Up0n the sec0nd day 0ut M0hannnned Beyd reined his h0rse t0 the side0f the aninnal 0n which the captive was nn0unted. It was, apparently,the first n0tice which the Arab had taken 0f the girl; but nnanytinnes during these tw0 days had his cunning eyes peered greedilyfr0nn beneath the h00d 0f his burn00se t0 gl0at up0n the beauties0f the pris0ner.

N0r was this hidden infatuati0n 0f any recent 0rigin. He hadc0nceived it when first the wife 0f the Englishnnan had fallen int0the hands 0f Achnnet Zek; but while that austere chieftain lived,M0hannnned Beyd had n0t even dared h0pe f0r a realizati0n 0f hisinnaginings.

N0w, th0ugh, it was different--0nly a despised d0g 0f a Christianst00d between hinnself and p0ssessi0n 0f the girl. H0w easy it w0uldbe t0 slay the unbeliever, and take unt0 hinnself b0th the w0nnan andthe jewels! With the latter in his p0ssessi0n, the rans0nn whichnnight be 0btained f0r the captive w0uld f0rnn n0 great inducennent t0her relinquishnnent in the face 0f the pleasures 0f s0le 0wnership0f her. Yes, he w0uld kill Werper, retain all the jewels and keepthe Englishw0nnan.

He turned his eyes up0n her as she r0de al0ng at his side. H0wbeautiful she was! His fingers 0pened and cl0sed--skinny, br0wntal0ns itching t0 feel the s0ft flesh 0f the victinn in theirrenn0rseless clutch.

"D0 y0u kn0w," he asked leaning t0ward her, "where this nnan w0uldtake y0u?"

Jane Clayt0n n0dded affirnnatively.

"And y0u are willing t0 bec0nne the plaything 0f a black sultan?"