Mara, Daughter of the Nile by Eloise Jarvis McGraw Read Free Book Online Page A

would have given much to know. He tended to grow preoccupied, almost remote; now and then she caught him studying her with an expression she could not understand at all. But he could side-step her deftest question with an ease that exasperated as much as it amused her.
    She soon shrugged aside her curiosity. What did it matter? She liked his company, she loved to lean beside him at the gunwale listening to his stories of the ancient ones, while the sails slapped overhead and the sparkling water threw little gold reflections over his dark face. And when he chose to be alone she could always amuse herself otherwise.
    It was interesting to wonder about the captain, for instance. Mara had known plenty of rivermen in her seventeen years, but never one so nervous. When she and Sheftu were together, he was always somewhere in the background, standing about aimlessly or absorbed in unconvincing duties which invariably happened to lead him within watching distance of his passengers. She wondered if he feared they planned to swim ashore with some of his precious cargo. It was curious; he seemed always to be seeking a chance to find Sheftu alone, yet each time such an opportunity arose, he shied off as if he could not make up his mind to seize it.
    One afternoon, to Mara’s surprise, he sought her out privately. She was sitting, alone and somewhat sulky, in the shade cast by the cabin amidships. There remained only two days before they reached Abydos, yet Sheftu had elected to spend the morning in solitary preoccupation down by the stern sweeps. When Nekonkh strolled toward her to inquire after her health, she answered him almost irritably.
    “I’m well enough, I suppose.”
    “But somewhat out of temper? Where is that constant companion of yours?”
    “
Ast!
He’s no company today! He broods, Captain. I wonder what about.”
    “Aye, so do I wonder!” grunted Nekonkh, so vehemently that it surprised her. He hesitated, glancing at the crew members working here and there around them, then jerked his head toward the cabin. “Suppose I try your skill at a game of draughts. I’ve a board and counters in there somewhere.”
    “As you like.” Puzzled, Mara followed him into the cabin, which was dim and cool after the glare of sun on deck. “You’re well acquainted with Sheftu, Captain? I thought he was a stranger to you, like myself.”
    “Aye, he is, he is!” said Nekonkh hastily—too hastily, she thought. “Here, which will you have, girl, the red or the black?”
    He set the game on the table—it was a narrow wooden box on graceful legs, checkered with carved squares on its upper surface, and with a drawer beneath in which the “dogs” or counters were stored. Mara was busy arranging the red ones on her side of the board when the captain spoke again, his voice gruff.
    “To tell the truth, it’s you I wonder about, little one! I trust you know what you’re doing, taking up with a chance acquaintance on a river boat. He may be a rogue.”
    Mara looked up in surprise. “Rogues are nothing new in my life, Captain. But I see no reason to think Sheftu one.”
    “Don’t you, by all the gods! Come, what do you know of him?”
    “Nothing,” she admitted, “save what he wants me to know. But then he knows nothing of me, either.”
    “Aye, true enough! Nor do I, for that matter. Perhaps it’s he I should be warning!” Irritably Nekonkh shoved a dog into the next square and sat back, scowling out into the sunshine.
    Now I’ve offended him, she thought in amusement. Butgreat Amon! He acts as if I were some sheltered maid who’d never ventured from her father’s court!
    Automatically she countered his move, wondering what other game he might be playing. It had been a long day indeed since anyone had troubled about her welfare. That this burly riverman should do so struck her as curious indeed—so curious that she never thought of believing it. Was he going to say what he meant?
    “Your move, Captain,” she