QUEEN OF THE BLACK COAST
By Robert E. Howard
[Transcriber's Note: This etext was first published in Weird Tales May1934. Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the U.S.copyright on this publication was renewed.]
1 Conan Joins the Pirates
That autumn paints the leaves with somber fire;
Believe I held my heart inviolate
To lavish on one man my hot desire.
Hoofs drummed down the street that sloped to the wharfs. The folk thatyelled and scattered had only a fleeting glimpse of a mailed figure on ablack stallion, a wide scarlet cloak flowing out on the wind. Far up thestreet came the shout and clatter of pursuit, but the horseman did notlook back. He swept out onto the wharfs and jerked the plunging stallionback on its haunches at the very lip of the pier. Seamen gaped up athim, as they stood to the sweep and striped sail of a high-prowed,broad-waisted galley. The master, sturdy and black-bearded, stood in thebows, easing her away from the piles with a boat-hook. He yelled angrilyas the horseman sprang from the saddle and with a long leap landedsquarely on the mid-deck.
'Who invited you aboard?'
'Get under way!' roared the intruder with a fierce gesture thatspattered red drops from his broadsword.
'But we're bound for the coasts of Kush!' expostulated the master.
'Then I'm for Kush! Push off, I tell you!' The other cast a quick glanceup the street, along which a squad of horsemen were galloping; farbehind them toiled a group of archers, crossbows on their shoulders.
'Can you pay for your passage?' demanded the master.
'I pay my way with steel!' roared the man in armor, brandishing thegreat sword that glittered bluely in the sun. 'By Crom, man, if youdon't get under way, I'll drench this galley in the blood of its crew!'
The shipmaster was a good judge of men. One glance at the dark scarredface of the swordsman, hardened with passion, and he shouted a quickorder, thrusting strongly against the piles. The galley wallowed outinto clear water, the oars began to clack rhythmically; then a puff ofwind filled the shimmering sail, the light ship heeled to the gust, thentook her course like a swan, gathering headway as she skimmed along.
On the wharfs the riders were shaking their swords and shouting threatsand commands that the ship put about, and yelling for the bowmen tohasten before the craft was out of arbalest range.
'Let them rave,' grinned the swordsman hardily. 'Do you keep her on hercourse, master steersman.'
The master descended from the small deck between the bows, made his waybetween the rows of oarsmen, and mounted the mid-deck. The strangerstood there with his back to the mast, eyes narrowed alertly, swordready. The shipman eyed him steadily, careful not to make any movetoward the long knife in his belt. He saw a tall powerfully built figurein a black scale-mail hauberk, burnished greaves and a blue-steel helmetfrom which jutted bull's horns highly polished. From the mailedshoulders fell the scarlet cloak, blowing in the sea-wind. A broadshagreen belt with a golden buckle held the scabbard of the broadswordhe bore. Under the horned helmet a square-cut black mane contrasted withsmoldering blue eyes.
'If we must travel together,' said the master, 'we