Adventure stories; Inheritance and succession -- Fiction; Kidnapping -- Fiction; Love stories
Three figures sat upon the cushions at the stern, and Muhammed, as he
watched them from under the hood of his _haik_, examined one of them
with startled intensity. Miss Van Arlen he recognized. Aylmer, whose
face was partially disguised by bandages, he debated over for a moment.
But this third? This gray-clad elder? This was not the owner of _The
Morning Star_. It was--whom?
Surprise as much as relief erased the wrinkles from the watcher's face
as the unknown stepped ashore, turned to assist his companion, and
disclosed the features of the Moor's former employer, Mr. Miller.
Muhammed emphasized his amazement with an oath. "One God!" he swore, and
for a moment hesitated. Then, as the gray-clad man strolled past him,
talking, the Moor pushed back the _haik_ which shadowed his face and met
the other's glance squarely.
Mr. Miller made no sign.
Muhammed dropped back into the shadow of the quayside booths, and
sauntered carelessly up the citadel ramp. The three preceded him. At the
top of the ramp a causeway leads to the drawbridge which spans the fort
ditch. Mr. Miller had apparently eyes for nothing but his fair
companion. He failed to notice, at any rate, the dilapidated state of
the iron rails which fence the bridge. The dust cloak he was carrying
caught in a jagged piece of iron and was most unfortunately torn. A
sudden appreciative gleam burned in Muhammed's eyes as he noted the
incident. The _haik_ hood concealed a smile.
He could not hear, but he could see the expressive pantomime which was
accompanying Mr. Miller's apologies. He motioned his companions forward
towards the bridge and the dark entrance through the casemate into the
citadel. As for himself, his finger explained, he would return to the
town and get the damage repaired. After a minute's discussion, matters
followed the course indicated. Aylmer and Miss Van Arlen passed on--to
seek the government offices, as Muhammed told himself, to interview the
head, no doubt, of the military police.
The Moor slid forward deferentially as the gray figure turned.
"I can direct the Sidi to a _sastre_ of incredible skill," he explained.
"The Sidi has no need to return to the town if he desires such an one.
He is to be found within a hundred paces, if the Sidi so will."
Mr. Miller made an affable gesture of acquiescence.
"You are certainly quick to seize a business opportunity, my friend," he
said amiably. "Lead on."
Two minutes later the two stood behind Yakoob's well-barred door, and
the hearthstone had been raised. Landon offered his visitor a tribute of
surprise tinged with humor.
"I understood, my friend," he said, as he took the other's hand, "that
the mail came in from Gibraltar to-morrow. For you, it seems, the age of
miracles is not past?"
"I hope I am an alert servant of opportunity," said Miller. "I got your
letter yesterday morning."
"That does not entirely explain your presence in Melilla to-day."
Miller nodded.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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