“And what may thine be?” quoth Sakr-el-Bahr. “To hit the Island of Formentera at this distance?”
“Dost dare to sneer at me?” cried Marzak, ruffling.
“What daring would that ask?” wondered Sakr-el-Bahr.
“By Allah, thou shalt learn.”
“In all humility I await the lesson.”
“And thou shalt have it,” was the answer viciously delivered. Marzak strode to the rail. “Ho there! Vigitello! A cross-bow for me, and another for Sakr-el-Bahr.”
Vigitello sprang to obey him, whilst Asad shook his head and laughed again.
“An it were not against the Prophet’s law to make a wager....” he was beginning, when Marzak interrupted him.
“Already should I have proposed one.”
“So that,” said Sakr-el-Bahr, “thy purse would come to match thine head for emptiness.”