what you’re looking at

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

DOWN THE COAST OF BARBARY. The consul frowned, but Dr. Shaw dis- regarded the frown and spoke curtly. “ Yes.” “Then go to Morocco with me, by way of Tlemcen and the caravan route.” Mulai Ali spoke rapidly, excitedly. “The Dey will provide an escort. I must go to Arzew in disguise, and shall meet you there. Hassan Bey, who commands at Arzew, is my friend. “You are Christians; I can trust you. Once at Udjde, over the Moroccan frontier, I am safe. The Governor of Udjde is my kinsman and supports me. All Morocco will rise for me; the Sherif Abdallah is much hated. Speak quickly! Will you go or not?”’ “T will go, for one,”’ spoke up Spence eagerly. “ Why do you wish our com- pany?” “* Because you are true men. And through you I can make treaties with England; also, I need your advice and help. If I win, Rip- perda is overthrown!” “J will go,” sail Dr. Shaw quietly. “Good! To-morrow the Dey will give you safe conduct, and an escort of Spahis. I meet you at Arzew, if Allah wills! And bring the casket, and beware of a black burnoose.” With a brief salute he turned and was gone in haste. The three men regarded one another in silence. Spence was smiling, the consul frowned gravely, Dr. Shaw was lost in ab- stracted thought. “ Zounds!” said Holden suddenly. “ This is madness! Why do you go, gentle- men?” “ Because I want to see the ruins and Roman remains in the west,” said Dr. Shaw. “‘T shall find much of interest. We must carefully compare Ptolemy and Abulfeda as we journey, Patrick! Besides, we go the errands of Christendom, if you want a bet- ter reason.” “ And I,” said Spence with a shrug, “ be- cause my fortune drifts that way, Mr. Hol- den. I am curious about that astrologer of Arzew; and I like this Moor! He is a real ” j The consul laughed shortly. ‘“ Have your 505 you—this Ripperda will menace all Europe if he be not pulled down!” Spence, remembering that dark and tor- mented man, could well agree with such an assertion. The situation seethed with intrigue. Rip- perda was the actual ruler of Morocco. The Dey of Algiers, now allied with him, was furtively helping Mulai Ali. The dey was a sly fex. The Spaniards were tightly besieged in Oran. At sea, the Moorish fleet was supreme, under Admiral Perez. This renegade Carthusian, Ripperda’s one actual friend in the world, was a great seaman. It was typical of Ripperda that he should first intrigue to put Mulai Ali on the throne, then should turn against his puppet. Such madness had already ruined Ripperda in two countries. With morning the three men went into the city. Holden and Shaw set off to interview the dey. Patrick Spence and a consulate guard went to the market to buy native garments. Not far from the slave mart Spence halted before an open-fronted shop where an old Moor sat smoking a water pipe. Down the narrow street surged natives, soldiers, arrogant Spahis and Janissaries, horses and camel, shouting and disputing. The clamor was deafening. Spence let the negro bar- gain for the clothes he wanted. Suddenly he became aware of a man in a black burnoose watching him. Remember- ing the warning of Mulai Ali, he turned; but the man was gone. Spence had a memory of a twisted face that was marked by a purplish birthmark about the right eye. ‘ Devil take it!”’ muttered Spence. “ I'll suspect every black burnoose, unless I get myself in hand! That fellow was only staring at a Christian.” Upon returning to the consulate he had come within a few hundred feet of his des- tination; he was passing a low-arched door- way carved with the hand which spells the name of Allah. From the shadowed depths two figures darted out, plunged bodily upon him. Spence fell backward, the two men on top of him; as he fell, he th twisted face with the<eiiiikaleyers) <S.cevii)