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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at <a href = "http://www.gutenberg.org">www.gutenberg.org</a></pre> +<p>Title: The Days of Mohammed</p> +<p>Author: Anna May Wilson</p> +<p>Release Date: December 31, 2005 [eBook #17435]</p> +<p>Language: English</p> +<p>Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1</p> +<p>***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE DAYS OF MOHAMMED***</p> +<p> </p> +<h3>E-text prepared by Marilynda Fraser-Cunliffe, Amy Cunningham,<br /> + and the Project Gutenberg Online Distributed Proofreading Team<br /> + (http://www.pgdp.net/)</h3> +<p> </p> +<hr class="full" /> +<p> </p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_1" id="Page_1">[1]</a></span></p> +<h1><span class="smcap">The Days of Mohammed.</span></h1> + +<h3><i>By ANNA MAY WILSON.</i></h3> +<p> </p> +<p> </p> +<p> </p> + +<p class="center">David C. Cook Publishing Company, Elgin, <ins class="correction" title="Transcriber's Note: period missing in original">Ill.</ins>, and 36 Washington St., Chicago.</p> + +<p class="center">Copyright, 1897, by David <ins class="correction" title="Transcriber's Note: period missing in original">C.</ins> Cook Publishing Company.</p> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><ins class="correction" title="Table of Contents added by transcriber">CONTENTS</ins></h2> + + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="2" summary=""> +<tr><td align='right'>Chapter</td><td></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'></td><td align='left'><a href="#PREFACE">PREFACE.</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'></td><td align='left'><a href="#PRECEDING_EVENTS_SUMMARY">PRECEDING EVENTS—SUMMARY.</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right' valign='top'>I.</td><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_I">YUSUF BEGINS HIS SEARCH FOR TRUTH.</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right' valign='top'>II.</td><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_II">A BEDOUIN ENCAMPMENT.</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right' valign='top'>III.</td><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_III">YUSUF MEETS AMZI, THE MECCAN.</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right' valign='top'>IV.</td><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_IV">WHEREIN YUSUF ENCOUNTERS A SAND-STORM IN THE DESERT, AND HAS SOMEWHAT OF AN EXPERIENCE WITH THE LITTLE DERVISH.</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right' valign='top'>V.</td><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_V">NATHAN THE JEW.</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right' valign='top'>VI.</td><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_VI">YUSUF'S FIRST MEETING WITH MOHAMMED.</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right' valign='top'>VII.</td><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_VII">YUSUF STUDIES THE SCRIPTURES.—CONNECTING EVENTS.</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right' valign='top'>VIII.</td><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_VIII">WHEREIN IS TOLD THE STORY OF NATHAN'S LIBERATION.</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right' valign='top'>IX.</td><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_IX">AMZI AT MEDINA.</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right' valign='top'>X.</td><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_X">MOHAMMED'S ENTRANCE INTO MEDINA.</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right' valign='top'>XI.</td><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_XI">MOHAMMED BECOMES INTOLERANT.—WAR.</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right' valign='top'>XII.</td><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_XII">WHEREIN THE BEDOUIN YOUTH KEDAR BECOMES A MOSLEM.</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right' valign='top'>XIII.</td><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_XIII">ABU SOFIAN'S CARAVAN.</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right' valign='top'>XIV.</td><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_XIV">THE BATTLE OF BEDR.</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right' valign='top'>XV.</td><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_XV">THE PERSECUTION BEGINS.</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right' valign='top'>XVI.</td><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_XVI">AMZI FINALLY REJECTS MOHAMMED.</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right' valign='top'>XVII.</td><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_XVII">THE FATE OF DUMAH.</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right' valign='top'>XVIII.</td><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_XVIII">A SCENE IN PALESTINE.</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right' valign='top'>XIX.</td><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_XIX">THE BATTLE OF OHOD.</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right' valign='top'>XX.</td><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_XX">THE BATTLE OF THE DITCH.</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right' valign='top'>XXI.</td><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_XXI">THE FAMILY OF ASRU.</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right' valign='top'>XXII.</td><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_XXII">MANASSEH AND ASRU AT KHAIBAR.</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right' valign='top'>XXIII.</td><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_XXIII">MOHAMMED'S PILGRIMAGE.</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right' valign='top'>XXIV.</td><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_XXIV">THE SIEGE OF KHAIBAR.—KEDAR.</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right' valign='top'>XXV.</td><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_XXV">MANASSEH AND KEDAR AT MECCA.</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right' valign='top'>XXVI.</td><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_XXVI">INTERVENING EVENTS.</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right' valign='top'>XXVII.</td><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_XXVII">THE TRIUMPHANT ENTRANCE INTO MECCA.</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right' valign='top'>XXVIII.</td><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_XXVIII">KEDAR AT THE CAABA.</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right' valign='top'>XXIX.</td><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_XXIX">KEDAR RETURNS TO HIS HOME.</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right' valign='top'>XXX.</td><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_XXX">THE DEATH OF MOHAMMED.</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right' valign='top'>XXXI.</td><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_XXXI">THE NEW HOME.</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right' valign='top'>XXXII.</td><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_XXXII">A WEDDING IN PALESTINE.</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right' valign='top'>XXXIII.</td><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_XXXIII">THE FAREWELL.</a></td></tr> +</table></div> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="PREFACE" id="PREFACE"></a>PREFACE.</h2> + + +<p>In "The Days of Mohammed," one aim of +the author has been to bring out the fact +that it is possible to begin the heaven-life on +earth. It is hoped that a few helpful +thoughts as to the means of attaining this +life may be exemplified in the career of the +various characters depicted.</p> + +<p>An attempt has been made, by constant +reference to the best works on Mohammed +and Arabia, to render the historical basis +strictly correct. Especial indebtedness is acknowledged +to the writings of Irving, +Burton, and the Rev. Geo. Bush; also to the +travels of Burckhardt, Joseph Pitts, Ludovico +Bartema and Giovanni Finati, each of +whom undertook a pilgrimage to the cities +of Medina and Mecca; also to the excellent +synopsis of the life and times of Mohammed +as given by Prof. Max Müller in the introduction +to Palmer's translation of the Koran.</p> + +<p>As the tiny pebble cast into the water +sends its circling wavelets to the distant +shore, so this little book is cast forth upon +the world, in the hope that it may exert some +influence in bringing hope and comfort to +some weary heart, and that, in helping someone +to attain a clearer conception of Divine +love and companionship, it may, if in never +so insignificant a degree, perhaps help on to +that time when all shall</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Trust the Hand of Light will lead the people,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Till the thunders pass, the spectres vanish,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And the Light is Victor, and the darkness<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Dawns into the Jubilee of the Ages."<br /></span> +</div></div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="PRECEDING_EVENTS_SUMMARY" id="PRECEDING_EVENTS_SUMMARY"></a>PRECEDING EVENTS—SUMMARY.</h2> + + +<p>Yusuf, a Guebre priest, a man of intensely +religious temperament, and one of those +whose duty it is to keep alive the sacred fire +of the Persian temple, has long sought for a +more heart-satisfying religion than that +afforded to him by the doctrines of his country. +Though a man of kindliest disposition, +yet so benighted he is that, led on by a +deep study of the mysteries of Magian and +Sabæan rites, he has been induced to offer, +in human sacrifice, Imri, the little granddaughter +of Ama, an aged Persian woman, +and daughter of an Arab, Uzza, who, though +married to a Persian, lives at Oman with +his wife, and knows nothing of the sacrifice +until it is over.</p> + +<p>The death of the child, though beneath his +own hand, immediately strikes horror to the +heart of the priest. His whole soul revolts +against the inhumanity of the act, which has +not brought to him or Ama the blessing he +had hoped for, and he rebels against the religion +which has, though ever so rarely, permitted +the exercise of such an atrocious rite. +He becomes more than ever dissatisfied with +the vagueness of his belief. He cannot find +the rest which he desires; the Zendavesta of +Zoroaster can no longer satisfy his heart's +longing; his country-people are sunk in idolatry, +and, instead of worshiping the God of +whom the priests have a vague conception, +persist in bowing down before the symbols<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_2" id="Page_2">[2]</a></span> +themselves, discerning naught but the objects—the +sun, moon, stars, fire—light, all in +all.</p> + +<p>Yusuf, indeed, has a clearer idea of God; +but he worships him from afar off, and looks +upon him as a God of wrath and judgment +rather than as the Father of love and mercy. +In his new spiritual agitation he conceives +the idea of a closer relation with the Lord +of the universe; his whole soul calls out for +a vivid realization of God, and he casts +about for light in his trouble.</p> + +<p>From a passing stranger, traveling in +Persia—a descendant of those Sabæan Persians +who at an early age obtained a footing +in Arabia, and whose influence was, for a +time, so strongly marked through the whole +district known as the Nejd, and even down +into Yemen, Arabia-Felix,—Yusuf has +learned of a new and strange religion held +by the people of the great peninsula. His +whole being calls for relief from the doubts +which harass him. He is rich and he decides +to proceed at once towards the west and to +search the world, if necessary,—not, as did +Sir Galahad and the knights of King +Arthur's Table, in quest of the Holy Grail, +but in search of the scarcely less effulgent +radiance of the beams of Truth and +Love.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h1><span class="smcap">The Days of Mohammed.</span></h1> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_I" id="CHAPTER_I"></a>CHAPTER I.</h2> + +<h3>YUSUF BEGINS HIS SEARCH FOR TRUTH.</h3> + + +<div class="chpoem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"O when shall all my wanderings end,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And all my steps to Thee-ward tend!"<br /></span> +<br /></div></div> + + +<p><span class="dropcap002"><span class="dropcap">"P</span></span>eace, oh peace! +that thy light +wings might now +rest upon me! +Truth, that thou +mightest shine in upon +my soul, making all +light where now is +darkness! Ye spirits +that dwell in yon bright +orbs far above me, ye +that alone are privileged to bow before the +Great Creator of the universe, ye that alone +may address yourselves to the Great Omnipotent +Spirit with impunity, intercede for +me, I beseech you! Bow before that Great +Sovereign of all wisdom and light, whom we +worship through these vague symbols of fire +and brightness; plead with him before +whom I dare not come, in my behalf. Beseech +of him, if he will condescend to notice +his most humble priest, that he may lead +him into light effulgent, into all truth, and +that he may clear from his soul these vapors +of doubt which now press upon him in blackest +gloom and rack his soul with torment. If +I sin in doubting thus, beseech him to forgive +me and to lead me to a conception of +him as he is. Ye that are his ministers, from +your starry spheres guide me! Whether +through darkness, thorns, or stony ways, +guide me; I shall not falter if I may see the +light at last! Oh, grant me peace!"</p> + +<p>Thus prayed Yusuf, the Magian priest. He +paused. No sound passed from his lips, but +he still stood with upraised arms, gazing into +the intense depths of the Persian sky, purple, +and flecked with golden stars, the "forget-me-nots +of the angels."</p> + +<p>His priestly vestments were dazzlingly +white, and upon his shoulders were fixed +two snowy wings that swept downward to +the ground. His black beard descended far +over his breast, and from the eyes above +shone forth the glow of a soul yearning towards +the infinite unknown, whose all is +God.</p> + +<p>Behind him, near the altar of the rounded +tower,—round in the similitude of the orbs of +light, the sun, moon, and stars,—danced the +sacred fire, whose flames were said to have +burned unceasingly for nearly one thousand +years. The fiery wreaths leaped upwards toward +the same purple sky, as if pointing +with long, red fingers, in mockery of the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_3" id="Page_3">[3]</a></span> +priest's devotion; and the ruddy glare, +falling upon him as he stood so still there, +enveloped him with a halo of light. It +gleamed upon his head, upon his uplifted +hands, upon the curves of the wings on his +shoulders, silhouetting him against the darkness, +and lighting his white habiliments until, +all motionless as he was, he seemed like +a marble statue dazzlingly radiant in the +light of one crimson gleam from a sinking +sun.</p> + +<p>And so he stood, heeding it not, till the +moon rose, soft and full; the mountain-tops +shone with a rim of silver, the valleys far +below the temple looked deeper in the shade, +and the fire burned low.</p> + +<p>Rapt and more rapt grew the face of the +priest. Surely the struggle of his soul was +being answered, and in his nearness to Nature, +he was getting a faint, far-off gleam of +the true nature of Nature's God. His glance +fell to the changing landscape below; his +arms were extended as if in benediction; and +his lips moved in a low and passionate farewell +to his native land. Then he turned.</p> + +<p>The fire burned low on the altar.</p> + +<p>"Sacred symbol, whose beams have no +power to warm my chilled heart, I bid you a +long farewell! They will say that Yusuf +is faithless, a false priest. They will mayhap +follow him to slay him. And they will +bow again to yon image, and defile thine +altars again with infants' blood, not discerning +the true God. Yet he must be approachable. +I feel it! I know it! O Great Spirit, +reveal Thyself unto Yusuf! Reveal Thyself +unto Persia! Great Spirit, guide me!"</p> + +<p>For the first time, Yusuf thus addressed a +prayer direct to the Deity, and he did so in +fear and trembling.</p> + +<p>A faint gleam shone feebly amid the ashes +of the now blackening altar. It flared up +for an instant, then fell, and the sacred fire +of the Guebre temple was dead.</p> + +<p>"The embers die!" cried the priest. "Yea, +mockery of the Divine, die in thine ashes!"</p> + +<p>He waited no longer, but strode with swift +step down the mountain, and into the shade +of the valley. Reaching, at last, a cave in +the side of a great rock, he entered, and +stripped himself of his priestly garments. +Then, drawing from a recess the garb of an +ordinary traveler, he dressed himself +quickly, rolled his white robes into a ball, +and plunged farther into the cave. In the +darkness the rush of falling water warned +him that an abyss was near. Dropping on +his knees, he crept carefully forward until +his hand rested on the jagged edge of a ledge +of rock. Beside him the water fell into a +yawning gulf. Darkness darker than blackest +night was about him, and, in its cover, he +cast the robes into the abyss below, then retraced +his way, and plunged once more into +the moonlight, a Persian traveler wearing +the customary loose trousers, a kufiyah on +his head, and bearing a long staff in his +hand.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_II" id="CHAPTER_II"></a>CHAPTER II.</h2> + +<h3>A BEDOUIN ENCAMPMENT.</h3> + +<div class="chpoem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i1">"The cares that infest the day<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Shall fold their tents, like the Arabs,<br /></span> +<span class="i1">And as silently steal away."<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p class="cite">—<i>Longfellow.</i><br /></p> + + +<p><span class="dropcap003"><span class="dropcap">M</span></span>any months after +the departure of +Yusuf from Persia +a solitary rider on +a swift dromedary +reached the extreme +northern +boundary of El +Hejaz, the province that stretches over a +considerable portion of western Arabia. His +face was brown like leather from exposure, +and his clothes were worn and travel-stained, +yet it scarcely required a second +glance to recognize the glittering eyes of the +Magian priest.</p> + +<p>It seemed as if the excitement of danger +and the long days of toil and privation had +at last begun to tell upon his iron frame. +His eye, accustomed by the fear of robbers +to dart its dark glances restlessly, was less +keen than usual; his head was drooped +downward upon his breast, and his whole attitude +betokened bodily fatigue. His camel, +too, went less swiftly, and picked its way,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_4" id="Page_4">[4]</a></span> +with low, plaintive moans, over the rough +and precipitous path which led into a wild +and weird glen.</p> + +<p>It was evening, and the shadows fell in +fantastic streaks and blotches across the +arid valley, through whose barren soil huge, +detached rocks of various-colored sandstone +rose in eerie, irregular masses, veritable +castles of genii of the uncanny spot.</p> + +<p>Yusuf looked uneasily around, but neither +sight nor sound of life was near, and he +again allowed his faithful beast to slacken +its pace and crop a few leaves of the coarse +camel-thorn, the only sign of vegetation in +the deserted place.</p> + +<p>A few trees, however, could be seen in the +distance, and he urged his camel towards +them in the hope of finding some water, and +some dates for food. Reaching the spot, he +found that a stagnant pool lay below, but +there were no dates on the trees, and the +water was brackish. A couple of red-legged +partridges fluttered off, cackling loudly as +they went. He would fain have had them +for food, but their presence seemed like company +to the poor wanderer, and he did not +attempt to secure them; so, throwing himself +at full length on the ground, he flung his +arms across his eyes to shield them from the +white glare of the sky.</p> + +<p>Suddenly a step sounded near. Yusuf +started to his feet and grasped his scimitar, +but he was instantly beset by half a dozen +wild Arabs, who dashed upon him, screaming +their wild Arabian jargon, and waving +their short swords over their heads.</p> + +<p>Blows fell thick and fast. Yusuf had a +dazed consciousness of seeing the swarthy, +wrinkled visages and gleaming teeth of his +opponents darting in confusion before him, +of hacking desperately, and of receiving +blows on the head; then a sudden gush of +blood from a wound on his forehead blinded +him, and he fell.</p> + +<p>All seemed over. But a shout sounded +close at hand. Several Arabs, splendidly +mounted on nimble Arabian horses, and +waving their long, tufted spears, appeared +on the scene. The Bedouin robbers fled precipitately, +and Yusuf's first sensation was +that of being gently raised, and of feeling +water from the pool dashed upon his face.</p> + +<p>The priest had not been severely wounded, +and soon recovered enough to proceed with +the party which had rendered him such +timely aid.</p> + +<p>An hour's ride brought them to the head of +another and more fertile glen or wady, +through which a mountain stream wended +its way between two bands of tolerably good +pasturage. A full moon in all its brilliancy +was just rising. Its cold, clear light flooded +the wady, bringing out every feature of the +landscape with remarkable distinctness. At +some distance lay a group of tents, black, +and pitched in a circle, as the tents of the +Bedouins usually are. Camp-fires studded +the valley with glints of red; and the barking +of dogs and shouts of men arose on the +night air above the hoarse moanings of the +camels. Yusuf was indeed glad to see evidences +of Arab civilization, and to look forward +to the prospect of a good supper and +a friendly bed.</p> + +<p>The return of the party was now noticed +by the men of the encampment. A group of +horsemen, also armed with long spears +tufted with ostrich feathers, left the tents +and came riding swiftly and gracefully towards +their returning companions.</p> + +<p>An explanation of Yusuf's sorrowful plight +was given, and he was conducted to the tent +of the Sheikh, which was marked by being +larger than the rest, and situated in the center +of the circle, with a spear placed upright +in the ground before the door.</p> + +<p>The Sheikh himself received the stranger +at the door of his tent. He was a middle-aged +man, of tall and commanding appearance, +though the scowl habitual to the +Bedouins by reason of their constant exposure +to the sun, rested upon his face. He +wore a kufiyah, or kerchief, of red and yellow +on his head, the ends falling on his +shoulders behind in a crimson fringe. His +hair was black and greased, and his eyes, +though piercing, were not unkindly. His +person was thin and muscular, but he wore +gracefully the long abba or outer cloak, +white and embroidered, which opened in<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_5" id="Page_5">[5]</a></span> +front, disclosing an undergarment of figured +muslin, bound by a crimson sash. And there +was native grace in every movement when +he came courteously forward and saluted +Yusuf with the +"Peace be with you" +of the Arabs. He then +extended his hand to +help the traveler to +dismount, and led +him into the tent.</p> + +<p>"Friend," he said, +"a long journey and +a close acquaintance +with death are, methinks, +a good preparation +for the enjoyment +of Bedouin hospitality, +which, we +sincerely hope, shall +not be lacking in the +tents of Musa. Yet, +in truth, it seems to +us that thou art a +fool-hardy man to +tempt the dangers of +El Hejaz single-handed."</p> + +<p>"So it has proved," +returned the priest; +"but a Persian, no +more than an Arab, +will draw back at the +first scent of danger. +Yet I deplore these +delays, which but +hinder me on my way. +I had hoped long ere +this to be at the end +of my journey."</p> + +<p>"We will hear all +this later," returned +the Bedouin with +quiet dignity; "for +the present, suffice it to keep quiet and let us +wash this blood from your hair. Hither, Aswan! +Bring warm water, knave, and let the +traveler know that the Arab's heart is warm +too. Now, friend-stranger, rest upon these +cushions, and talk later, if it please you."</p> + +<p>With little enough reluctance, Yusuf lay +down upon the pile of rugs and cushions, +and, while the attendants bathed his brow, +looked somewhat curiously about him.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 299px;"> +<a href="images/p005.jpg"><img src="images/p005thum.jpg" width="299" height="400" alt="He stood with upraised arms, gazing into the depths of the sky." /></a> +<span class="caption">He stood with upraised arms, gazing into the depths of the sky.—See <a href="#Page_2">page 2</a>.</span> +</div> + +<p>By the light of a dim lamp and a torch or +two, he could see that the tent was divided +into two parts, as are all Bedouin tents, by a +central curtain. This curtain was occasionally +twitched aside far enough to reveal +a pair of black eyes, and, from the softness<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_6" id="Page_6">[6]</a></span> +of the voices which sounded from time to +time behind the folds, he surmised correctly +that this apartment belonged to the chief's +women.</p> + +<p>Several men entered the tent, all swarthy, +lithe and sinewy, with the scowling faces +and even, white teeth characteristic of the +typical Arab. They gesticulated constantly +as they talked; but Yusuf, though thoroughly +familiar with the Arabic language, paid little +attention to the conversation, giving himself +up to what seemed to him, after his adventures, +perfect rest.</p> + +<p>Presently the chief's wife entered. She +was unveiled, and her features were distinctly +Hebrew; for Lois, wife of the +Bedouin Musa, had been born a Jewess. She +was dressed in a flowing robe of black confined +by a crimson girdle. Strings of coins +and of blue opaque beads hung upon her +breast and were wound about her ankles, +and she wore a black head-dress also profusely +decorated with beads and bangles of +silver.</p> + +<p>On a platter she carried some cakes, still +smoking hot. These she placed on a low, +circular table of copper. A wooden platter +of boiled mutton was next added, along with +a caldron filled with wheat boiled in camel's +milk, and some cups of coffee.</p> + +<p>Yusuf was placed at the table, and Musa, +after sipping a little coffee, handed the cup +to him; the chief then picked out the most +savory bits of mutton, and, according to +Arabian etiquette, handed them to his guest.</p> + +<p>Several men gathered around to partake of +the banquet. They crouched or reclined on +the ground, about the low table; yet, savage-looking +though they were, not one of the +Bedouins ventured an inquisitive question or +bestowed a curious glance on the Persian.</p> + +<p>Among them, however, was a little, +inquisitive-looking man, whose quick, bird-like +movements attracted Yusuf's attention +early in the evening. His round black +eyes darted into every place and upon every +one with an insatiable curiosity, and he +talked almost incessantly. He was a Jewish +peddler who traded small wares with the +Arabs, and who was constantly somewhere +on the road between Syria and Yemen, being +liable to appear suddenly at the most mysterious +times, and in the most unlikely +places.</p> + +<p>In his way, Abraham of Joppa was a character, +and one may be pardoned for bestowing +more than a passing glance upon him. +Though permitted to eat at the table with +the rest, it was evident that the Arabs +looked upon him with some contempt. They +enjoyed listening to his stories, and to his +recital of the news which he picked up in +his travels, but they despised his inquisitiveness, +and resented the impertinence with +which he coolly addressed himself even to +the Sheikh, before whom all were more or +less reserved.</p> + +<p>The Persian was, for the present, the chief +object of the little Jew's curiosity, and as +soon as the meal was over he hastened to +form his acquaintance.</p> + +<p>Sitting down before the priest, and poising +his head on one side, he observed:</p> + +<p>"You are bound for the south, stranger?"</p> + +<p>"Even so," said Yusuf, gravely.</p> + +<p>"Whither?"</p> + +<p>"I seek for the city of the great temple."</p> + +<p>"Phut! The Caaba!" exclaimed the Jew, +with contempt. "Right well I know it, and +a fool's game they make of it, with their running, +and bowing, and kissing a bit of stone +in the wall as though 'twere the dearest +friend on earth!"</p> + +<p>"But they worship—"</p> + +<p>"A statue of our father Abraham, and one +of Ishmael, principally. A precious set of +idolaters they all are, to be sure!"</p> + +<p>Yusuf's heart sank. Was it only for this +that he had come his long and weary way, +had braved the heat of day and the untold +dangers of night? In searching for that pure +essence, the spiritual, that he craved, had he +left the idolatrous leaven at home only to +come to another form of it in Mecca?</p> + +<p>"But then," he thought, "this foolish Jew +knows not whereof he speaks: one with the +empty brain and the loose tongue of this +wanderer has not probed the depths of divine +truth."</p> + +<p>"You cannot be going to Mecca as a pil<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_7" id="Page_7">[7]</a></span>grim?" +hazarded the little man. "The +Magians and the Sabæans worship the stars, +do they not?"</p> + +<p>"Alas, yes!" said the priest. "They have +fallen away from the ancient belief. They +worship even the stars themselves, and have +set up images to them, no longer perceiving +the Great Invisible, the Infinite, who can be +approached only through the mediation of +the spirits who inhabit the starry orbs."</p> + +<p>"Methinks you will find little better in +Mecca. What are you going there for?" +asked the Jew abruptly.</p> + +<p>"I seek Truth," replied the priest quietly.</p> + +<p>"Truth!" repeated the Jew. "Aye, aye, +the Persian traveler seeks truth; Abraham, +the Jew, seeks myrrh, aloes, sweet perfumes +of Yemen, silks of India, and purple of Tyre. +Aye, so it is, and I think Abraham's commodity +is the more obtainable and the more +practical of the two. Yet they do say there +are Jews who have sought for truth likewise; +and they tell of apostles who gave up +their trade and fisheries to go on a like quest +after a leader whom many Jews will not accept."</p> + +<p>"Who were the apostles?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, Jews, of course."</p> + +<p>"Where may I find them?"</p> + +<p>"All dead, well-nigh six hundred years +ago," returned the Jew, indifferently.</p> + +<p>Yusuf's hopes sank again. He longed for +even one kindred spirit to whom he could unfold +the thoughts that harassed him.</p> + +<p>"I do not know much about what they +taught," continued the Jew. "Never read it; +it does not help in my business. But I got +a bit of manuscript the other day from +Sergius, an old Nestorian monk away up in +the Syrian hills. I am taking it down to +Mecca. I just peeped into it, but did not +read it; because it is the people who live now, +who have gold and silver for Abraham, that +interest him, not those who died centuries +ago; and the bit of writing is about such. +However, you seem to be interested that +way, so I will give it to you to read."</p> + +<p>So saying, the Jew unpacked a heavy bundle, +and, after searching for some time, upsetting +tawdry jewelry, kerchiefs, and boxes +of perfume, he at last succeeded in finding +the parchment.</p> + +<p>He handed it to the Persian. "I hope it +may be of use to you, stranger. Abraham +the Jew knows little and cares less for religion, +but he would be sorry to see you +bowing with yon heathen Arab herd at +Mecca."</p> + +<p>"Dog! Son of a dog!"</p> + +<p>It was Musa. Able to restrain his passion +no longer, he had sprung to his feet and +stood, with flashing eyes and drawn +scimitar, in resentment of the slur on his +countrymen.</p> + +<p>With a howl of fear, the little Jew sprang +through the door and disappeared in the +darkness.</p> + +<p>Musa laughed contemptuously.</p> + +<p>"Ha, lack-brained cur!" he said, "I would +not have hurt him, having broken bread +with him in mine own tent! Yet, friend Persian, +one cannot hear one's own people, and +one's own temple, the temple of his fathers, +desecrated by the tongue of a lack-brained +Jew trinket-vender."</p> + +<p>"You know, then, of this Caaba—of the +God they worship there?" asked the priest.</p> + +<p>Musa shook his head, and made a gesture +of denial.</p> + +<p>"Musa knows little of such things," he replied. +"Yet the Caaba is a name sacred in +Arabian tradition, and as such, it suits me +ill to hear it on the tongue of a craven-hearted +Jew. In sooth, the coward knave +has left his trumpery bundle all open as it is. +I warrant me he will come back for it in +good time."</p> + +<p>A dark-haired lad in a striped silk garment +here passed through the tent.</p> + +<p>"Hither, Kedar!" called the Sheikh. "Recite +for our visitor the story of Moses."</p> + +<p>The lad at once began the story, reciting it +in a sort of chant, and accompanying his +words with many a gesture. The company +listened breathlessly, now giving vent to +deep groans as the persecution of the children +of Israel was described, now bowing +their heads in reverence at the revelation of +the burning bush, now waving their arms in +excitement and starting forward with flash<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_8" id="Page_8">[8]</a></span>ing +eyes as the lad pictured the passage of +the Red Sea.</p> + +<p>Yusuf had heard some vague account of +the story before, but, with the passionate nature +of the Oriental, he was strangely moved +as he listened to the recital of how that great +God whom he longed to feel and know had +led the children of Israel through all their +wanderings and sufferings to the promised +land. He felt that he too was indeed a wanderer, +seeking the promised land. He was +but an infant in the true things of the Spirit. +Like many another who longs vainly for a +revelation of the working of the Holy Spirit, +his soul seemed to reach out hopelessly.</p> + +<p>But who can tell how tenderly the same +All-wise Creator treasures up every outreaching +of the struggling soul! Not one +throb of the loving and longing heart is lost;—and +Yusuf was yet, after trial, to rejoice +in the serene fullness of such light as may +fall upon this terrestrial side of death's dividing +line.</p> + +<p>Poor Yusuf, with all his Persian learning +and wisdom, had, through all his life, known +only a religion tinctured with idolatry. Almost +alone he had broken from that idolatry, +and realized the unity of God and his separation +from all connected with such worship; +but he was yet to understand the connection +of God with man, and to taste the fullness of +God's love through Christ. He had not +realized that the finger of God is upon the +life of every man who is willing to yield +himself to Divine direction, and that there is +thus an inseparable link between the Creator +and the creature. He was not able to say, +as said Carlyle in these later days, "A divine +decree or eternal regulation of the universe +there verily is, in regard to every conceivable +procedure and affair of man; faithfully +following this, said procedure or affair will +prosper.... Not following this,... destruction +and wreck are certain for every affair." +And what could be better? Divine love, not +divine wrath, over all! Yusuf had an idea +of divine wrath, but he failed to see—because +the presentation of the never-failing +Fatherhood of God had not yet come—the infinite +love that makes Jesus all in all to us, +heaven wherever he is, and hell wherever he +is not.</p> + +<p>Since leaving Persia, this was the first +definite opportunity he had had of listening +to Bible truth.</p> + +<p>"Kedar knows more of this than his +father," explained Musa. "'Tis his mother +who teaches him. She was a Jewess, of the +people of Jesus of Nazareth, but I fear this +roving life has caused my poor Lois to forget +much of the teaching of her people."</p> + +<p>"You speak of Jesus of Nazareth. I have +heard something of him. Tell me more."</p> + +<p>Musa shook his head slowly. "I know +nothing," he said. "But I shall call Lois. +The men have all gone from the tent, and +mayhap she can tell what you want."</p> + +<p>So saying, he entered the women's apartment, +and sent his wife to Yusuf.</p> + +<p>"You wish to know of Jesus of Nazareth?" +she said. "Alas, I am but a poor teacher. I +am unworthy even to speak his name. I +married when but a child, and since then I +have wandered far from him, for there have +been few to teach me. Yet I know that he +was in very truth the Son of God. He was +all-good. He healed the sick on this earth, +and forgave sin. Then, woe, woe to me!—he +was crucified,—crucified by my people! And +he went up to heaven; his disciples saw him +go up in the white clouds of a bright day."</p> + +<p>"Where dwells he now? Is he one of the +spirits of the stars?"</p> + +<p>"I know not. He is in heaven."</p> + +<p>"And does he stoop to take notice of us, +the children of earth?"</p> + +<p>"Alas, I know not! There was once a time +when Jesus was more than a name to me. +When I knelt, a child, beside my mother on +the grassy hills of Hebron, it seemed that +Jesus was, in some vague way, a reality to +me; but long years of forgetfulness have +passed since then. Stranger, I wish you +well. Your words have brought back to me +the desire to know more of him. If you +learn aught of him, and it ever lies in your +way to do so, come and tell us,—my Musa +and me,—that we too may learn of him."</p> + +<p>Rising to her feet, the woman saluted the +Persian and left him. Musa entered to con<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9">[9]</a></span>duct +him to the rugs set apart for his couch, +and soon all was silent about the encampment.</p> + +<p>But ere he fell asleep, Yusuf went out into +the moonlight. The night was filled with +the peculiar lightness of an Oriental night. +The moon blazed down like a globe of +molten silver, and a few large stars glowed +with scarcely secondary brilliance. In the +silvery brightness he could easily read the +manuscript given him by the Jew. It was +the story of the man with the withered hand, +whose infirmity was healed by Jesus in the +synagogue. And there, in the starlight, the +priest bowed his head, and a throng of pent-up +emotions throbbed in his breast.</p> + +<p>"Spirits of the stars, show me God. If +this Jesus be indeed the Son of God, show +me him. Give me faith, such faith as had +he of the withered hand, that I too may +stretch forth my hand and be made whole; +that I may look, and in looking, see."</p> + +<p>This was his prayer. Ah, yet, the "spirits +of the stars" were as a bridge to the gulf +which, he fancied, lay between him and Infinite +Mercy.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_III" id="CHAPTER_III"></a>CHAPTER III.</h2> + +<h3>YUSUF MEETS AMZI, THE MECCAN.</h3> + +<div class="chpoem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Mecca's pilgrims, confident of Fate,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And resolute in heart."<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p class="cite">—<i>Longfellow.</i><br /></p> + + +<p><span class="dropcap009"><span class="dropcap">T</span></span>he next morning, +Yusuf, against the +remonstrances of +Musa and his wife, prepared +to proceed on his +way. Like the Ancient +Mariner, he felt forced +to go on, "to pass like +night from land to land," +until he obtained that +which he sought.</p> + +<p>When he was almost +ready to depart, a horseman came galloping +down the valley, with the news that a caravan, +en route for Mecca, was almost in +sight, and would make a brief halt near the +stream by which Musa's tents were pitched. +Yusuf at once determined to avail himself +of the timely protection on his journey.</p> + +<p>Presently the caravan appeared, a long, +irregular line—camels bearing "shugdufs," +or covered litters; swift dromedaries, +mounted by tawny Arabs whose long Indian +shawls were twisted about their heads and +fell in fringed ends upon their backs; fiery +Arabian horses, ridden by Arabs swaying +long spears or lances in their hands; heavily-laden +pack-mules, whose leaders walked beside +them, urging them on with sticks, and +giving vent to shrill cries as they went; and +lastly a line of pilgrims, some trudging along +wearily, some riding miserable beasts, whose +ribs shone through their roughened hides, +while others rode, in the proud security of +ease and affluence, in comfortable litters, or +upon animals whose sleek and well-fed appearance +comported with the self-satisfied +air of their riders.</p> + +<p>A halt was called, and immediately all was +confusion. Tents were hurriedly thrown up; +the pack-mules were unburdened for a moment; +the horses, scenting the water, began +to neigh and sniff the air; infants, who had +been crammed into saddle-bags with their +heads out, were hauled from their close quarters; +the horsemen of Musa, still balancing +their tufted spears, dashed in and out; while +his herdsmen, anxious to keep the flocks +from mixing with the caravan, shrieked and +gesticulated, hurrying the flocks of sheep off +in noisy confusion, and urging the herds of +dromedaries on with their short, hooked +sticks. It was indeed a babel, in which +Yusuf had no part; and he once more seized +the opportunity of looking at the precious +parchment To his astonishment, he perceived +that it was addressed to "Mohammed, +son of Abdallah, son of Abdal Motalleb, +Mecca," with the subscription, "From Sergius +the Monk, Bosra."</p> + +<p>Here then, Yusuf had, in perfect innocence, +been entrapped into reading a communication +addressed to some one else, and +he smiled sarcastically as he thought of the +inquisitiveness of the little Jew who had +taken the liberty of "just peeping in."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10">[10]</a></span>It remained, now, for Yusuf to find the +Jew and to put him again in possession of +his charge. He searched for him through +the motley crowd, but in vain; then, recollecting +that the peddler's bundle had been +left behind, he sought Musa, to see if he had +heard anything of the little busybody.</p> + +<p>Musa laughed heartily. "Remember you +not that I said his trumpery would be gone +in the morning? I was no false prophet. +The man is like a weasel. When all sleep he +finds his way in and helps himself to what +he will: when all wake, no Jew is to be +seen; trumpery and all have gone, no one +knows whither."</p> + +<p>So the priest found himself responsible for +the delivery of the manuscript to this +Mohammed, of whom he had never hitherto +heard; and, knowing the contents, he was +none the less ready to carry out the trust, +hoping to find in Mohammed some one +who could tell him more of the same wondrous +story. He therefore placed the parchment +very carefully within the folds of his +garment, bade farewell to Musa and his +household, and prepared to leave with the +caravan, which had halted but a short time +on account of the remarkable coolness of the +day.</p> + +<p>"Peace be with you!" said the Sheikh; +"and if you ever need a friend, may it be +Musa's lot to stand in good stead to you. I +bid you good speed on your journey. We +have no fears for your safety now, besides +the safety of numbers, the holy month of +Ramadhan<a name="FNanchor_1_1" id="FNanchor_1_1"></a><a href="#Footnote_1_1" class="fnanchor">[1]</a> begins to-day, and even the +wildest of the Bedouin robbers usually refrain +from taking life in the holy months. +Again, Peace be with you! And remember +that the Bedouin can be a friend."</p> + +<p>Yusuf embraced the chieftain with gratitude, +and took his place in the train, which +was already moving slowly down the wady.</p> + +<p>As it often happens that in the most +numerous concourse of people one feels most +lonely, so it was now with Yusuf. There +seemed none with whom he cared to speak. +Most of the people were self-satisfied +traders busied with the care of the merchandise +which they were taking down to dispose +of at the great fair carried on during +the Ramadhan. A few were Arabs of the +Hejaz, short and well-knit, wearing loose +garments of blue, drawn back at the arms +enough to show the muscles standing out like +whip-cords. Some were smoking short +chibouques, with stems of wood and bowls +of soft steatite colored a yellowish red. As +they rode they used no stirrups, but crossed +their legs before and beneath the pommel of +the saddle; while, as the sun shone more +hotly, they bent their heads and drew their +kufiyahs far over their brows. Many poor +and somewhat fanatical pilgrims were interspersed +among the crowd, and here and +there a dervish, with his large, bag-sleeved +robe of brown wool—the Zaabut, worn alike +by dervish and peasant—held his way undisturbed.</p> + +<p>Yusuf soon ceased to pay any attention to +his surroundings, and sat, buried in his own +thoughts, until a voice, pleasant and like the +ripple of a brook, aroused him.</p> + +<p>"What thoughts better than the thoughts +of a Persian? None. Friend, think you not +so?"</p> + +<p>The words were spoken in the Persian +dialect, and the priest looked up in surprise, +to see a ruddy-faced man smiling down upon +him from the back of a tall, white Syrian +camel. He wore the jubbeh, or cloak, the +badge of the learned in the Orient; his +beard was turning slightly gray, and his +eyes were keen and twinkling.</p> + +<p>"One question mayhap demands another," +returned Yusuf. "How knew you that I am +a Persian? I no longer wear Persian garb."</p> + +<p>"What! Ask an Arab such a question as +that!" said the other, smiling. "Know you +not, Persian, that we of the desert lands +are accustomed to trace by a mark in the +sand, the breaking of a camel-thorn, things +as difficult? The stamp of one's country +cannot be thrown off with one's clothes. +Nay, more; you have been noted as one +learned among the Persians."</p> + +<p>Yusuf bent his head in assent. "Truly, +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">[11]</a></span>stranger, your penetration is incomprehensible," +he said, with a touch of sarcasm.</p> + +<p>"No, no!" returned the other, good-humoredly; +"but, marking you out for what +you are, I thought your company might, +perchance, lessen the dreariness of the way. +I am Amzi, the Meccan. Some call me Amzi +the rich Meccan; others, Amzi the learned; +others, Amzi the benevolent. For myself, +I pretend nothing, aspire to nothing but to +know all that may be known, to live a life +of ease, at peace with all men, and to help +the needy or unfortunate where I may. +More than one stranger has not been sorry +for meeting Amzi the benevolent, in Mecca. +Have you friends there?"</p> + +<p>"None," said Yusuf. "Yet there is a tradition +among our people that the Guebres at +one time had temples even in the land of +Arabia. Have you heard aught of it?"</p> + +<p>"It is said that at one time fire-temples +were scattered throughout this land, each +being dedicated to the worship of a planet; +that at Medina<a name="FNanchor_2_2" id="FNanchor_2_2"></a><a href="#Footnote_2_2" class="fnanchor">[2]</a> itself was one dedicated to +the worship of the moon and containing an +image of it. It is also claimed that the fire-worshipers +held Mecca, and there worshiped +Saturn and the moon, from whence comes +their name of the place—Mahgah, or moon's +place. The Guebres also hold here that the +Black Stone is an emblem of Saturn, left +in the Caaba by the Persian Mahabad and +his successors long ago. But, friend, Persian +influence has long since ceased in El Hejaz. +Methinks you will find but few traces of +your country-people's glory there."</p> + +<p>"It matters not," returned the priest. +"The glory of the fire-worshipers has, so far +as Yusuf is concerned, passed away. Know +you not that before his eyes the sacred fire,<a name="FNanchor_3_3" id="FNanchor_3_3"></a><a href="#Footnote_3_3" class="fnanchor">[3]</a> +kept alive for well-nigh one thousand years, +went out in the supreme temple ere he left +it? May the great Omniscient Spirit grant +that Persia's idolatries will die out in its +ashes!"</p> + +<p>"And think you that there is no idolatry +in Mecca? Friend, believe me, not a house +in Arabian Mecca which does not contain its +idol! Not a man of influence who will start +on an expedition without beseeching his +family gods for blessing!"</p> + +<p>"And do they not recognize a God over +all?"</p> + +<p>"They acknowledge Allah as the highest, +the universal power,—yet he is virtually but +a nominal deity, for they deem that none +can enter into special relationship with him +save through the mediation of the household +gods. In his name the holiest oaths are +sworn, nevertheless in true worship he has +the last place. Indeed, it must be confessed +that neither fear of Allah nor reverence of +the gods has much influence over the mass +of our people."</p> + +<p>"What, then, is the meaning of this great +pilgrimage, whose fame reached me even in +Persia? Does not religious enthusiasm lead +those poor wretches, hobbling along behind, +to take such a journey?"</p> + +<p>Amzi nodded his head slowly. "Religious +incentives may move the few," he said. +"But, friend, can you not see that barter is +the leading object of the greater number—of +those well-to-do pilgrims who are superintending +the carriage of their baggage so +complacently there? The holy months, particularly +the Ramadhan, afford a period of +comparative safety, a long truce that affords +a convenient season for traffic. Alas, poor +stranger! you will be sad to find that our +city, in the time of the holy fast, becomes a +place of buying and selling, of vice and robbery—a +place where gain is all and God is +almost unknown."</p> + +<p>"But you, Amzi; what do you believe of +such things?"</p> + +<p>"In truth, I know not what to think. +Believe in idols I cannot; worship in the +Caaba I will not; so that my religion is but +a belief in Allah, whom I fear to approach, +and whose help and influence I know not +how to obtain, a confidence in my own morality, +and a consciousness of doing good +works."</p> + +<p>"Strange, strange!" said the priest, "that +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">[12]</a></span>we have arrived at somewhat the same +place by different ways! Amzi, let us be +brothers in the quest! Let us rest neither +night nor day until we have found the way +to the Supreme God! Amzi, I want to feel +him, to know him, as I am persuaded he +may be known; yet, like you, I fear to approach +him. Have you heard of Jesus?"</p> + +<p>"A few among a band of coward Jews +who live in the Jewish quarter of Mecca, +believe in One whom they call Jesus. The +majority of them do not accept him as +divine; and among those who do, he seems +to be little more than a name of some one +who lived and died as did Abraham and +Ishmael. His teaching, if, indeed, he taught +aught, seems to have little effect upon their +lives. They live no better than others, +and, indeed, they are slurred upon by all +true Meccans as cowardly dogs, perjurers +and usurers."</p> + +<p>Yusuf sighed deeply. It seemed as though +he were following a flitting ignis-fatuus, that +eluded him just as he came in sight of it.</p> + +<p>The rest of the day was passed in comparative +silence. The evening halt was +called, and it was decided to spend the night +in a grassy basin, traversed by the rocky +bed of a mountain stream, a "fiumara," +down which a feeble brooklet from recent +mountain rains trickled. Owing to the +security of the month Ramadhan, it was +deemed that a night halt would be safe, and +the whole caravan encamped on the spot.</p> + +<p>As the shades of the rapidly-falling Eastern +twilight drew on, Yusuf sat idly near +the door of a tent, looking out listlessly, and +listening to the chatter of the people about +him.</p> + +<p>Not far off a Jewish boy, a mere child, of +one of the northern tribes, as shown by his +fair hair and blue eyes, sang plaintively a +song of the singing of birds and the humming +of bees, of the flowers of the North, of +rippling streams, of the miraged desert, of +the waving of the tamarisk and the scent of +roses.</p> + +<p>Yusuf observed the child-like form and the +effeminate paleness of the cherub face, and +a feeling of protective pity throbbed in his +bosom as he noted the slender smallness of +the hand that glided over the one-stringed +guitar, showing by its movements, even in +the fading evening light, the blue veins that +coursed beneath the transparent skin. He +called the lad to his side, and bade him sing +to him. Not till then did he notice the +vacancy of the look which bespoke a +slightly wandering mind. Yusuf's great +heart filled with sympathy.</p> + +<p>"Poor lad!" he said, "singing all alone! +Where are your friends?"</p> + +<p>"Dumah's friends?" said the child, wonderingly. +"Poor Dumah has no friends +now! He goes here and there, and people +are kind to him—because Dumah sings, you +know, and only angels sing. He tells them +of flocks beside the pool, of lilies of Siloam, +of birds in the air and angels in the heavens—then +everyone is kind. Ah! the world is +fair!" he continued, with a happy smile. +"The breeze blows hot here, sometimes, +but so cool over the sea; and the lilies blow +in the vales of Galilee, and the waves ripple +bright over the sea where he once walked."</p> + +<p>"Who, child?"</p> + +<p>"Jesus—don't you know?" with a wondering +look. "He sat often by the Lake of +Galilee where I have sat, and the night +winds lifted his hair as they do mine, and +he smiled and healed poor suffering and sinful +people. Ah, he did indeed! Poor Dumah +is talking sense now, good stranger; sometimes +he does not—the thoughts come and go +before he can catch them, and then people +say, 'Poor little Dumah is demented.' But +if Jesus were here now, Dumah would be +healed. I dreamed one night I saw him, and +he smiled, and looked upon me so sweetly +and said, 'Dumah loves me! Dumah loves +me!' and then I saw him no more. Friend, I +know you love him, too. What is your +name?"</p> + +<p>"Yusuf."</p> + +<p>"Then, Yusuf, you will be my friend?"</p> + +<p>"I will be your friend, poor Dumah!"</p> + +<p>"Oh, no, Dumah is not poor! He is happy. +But his thoughts are going now. Ah, they +throng! The visions come! The birds and +the mists and the flowers are twining in a +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">[13]</a></span>wreath, a wreath that stretches up to the +clouds! Do you not see it?" and he started +off again on his wild, plaintive song.</p> + +<p>Yusuf's eyes filled with tears, and he drew +the lad to his bosom, +and looked out upon +the grassy plot before +the door, where a huge +fire was now shedding +a flickering and fantastic +glare upon the +wrinkled visages of the +Arabs, and lighting up +the scene with a weird +effect only to be seen +in the Orient.</p> + +<p>Caldrons were boiling, +and a savory odor +penetrated the air. +Men were talking in +groups, and a little dervish +was spinning +around nimbly in a sort +of dance. Yusuf looked +at him for a moment. +There seemed to be +something familiar +about his figure and +movements, but in the +darkness he could not +be distinctly seen, and +Yusuf soon forgot to +pay any attention to +him.</p> + +<p>He drew the boy, who +had now fallen asleep, +close to him. What +would he, Yusuf, not +give to learn fully of +that source from +whence the few meagre +crumbs picked up by +this poor child were yet +precious enough to give him, all wandering +as he was at times, the assurance of a sympathetic +God, and render him happy in the +realization of his presence! What must be +the joy of a full revelation of these blessed +truths, if, indeed, truths they were!</p> + +<p>The longing for such companionship filled +Yusuf, as he lay there, with an intense desire. +He could scarcely define, in truth he +scarcely understood, exactly what he wanted. +There was a lack in his life which no human +agency had, as yet, been able to satisfy. +His heart was "reaching out its arms" to +know God—that was all; and he called it +searching for Truth.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 309px;"> +<a href="images/p013.jpg"><img src="images/p013thum.jpg" width="309" height="400" alt="A head was thrust forward.... It was the little dervish." /></a> +<span class="caption">A head was thrust forward.... It was the little dervish.—See <a href="#Page_15">page 15</a>.</span> +</div> + +<p>Far into the night the Persian pondered, +his mind beating against the darkness of +what was to him the great mystery; and he +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">[14]</a></span>prayed for light. He thought of the Father, +yet again he prayed to the spirits of the +planets which were shining so brightly +above him. But did not an echo of that +prayer ascend to the throne of grace? Was +not the eye of Him who notes even the sparrows +when they fall, upon his poor, struggling +child?</p> + +<p>And the end was not yet.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IV" id="CHAPTER_IV"></a>CHAPTER IV.</h2> + +<h3>WHEREIN YUSUF ENCOUNTERS A SAND-STORM +IN THE DESERT, AND HAS SOMEWHAT +OF AN EXPERIENCE WITH THE LITTLE +DERVISH.</h3> + +<div class="chpoem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"A column high and vast,<br /></span> +<span class="i1">A form of fear and dread."<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p class="cite">—<i>Longfellow.</i><br /></p> + + +<p><span class="dropcap014"><span class="dropcap">W</span></span>ith but few +events worthy of +notice the journey +to Mecca was concluded. +After a +short halt at +Medina, the caravan +set out by +one of the three +roads which then +led from Medina +to Mecca.<a name="FNanchor_4_4" id="FNanchor_4_4"></a><a href="#Footnote_4_4" class="fnanchor">[4]</a></p> + +<p>The way led through a country whose +aspect had every indication of volcanic +agency in the remote ages of the earth's history. +Bleak plains—through whose barren +soil outcrops of blackened scoriæ, or sharp +edges of black and brittle hornblende, appeared +at every turn—were interspersed +with wadies, bounded by ridges of basalt +and green-stone, rising from one hundred to +two hundred feet high, and covered with a +scanty vegetation of thorny acacias and +clumps of camel-grass. Here and there a +rolling hill was cut by a deep gorge, showing +where, after rain, a mighty torrent must +foam its way; and, more rarely still, a stagnant +pool of saltish or brackish water was +marked out by a cluster of daum palms.</p> + +<p>On all sides jackals howled dismally during +the night; and above, during the day, an +occasional vulture wheeled, fresh from the +carcass of some poor mule dead by the wayside.</p> + +<p>Such was the appearance of the land +through which the caravan wound its way, +beneath a sky peculiar to Arabia—purple at +night, white and terrible in its heat at noon, +yet ever strange, weird and impressive.</p> + +<p>But one incident worth recounting occurred +on the way. Yusuf, Amzi, and the +boy Dumah had been traveling side by side +for some time. The way, at that particular +spot, led over a plain which afforded comparatively +easy traveling, and thus gave a +better opportunity for conversation. The +talk had turned upon the Guebre worship, +and the priest was amazed at the knowledge +shown by Amzi of a religion so little known +in Arabia.</p> + +<p>"I can tell you more than that," said Amzi +in a low tone. "I can tell you that you are +not only Yusuf the Persian gentleman of +leisure, but Yusuf the Magian priest, accustomed +to feed the sacred fire in the Temple +of Jupiter. Is it not so? Did not Yusuf's +hand even take the blood of Imri the infant +daughter of Uzza in sacrifice? Can Yusuf +the Persian traveler deny that?"</p> + +<p>Yusuf's head sank; his face crimsoned +with pain, and the veins swelled like cords +on his brow.</p> + +<p>"Alas, Amzi, it is but too true!" he said. +"Yet, upon the most sacred oath that a Persian +can swear, I did it thinking that the +blessing of the gods would thus be invoked. +The rite is one not unknown among the +Sabæans of to-day, and common even among +the Magians of the past. Amzi, it was in +my days of heathendom that I did it, thinking +it a duty to Heaven. It was Yusuf the +priest who did it, not Yusuf the man; yet +Yusuf the man bears the torture of it in his +bosom, and seeks forgiveness for the blackest +spot in his life! How knew you this, +Amzi?—if the question be an honorable one."</p> + +<p>"Amzi knows much," returned the Meccan. +"He knows, too, that Yusuf can never +escape the brand of the priesthood. See!"</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">[15]</a></span>He leaned forward, and drew back the +loose garment from the Persian's breast. A +red burn, or scar, in the form of a torch, appeared +in the flesh. As Yusuf hastened to +cover it, a head was thrust forward, and +two bead-like eyes peered from a shrouded +face. It was the little dervish.</p> + +<p>The priest was annoyed at the intrusion. +He determined to take note of the meddler, +but the occurrence of an event common in +the desert drove all thought of the dervish +from his mind.</p> + +<p>The cry "A simoom! A simoom!" arose +throughout the caravan.</p> + +<p>There, far towards the horizon, was a +dense mass of dull, copper-colored cloud, rising +and surging like the waves of a mad +ocean. It spread rapidly upwards toward +the zenith, and a dull roar sounded from +afar off, broken by a peculiar shrieking whistle. +And now dense columns could be seen, +bent backward in trailing wreaths of copper +at the top, changing and swaying before the +hurricane, yet ever holding the form of vapory, +yellow pillars,—huge shafts extending +from earth to heaven, and rapidly advancing +with awful menace upon the terrified multitude.</p> + +<p>The Arabs screamed, helpless before the +manifestation of what they believed was a +supernatural force, for they look upon these +columns as the evil genii of the plains. Men +and camels fell to the ground. Horses +neighed in fear, and galloped madly to and +fro. But the hot breath of the "poison-wind" +was upon them in a moment, shrieking +like a fiend among the crisping acacias. +The sand-storm then fell in all its fury, half +smothering the poor wretches, who strove +to cover their heads with their garments to +keep out the burning, blistering, pitiless +dust.</p> + +<p>Fortunately all was over in a moment, and +the tempest went swirling on its way northward, +leaving a clear sky and a dust-buried +country in its wake.</p> + +<p>In the confusion the dervish had escaped +to the other end of the caravan, and was forgotten.</p> + +<p>At the end of the tenth day after leaving +Medina the caravan reached the head of the +long, narrow defile in which lies the city of +Mecca, the chief town of El Hejaz. It was +early morning when the procession passed +through the cleft at the western end; and +the sun was just rising, a globe of red, above +the blue mountains towards Tayf, when +Yusuf stopped his camel on an eminence in +full view of the city. There it lay in the +heart of the rough blackish hills, whose long +shadows still fell upon the low stone houses +and crooked streets beneath.<a name="FNanchor_5_5" id="FNanchor_5_5"></a><a href="#Footnote_5_5" class="fnanchor">[5]</a></p> + +<p>The priest's eager glance sought for the +Caaba. There it was, a huge, stone cube, +standing in the midst of a courtyard two +hundred and fifty paces long by two hundred +paces wide, and shrouded from top to +bottom by a heavy curtain of dark, striped +cloth of Yemen.</p> + +<p>There was something awe-inspiring in the +scene, and the priest felt a thrill of apprehensive +emotion as he gazed upon what he +had fondly hoped would prove the end of +his long journey. Yet his eye clouded; he +covered his face with his mantle and wept, +saying to his soul, "Here, too, have they +turned aside to worship the false, and have +bowed down to idols! My soul! My soul! +Where shalt thou find truth and rest?"</p> + +<p>Amzi touched him on the arm. "Why do +you weep, friend? Thou art a false Guebre, +truly! Know you not that even they hold +the Caaba in high reverence?"</p> + +<p>There was a tone of good-natured raillery +in the voice, and the speaker continued: +"Arouse yourself, my friend. See how they +worship in Mecca. They are at it already! +See them run! By my faith 'tis a lusty +morning exercise!"</p> + +<p>Yusuf looked up to see a great concourse +of people gathering in the court-yard. Many +were rushing about the Caaba, and pausing +frequently at one corner of the huge structure.</p> + +<p>"Each pilgrim," explained Amzi, "holds<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">[16]</a></span> +himself bound to go seven times about the +temple, and the harder he runs the more +virtue there is in it—performing the Tawaf, +they call it. Those who seem to pause are +kissing the Hajar Aswad—the Black Stone, +which, the Arabs say, was once an angel +cast from heaven in the form of a pure +white jacinth. It is now blackened by the +kisses of sinners, but will, at the last day, +arise in its angel form, to bear testimony +of the faithful who have kissed it, and have +done the Tawaf faithfully. And now, friend, +come to the house of Amzi, and see if he can +be as hospitable as Musa the Bedouin."</p> + +<p>Yusuf gratefully accepted the invitation, +and the camels were urged on again down +the narrow, crooked street.</p> + +<p>"Know you aught of one Mohammed?" +asked the priest. "A roguish Hebrew left +me, with scant ceremony, in possession of a +manuscript which must be given to him."</p> + +<p>"Aye, well do I know him," said Amzi. +"Mohammed, the son of Abdallah the handsome, +and grandson of Abdal Motalleb, who +was the son of Haschem of the tribe of the +Koreish—a tribe which has long held a +position among the highest of Mecca, and +has, for ages past, had the guardianship of +the Caaba itself. Mohammed himself is a +man of sagacity and honor in all his dealings. +He is married to Cadijah, a wealthy +widow, whose business he has long carried +on with scrupulous fairness. He, too, is one +of the few who, in Mecca, have ceased to +believe in idols, and would fain see the +Caaba purged of its images."</p> + +<p>"There are some, then, who cast aside +such beliefs?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, the Hanifs (ascetics), who utterly +reject polytheism. Waraka, a cousin of the +wife of Mohammed, is one of the chief of +these; and Mohammed himself has, for several +years, been accustomed to retire to the +cave of Hira for meditation and prayer. It +is said that he has preached and taught for +some time in the city, but only to his immediate +friends and relatives. Well, here we +are at last,"—as a pretentious stone building +was reached. "Amzi the benevolent bids +Yusuf the Persian priest welcome."</p> + +<p>Amzi led the priest into a house furnished +with no small degree of Oriental splendor.</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Right to the carven cedarn doors,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Flung inward over spangled floors,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Broad-based flights of marble stairs<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Ran up with golden balustrade,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">After the fashion of the time."<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>A meal of Oriental dishes, dried fruit and +sweetmeats was prepared; and, when the +coolness of evening had come, the two +friends proceeded to the temple.</p> + +<p>Entering by a western gate, they found +the great quadrangle crowded with men, +women and children, some standing in +groups, with sanctimonious air, at prayers, +while others walked or ran about the Caaba, +which loomed huge and somber beneath the +solemn light of the stars. A few solitary +torches—for at that time the slender pillars +with their myriads of lamps had not been +erected—lit up the scene with a weird, wavering +glare, and threw deep shadows across +the white, sanded ground.</p> + +<p>A curious crowd it seemed. The wild enthusiasm +that marked the conduct of the +followers of Mohammed at a later day was +absent, yet every motion of the motley +crowd proclaimed the veneration with which +the place inspired the impressionable and +excitable Arabs.</p> + +<p>Here stood a wealthy Meccan, with flowing +robes, arms crossed and eyes turned +upward; there stalked a tall and gaunt +figure whose black robes and heavy black +head-dress proclaimed the wearer a Bedouin +woman. Here ran a group of beggars; and +there a number of half-naked pilgrims clung +to the curtained walls. Once a corpse was +carried into the enclosure and borne in +solemn Tawaf round the edifice.</p> + +<p>"Look!" cried poor Dumah. "The son of +the widow of Nain! The son of the widow +of Nain! Oh, why does not he whom Dumah +sees in his dreams come to raise him! But +then, there are idols here, and he cannot +come where there are other gods before +him."</p> + +<p>On surveying the temple, Yusuf discovered +that the door of the edifice was placed seven +feet above the ground. Amzi informed him +that the temple might be entered only at +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[17]</a></span>certain times, but that it contained an image +of Abraham holding in its hand some arrows +without heads; also a similar statue of Ishmael +likewise with divining arrows, and +lesser images of prophets and angels +amounting almost to the number of three +hundred.</p> + +<p>Passing round the temple to the north-eastern +corner, Yusuf looked curiously at +the Black Stone, which was set in the wall +at a few spans from the ground, and which +seemed to be black with yellowish specks in +it.<a name="FNanchor_6_6" id="FNanchor_6_6"></a><a href="#Footnote_6_6" class="fnanchor">[6]</a> Many people were pressing forward to +kiss it, while many more were drinking and +laving themselves with water from a well a +few paces distant,—the well Zem-Zem,—believing +that in so doing their sins were +washed off in the water.</p> + +<p>"This," said Amzi, pointing to the spring, +"is said to be the well which gushed up to +give drink to our forefather Ishmael and +Hagar his mother, when they had gone into +the wilderness to die."</p> + +<p>Yusuf sighed heavily. Such empty ceremony +had no longer any attraction for him, +and he turned his eyes towards the mountain +Abu Kubays, towering dark and gloomy +above the town, its black crest touched with +a silvery radiance by the light of the stars +shining brilliantly above.</p> + +<p>Was this, then, the Caaba? Was this +what he had fondly hoped would fill his +heart's longing? Was there any food in this +empty ceremonial for a hungering soul? +Why, oh why did the truth ever elude him, +flitting like an ignis-fatuus with phantom +light through a dark and blackened wilderness!</p> + +<p>Amzi was talking to someone in the +crowd, and Yusuf passed slowly out and11 +bent his way down a silent and deserted +street. No one was in sight except a very +young girl, almost a child, who was gliding +quickly on in the shadows. Once or twice +she seemed to stagger, then she fell. +Yusuf hurried to her, and turned her face +to the starlight. Even in that dim light he +could see that it was contorted with pain. +Yusuf heard the murmur of voices in a low +building close at hand, and, without waiting +to knock, he lifted the girl in his arms, +opened the door, and passed in.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_V" id="CHAPTER_V"></a>CHAPTER V.</h2> + +<h3>NATHAN THE JEW.</h3> + +<div class="chquote"><p>"I shall be content, whatever +happens, for what +God chooses must be better +than what I can +choose."—<i>Epictetus.</i></p><br /></div> + + +<p><span class="dropcap017"><span class="dropcap">T</span></span>he same evening on +which Yusuf visited +the temple, a woman +and her two children +sat in a dingy little +room with an earthen +floor, in one of the +most dilapidated +streets of Mecca. +The woman's face +bore traces of want +and suffering, yet there was a calm dignity +and hopefulness in her countenance, +and her voice was not despairing. She sat +upon a bundle of rushes placed on the floor. +No lamp lighted the apartment, but through +an opening in the wall the soft starlight +shone upon the bands of hair that fell in +little braids over her forehead. Her two +beautiful children were beside her, the girl +with her arm about her mother, and the +boy's head on her lap.</p> + +<p>"Will we have only hard cake for breakfast, +mother, and to-morrow my birthday, +too?" he was saying.</p> + +<p>"That is all, my little Manasseh, unless +the good Father sees fit to send us some +way of earning more. You know even the +hairs of our heads are numbered, so he takes +notice of the poorest and weakest of his +children, and has promised us that there will +be no lack to them that fear him."</p> + +<p>"But, mother, we have had lack many, +many times," said the boy thoughtfully.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">[18]</a></span>The mother smiled. "But things have +usually come right in the end," she said, +"and you know 'Our light affliction, which +is but for a moment, worketh for us a far +more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.' +We cannot understand all these things now, +but it will be plain some day. 'We will +trust, and not be afraid,' because our trust +is in the Lord; and we know that 'he will +perfect that which concerneth us,' if we +trust him."</p> + +<p>"And will he send father home soon?" +asked the boy. "We have been praying for +him to come, so, so long! Do you think God +hears us, mother? Why doesn't he send +father home?"</p> + +<p>The woman's head drooped, and a tear +rolled down her cheek, but her voice was +calm and firm.</p> + +<p>"Manasseh, child," she said, "your father +may never return; but, though a Jew, he +was a Christian; and, living or dead, I know +he is safe in the keeping of our blessed +Lord. Yes, Manasseh, God hears the +slightest whisper breathed from the heart of +those who call upon him in truth. He says, +Jesus says, 'I know my sheep, and am +known of mine.' Little son, I like to think +that our blessed Savior, who 'laid down his +life for the sheep,' is here—in this very +room, close to us. Sometimes I close my +eyes and think I see him, looking upon us in +mercy and love from his tender eyes, and he +almost seems so near that I may touch him. +No, he will never forsake us. Little ones, +my constant prayer for you is that you may +learn to realize the depths of his love, and to +render him your hearts in return; that you +may feel ever closer to him than to any +earthly parent, and prove yourselves loving, +faithful children of whom he may not be +ashamed."</p> + +<p>The woman's voice trembled with emotion +as she concluded, and a glow of happiness +illuminated her thin features.</p> + +<p>"Well, mother, I was ashamed to-day," +said little Manasseh. "I got angry and +struck a boy."</p> + +<p>"Manasseh! My child!"</p> + +<p>"You cannot understand, mother; you are +so good that you never get angry or +wicked. But the anger keeps rising up in +me till it seems as if my heart would burst; +the blood rushes to my face, my eyes flash—then—I +strike, and think of nothing."</p> + +<p>She stroked his hair gently. "Manasseh, +my boy's temper is one enemy which he has +to conquer. But he must not try to conquer +it in his own strength. We have an Almighty +Helper who has given us to know +that he will not suffer us to be tempted beyond +that we are able, and has bidden us +cast all our care upon him. He will be only +too willing to guide us and uphold us by his +power, if we will but let him keep us and +lead us far from all temptation."</p> + +<p>"Then what would you do, mother, if you +were in my place when the anger comes +up?"</p> + +<p>She stooped and kissed him. "I would +say, 'Jesus, help me,' and leave it all to +him."</p> + +<p>Just then a step sounded at the door. +Some one entered, and a cry of "Father! +Oh, father!" burst from the children. The +mother sprang, trembling, to her feet. It +was the long-lost husband and father!</p> + +<p>Then the lamp was lighted, and the traveler +told his loved ones the story of his long +absence; how he had embarked at Jeddah +on a foist bound for the head of the Red +Sea; how he had been shipwrecked; had become +ill of a fever as the result of exposure; +and how he had at last made his painful +way home by traveling overland.</p> + +<p>As they thus sat, talking in ecstasy of joy +at their reunion, the door opened and Yusuf +entered with the girl in his arms.</p> + +<p>Water was sprinkled upon her face and she +soon recovered. She placed her hand on her +brow in a dazed way, then sprang up, and, +just pausing for an instant in which her +wondrous beauty might be noted, dashed off +into the night.</p> + +<p>"It is Zeinab, the beautiful child of Hassan," +said the Jewess. "She will be well +again now. The paroxysms have come +before."</p> + +<p>"Sit you down, friend," said her husband +to Yusuf. "We were just about to break +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[19]</a></span>bread. 'Tis a scanty meal," he added, with +a smile. "But we have been enjoined to 'be +not forgetful to entertain strangers,' because +many have thus entertained angels +unawares. We shall be glad of the company."</p> + +<p>There was a manly uprightness in the look +and tone of Nathan the Jew which caught +Yusuf's fancy at once, and he sat down +without hesitation at the humble board.</p> + +<p>And there, in that little, dingy room, he +saw the first gleam of that radiant light +which was to transform the whole of his +after life. He heard of the trials and disappointments, +of the heroic fortitude born of +that trust in and union with God which he +had so craved. He received his first glimpse +of a God, human as we are human, who understands +every longing, every doubt, every +agony that can bleed the heart of a poor +child of earth.</p> + +<p>He scarcely dared yet to believe that this +God was one really with him at all times +and in all places, seeing, hearing, knowing, +sympathizing. He scarcely dared to realize +the possibility of a companionship with him, +or the fact that the mediation of the planet-spirits +was but a myth. Yet he did feel, in +a vague way, that the light was breaking, +and a tumultuous, undefined, hopeful ecstasy +took possession of his being. Yusuf's heart +was ready for the reception of the truth. +He was unprejudiced. He had cast aside all +dependence upon the tenets of his former belief. +He had become as a little child anxious +for rest upon its father's bosom. He +sought only God, and to him the light came +quickly.</p> + +<p>There was an infinity of blessed truth to +learn yet, but, as he went out into the night, +he knew that a something had come into his +life, transforming and ennobling it. The +divinity within him throbbed heart to heart +with the Divinity that is above all, in all, +throughout all good. Though vaguely, he +felt God; he knew that now, at last, he had +entered upon the right road.</p> + +<p>Then he thought of Amzi. He must try +to tell him all this. Surely Amzi the learned, +the benevolent, would rejoice too in hearing +the story of Jesus' life on earth, of his coming +as an expression of the love of God to +man, that man might know God.</p> + +<p>Through the dark streets he hastened, +thinking, wondering, rejoicing. He sought +the bedside of Amzi on the flat roof.</p> + +<p>"Amzi, awake!" he cried.</p> + +<p>"What now, night-hawk?" said the Meccan, +in his good-natured, half-railing tone. +"Why pounce upon a man thus in the midst +of his slumbers?"</p> + +<p>"Amzi, I have heard glorious news of +him—that Jesus of whom we have talked!"</p> + +<p>"Well?"</p> + +<p>"He seems indeed to be the God for whom +I have longed. They have been telling me of +his life, yet I realize little save that he came +to earth that men might know him; that he +died to show men the depth of his love; and +that he is with us at every time, in every +place—even here, now, on this roof! Only +think of it, Amzi! He is close beside us, seeing +us, hearing us, knowing our very hearts! +There is no need more of appealing to the +spirits of the stars. Ah, they were ever far, +far off!"</p> + +<p>"And where learned you all this, friend +priest?" There was an indifferent raillery in +the tone which chilled Yusuf to the heart.</p> + +<p>"From Nathan, a Christian Jew, and his +wife—people who live close to God if any +one does."</p> + +<p>"In the Jewish quarter?"</p> + +<p>"Even so."</p> + +<p>Amzi laughed. "Truly, friend, you have +chosen a fair spot for your revelation—a +quarter of filth and vice. A case of good coming +out of evil, truly!"</p> + +<p>"Will you not grant that there are some +good even in the Jewish quarter?"</p> + +<p>"Some, perhaps; yet there are some good +among all peoples."</p> + +<p>"Amzi, can you not believe?"</p> + +<p>"No, no, friend Yusuf; I am glad for your +happiness—believe what you will. But it is +foreign to Amzi's nature to accept on hearsay +that which he has not inquired into—probed +to the bottom even. He cannot accept +the testimony of any passing stranger, +however plausible it may seem. Rejoice if +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[20]</a></span>you will, Yusuf, in the spring of a night-tune, +but leave Amzi to seek for the deep +waters still."</p> + +<p>Amzi was now talking quickly and impressively.</p> + +<p>Yusuf was amazed. The light was beginning +to shine so brightly in his own soul that +he could not comprehend why others could +not see and believe likewise. He talked with +his friend until the dawn began to tint the +top of Abu Kubays, but without effect. At +every turn he was met by the bitter prejudice +held by the Meccans against the whole +Jewish race, a prejudice which kept even +Amzi the benevolent from believing in anything +advocated by them.</p> + +<p>"Why do they not show Christ in their +lives, then?" he would say.</p> + +<p>"You cannot judge the whole Christian +band by the misdeeds of a few, who are, +indeed, no Christians," Yusuf pleaded.</p> + +<p>"True; yet a religion such as you describe +should appeal to more of them, and would, +if it were all you imagine it to be. A perfect +religion should be exemplified in the +lives of those who profess it."</p> + +<p>"I grant you that that is true," was Yusuf's +reply. "And as an example let me +bring you to Nathan and his family. Nobody +could talk for one hour to them without +feeling that they have found, at least, something +which we do not possess. This something, +they say, is their God."</p> + +<p>"Well, well. I shall do so to please you," +said Amzi indifferently, "but I hope that a +longer acquaintance may not spoil your trust +in these people."</p> + +<p>Further expostulation was vain. Yusuf retired +to his own apartment, and prayed long +and fervently, in his own simple way, offering +thanks for the light which was breaking +so radiantly on his own soul, and beseeching +the loving Jesus to touch the heart of Amzi, +who, he knew, though less enthusiastic than +he, also desired to know truth.</p> + +<p>And before he lay down for a short rest, +he said:</p> + +<p>"Grant, O Jesus, thou who art ever present, +that I may know thee better, and that +Amzi, too, may learn to know thee. Reveal +thyself to him as thou art revealing thyself +to me, that we may know thee as we +should<ins class="correction" title="Transcriber's Note: original has '"">."</ins></p> + +<p>The priest's face grew radiant with happiness +as he concluded.</p> + +<p>And yet, in that same city, vice held sway; +for, even as the priest prayed, a dark figure +emerged from an unused upper attic in the +house of Nathan the Jew, and, escaping by a +window, descended a garden stair and +disappeared in the darkness. Even in that +dim light, had one looked he might have +noted that the mysterious prowler wore the +dress of a dervish.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VI" id="CHAPTER_VI"></a>CHAPTER VI.</h2> + +<h3>YUSUF'S FIRST MEETING WITH MOHAMMED.</h3> + +<div class="chquote"><p>"A person with abnormal auditory sensations often +comes to interpret them as voices of demons, or as the +voice of one commanding him to do some deed. This +<ins class="correction" title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'hullucination'">hallucination</ins>, in turn, becomes an apperceiving organ, +<i>i.e.</i>, other perceptions and ideas are assimilated to it: +it becomes a center about which many ideas gather +and are correspondingly distorted."—<i>McLellan, <ins class="correction" title="Transcriber's Note: missing period in original">Psychology.</ins></i></p><br /></div> + + + +<p><span class="dropcap020"><span class="dropcap">U</span></span>pon the evening of +the following day, +Amzi and Yusuf set +out in quest of Mohammed, +to whom +the manuscript had +not yet been given. +Stopping at the +house of Cadijah, a +stone building having +some pretensions to +grandeur, they learned +that Mohammed had left +the city. Accordingly, thinking he would +probably be found in the Cave of Hira, they +took a by-path towards the mountains.</p> + +<p>The sun was hot, but a pleasant breeze +blew from the plains towards the Nejd, and, +from the elevation which they now ascended, +Yusuf noted with interest a scene every +point of which was entirely different from +that of his Persian home—different perhaps +from that of any other spot on the face of +the earth; a scene desolate, wild, and barren, +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">[21]</a></span>yet destined to be the cradle of a mighty +movement that was ere long to agitate the +entire peninsula of Arabia, and eventually +to exercise its baneful influence over a great +part of the Eastern Hemisphere.<a name="FNanchor_7_7" id="FNanchor_7_7"></a><a href="#Footnote_7_7" class="fnanchor">[7]</a></p> + +<p>Below him lay the long, +narrow, sandy valley. No +friendly group of palms +arose to break its dreary +monotony; no green thing, +save a few parched aloes, +was there to form a pleasant +resting-place for the +eye. The passes below, +those ever-populous roads +leading to the Nejd, Syria, +Jeddah, and Arabia-Felix, +were crowded with people; +yet, even their presence +did not suffice to remove +the air of deadness from +the scene. Of one thing +only could the beholder be +really conscious—desolation, +desolation; a desolate +city surrounded by huge, +bare, skeleton-like mountains, +grim old Abu Kubays +with the city stretching +half way up its +gloomy side, on the east; +the Red mountain on the +west; Jebel Kara toward +Tayf, and Jebel Thaur +with Jebel Jiyad the +Greater, on the south.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 305px;"> +<a href="images/p021.jpg"><img src="images/p021thum.jpg" width="305" height="400" alt=""Read, O Mohammed, and see him who was able to restore the withered hand."" /></a> +<span class="caption">"Read, O Mohammed, and see him who was able to restore the withered +hand."—See <a href="#Page_23">page 23</a><ins class="correction" title="Transcriber's Note: missing period in original">.</ins></span> +</div> + +<p>Yusuf watched the people, +many of whom were +pilgrims, swarming like so +many ants below him +towards the Caaba, which +was in full view, standing +like a huge sarcophagus in the center of the +great courtyard. In the transparent air of +the Orient, even the pillars supporting the +covered portico about the courtyard were +quite visible. Yusuf had observed the great +system of barter, the buying and selling that +went on beneath the roof of that long portico, +within the very precincts of the temple +set apart for the worship of the Deity, and, +as he watched the pigmy creatures, now +swarming towards the trading stalls, now +hastening to perform Tawaf about the temple, +he almost wept that such sacrilege +should exist, and a great throb of pity for +these erring people whose spiritual nature +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">[22]</a></span>was barren as the vast, treeless, verdureless +waste about them, filled his breast.</p> + +<p>Amzi directed his attention towards the +east, where the blue mountains of Tayf stood +like outposts in the distance.</p> + +<p>"There," said he, "at but a three days' +journey is the district of plenty, the Canaan +of Mecca, whence come the grapes, melons, +cucumbers, and pomegranates that are to be +seen in our markets. There are pleasant +dales and gardens where the camel-thorn +gives way to a carpet of verdure; where the +mimosa and acacia give place to the glossy-leaved +fig-tree, to stately palms, and pomegranates +of the scarlet fruit; where rippling +streams are heard, and the songs of birds fill +the air. There is a tradition that Adam, +when driven out of the Garden of Eden, settled +at Mecca; and there, on the site of the +temple yonder, and immediately beneath a +glittering temple of pearly cloud, shimmering +dews, and rainbow lights said to be in +Paradise above,—the Baît-el Maamur of +Heaven,—was built, by the help of angels, +the first Caaba, a resplendent temple with +pillars of jasper and roof of ruby. Adam +then compassed the temple seven times, as +the angels did the Baît above in perpetual +Tawaf. He then prayed for a bit of fertile +land, and immediately a mountain from +Syria appeared, performed Tawaf round the +Caaba, and then settled down yonder at +Tayf. Hence, Tayf is even yet called 'Kita +min el Sham'—a piece of Syria, the father-land."</p> + +<p>"So then, this Caaba, according to tradition, +is of early origin?"</p> + +<p>"The Arabs believe that when the earthly +Baît-el Maamur was taken to heaven at +Adam's death, a third one was built of stone +and mud by Seth. This was swept away by +the Deluge, but the Black Stone was kept +safe in Abu Kubays, which is, therefore, +called 'El <ins class="correction" title="Transcriber's Note: original has "">Amin'</ins>—the Honest. After the +flood, a fourth House was built by our +father Abraham, to whom the angel +Gabriel restored the stone. Abraham's building +was repaired and in part restored by the +Amalikah tribe. A sixth Caaba was built +by the children of Kahtan, into whose tribe, +say the Arabs, Ismail was married. The +seventh house was built by Kusay bin Kilab, +a forefather of Mohammed, and I have +reason to believe that he was the first who +filled it with the idols which now disgrace +its walls. Kusay's house was burnt, its cloth +covering (or kiswah) catching fire from a +torch. It was rebuilt by the Koreish +(Qurâis) a few years ago. It was then that +the door was placed high above the ground, +as you see it, and then that the movable stair +was constructed. Then, too, the six columns +which support the roof were added, and +Mohammed, El Amin, was chosen to determine +the position of the Black Stone in the +wall. So, friend, I have now given you in +part, the history of the Caaba."</p> + +<p>Bestowing a last look upon the temple, the +friends walked for some distance northward +across the slopes of Mount Hira, until a low, +dark opening appeared in the face of a rock.</p> + +<p>Drawing back a thorny bush from its door, +they entered the cave. A low moaning noise +sounded within. For a moment, the transition +from the white glare without to the +twilight of the cave blinded them, then +they saw that the moans proceeded from +Mohammed, who was lying on his back on +the stone floor. His head-dress was awry, +his face was purple, and froth issued from +his mouth.</p> + +<p>Amzi seized an earthen vessel of water, +and bathed his brow.</p> + +<p>"Poor fellow!" he said, "how often he +may have suffered here alone! It has been +his custom for years to spend the holy month +of Ramadhan here in prayer and meditation. +He has often taken these fits before; but, if +what is said be true, he knows not that he is +suffering, for angels appear to him during +the paroxysms."</p> + +<p>"It seems to me much more like a fit of +epilepsy," said Yusuf, rather sarcastically. +"See, he begins to come to himself again."</p> + +<p>Mohammed had stopped moaning, and his +face began to regain its natural color.</p> + +<p>Presently he opened his eyes in a dazed +way, and sat up. He was a man of middle +height, with a ruddy, rather florid complexion, +a high forehead, and very even, +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[23]</a></span>white teeth. There was something commanding +and dignified in his appearance. He +wore a bushy beard, and was habited in a +striped cotton gown of cloth of Yemen; and, +from his person emanated the sweet odor of +choicest perfumes of the Nejd and Arabia-Felix.</p> + +<p>"Ah, it is Amzi!" he said. "Pardon me, +friend, but the angel has just left me, and I +failed to recognize you at once, my mind was +so occupied with the wonder of his communications; +for, friend, the time is nigh, even at +hand, when the prophet of Allah, the One, +the only Person of the Godhead, is to be proclaimed!"</p> + +<p>His voice was low and musical, and he +spoke as one under the influence of an inspiration.</p> + +<p>"Has the angel appeared to you in visible +form?"</p> + +<p>"Sometimes he appears in human form, +but in a blinding light; at other times I hear +a sound as of a silver bell tinkling afar. +Then I hear no words, but the truth sinks +upon my soul, and burns itself into my +brain, and I feel that the angel speaks."</p> + +<p>"Of what, then, has he spoken?" asked +Amzi.</p> + +<p>"The time in which the full revelation +shall be thrown open to man is not yet. But +it will come ere long. None, heretofore, save +my own kin and friends, have been given +aught of the great message; yet to you, +Amzi, may I say that Abraham, Moses, +Christ, have all been servants of the true +God, yet for Mohammed has been reserved +the honor of casting out the idolatry with +which the worship of our people reeks. For +him is destined the glory of purging our +Caaba of its images, and of reinstating the +true religion of our fathers in this fair land. +Then shall men know that Allah is the one +God, and Mohammed is his prophet!"</p> + +<p>"Think you to place yourself on an +equality with the Son of God?" cried Yusuf, +sternly.</p> + +<p>Mohammed turned quickly upon him, and +his face worked in a frenzy of excitement.</p> + +<p>"I tell you there is but one God,—one invisible, +eternal God, Allah above all in earth +and heaven,—and Mohammed is the prophet +of God!" he cried.</p> + +<p>Yusuf perceived that he had to deal with +a fanatic, a religious enthusiast, who would +not be reasoned with.</p> + +<p>"Yes," he continued, "may it be Mohammed's +privilege to lead men back to truth, +and to turn them from heathendom; to teach +them to be wise as serpents, harmless as +doves, and to show them how to walk with +clean hands and hearts through the earth, +living uprightly in the sight of all men!"</p> + +<p>"Yet," ventured Yusuf, "did not Jesus +teach something of this?"</p> + +<p>"Jesus was great and good," said Mohammed; +"he was needed in his day upon the +earth, but men have fallen away again, and +Mohammed is the greatest and last, the +prophet of Allah!"</p> + +<p>The speaker's eyes were flashing; he was +yet under the influence of an overpowering +excitement. The color began to rush to his +face, and Yusuf, fearing a return of the +swoon, deemed it wise not to prolong the argument, +but delivered the manuscript left by +the peddler, saying:</p> + +<p>"Read, O Mohammed, and see him who +was able to restore the withered hand +stretched forth in faith. Perceive him, and +commit not this sacrilege."</p> + +<p>Trusting himself to say no more, Yusuf +hastily left the cavern, followed by Amzi, +who remarked, thoughtfully:</p> + +<p>"Yet, there is much good, too, in that +which Mohammed would advocate."</p> + +<p>"There is," assented Yusuf. "Yet, though +I know not why, I cannot trust this man. +'Tis an instinct, if you will. What, think +you, does he mean to win by this procedure,—power, +or esteem, or fame?"</p> + +<p>Amzi shook his head quickly in denial. +"Mohammed is one of the most upright of +men, one of the last to seek personal favor or +distinction by dishonest means, one of the +last to be a maker of lies. Verily, Yusuf, I +know not what to think of his revelations. If +he does not in truth see these visions, he at +least imagines he does. He is honest in +what he says."</p> + +<p>"'If he does not in truth'!" repeated<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[24]</a></span> +Yusuf. "Surely you, Amzi, have no confidence +in his visions?"</p> + +<p>Amzi smiled. "And yet Yusuf, no longer +ago than last night, was ready to believe the +testimony of a pauper Jew in regard to similar +assertions," he said. "But keep your +mind easy, friend; I have not accepted Mohammed's +claims. I am open to conviction +yet, and I am not hasty to believe. In fact, I +must confess, Yusuf, an entire lack of that +fervor, of that capacity for religious feeling, +which is so marked a trait in my Persian +priest."</p> + +<p>"Yet you, too, professed to be a seeker +for truth," said Yusuf, reproachfully.</p> + +<p>"My desire for truth is simply to know it +for the mere sake of knowing it," said Amzi.</p> + +<p>Yusuf sighed. He did not realize that he +had to deal with a peculiar nature, one of +the hardest to impress in spiritual things—the +indifferent, calculating mind, which is +more than half satisfied with moral virtue, +not realizing the infinitely higher, nobler, +happier life that comes from the inspiration +of a constant companionship with God.</p> + +<p>"Alas, I am but a poor teacher, Amzi," he +said. "You know, perhaps, more of the doctrines +of these Christians than I; yet I am +convinced that to me has come a blessing +which you lack, and I would fain you had it +too. And I know so little that it seems I cannot +help you. You will, at least, come and +talk with Nathan?"</p> + +<p>"As you will," said Amzi, in a half-bantering +tone. "Prove to me that these Hebrews +are infallible, and I shall half accept their +Jewish philosophy."</p> + +<p>"You cannot expect to find them or any +one on this earth infallible," returned Yusuf, +quietly. "I can only promise that you will +find in them quiet, sincere, upright Christians."</p> + +<p>They had reached a sudden turn on the +path, and before them, on the top of a steep +cliff, stood Dumah, with his fair hair streaming +in the sunshine. He was singing, and +they paused to listen.</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"He is gone, the noble, the handsome,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And the tears of the mother are falling<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Like dews from the cup of the lily<br /></span> +<span class="i0">When it bends its head in the darkness."<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>"Poor Dumah!" said Amzi, "singing his +thoughts as usual. What now, Dumah? +Who is weeping?"</p> + +<p>"A poor Jewess," said the boy, "and her +two children cling to her gown and weep too. +Ah, if Dumah had power he would soon set +him free."</p> + +<p>"Set whom free?" asked Yusuf.</p> + +<p>"The father; they say he took the cup to +buy bread; but for the sake of the children, +Dumah would set him free."</p> + +<p>"Oh, it is only a case of stealing down in +the Jewish quarter," said Amzi, carelessly.</p> + +<p>"Yet," returned the other, "a weeping +mother and helpless children should appeal +to the heart of Amzi the benevolent. Let us +turn aside and see what it is about. Dumah, +lead us."</p> + +<p>They followed the boy to the hall or court-room +of the city. A judge sat on a raised +dais; witnesses were below, and the owner +of the gold cup was talking excitedly and +calling loudly for justice.</p> + +<p>"There is the culprit," whispered Amzi.</p> + +<p>Yusuf was struck dumb. It was Nathan, +the Christian Jew! Agony was written in +his face, yet there was patience in it too. +His arms were bound, and his head was bent +in what might have been interpreted as humiliation.</p> + +<p>"Once more," cried the judge, "have you +aught to say for yourself, Jew?"</p> + +<p>Nathan raised his head proudly, and looked +the Judge straight in the eyes.</p> + +<p>"I am guiltless," he said, in low, firm +tones.</p> + +<p>A murmur burst from the crowd, and exclamations +could be heard.</p> + +<p>"Not guilty! And the cup found in his +house!"</p> + +<p>"Coward dog! Will he not yet confess?"</p> + +<p>"The scourge is too good for him!"</p> + +<p>"Have you no explanation to offer?" asked +the judge.</p> + +<p>"None."</p> + +<p>"Then, guards, place him in irons to await +our further pleasure. In the meantime forty +lashes of the scourge. Next!"</p> + +<p>Nathan walked out with firm step and +head erect. A low sob burst from some one +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">[25]</a></span>in the crowd. It was the wife of Nathan, +weeping, while little Manasseh and Mary +clung to her weeping too.</p> + +<p>Yusuf touched her on the arm. "Hush! +Be calm!" he said. "All will yet be well. I, +for one, know that he is innocent, and I will +not rest until he is free."</p> + +<p>"Thank God! He has not forsaken us!" +exclaimed the woman.</p> + +<p>Yusuf put a piece of money into +Manasseh's hand. "Here, take your mother +home, and buy some bread," he said.</p> + +<p>"And here, pretty lad, know you the touch +of gold?" said Amzi, as he slipped another +coin into the child's hand. "Now, Yusuf," +he went on, "come, let us see your Jewish +friends of yester-even."</p> + +<p>"Alas, Amzi, these are they," returned the +priest, sadly, "and I fear yon poor woman +feels little like talking to us in the freshness +of her grief."</p> + +<p>Amzi laughed, mysteriously. "So your +teacher has proved but a common Jew +thief," he said.</p> + +<p>Yusuf turned almost fiercely. "Do you believe +this vile story?" he exclaimed. "Did +you not see truth stamped upon Nathan's +face?"</p> + +<p>"You must admit that circumstances are +against him. The proof seems conclusive."</p> + +<p>"I will never believe it, were the proof +produced by their machinations ten times as +conclusive! There is some mystery here +which I will unravel!"</p> + +<p>"My poor Yusuf, you are too credulous in +respect to these people. So be it. You believe +in your Jews, I shall believe in my +Mohammed, until the tale told is a different +one," laughed Amzi; and for the moment +Yusuf felt helpless.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VII" id="CHAPTER_VII"></a>CHAPTER VII.</h2> + +<h3>YUSUF STUDIES THE SCRIPTURES.—CONNECTING +EVENTS.</h3> + +<div class="chquote"><p>"Surely an humble husbandman that serveth God +is better than a proud philosopher who, neglecting +himself, is occupied in studying the course of the +heavens."—<i>Thomas á Kempis.</i></p><br /></div> + + +<p><span class="dropcap025"><span class="dropcap">F</span></span>or many weeks, +even months, after +this, Yusuf's life, to +one who knew not the +workings of his mind, +seemed colorless, and +filled with a monotonous +round of never-varying +occupation. Yet +in those few weeks he +lived more than in all +his life before. Life is +not made up of either years or actions—the +development of thought and character is the +important thing; and in this period of apparent +waiting, Yusuf grew and developed +in the light of his new understanding.</p> + +<p>He read and thought and studied, and yet +found time for paying some attention to +outer affairs. In Persia he had amassed a +considerable fortune, which he had conveyed +to Mecca in the form of jewels sewn into his +belt and into the seams of his garments, +hence he was abundantly able to pay his +way, and to expend something in charity; +and between his and Amzi's generosity the +family of Nathan lacked nothing.</p> + +<p>Yusuf obtained possession of parts of the +Scriptures, written on parchment, and spent +every morning in their perusal, ever finding +this period a precious feast full of comforting +assurances, and hope-inspiring promises. +He never forgot to pray for Amzi, to whom +he often read and expounded passages of +Scripture, without being able to notice any +apparent effect of his teaching.</p> + +<p>It troubled him much that Amzi lent such +a willing ear to Mohammed, and to the few +fanatics among the Hanifs who had now +professed their belief in this self-proclaimed +prophet of Allah. It seemed marvelous that +a man of Amzi's wisdom and learning should +be so carried away by such a flimsy doctrine +as that which Mohammed now began to proclaim. +Amzi appeared to have fallen under +the spell which Mohammed seemed to cast +over many of those with whom he came in +contact; and, though he acknowledged no +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[26]</a></span>belief in the so-called prophet, neither did he +profess disbelief in him.</p> + +<p>Yusuf's happiest hours were those spent in +the little Jewish Christian church, a poor, +uncomfortable building, where an earnest +handful of Jews, who were nevertheless firm +believers in the divinity of Christ, met, often +in secret, always in fear of the derisive +Arabs, for prayer and study of the Gospel. +Among these, the wife of Nathan was never +absent.</p> + +<p>Yusuf sought untiringly to solve the mystery +of the gold cup. Circumstantial evidence +was certainly against Nathan. Awad, +a rich merchant of Mecca, had placed the +cup near a window in his house, and had forgotten +to remove it ere retiring for the night. +A short time before dawn he had heard a +noise and risen to see what it was. He had +gone outside just in time to see a figure passing +hurriedly across a small field near his +house. Even then he had not thought of the +cup. But in the morning it was missed, and +tracks were followed from the window as +far as the ruined house to which Nathan's +family had gone in their poverty. The house +was searched, and the cup was found hidden +in a heap of rubbish in an unused apartment.</p> + +<p>Nathan had just returned with little save +the clothes he wore; it was well known that +his wife and children had been verging on +starvation, and the public, ever ready to +judge, formed its own conclusion, and turned +with Nemesis eye upon the poor Jew.</p> + +<p>No clue whatever remained, except a small +carnelian, which Yusuf found afterwards +upon the floor, and which he took possession +of at once. For hours he would wander +about, hoping to find some trace of the robber, +who, he firmly believed, had fancied +himself followed by Awad, and had hurriedly +secreted the cup, trusting to return for it +later, and to make his escape in the meantime.</p> + +<p>All this, however, did not help poor +Nathan, who, chained and fettered, languished +in a close, poorly-ventilated cell, +with little hope of deliverance. Yusuf knew +the rancor of the Meccans against the Jews, +and somewhat feared the result, yet he did +not give up hope.</p> + +<p>"We are praying for him," Nathan's wife +would say. "Nathan and Yusuf are praying +too, and we know that whatever happens +must be best, since God has willed it so for +us."</p> + +<p>Little Manasseh chafed more than anyone +at the long suspense. One day he said:</p> + +<p>"Mother, my name means blackness, sorrow, +or something like that, does it not? +Why did you call me Manasseh? Was it to +be an omen of my life?"</p> + +<p>"Forbid that it should!" the mother exclaimed, +passing her hand lovingly through +his waving hair. "It must have been because +of your curls, black as a raven's wing. +Sorrow will not be always. Joy may come +soon; but if not, 'at eventide it shall be +light.'"</p> + +<p>"Does that mean in heaven?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"He has prepared for us a mansion in the +heavens, an house not made with hands. +'There shall be no night there,' and 'sorrow +and sighing shall flee away,'" said the +mother with a far-away look in her eyes.</p> + +<p>"But it seems so long to wait, mother," +said the boy impatiently.</p> + +<p>"Yet heaven is not far away, Manasseh," +she returned, quickly. "Heaven is wherever +God is. And have we not him with us always? +'In all thy ways acknowledge him, +and he shall direct thy paths.' Never forget +that, Manasseh."</p> + +<p>"Well, I wish we were a little happier +now," he would say; and then, to divert the +boy's attention from his present troubles, his +mother would tell him about her happy home +in Palestine, where she and her little sister, +Lois, had watched their sheep on the green +hillsides, and woven chains of flowers to put +about the neck of their pet lamb; of how +they grew up, and Lois married the Bedouin +Musa, and had gone far away.</p> + +<p>Thus far, Yusuf knew nothing of this connection +of Nathan's family with his Bedouin +friends. It was yet to prove another link in +the chain which was binding him so closely +to this godly family. His many occupations, +and the feeling which impelled him at +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[27]</a></span>every spare moment to seek for some clue +which would lead to Nathan's liberation, left +him little time for conversation with them +for the present, except to see that their +wants were supplied.</p> + +<p>Then, too, he was troubled about Amzi, +and somewhat anxious about the result of +Mohammed's proclamations, which were +now beginning to be noised abroad. From +holding meetings in caves and private +houses, the "prophet" had begun to preach +on the streets, and from the top of the +little eminence Safa, near the foot of Abu +Kubays.</p> + +<p>Many of the people of Mecca held him up +to ridicule, and treated his declarations with +derisive contempt. Among his strongest opponents +were his own kindred, the Koreish, +of the line of Haschem and of the rival +line of Abd Schems. The head of the latter +tribe, Abu Sofian, Mohammed's uncle, was +especially bitter. He was a formidable foe, +as he lived in the highlands, his castles being +built on precipitous rocks, and manned by a +set of wild and savage Arabs.</p> + +<p>Yet Mohammed went on, neither daunted +by fear nor discouraged by sarcasm. The +number of his followers steadily increased; +his first converts, Ali, his cousin, and Zeid, +his faithful servant, being quickly joined by +many others.</p> + +<p>Mohammed now boldly proclaimed the +message delivered to him in the cave of +Hira the Koran. He declared that the law +of Moses had given way to the Gospel, and +that the Gospel was now to give way to the +Koran; that the Savior was a great prophet, +but was not divine; and that he, Mohammed, +was to be the last and greatest of all the +prophets.</p> + +<p>Such assertions were usually received with +shouts of derision; and yet, when Mohammed +eloquently upheld fairness and sincerity +in all public and private dealings, and +urged the giving of alms, and the living of a +pure and humble life, there were those who, +like Amzi, felt that there was something +worthy of admiration in the new prophet's +religion; and his very firmness and sincerity, +even when spat upon, and covered with mud +thrown upon him as he prayed in the +Caaba, won for him friends.</p> + +<p>The opposition of his uncles, Abu Lahab +and Abu Sofian, was, however, carried on +with the greatest rancor; and at last a decree +was issued by Abu Sofian forbidding the +tribe of the Koreish from having any intercourse +whatever with Mohammed. This decree +was written on parchment, and hung up +in the Caaba, and Mohammed was ultimately +forced to flee from the city. He and +his disciples went for refuge to the ravine of +Abu Taleb, at some distance from Mecca. +Here they would have suffered great want, +had it not been for the kindness of Amzi, +who managed to send them food in secret.</p> + +<p>But the prophet's zeal never flagged. When +the Ramadhan again came round, and it was +safe to venture from his temporary retreat, +he came boldly into the city, preached again +from the hill Safa, and proclaimed his new +revelations, praying for the people, and ending +every prayer with the declaration now +universal throughout the Moslem world,—</p> + +<p>"God! There is no God but he, the ever-living! +He sleepeth not, neither doth he +slumber! To him belong the heavens and +the earth, and all that they contain. Who +shall intercede with him unless by his permission? +His sway extendeth over the +heavens and the earth, and to sustain them +both is no burthen to him. He is the High, +the Mighty!"</p> + +<p>The sublimity of this eulogy of the Most +High may be readily traced to the psalms, +particularly to that grandest of all songs, the +one hundred and fourth psalm, which has +been said to be remarkable in that it embraces +the whole cosmos. And, in fact, the +whole trend of the Koran may be traced +to a study of the Bible, particularly to the +New Testament, with occasional digressions +into the Mishnu, and the Talmud of +the Hebrews.</p> + +<p>"Feed the hungry! Visit the sick! Bow +not to idols! Pray constantly, and direct thy +prayers immediately to the Deity!" These +were the constant exhortations of the +prophet during these first days of his ministry—exhortations +which demand the ad<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">[28]</a></span>miration +of all who consider the grossness +and idolatry of the age in which he lived. +Had he never gone further, succeeding ages +might have been tempted to pardon his +hallucinations. At the time, doctrines which +savored of so much magnanimity, and which +were immeasurably in advance of the mockery +of religion that had so long held sway +among the majority of the Arabs, at once +commended themselves to many. The effect +of the new teaching was enhanced by the +burning enthusiasm and powerful oratory of +Mohammed, who was not ignorant of the +effect of eloquent delivery and glowing +language on a people ever passionate and +keenly susceptible to the influence of a +strong and vivid presentation.</p> + +<p>Ridicule and persecution ceased for a time, +and at last, when the decree was removed, +Mohammed and his followers returned in +triumph to Mecca.</p> + +<p>Once again he was obliged to fly for his +life. Accompanied by Zeid, he went to Tayf, +and there spent a month in its perfumed +vales, wandering by cooling streams, meditating +beneath the waving fronds of the +palm-trees, or resting in cool gardens, lulled +by the rustling leaves of the nebeck (the +lotus-tree), and inhaling the fresh perfume +of peach and apple blooms.</p> + +<p>But the inhabitants of Tayf grew hostile, +and the prophet again set out on foot for +Mecca. He sat down to rest in an orchard. +There he dreamed that a host of genii waited +before him, begging him to teach them El +Islam.</p> + +<p>In the night<a name="FNanchor_8_8" id="FNanchor_8_8"></a><a href="#Footnote_8_8" class="fnanchor">[8]</a> he arose and proceeded, with +renewed courage, on his journey. On the +way he fell in with some pilgrims from +Yathrib, or Medina, and to them he unfolded +his revelations. They listened spell-bound +as he preached from Al Akaba, and besought +him that he would come or would send disciples +with them to their northern town. Accordingly, +Mohammed chose several converts +to accompany them upon this first mission, +and a time was set for their going.</p> + +<p>On the evening preceding this appointed +time, Yusuf sat in a hanging balcony of +Amzi's house. The pink flush of the setting +sun was over the sky; the murmur of the +city arose with a subdued hum—"the city's +stilly sound"; a parchment containing a part +of the Scriptures was on the priest's knee, +but he stopped reading and gave himself up +to meditation, wondering deeply at the +strange course that events were taking, and +surmising vaguely the probable result of the +revolution that seemed impending.</p> + +<p>His thoughts turned to Amzi, who, as yet, +closed his ears to the Gospel tidings which +were proving such a comfort and joy to the +priest.</p> + +<p>A step sounded behind him. It was Amzi +himself, attired in traveling garb, and with +his camel-stick already in his hand.</p> + +<p>"What now, friend Yusuf? Dreaming +still?" he said. "Will you not say farewell +to your friend?"</p> + +<p>"What! Are you going on a journey? +Pray, where goes Amzi on such short notice?"</p> + +<p>"Ah," smiled Amzi, "I almost fear to tell +my Persian proselyte, lest the vials of his +wrath be poured on my <ins class="correction" title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'defenseless'">defenceless</ins> and submissive +head. To make a long story short, I +go with the disciples of Mohammed to +Medina."</p> + +<p>"As Mohammed's disciple? Amzi, has it +come to this!" exclaimed the priest.</p> + +<p>"Chain your choler, my friend," laughed +the other. "I merely go to observe the outcome +of this movement in the town of the +North. Besides, the heat of Mecca in this +season oppresses me, and I long for the cool +breezes of Medina. Yusuf, I shall have rare +letters to write you, for I feel that there will +be a mighty movement in favor of Mohammed +there."</p> + +<p>"You begin to believe in him, Amzi!" said +Yusuf in tones of deepest concern.</p> + +<p>"His doctrines suit me, as containing +many noble precepts. His proclamations are +moving the town in such a way as was never +known heretofore."</p> + +<p>"Consider the movement caused by the +teaching of Christ when he was on earth!"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">[29]</a></span> +cried Yusuf. "Dare you compare this petty +tempest with that?"</p> + +<p>"Yet Christ's very words have been here +where all might read them, for long enough. +Why have they not drawn the attention of, +and, if divine, why have they not shown +their power among, our citizens?"</p> + +<p>"Because ye have eyes that see not, and +ears that hear not!" cried the priest impetuously. +"Can you not see that the doctrines +of the Scriptures are just those which Mohammed +proclaims? He seizes upon them, +he gives them as his own, because he knows +they are good, yet he commits the sacrilege +of posing as a divine agent! Good cannot +come out of this except in so far as a few +precepts of the Gospel, all plagiarized as they +are, exert their influence upon the lives of +people."</p> + +<p>Amzi looked inconvincible. "I grant the +excellence of Gospel teaching," he said, +"but your conception of God's love I cannot +seem to feel, often as you have explained it +to me. Mohammed's revelations appear +plausible. Yet, look not so doleful, brother. +Amzi has not become a Mohammedan. He +is still ready to believe as soon as he can +see."</p> + +<p>"Yes, yes; like Thomas, you must see and +feel ere you will believe. God grant that the +seeing and feeling may not come too late!"</p> + +<p>Amzi smiled, and passed his arm affectionately +about the priest's shoulder. "What +a thorn in the flesh to you is Amzi the +benevolent," he said, kindly. "Notwithstanding, +give me your blessing, priest. Give +me credit for being, at least, honest, and bid +me good speed before I go."</p> + +<p>"Heaven forbid that aught but blessing +from Yusuf should ever follow Amzi!" returned +the other, warmly. "May heaven +keep and direct you, my friend, my brother!"</p> + +<p>The friends embraced, according to the custom +of the land, and separated; Amzi to join +the half-naked pilgrims, who had not yet +donned their traveling-robes, Yusuf to lift +his heart to Heaven, as he now did in every +circumstance. In this silent talk to God he +received comfort, and his heart was filled +with hope for Amzi.</p> + +<p>Even this journey, which seemed so inauspicious, +might, he thought, be but the beginning +of a happy end. He had learned +that there are no trifles in life; that no event +is so insignificant that God may not make +use of it. He felt that Amzi was not utterly +indifferent to the influence of divine power, +so he waited in patience.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VIII" id="CHAPTER_VIII"></a>CHAPTER VIII.</h2> + +<h3>WHEREIN IS TOLD THE STORY OF +NATHAN'S LIBERATION.</h3> + +<div class="chpoem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"The winds, as at their hour of birth,<br /></span> +<span class="i1">Leaning upon the ridged sea,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Breathed low around the rolling earth<br /></span> +<span class="i1">With mellow preludes, 'We are free.'"<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p class="cite">—<i>Tennyson.</i><br /></p> + + +<p><span class="dropcap029"><span class="dropcap">D</span></span>uring all this time, +there was no news of release +for poor Nathan. +In his close cell, ventilated +by one little window, +and, in the fetid +odor of its air, he pined +away. A low fever had +rendered him exceedingly +weak; he could +not eat the wretched +food of the prison; his face grew haggard, +and his bones shone through the flesh with +almost skeleton-like distinctness. Yet no +murmur passed his lips.</p> + +<p>From his window, set high in the wall, he +could see the sun as it rose over Abu +Kubays; he could catch the occasional glint +of a bright wing as a dove or a swallow +flitted past beneath the white sky; and he +said, "God is still good, blessed be his +name!"</p> + +<p>Yet the grief of being separated from his +loved ones, and the uncertainty of their welfare, +preyed upon his mind, almost shaking +the trust which had upheld him so long. It +was a time of trial for poor Nathan, yet his +faith came forth from the trial untarnished.</p> + +<p>Yusuf sought in vain to gain admission to +the poor prisoner: the utmost that he could +accomplish was to pay the attendant for +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">[30]</a></span>carrying one brief message to him, assuring +him that his wife and children were well, +and cared for.</p> + +<p>The mystery of the gold cup was still unsolved. +One day, however, when going down +one of the busiest streets, Yusuf saw, at +some distance, a little man walking along +with a pack on his back. The peculiar hopping +motion of his gait proclaimed him at +once to be Abraham, the little Jew.</p> + +<p>"The very man!" thought Yusuf. "If any +one between Syria and Yemen can ferret out +a mystery, it is Abraham the peddler. If I +can once set him in earnest upon the track, +deliverance may be speedy for poor +Nathan."</p> + +<p>The peddler was walking very rapidly, but +Yusuf strode after him, now losing sight of +him in the crowd, now catching a glimpse of +his little bobbing figure, until, out of breath, +he finally reached him and caught his arm.</p> + +<p>The Jew started in surprise. "Defend us, +friend!" he exclaimed. "You come on a +man like the poison-wind, as quickly if not +as deadly. So you are still in Mecca! What +are you doing now?"</p> + +<p>He was as inquisitive as ever, but Yusuf +did not resent the trait in him now.</p> + +<p>"I am on important business just at present, +my friend," he said, in his kindliest tone, +"on business in which I am sure Abraham +the Jew can help me, better than any other +man in Mecca."</p> + +<p>"Ha!" exclaimed the peddler, "and what +may that be?"</p> + +<p>"Can you keep a still tongue when it is +necessary, Jew?"</p> + +<p>The peddler placed his fingers on his lips, +rolled up his eyes, and nodded assent.</p> + +<p>"Then come with me to the house of Amzi +the benevolent,—my Meccan home,—and I +shall explain."</p> + +<p>When seated comfortably on divans in the +coolest part of the house, Yusuf told the +story of the gold cup, and intimated that +Abraham's wandering life and the numberless +throngs of people with whom his trade +threw him in contact, gave him facilities, +impossible to others, of doing a little detective +work in a quiet way.</p> + +<p>The Jew listened, silent and motionless, +with his eyes fixed on a lotus-bud carved on +the cornice. Only once did he turn and fix +his little round eyes sharply on the priest's +face.</p> + +<p>"There is just one more thing—" continued +Yusuf, then he stopped. He was about to +tell of the little carnelian stone, when his eye +fell upon one of the numerous rings upon the +Jew's fat fingers. There, in the center of it, +was a small cavity from which, apparently, +a jewel of some sort had fallen from its setting.</p> + +<p>Yusuf almost sprang to his feet in the excitement +of the discovery.</p> + +<p>"Well?" asked the Jew, noting the pause.</p> + +<p>"I will tell you later," said Yusuf. "For +the present—have some dates, will you not?"</p> + +<p>A servant entered with a tray on which +were fruits and small cakes.</p> + +<p>The peddler besought Yusuf, for friendship's +sake, to eat with him; but the Persian +made a gesture of disgust.</p> + +<p>"I have already eaten," he said. "Overeating +in Mecca in the hot season is not wise. +Abraham, do you always wear so many +rings on your fingers?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, no," returned the Jew, "sometimes I +wear them; sometimes I carry them for +months in my belt. This"—pointing to a +huge band of ancient workmanship—"is the +most curious one of the lot. I got it for +carrying a bundle of manuscript from a man +at Oman to your friend Amzi, here. It seems +that Amzi had once lived with him at Oman, +but the man—I forget his name—went inland +to Teheran, or some other place in Persia, +and Amzi, after traveling about for two or +three years, settled in Mecca. This one"—and +he pointed out the ring on which Yusuf's +eyes were fixed—"is the most expensive of +the lot, but a stone fell out of it once when I +was carrying it in my belt."</p> + +<p>"Did you not look in your belt for it?"</p> + +<p>"No use; it had worked out between the +stitches. I had no idea where I lost it."</p> + +<p>"Have you had that ring long?"</p> + +<p>"Long! Why, that ring has not been off +my person for fifteen years."</p> + +<p>"I suppose you would not sell it?"</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">[31]</a></span>The peddler shrugged his shoulders, and +looked up with a shrewd glance.</p> + +<p>"That depends on how much money it +would bring."</p> + +<p>"I have little idea of the value of such +rings," said the Persian, "but I have a +friend who, I am convinced, would appreciate +that one. I should like to present it to +him. Will you take this for it?"</p> + +<p>He drew forth a coin worth three times the +value of the ring. The peddler immediately +closed the bargain and handed the ring over, +then devoted his attention again to the table.</p> + +<p>The priest went to the window. He drew +the little stone from his bosom and slipped +it into the cavity. It fitted exactly. He then +walked back to the table, and held it before +the astonished Jew.</p> + +<p>"How now, Jew?" he said with a smile. +"Saw you such a gem before?"</p> + +<p>"My very own carnelian!" exclaimed the +peddler. "Where did you find it?"</p> + +<p>"You are sure it is yours?"</p> + +<p>"Sure! On my oath, it is mine. There is +not another such stone in Arabia, with that +streak across the top."</p> + +<p>The priest laid his hand on the Jew's +shoulder and bent close to him. "That +stone," he said, "was found in the house of +Nathan the Jew, beside the stolen cup. How +came it there?"</p> + +<p>The little Jew turned pale. His guilt +showed in his face. He knew that he was +undone.</p> + +<p>With a quick, serpent-like movement, he +attempted to escape, but the priest's grasp +was firm as a vise.</p> + +<p>"No, peddler!" he said, "you may go, but +it must be with me. To the magistrate you +must go, and that right speedily. The innocent +must no longer suffer in your rightful +place. Come, Aza,"—to an attendant who +had been in the room—"your tongue may +be needed to supplement mine."</p> + +<p>The Jew's little eyes rolled around restlessly. +He was a thorough coward, and his +teeth chattered with fear as he was half-dragged +into the blinding glare of the street, +and down the long, crooked way, with a +crowd of beggars and saucy boys following +in the wake of the trio. Once or twice again +he made a quick and sudden movement to +elude the grasp of his captors, but the +priest's grip was firm and his muscle like +steel. Justice was in Yusuf's heart, and his +anxiety to procure Nathan's release was so +great that he strode on, almost forgetting the +poor little Jew, who was obliged to keep up +a constant hobbling run to save himself +from being dragged to the ground.</p> + +<p>In the hall of justice the usual amount of +questioning went on, but the evidence +afforded by the ring was so conclusive that +the order for Nathan's release and the peddler's +imprisonment was soon given.</p> + +<p>Yusuf accompanied the guards to Nathan's +cell. The poor prisoner was sitting +on the bare clay with his head buried on his +knee. An unusual clamor sounded outside +of the door. The heavy bolt was withdrawn, +and the next moment Yusuf rushed +in, crying, "Free, Nathan, free!"</p> + +<p>Nathan fell on the other's bosom. The +sudden joy was too much for him, and he +could only lie, like a little child, sobbing on +the breast of the stalwart priest.</p> + +<p>The warden rattled the bolts impatiently. +"Come, there's room outside!" he said. "I +have not time to stand here all day!"</p> + +<p>"Pardon us," said the priest, gently. "We +go; yet, warden, ere we depart, may I ask +you to deal leniently with that poor +wretch?" and he pointed to the Jew, who +was now crouched shivering in his chains.</p> + +<p>"We but do as we are ordered," returned +the warden unfeelingly. "The officers will +be here presently with the scourge; we can +not prevent that."</p> + +<p>The peddler winced, and Nathan raised a +face full of pity. "Warden," he said, "if +you have a drop of mercy in your heart, if +you hope for mercy for yourself, treat him +as a man. Let him not die for want of a +pittance of water."</p> + +<p>He turned the sleeve of his loose garment +back to expose the emaciated arm with the +bones showing through the loose skin. +"There," he said, "let that touch your +heart, if heart you have, and spare him. +Poor Abraham!"—turning to the peddler—<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">[32]</a></span>"did +I not see you here, the joy of my +release would be unspeakable."</p> + +<p>But Abraham only turned to bestow a +look of hate and malice upon the priest.</p> + +<p>Then Yusuf and Nathan passed out into +the pure, fresh air, now growing cool with +the approach of evening. Never did air +seem so pure and sweet; never did swallows +twitter so gladly; never did the peak of Abu +Kubays shine so gloriously in the sun; +never did the voices of people sound so joyous +or their faces beam so brightly.</p> + +<p>"Come," said Nathan, "to my wife and +children, that we may all return thanks together. +Verily 'Many are the afflictions of +the righteous, but the Lord delivereth him +out of them all.' 'Blessed be God, which +hath not turned away my prayer, nor his +mercy from me.' 'I had fainted unless I +had believed to see the goodness of the Lord +in the land of the living.' 'My flesh faileth, +but God is the strength of my heart, and my +portion forever.'"</p> + +<p>So, uttering exclamations from the pages +of Scripture, did the devout Jew pass onward +to his home, which was once more +filled with "joy and gladness, thanksgiving +and the voice of melody." Before leaving, +Yusuf presented him with the ring containing +the little stone, as a memento of his +deliverance.</p> + +<p>And Abraham? He received the full +weight of the scourge; and may we be pardoned +in anticipating, and say that for two +days he lay nursing his wrath and his +wounds; but, on the third day after his imprisonment, +his agility suddenly returned. +He managed in some inexplicable way +known only to himself to work free of his +fetters, and when the keeper came with +food in the evening, blinded by the dim light +of the cell, he did not perceive the little peddler +crouched in a heap in the middle of the +floor.</p> + +<p>Scarcely was the door opened when the +Jew bounced like a ball past the keeper's +feet, almost upsetting him; then, darting like +an arrow between the astonished guards +without, he was off. A hue and cry was +raised, but the little peddler had disappeared +as completely as if the earth had +opened up and swallowed him.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IX" id="CHAPTER_IX"></a>CHAPTER IX.</h2> + +<h3>AMZI AT MEDINA.</h3> + +<div class="chpoem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"With half-shut eyes ever to seem<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Falling asleep in a half dream!<br /></span> +<span class="i0">To dream and dream like yonder amber light<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Which will not leave the myrrh-bush on the height."<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p class="cite">—<i>Tennyson.</i><br /></p> + + +<p><span class="dropcap032"><span class="dropcap">W</span></span>ithout entering +into detail it may be +briefly stated that +the success of Mohammed's +disciples +in Medina was +simply marvelous. +Converts joined +them every day, +while those who +were not prepared to +believe in the Meccan's divine mission were +at least anxious to see and hear the prophet.</p> + +<p>Amzi did no work in behalf of the new +religion. He was simply an onlooker, +though not an unsympathetic one; and, it +must be confessed, he spent most of his time +in that voluptuous do-nothingness in which +the wealthy Oriental dreams away so much +of his time,—sitting or reclining on perfumed +cushions, a fan in his hand and a +long pipe at his mouth, too languid, too listless, +even to talk; listening to the soft murmur +of Nature's music, the night-wind sighing +through the trees beneath a star-gemmed +sky, the song of a solitary bulbul warbling +plaintively among the myrtle and oleander +blooms, the plash of a fountain rippling +near with "a sound as of a hidden brook in +the leafy month of June"; this, the exquisite +languor of the East, "for which the +speech of England has no name," the "Kaif" +of the Arab, the drowsy falseness of the +Lotos-eaters' ideal:</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0"><ins class="correction" title="Transcriber's Note: missing quote mark in original">"Death</ins> is the end of life; ah, why<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Should life all labor be?<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Let us alone."<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">[33]</a></span>And so the months went by, until at last +a band of emissaries, to the number of seventy, +was appointed to take a journey to +Mecca for the purpose of meeting with Mohammed +and discussing +with him the advisability +of his taking +up his residence +at Medina.</p> + +<p>A herald brought +news of this embassy +to the prophet. He +went forth to meet +them, and Yusuf, +hearing by chance of +the appointed conference, +set out posthaste +after Mohammed's +party, eager to +get even a pressure +of the hand from +Amzi, his heart's +brother, who he felt +sure would accompany +the emissaries. +In order to overtake +them more quickly, +he proceeded with a +trusty guide by a +shorter route across +the hills.</p> + +<p>The night was exceptionally +dark, and +even the guide became +confused. The +way led on and on between +the interminable +hills, until the +two in complete uncertainty +reined their +steeds on the verge of +a cliff that seemed to +overhang a deep and +narrow basin, +bounded by flinty rock which even in the +darkness loomed doubly black, and which +rang beneath the horses' feet with that peculiar, +metallic sound that proclaimed it +black basalt, the "hell-stone" of the Arabs.</p> + +<p>It was indeed an eerie spot. A thick +fringe of thorny shrubs grew along the edge +of the cliff; at intervals yawned deep fissures, +across which the wise little Arabian +ponies stepped gingerly; and above, outlined +in intense black against the dark sky, were +numerous peaks and pinnacles and castellated +summits, such as the Arabs love to +people with all manner of genii and evil +spirits of the waste and silent wilderness. +It was a spot likely to be infested with rob<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">[34]</a></span>bers, +and Yusuf and his guide waited in +some trepidation while considering what +to do.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 302px;"> +<a href="images/p033.jpg"><img src="images/p033thum.jpg" width="302" height="400" alt=""Hold!" cried a voice from the air above." /></a> +<span class="caption">"Hold!" cried a voice from the air above.—See <a href="#Page_34">page 34</a>.</span> +</div> + +<p>Presently a dull trampling sounded in the +distance. It came nearer and nearer, and +the two lone wanderers on the cliff scarcely +dared to breathe.</p> + +<p>The tread of camels was soon discernible, +the <ins class="correction" title="Transcriber's Note: original reads "Ikh! "Ikh!"">"Ikh! Ikh!"</ins> (the sound used to make +camels kneel) of the camel-drivers rising +from the dark pass below to the ears of the +men above. Apparently the party was about +to make a halt in the dark basin; and should +it prove to be a band of hill-robbers, Yusuf +and his companion were in a precarious position, +for the slightest sound made by them +or their ponies would probably prove the +signal for an onslaught; but by patting and +quieting the animals, they managed to keep +their restlessness in check and so waited, +scarcely knowing what to do next.</p> + +<p>Ere ten minutes had elapsed, however, the +tread of camels was again heard, and another +party came in from the opposite direction, +halting at the other end of the ravine. +A call was sounded and at once answered +by the body immediately below. The new-comers +advanced, and mutual recognitions +seemed to take place, although Yusuf could +distinguish neither the voices nor the words.</p> + +<p>The parties were, in reality, those of Mohammed +and the emissaries of Medina, who +at once opened negotiations. After the salutations +were over, they extended to Mohammed +a formal invitation to Medina.</p> + +<p>"We will receive you as a confederate, +obey you as a leader, and defend you to the +last extremity, even as we defend our wives +and children," said the spokesman.</p> + +<p>"For your gracious invitation accept my +most hearty thanks," said Mohammed. "My +work is not yet ended in Mecca, yet ere long +I hope to pay at least a visit to you, O believers +of Medina."</p> + +<p>"But," said the leader, "if you are recalled +to your own district you will not forsake +us?"</p> + +<p>"All things," replied Mohammed, "are +now common between us. Your blood is my +blood. Your ruin is my ruin. We are +bound to each other by the ties of honor and +interest. I am your friend and the enemy +of your foes."</p> + +<p>He then chose twelve of the men to be the +especial heralds of his faith, and all, placing +their hands in his, swore fealty to him +in life and in death.</p> + +<p>"If we are killed in your service, what +shall be our reward?" asked one of the number.</p> + +<p>"Paradise!" cried the prophet. "Vales of +eternal rest and felicity, odors of sweet +spices on the air, blessed spirits to—"</p> + +<p>"Hold!" cried a voice from the air above. +"Who are you, Mohammed, who can dare +to promise that which belongs to the Creator +alone? Impostor, take heed!"</p> + +<p>It was only Yusuf, who, in his anxiety to +discover if the gloomy vale were indeed the +nest of some daring mountain chief, had +noiselessly descended to an overhanging +ledge, and had heard the last confident assertion +of the prophet.</p> + +<p>But the utmost consternation fell upon the +Arabs below. Some, believing the voice to +be that of a demon of the rock, were seized +with sudden panic; others shouted excitedly, +"Spies! spies!" and the assembly broke up +in confusion, all scurrying off, leaving Yusuf +and his guide again alone on the rock.</p> + +<p>"Amzi! Amzi!" shouted the priest, with a +forlorn hope that his friend might have lingered +behind the fleeing party; but the only +response was the beat of hoofs flying in +every direction, and the dull thud of the +camels' padded feet. There was nothing +better to be done than wait until morning, +so Yusuf and the guide lay down on the +hard rock for the rest of the night.</p> + +<p>For some time after this affairs seemed to +be at a standstill. Mohammed still continued +to preach, now from the hill Safa, +now from the knoll El Akaba at the north of +the town.</p> + +<p>His wife, Cadijah, had died some time before, +and he had since married a widow, +Sawda, and become betrothed to a child, +Ayesha, the daughter of his friend and disciple, +Abu Beker.</p> + +<p>But events in Mecca were fast hastening +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">[35]</a></span>to a crisis. Abu Sofian, still the most mortal +enemy to Mohammed and his religion, had +succeeded Abu Taleb in the government of +Mecca, and no sooner had he become head +of the state than he determined to crush +Mohammed, and exterminate his religion at +any cost. A plot for the assassination of the +prophet was formed. Several of the tribe +of the Koreish and their allies were appointed +to kill Mohammed, in order to avert +the blood-revenge of Mohammed's immediate +kin, the Haschemites, who, it was +thought, would not dare to avenge themselves +upon such numerous and such scattered +foes.</p> + +<p>The attack was planned with the utmost +secrecy in the cellar of a house, and at a +time but the space of three hours before daybreak, +when all Mecca lay chained in slumber.</p> + +<p>Yet not all. Abraham, the Jew, was, as +usual, on the alert. Since his escape he had +been prowling about the hills, penniless, and +hence unable to leave the district. He had +now come down to steal food, for necessity, +in his eyes, rendered any such proceeding +pardonable; and, perceiving a mysterious +light issuing from a chink in the wall, his +natural curiosity asserted itself. He lay +down flat on the ground, put his ear to the +chink, and succeeded in hearing every word +of the plot.</p> + +<p>Here, then, was a chance to gain favor +and protection from at least a few in Mecca. +He would disclose the plot to Mohammed +and his vizier, and beseech their protection +as the price of his services as a savior of +the prophet's life. Accordingly, a couple of +hours before the time appointed for the +assassination, and as soon as the cover of +darkness rendered his own appearance in +the city safe, he hastened to the prophet.</p> + +<p>No time was to be lost. Mohammed, accompanied +by Abu Beker and the Jew, at +once fled; while Ali, to deceive the spies, +and keep them as long as possible in check, +wrapped himself in the prophet's green +cloak, moved round with it on for some +time, and at last lay down on Mohammed's +bed.</p> + +<p>When the assassins entered, intending to +rush upon the sleeping form and destroy it, +Ali threw the cloak off and sat up. In the +meantime the fugitives had reached the cave +of Thor, three miles distant, from whence, +after three days, they escaped to Medina.</p> + +<p>This was the famous flight of the prophet, +the Hegira, or Hejra, in the year 622 A.D. +and about the fifty-third year of Mohammed's +age.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_X" id="CHAPTER_X"></a>CHAPTER X.</h2> + +<h3>MOHAMMED'S ENTRANCE INTO MEDINA.</h3> + +<div class="chpoem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i10">"Oh, it is excellent<br /></span> +<span class="i0">To have a giant's strength: but it is tyrannous<br /></span> +<span class="i0">To use it like a giant."<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p class="cite">—<i>Shakespeare.</i><br /></p> + + +<p><span class="dropcap035"><span class="dropcap">O</span></span>nce more after the +lapse of years let us +look at Amzi as he +sat one morning in +his house at Medina.</p> + +<p>The cool and pleasant +atmosphere of the +town in contrast with the +burning, breathless heat of +Mecca had charmed him. +He had immediately purchased a house and +furnished it with the luxurious splendor +which suited his rather voluptuous taste.</p> + +<p>The apartment in which he sat was in the +middle story, the one sacred to the men in +a house of Medina. Rich Persian carpets +were on the floor, rugs of Inde were scattered +about and piled with cushions filled +with softest down. Low divans invited repose, +and heavy curtains of yellow silk shut +out the too bright glare of day. The ceiling, +after the Persian fashion, was inlaid with +mirrors, fitted in in different patterns, and +divided by carved sticks of palm, stained +red; and the sweet odor of richest perfumes +of Arabia-Felix spread through the room as +if emanating from the silken hangings of +the wall.</p> + +<p>The window was open, and the breeze +from the east, bearing, as it were, tales of +the Nejd, the land of brave men and beauti<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">[36]</a></span>ful +women, swayed the curtains softly. +Outside, in the sloping garden, waved the +graceful branches of the tamarisk, glittering +with dew in the early morning sun; and +near the window a jujube tree stretched its +dark, shining leaves and yellow fruit temptingly +near. Acacias with sweet-scented yellow +blossoms, oleanders glowing with rosy +bloom, and a thicket of silver-leaved castors +separated the little plot from the gardens +below, where grew gourds and cucumbers, +lime and fig trees, grape-vines, water-melons +and pomegranates; and beyond that lay a +bright patch of Bursim, or Egyptian clover, +like a yellow-green island on a darker sea.</p> + +<p>Amzi, comfortably habited in a jubbeh of +pink silk, worn over a caftan of fine white +silk flowered with green and confined by a +fringed, yellow sash at the waist, reclined +in a position of luxurious ease at the window. +Between his plump fingers he held the +amber stem of a handsomely carved pipe. +He looked scarcely older than when on that +memorable journey in which he first met +Yusuf. His eye was still as bright, his hair +scarcely more gray, and his cheek as ruddy +as then; yet there was a somewhat discontented +look on his face.</p> + +<p>His eye wandered over the rich garden +before him, and he thought of barren, ashen +Mecca. Then he looked restlessly back over +the landscape below. Surely it was fair +enough to calm a restless spirit.</p> + +<p>Immediately before, and to the eastward, +the sun had risen out of a mass of lilac and +rose-colored cloud. The tufted trees on the +distant hills stood black and distinct against +the splendor of the sky. To the right the +date-groves of Kuba, famed throughout +Arabia, struggled through a sea of mist +that piled and surged in waves of amber +and purple, leaving the tree tops like islands +on a vapory sea. To the left the seared and +scoriæ-covered crest of Mount Ohod rose, +dark and scowling, like a grim sentinel on +the borders of an Elysian valley. In the +rear lay the plain of El Munakhah, and the +rush of the torrent El Sayh was borne on the +breeze, bearing the willing mind beyond to +the cool groves of Kuba, whence this raging +flood dispersed itself in gentle rills, or was +carried in silent channels to turn the water-wheels, +or to fall, with musical plash, into +wooden troughs that lay deep in the shade.</p> + +<p>The ripple of water,—ah, what it means to +Arabian ears! Little wonder that the inhabitant +of the desert land never omits it from +his idea of paradise, save in his conception +of the highest heaven,—a conception not +lacking in sublimity—that of a silent looking +upon the face of God.</p> + +<p>In the immediate foreground lay El +Medina itself, with its narrow streets, its +busy bazars, its fair-skinned people, and its +low, yellow, flat-roofed houses, each with its +well and court-yard, nestling cozily among +the feathery-fronded date-trees.</p> + +<p>From the Eastern Road, a caravan from +the Nejd was descending slowly into the +town, and so clear was the atmosphere that +Amzi could distinguish the huge, white +dromedaries, and catch an occasional glint +of a green shugduf, or the gorgeous litter of +a grandee, trapped in scarlet and gold.</p> + +<p>It was indeed a fair scene, and Amzi enjoyed +it to the full with the keen enjoyment +of one who possesses an esthetic temperament, +an intense love of the beautiful. Yet +he began to feel lonely in this town of his +adoption. It was long since he had seen +Yusuf, and he commenced to think seriously +of returning for a time to Mecca.</p> + +<p>Besides, he was tired of waiting for Mohammed's +long-deferred visit, and he was +anxious again to see the man whose strange +fascination over him he scarcely dared to +acknowledge even to himself. The emptiness +and idleness of his own life was beginning +to pall upon him, and he compared unfavorably +his sluggish existence with the +busy, quietly energetic way in which Yusuf +was spending his days.</p> + +<p>One source of unfailing pleasure to him +had been the companionship of Dumah, who +had followed him to Medina, but was wandering +about as usual, returning to Amzi +when tired or hungry, as a birdling returns +to its mother's wing.</p> + +<p>And Amzi had almost a mother's love for +the boy, for poor Dumah seemed a child +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">[37]</a></span>still; he had grown but little, his face was +paler than of old, his eyes were as large and +blue, and his bright hair fell in the same +soft curls above his regular and clear-cut +features. Like Yusuf, Amzi felt that the +orphan's very helplessness was an appeal to +his heart, and he did not lock its doors.</p> + +<p>Dumah now came in wearily. He lay down +at Amzi's feet and put his head on his knee. +The Meccan stroked his soft hair gently.</p> + +<p>"Where has my Dumah been?" he asked +tenderly.</p> + +<p>"Watching the people going out foolishly. +Dumah would not go with them."</p> + +<p>"Going where, lad?"</p> + +<p>"Out to the gardens where the lotus blows, +and the date-palms wave, and the citron +and orange grow."</p> + +<p>"And why go they, then, foolishly?" +smiled Amzi.</p> + +<p>"Because they go to meet him, and they +are carrying white robes, and they will bring +him in as a prince,—the wicked one, who +would place himself above our blessed Master!"</p> + +<p>Amzi started up quickly, and threw his +pipe down.</p> + +<p>"Is Mohammed here?" he cried.</p> + +<p>"He is here. But you will not go too, +Amzi? Alas that I told you! The angels I +see in my dreams do not smile, they look +away and vanish when I think of Mohammed. +Yusuf does not love him! Let not +Amzi!" pleaded the orphan.</p> + +<p>But the Meccan was gone. Hastening on +towards the outskirts of the city, he met a +great crowd of people, pressing about Mohammed +and Abu Beker, each of whom was +dressed in a white garment, and riding triumphantly +upon a white camel, the prophet +being mounted on his own beast El Kaswa.</p> + +<p>The little peddler, assigning himself a +lower place, rode behind on a pack-mule.</p> + +<p>Mohammed had come, and was, from the +very beginning, a monarch, surrounded by +an army of blind devotees, believers in his +holy mission, and slavishly obedient to his +will.</p> + +<p>Amzi took the prophet to his house, and +there entertained him as a respected Meccan +friend, until Mohammed's home was erected. +It was at Amzi's house, too, that the nuptials +of Mohammed and the beautiful +Ayesha, also those of Ali and the prophet's +daughter Fatimah, took place.</p> + +<p>One of Mohammed's first acts was to have +a mosque built, and, from it, morning and +night the call to prayers was given:</p> + +<p>"God is great! There is no God but God! +Mohammed is the prophet of God! Come to +prayers. Come to prayers! God is great!"</p> + +<p>And from this mosque Mohammed exhorted +with wondrous eloquence, the music +of his voice falling like a spell on the multitudes, +as they listened to teachings new and +more living than the old, dead, superstitious +idolatry to which they were in bondage; yet, +had they known it, teachings whose choicest +gems were but crumbs borrowed from the +words of One who had preached in all +meekness and love on the shores of Galilee +and the hills of Palestine more than six hundred +years before.</p> + +<p>They listened in wonder to condemnation +of their belief in polytheism.</p> + +<p>"In the name of the most merciful God," +Mohammed would say, "say God is one +God, the Eternal God; he begetteth not, +neither is he begotten, and there is not +anyone like unto him!" Thus did he aim +at the foundation of Christianity, seeking +to overthrow belief in the "only begotten +Son of God" as a divine factor of the +Trinity. Jesus he recognized as a prophet, +not as God's own Son; and, while he borrowed +incessantly from the Scriptures, he +refused to accept them, declaring that they +had become perverted, and that the original +Koran was a volume of Paradise, from +which Gabriel rendered him transcripts, and +was, therefore, the true word of God which +had been laid from time everlasting on what +he called the "preserved table," close to the +throne of God in the highest heaven.</p> + +<p>And yet, during the greater part of his +career, the utterances of this strange, incomprehensible +man were characterized by a +seemingly real glow of philanthropy and an +earnest solicitude for the salvation of his +countrymen from the depths of moral and +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">[38]</a></span>spiritual degradation into which they had +fallen. A missionary spirit seemed to be in +him, in strange contrast and incompatibility +with the sacrilegious words that often fell +from his lips.</p> + +<p>In all the records of history there is nothing +more wonderful than the marvelous success +which attended Mohammed at Medina. +Staid and sober merchantmen, men with +gray heads, fiery youths, proselytes from the +tribes of the desert, even women, flocked to +him every day; and he soon realized that he +had a vast army of converts ready to live or +die for him, ready to fight for him until the +last.</p> + +<p>Amzi, alone, of all his followers, seemed to +stand aloof, half-believing, yet unwilling to +proclaim his belief openly; simply waiting, +as he had waited all his life, to see the truth, +yet too indolent to set out bravely in the +quest. He preferred to look on from aside; +to weigh and calculate motives, actions and +results; to judge men by their fruits, though +the doing so called for long waiting.</p> + +<p>Yet Amzi grew more and more dissatisfied. +He felt, though he knew not its cause, the +want of a rich spiritual life, that empty hollowness +which pleasures of the world and +the mere consciousness of a moral life cannot +satisfy.</p> + +<p>More than once he was tempted to declare +himself a follower of the prophet, but he put +it off until a riper season.</p> + +<p>Poor Dumah noted Amzi's frequent visits +to the mosque with a vague dread. He had +an instinctive dislike of Mohammed, whose +assumptions of superiority to Jesus he understood +in a hazy way, and resented with +all his might.</p> + +<p>One day he entered with a tablet of soft +stone to which a cord was attached. Putting +the cord about Amzi's neck, he said:</p> + +<p>"Amzi, promise your Dumah that you will +wear this always, will you not? Because +Dumah might die, and could not say the +words any more. Promise me!"</p> + +<p>"I promise you," smiled Amzi, and Dumah +left the room contented.</p> + +<p>Amzi turned the tablet over, and read the +familiar words traced upon the soft stone,—the +words recognized as the corner-stone of +Christianity:</p> + +<p>"God so loved the world, that he gave his +only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth +in him should not perish, but have everlasting +life."</p> + +<p>Amzi smiled, and put the tablet in his +bosom.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XI" id="CHAPTER_XI"></a>CHAPTER XI.</h2> + +<h3>MOHAMMED BECOMES INTOLERANT.—WAR.</h3> + +<div class="chquote"><p>"Our virtues disappear when put in competition +with our interests, as rivers lose +themselves in the ocean."—<i>La Rochefoucauld.</i></p><br /></div> + + +<p><span class="dropcap038"><span class="dropcap">T</span></span>hirteen years had now +passed since Mohammed +first began to meditate in the +Cave of Hira. During all that +time he had preached peace, +love and gentleness. With +power, however, came a +change in his opinions. He +became not only pastor of his +flock, and judge of the people, but also commander +of an army. Worldly ambition took +possession of his breast, and the voice of him +who had cried, "Follow the religion of +Abraham, who was orthodox and was no +idolater. Invite men unto the way of the +Lord by wisdom and mild exhortation.... +Bear opposition with patience, but thy patience +shall not be practicable unless with +God's assistance. And be not thou grieved +on account of the unbelievers. Let there be +no violence in religion,"—now began to call, +"War is enjoined you against the infidels. +Fight therefore against the friends of Satan, +for the stratagem of Satan is weak. And +when the months wherein ye shall not be +allowed to attack them be past, kill the +idolaters wherever ye shall find them, and +besiege them, and lay wait for them in every +convenient place. Verily God hath purchased +of the true believers their souls and +their substance, promising them the enjoyment +of Paradise on condition that they +fight for the cause of God. Whether they +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">[39]</a></span>slay or be slain, the promise for the same is +assuredly due by the law, and the Gospel, +and the Koran."</p> + +<p>Clemency, he claimed, had been the instrument +of Moses; wisdom, that of +Solomon; righteousness, that of Christ; and +now the sword was to be the instrument of +Mohammed.</p> + +<p>"The sword," he exclaimed, with flashing +eye, "is the key of heaven and hell. All who +draw it in the cause of the faith will be rewarded +with temporal advantages; every +drop shed of their blood, every peril endured +by them, will be registered on high as more +meritorious than fasting or prayer. If they +fall in battle, their sins will at once be +blotted out, and they will be transported to +paradise!"</p> + +<p>This fierce, intolerant spirit took possession +of Mohammed almost from his entrance +into Medina. Chapter after chapter of the +Koran was produced, breathing the same +blood-thirsty, implacable hatred of opposition. +Mohammed, in fact, seemed like one +possessed in his enthusiasm, but his doctrines +caught the fancy of the wild, impressionable +Arabs, who flocked to him in +crowds as his fame spread throughout the +length and breadth of El Hejaz, throughout +the Nejd, and even to the extremities of Arabia-Felix.</p> + +<p>And now the bloody cloud of war hovered +over the peninsula, and the people trembled.</p> + +<p>The following letter from Amzi will describe +the outbreak.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 100px;"> +<img src="images/p039.png" width="23" height="24" alt="A" /> +<a name="FNanchor_9_9" id="FNanchor_9_9"></a><a href="#Footnote_9_9" class="fnanchor">[9]</a> +</div> + +<p class="letter">From Amzi the Meccan, at Medina,<br /> +To Yusuf the priest, Mecca.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>My Dear Yusuf:—</p> + +<p>I can scarcely describe the emotions with +which I write you again after a six months' interval. +Affairs here in Medina have taken such +an unlooked-for turn that I scarcely know +what to think or what to do.</p> + +<p>Of Mohammed's wonderful progress, you +have, of course, heard. You should see him +now, my dear Yusuf,—Mohammed, the peaceful +trader, the devout hermit, now little less than +monarch, with all the sway assumed by the +most powerful despot; and yet those over whom +he wields his despotism are but too willing +servants, ready to say as he says, and to give +their dearest heart's blood in his cause.</p> + +<p>Indeed I know not what the outcome of it all +will be. What astonishes me most is that Mohammed +has suddenly assumed an aggressive +attitude. Fire and the sword seem to be the +watchword of him whom we knew as the gentle +husband of Cadijah, the mild preacher who +bowed his head and reviled not even when assailed +with mud and filth in the Caaba.</p> + +<p>Needless to say, Yusuf, I am disappointed in +him. You will be only too glad to hear that. I +hear that you have been exhorting the people +in Mecca to pay no heed to him; that you have +been seeking to promulgate your Hebrew faith, +or rather the faith of your Hebrew friend, of +whose innocence and release I was glad to hear.</p> + +<p>My brother, I pride in your courage, and in +the strength of your principles; yet, Yusuf, I +beseech of you, be careful what you do or say, +lest you draw down upon your head a storm of +fury which you little expect. You have no idea +of the revolution of feeling here in Mohammed's +favor, and of the fanatic zeal of many +of his followers. Be not too bold. You cannot +cope single-handed with such an overwhelming +tide.</p> + +<p>The past month, as you know, was the holy +month Radjab, in which, as in the month of +Ramadhan, throughout all El Hejaz, life +should be held sacred, and no act of violence +committed. Can you believe it when I tell you +that the prophet's men have attacked more +than one caravan of quiet traders and pilgrims +upon their way to or from Mecca? Such a +sacrilege seems unpardonable in Arab eyes, but, +forsooth, the prophet has been favored with another +revelation justifying him in what he has +done.</p> + +<p>This, more than aught else, makes me wonder. +You, Yusuf, know what a lover of peace +I have been; how it has ever grieved me to see +even a butterfly fluttering along the ground +with a crushed wing. Judge, then, of my horror, +when I went out to the scene of the pillage +and saw men lying, some dead, with ghastly +faces glaring up at the hot sun, others with +gaping wounds, and others moaning pitifully +on the road-way, with sand on their faces and +in their hair. Yusuf, it made me sick to see it. +Had they been slain in fair battle I could have +borne it better. Yet I was enabled to give the +poor wounded creatures some water, all warm +as it was from being carried so long a distance; +and some of them I had conveyed to my house, +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">[40]</a></span>so that every bed-chamber has been turned into +a sick-room, and your friend Amzi has been +suddenly metamorphosed into a sick-nurse. +Does that astonish you?</p> + +<p>Yet, Yusuf, though I get little sleep any +night, and have to be on my feet much during +the day, I can assure you that I was never so +happy in my life before. The constant occupation, +and the sense of being able to render the +poor creatures a little ease, is just what I need +at present to keep me from growing moody.</p> + +<p>The other day I saw some one who knows of +you—Uzza, the Oman Arab. How or why he +has come here I know not; but he is one of +Mohammed's most devoted followers. For your +sake, I hope you may not meet him in Medina.</p> + +<p>I knew him, years ago, at Oman, and had letters +from him for a time after he went to Persia. +Perhaps that will read you the riddle as +to how I knew so much of your past history, +my priest. Recognizing your name, and noting +your priestly bearing, it was an easy matter +to connect you with the Guebre Yusuf, of +whom I had heard.</p> + +<p>I am convinced that you are looking after my +Meccan affairs as closely as possible, yet remember +that Amzi has a house in Medina, too, +which has ever a door open for you.</p> + +<p>Dumah sends his love. The poor lad is +greatly excited over the stirring events which +are the talk of the town here.</p> + +<p>Commend me to your friend Nathan and his +family. Trusting to see or to hear from you +soon,</p></div> + +<p class="sign">And the peace,<br /> +Amzi.</p> + +<p>To this letter Yusuf returned the following +answer:</p> + +<p class="letter">Yusuf, at Mecca,<br /> +To Amzi the Benevolent, Medina.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>My Heart's Brother:—</p> + +<p>Your most welcome letter lies before me, and +it is quite unnecessary to say with what +mingled feelings of pleasure and pain I read it,—pleasure, +because, whether you will it or not, +your confidence in this false prophet is tottering; +pain, because of the marvelous power +which this Mohammed seems to be wielding +over your excitable Arab populace. Strange, +indeed, is his new attitude; we had not deemed +him possessed of a martial spirit; yet may we +hope that this procedure will be but as the +stone which shall crush his ends, falling upon +his own head.</p> + +<p>It is possible that I may be in Medina ere +long. I am impatient to see you and our poor +Dumah again.</p> + +<p>And so Uzza is there, too, to bring up afresh +the darkest page of my history; for Amzi, it +was I, in my fanatic zeal, who induced the +Persian grandmother to give up his child for +sacrifice. Scarcely was it over when, even in +my heathen darkness, my whole soul revolted +against what I had done, and against the faith +which had sanctioned such deeds of blood. +It was then that I began to think and strive +against the mists of darkness, until at last I +fought away from the creed of my country.</p> + +<p>I fear not to meet Uzza, although I know +that he bears me no good-will, and would not +refrain from the assassin's knife did it satisfy +his wish for blood-revenge.</p> + +<p>Our friend, Nathan, and his family are well. +Did I tell you that they have gone to live near +Tayf?</p> + +<p>I spent a pleasant day with them not long +ago. They have a little cabin in the mountains, +and Nathan has a few flocks which he +herds out on the green hill-sides. They are all +so happy, and so contented with their pastoral +mode of living that they think of moving back +into Palestina, as the pasturage is better there. +It will be a long journey, but, with the consciousness +of the Father's care over them, and +the bond of love to shorten the way, they will +not mind it. Nathan's wife, in particular, is +anxious to return to her childhood's home, and +never wearies of telling her children stories of +her girlhood days, when she and her sister, +whom she still loves passionately, watched their +sheep on the hills of Hebron.</p> + +<p>Mary and Manasseh have grown quite tall. +Manasseh is almost a man, fiery and impetuous +as ever, yet wise beyond his years, and a devout +Christian.</p> + +<p>Nathan is very happy. After all his trials he +has perfect rest. His face almost beamed +when he said to me in the words of the Psalmist, +"Unless the Lord had been my help, my +soul had almost dwelt in silence. When I said, +My foot slippeth, thy mercy, O Lord, held me +up. For the Lord is my defence, and my God +is the rock of my refuge."</p> + +<p>He is very anxious about the hostile attitude +which Mohammed has taken. "God grant," +he said, "that there may not be another season +of persecution. If there be, and the Lord will, +I shall stay at Medina to comfort, if I may, my +poor brethren there. 'Blessed are they which +are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for +theirs is the kingdom of heaven.' God grant +that we may all be imbued with the spirit of +him who said, 'Love your enemies, bless them +that curse you, do good to them that hate you, +and pray for them that despitefully use you.' +Yet, Yusuf, it may be that we shall be forced +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">[41]</a></span>to defend our lives, and those of our wives and +children,—God knoweth. He will direct us, if +we permit him, so that, living or dying, it shall +be well with us."</p> + +<p>Is not such love, such comfort in the help and +presence and sympathy of God, worth more, infinitely +more, than power or wealth or worldly +pleasure? Nothing that happens can overwhelm +this happy family, for they have the +consciousness of God's love and care in all. +They have Jesus for a personal friend. Amzi, +what would I not give to know that you felt +as they do, and as I learn to feel, more and +more, every day.</p> + +<p>My friend, I could keep on in this strain for +the whole night; but I am weary, for to-day I +talked for many hours with some of those who +are half-apostatizing to Mohammed.</p> + +<p>So, Mizpah; and may the blessing of God be +upon you.</p></div> + +<p class="sign">Yusuf.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XII" id="CHAPTER_XII"></a>CHAPTER XII.</h2> + +<h3>WHEREIN THE BEDOUIN YOUTH KEDAR +BECOMES A MOSLEM.</h3> + +<div class="chpoem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Mine honor is my life: both grow in one;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Take honor from me, and my life is done."<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p class="cite">—<i>Shakespeare.</i><br /></p> + + +<p><span class="dropcap041"><span class="dropcap">T</span></span>he scene again opens +far to the north of +the Nejd, El Shark, +or the East. Into +one of its most favored +spots, a green +and secluded valley, +surrounded by +grassy slopes, the +sun shone with the +fresh brightness of early morning, sending +floods of green-gold light through the leaves +Of the acacias, now covered with yellowish +blossoms heavy with perfume.</p> + +<p>By the side of a little torrent, rose the +black tents of a Bedouin encampment. +Flocks were on the hill-side, and the tinkling +of the camel-bells and soft bleat of the +lambs sounded faintly from the distance.</p> + +<p>At the head of the valley, upon a rounded +boulder of granite sat a woman; and before +her stood a young man to whom she was +earnestly talking, at times stretching out her +hands as though she were beseeching him +for some favor.</p> + +<p>The woman was tall and well-built, her +eyes were large and dark, and their brilliancy +increased, according to Bedouin custom, +by the application of kohl to the lids. +Her face was keen and intelligent, and her +hair, braided in innumerable small plaits, +and surmounted by a much bespangled +head-dress, was slightly streaked with gray.</p> + +<p>The youth was slight and agile, his every +movement full of grace. His face was oval, +regular in its contour, and full of expression, +although the Jewish cast of his features had +traces of Arab blood. He seemed to be in +some excitement, for, with a trait peculiar +to Bedouins, his restless and deep-set eyes +were now half-closed until but a narrow, +glittering line appeared, and now suddenly +opened to their fullest extent and turned +directly upon the woman to whom he talked.</p> + +<p>"Would you have me branded among the +whole tribe as a coward, mother?" he was +saying. "Are not the Bedouin lads from all +over the Nejd flocking to the field, even as +the sparrows flock before the storm clouds +of the north? And will the son of Musa be +the craven, crouching at home in his +mother's nest?"</p> + +<p>"A flock of vultures are they, rather!" she +cried passionately—"Vultures flocking to a +feast of blood, to gloat over the carrion of +brothers, sons, and husbands, left dead on +the reeking plain, while in their solitary +homes the women moan, even as moans the +bird of the tamarisk, robbed of its young."</p> + +<p>"'Tis your Jewish heart speaks now, +mother. Ah, but your Jewish women are +too soft-hearted! Know you not that Bedouin +mothers have not only sent their sons +to battle, but have gone themselves and +fought in the thickest of the fray?"</p> + +<p>"Ah, you are a true Bedouin, and ashamed +of your mother!" returned Lois, with a sigh. +"Truly, a Jewess has no place among the +tribes of the wilderness."</p> + +<p>The youth's face softened. "I am not +ashamed of my mother!" he said, quickly. +"But my blood leaps for the glory of battle, +for the clash of cymbals, the speed of the +charge, the tumult, and the victory!"</p> + +<p>"But a hollow glory you will find it," she +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">[42]</a></span>said scornfully. "Murder and pillage,—and +all sanctioned in the name of religion!"</p> + +<p>"Even so, is not the name of harami (brigand) +accounted honorable among the desert +tribes?" asked the youth, quickly.</p> + +<p>"Alas, yes. Ye reck not that it has been +said, 'Thou shalt not steal.' But you, +Kedar, care not for the Jewish Scripture. +Why need I quote it to you."</p> + +<p>"Arabian religion, Arabian honor, for the +Arab, say I!" returned the youth haughtily. +"Let me roam over the wild on my steed, +racing with the breeze, lance in hand, bound +for the hunt or fray; let me swoop upon the +cowardly caravans whose hundreds shriek +and scream and fall back before a handful +of Bedouin lads, if I will. More honorable +it is to me than to plod along in a shugduf +on a long-legged camel with a bag of corn +or a trifle of cloth to look after. Be the Jew +if you will, but give me the leaping blood, +the soaring spirit of the Bedouin!"</p> + +<p>The woman sighed again. "You will be +killed, Kedar," she said. "Then what will +all this profit you?"</p> + +<p>"To die on the field is more glorious than +to breathe one's life out tamely in bed," replied +the other.</p> + +<p>There was no use of reasoning with this +rash youth.</p> + +<p>"And think you this Mohammed is worthy +of your sacrifice?" she asked.</p> + +<p>"If he be really inspired, as hundreds now +believe, is he not worthy of every sacrifice? +Does he not promise his followers an eternal +felicity?"</p> + +<p>"A vile impostor!" exclaimed the woman +harshly. "Yet you will not believe what I +say, until your own eyes see and your own +ears hear! Go! Go! I shall talk no more to +you! If you fall it shall be no fault of Lois'!"</p> + +<p>She arose and waved him off with an impatient +gesture. Yet he lingered.</p> + +<p>"You will forgive me, mother?" he asked, +gently.</p> + +<p>The woman's mother-heart welled to the +brim. She answered brokenly:</p> + +<p>"My son, my son! Could I do aught else? +Take my blessing with you! And now, here +comes your father."</p> + +<p>Musa was feebler than upon that first +night when he met Yusuf in his tent, and his +hair had become almost white, yet there +was the same dignity in his appearance.</p> + +<p>"Go, Kedar," he said, "and prove that +you are indeed the son of Musa. Go, and +see that you bring back good news of +battle!"</p> + +<p>Kedar bent his head in token of assent.</p> + +<p>Before an hour had passed he was +mounted on the swiftest of his father's +horses—a short, fleshless animal, with legs +thin and of steel-like muscle. But its slender +neck, its small, snake-like head, its +dilating nostrils, through which the light +shone crimson, and its fiery, intelligent eye, +showed its blood as it pawed the ground and +neighed impatiently. A noble animal and a +noble rider they looked as they were off like +an arrow, Kedar's fine figure swaying with +the movement of the steed as though rider +and horse were one.</p> + +<p>All alone went the youth across hill and +valley, over rock and torrent, fearless and +swift as an eagle; for Kedar scorned to seek +the protection of numbers, although quite +aware of the fact that a large caravan, +under Abu Sofian, was even then on its way +from Syria to Mecca, and was within three +hours' journey from him.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIII" id="CHAPTER_XIII"></a>CHAPTER XIII.</h2> + +<h3>ABU SOFIAN'S CARAVAN.</h3> + + +<p><span class="dropcap042"><span class="dropcap">W</span></span>hile Kedar was +thus speeding +towards Medina, +the caravan was +also proceeding +more slowly +towards the +south. It consisted +of thirty +horsemen and +one thousand camels richly +laden with grain, with spices, +with purple of Syria, richest cloths of Da<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">[43]</a></span>mascus, +and choicest perfumes of the northern +regions.</p> + +<p>It was the month Ramadhan, and the +peaceful traders went confidently and securely +on their way, well pleased with the +success of their journey and hopeful in anticipation +of the large gain they were to +make during the great bazar of the pilgrimage.</p> + +<p>While thus proceeding leisurely on, the +leaders were somewhat surprised to see a +solitary rider coming towards them in the +greatest haste. He was mounted on a swift +dromedary, and with head bent down +so that his turban concealed his face, he +kept striking the animal with his short +camel-stick and urging it on with his shrill +"Yákh! Yákh!"</p> + +<p>All breathless he at last reached the caravan. +"Is Abu Sofian here?" he cried.</p> + +<p>"I am Abu Sofian," said the sturdy old +chief. "What do you desire of me?"</p> + +<p>"I have been sent by Amzi the benevolent," +returned the other. "He bids me say +to Abu Sofian that it will be well for the +caravan to advance with the greatest caution, +as Mohammed and his forces are in +ambush on the way."</p> + +<p>"What guarantee have I," said Abu +Sofian, "that you are truly from Amzi the +Meccan, and not an emissary of Mohammed +sent to entrap us into some narrow glen?"</p> + +<p>"Here is your guarantee," replied the +stranger, stretching forth his hand. "Recognize +you not this ring?"</p> + +<p>"It is well," answered Abu Sofian, satisfied. +"We are much beholden to you and to +our friend Amzi, who we had feared was +but too good a friend to this same Mohammed."</p> + +<p>"Can you trust Amzi?" asked one near, +anxiously.</p> + +<p>"As my own soul," returned the leader. +"Amzi's heart is gold; Amzi's words are +jewels of purest luster. He speaks truth." +Then to the messenger, "Know you what +route Mohammed will take?"</p> + +<p>"I know not. He has, doubtless, spies, +who will inform him of your movements, +and thus enable him to act accordingly."</p> + +<p>"Then it remains for us to meet him by +his own tactics," said Abu Sofian, "and no +time is to be lost. You, Omair my faithful, +speed to Mecca with what dispatch you +may. Go by the by-paths which you know +so well. Tell Abu Jahl, whom I have left +in charge, to send us help quickly."</p> + +<p>Omair made obeisance and left at once.</p> + +<p>"You, Akab and Zimmah," continued the +leader, "go by the hills ahead and find out +what you can. As for us, we will keep our +lips closed and our eyes and ears open. Abu +Sofian is not yet so old that he has forgotten +the signs of the wilderness."</p> + +<p>The vast procession moved on again +slowly and in a dead silence, broken only by +the trampling of the beasts and the moans +of the camels.</p> + +<p>Presently, on coming near a spot which +might be deemed hazardous ground, Abu +Sofian ordered a halt and went forward himself, +alone and on foot. With eye on the +alert, ear on a tension to catch the slightest +sound, and body bent downward to facilitate +the closest scrutiny of the ground, the +keen old man proceeded slowly, stepping +with cat-like precision and quietness.</p> + +<p>Suddenly he uttered an exclamation. A +small object lay dark on the yellow sand. +He picked it up. It was a date-stone. He +examined it closely. It was slightly smaller +than the stones of the ordinary fruit.</p> + +<p>"A Medina date!" he exclaimed; "whoever +has thrown it there!"</p> + +<p>Going a few paces further, he found several +similar ones thrown by the wayside. +The trampling of the sand, too, showed +that a considerable force had been on the +road at no distant time.</p> + +<p>He bent down again and directed his keen +scrutiny on the road, then retraced his steps +for a short distance. There were tracks +pointing in both directions, but at one point +the company seemed to have turned.</p> + +<p>It was clear, then, that for some reason +the force had been ordered to turn and go +back for a distance, probably to await the +caravan in some ravine, and that they were +now not very far away. It was necessary, +then, to be as expeditious as possible.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">[44]</a></span>He hastily returned and gave the order +that the route of the caravan be changed, +and that the party should cross over the +hills and proceed by a route close to the Red +Sea until the place of danger was left behind.</p> + +<p>This was accordingly done, and the long +lines passed anxiously yet laboriously onward +over flinty summits, down steep and +rugged hill-sides, past rocky clefts and over +barren desert spots peopled only by the +echoes that rang from the mountain sides, +until at last the sparkling waters of the Red +Sea lay below, and the anxious travelers felt +that, for the present at least, they were safe.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIV" id="CHAPTER_XIV"></a>CHAPTER XIV.</h2> + +<h3>THE BATTLE OF BEDR.</h3> + +<div class="chpoem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"A Prodigy of Fear, and a portent<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Of broached mischief to the unborn times."<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p class="cite">—<i>Shakespeare.</i><br /></p> + + +<p><span class="dropcap044"><span class="dropcap">T</span></span>he afternoon was intensely +warm. Although +the heat of the +day was past, the houses +of Mecca seemed to bake +in the sun, the sand burned +like a furnace, and a visible, +shimmering heat +seemed to fill the air. Nevertheless +the ceremonies of +Tawaf and the ablutions of Zem-Zem went +on unceasingly, for it was the month of Ramadhan, +and the half-naked pilgrims, with +their scanty white garments, shaven heads, +and bare feet, kept up the perpetual promenade +about the temple, even when so hot as +to be ready to drop of exhaustion. The +courtyard was crowded with people, the carriers +of Zem-Zem water were in constant demand, +and, in the cooler recesses of the covered +portico around the great yard, a humming +trade went on, the venders' cries rising +above the prayers of the pilgrims.</p> + +<p>Such was the scene upon which Omair suddenly +staggered, all breathless, with haggard +face, turban awry, and thin wisps of hair +streaming in wet hanks over his brow.</p> + +<p>"Where is Abu Jahl?" he cried, gasping.</p> + +<p>"Why, what is wrong? Tell us!" cried the +curious crowd in some consternation. +"Where is Abu Sofian? Where is the caravan? +Why have you come alone?"</p> + +<p>"Send me Abu Jahl!" was his only reply.</p> + +<p>The old man happened to be at the Caaba, +and came anxiously at the unexpected summons.</p> + +<p>"Omair!" he exclaimed. "Allah! What +has happened?"</p> + +<p>"Send them help!" gasped Omair. "Send +them help at once, or not one in our fair +caravan may escape! Mohammed is lying in +wait for them in the mountain passes."</p> + +<p>"May Allah have mercy!" ejaculated the +old man; and the crowd about shrieked and +groaned.</p> + +<p>"Bring me the stair!" called Abu Jahl. +"Place it close to the Caaba!"</p> + +<p>This done, he ascended to the roof where +all might see him. His snowy beard descended +to his waist over his flowing garments, +and his white locks fell thinly from +beneath his kufiyah.</p> + +<p>Silence fell upon the assembly below, and +from every street men came hurrying in to +hear the strange tidings.</p> + +<p>"In the name of Allah, hear!" called Abu +Jahl in loud tones. "Ye of the tribe of Koreish, +hear! Ye who love Abu Sofian, hear! +Ye who have friends or goods in the great +caravan from Syria, hear! Ye above whom +the arch-impostor, Mohammed, aspires, and +whom he would fain crush beneath his feet +as the vile serpent in the dust, hear! He +hath beset our friends in the fastnesses of +the mountains. He swoopeth upon them as +the eagle upon the defenceless lamb out of +the fold! Who, then, among you, will follow +Abu Jahl to deliver them?"</p> + +<p>An approving murmur rose, long and loud; +then a hush fell as the aged man continued, +appealing to the courage of his hearers:</p> + +<p>"Ye who fear not the foul rebel's sword, +ye who would uphold the honor of your +wives and little ones, nor send your children +out upon the world as the offspring of cowards, +beseech your gods for blessing, then +mount, and meet me as soon as may be out<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">[45]</a></span>side +the temple gates. In the name of Allah, +good-speed!"</p> + +<p>A shout of assent arose. The thoroughly +excited multitude swayed and surged like +the waves of the sea. Hundreds hurried +off to do the behest +of their leader, +and, returning, hastened +to perform +Tawaf about the +Caaba before setting +out on their perilous +journey.</p> + +<p>Yusuf, as a Christian, +dared not enter +the temple; but he +heard the news +from without. His +heart was moved +with compassion for +the poor, defenceless +traders, caught like +mice in a trap, and +he decided to fall +into the ranks of the +rescue party, intending, +if his life were +spared, to pay a +visit to Amzi, at +Medina.</p> + +<p>While the recruits +were gathering, +Henda, the wife of +Abu Sofian, rushed +up, her face wild +and haggard with +terror, her long +black hair streaming +on the wind, her +eyes flashing with +excitement, and her +lips drawn back, exposing +her yellow, +fang-like teeth. A +tigress she looked in her fury, and it was +with difficulty that Abu Jahl prevented her +from going with the expedition, which, in +the cooler shades of evening, started off at a +rapid pace, leaving her to nurse her vengeance +until a later day.</p> + +<p>Hurried, yet long and tedious, was the +journey, and the anxiety and impatience of +the volunteers made it seem almost interminable.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 309px;"> +<a href="images/p045.jpg"> +<img src="images/p045thum.jpg" width="309" height="400" alt="The youth made a quick lunge, piercing the priest's shoulder." /></a> +<span class="caption">The youth made a quick lunge, piercing the priest's shoulder.—See <a href="#Page_46">page 46</a>.</span> +</div> + +<p>At length news was brought of the safety +of the caravan, and of its deviation towards +the sea. But the blood of the Meccans was +up, and the fiery old leader was determined +to punish Mohammed for his misconduct, +and thus, perhaps, prevent him from committing +similar atrocities in the future. Ac<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">[46]</a></span>cordingly +he sent part of his troops for protection +to the caravan, and commanded the +rest, about nine hundred in number, to push +on; and among those ordered forward to the +field was Yusuf.</p> + +<p>Mohammed, with three hundred and thirteen +soldiers, mounted chiefly on camels, received +word of this advance. His men were +lying between Medina and the sea, and, as +he thought, directly between the caravan +and Abu Jahl's army. He told his men to be +of good cheer, as Allah had promised them +an easy victory; yet he was careful to omit +no human means of securing an advantage. +He posted his troops beside the brook Bedr, +and had them hastily throw up an entrenchment +to cover the flank of his troops. Then, +sure of a constant supply of water, and safe +from fear of surprise, he awaited the Meccan +army.</p> + +<p>He himself ascended a little eminence, +accompanied only by Abu Beker, and, in a +small hut made of branches, he prayed for +the assistance of three thousand angels. In +his excitement, one of his old paroxysms +came on, but this was regarded as auspicious +by his men, to whom, superstitious as they +were, every occurrence of this kind was an +additional presage of victory and an additional +spur to bravery in battle.</p> + +<p>And now the opposing force appeared, +coming down the opposite hill, the men hot, +weary, and covered with dust.</p> + +<p>After a preliminary skirmish between individual +combatants, the battle began,—not +a systematic charge in close ranks, not the +disciplined attack of trained warriors, but a +wild mêlée of camels, horses, flashing +scimitars, gleaming daggers and plunging +spears, in the midst of clouds of dust and +streaming scarfs.</p> + +<p>The combat was long, and at one time the +party of Mohammed seemed to waver. The +prophet rushed out, threw a handful of +dust into the air and exclaimed:</p> + +<p>"May confusion light upon their faces! +Charge, ye faithful! charge for Allah and his +prophet!"</p> + +<p>Nothing could withstand the wild dash +made by his men. Filled with the passion +of enthusiasm, the zeal of fanatics, and the +confidence of success, they bore down like +madmen. The Koreish, many of whom were +fearful of enchantment by the prophet, were +seized with sudden panic. In vain Abu Jahl +tried to rally them. He was torn from his +horse by a savage Moslem, and his head +severed from his body. His troops fled in +terror, leaving seventy men dead on the field +and seventy prisoners.</p> + +<p>The bodies and prisoners were robbed, and +the spoil divided. Mohammed, in order to +avert dispute over the booty, very conveniently +had a revelation at the time.—"Know +that whenever ye gain any spoil, +a fifth part thereof belongeth unto God, +and to the apostle, and to his kindred, +and the orphans, and the poor, and the +traveler."</p> + +<p>Upon this occasion he claimed a considerable +amount of silver, and a sword, Dhu'l +Fakar (or the Piercer), which he carried in +every subsequent battle.</p> + +<p>During the battle, Yusuf, the priest, had +fought bravely. Mounted on a magnificent +horse, his commanding figure had marked +him out as an object worthy of attack. Accordingly +he was ever in the thickest of the +fight. With cool and calm determination +his blows fell, until suddenly an event occurred +which completely unmanned him, and +gave his enemies the advantage.</p> + +<p>Among the opponents who singled him +out for attack was a youth mounted on a +horse of equal power and agility. The youth +was rather slight, but his skill in thrusting +and in averting strokes, and his evidence of +practice in every exercise of the lance, rendered +him a fitting adversary for the priest +with his superior strength.</p> + +<p>For some time their combat had gone on +single-handed, when the youth's head-dress +falling off revealed a face strikingly familiar +to Yusuf. It was Manasseh's own face, pale, +and with clots of blood upon it!</p> + +<p>The priest was horror-stricken. He <ins class="correction" title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'forebore'">forbore</ins> +to thrust, and the youth, seizing the opportunity, +made a quick lunge, piercing the +priest's shoulder, and felling him to the +ground. A new opponent came and engaged +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">[47]</a></span>the youth's attention; the panic fell, and the +priest, seeing that it was useless to remain, +managed to mount and ride off after the retreating +troops.</p> + +<p>Scarcely injured, yet covered with blood, +he dismounted at Amzi's door in Medina.</p> + +<p>"Yusuf! My brother!" cried the Meccan +in astonishment, "what means this?"</p> + +<p>In a few words Yusuf told the tale of the +battle, and Amzi placed him comfortably +upon a soft couch, insisting upon ministering +to him as though he had been severely +wounded.</p> + +<p>"So, Yusuf the gentle too has become a +seeker of man's blood!" he said. "Verily, +what an effect hath this degenerate age!"</p> + +<p>"Believe me, friend," returned the other, +earnestly, "you too would have gone had +you been in Mecca and had heard of our poor +friends, all unarmed, and apparently in the +power of the enemy. When the advance to +Bedr was ordered, I was one under authority, +and had no choice but to submit, though I +had little enough love for the stench of +blood."</p> + +<p>"Yet," returned Amzi, "Yusuf's life is too +precious to be risked in such madness. It is +not necessary for him to court death; for the +time may soon come when he shall be forced +to fight in self-defence. Till then, let foolish +youths dash to the lance's point if they will."</p> + +<p>Yusuf bowed his head, and in a low tone +replied: "'O God, the Lord, the strength of +my salvation, thou hast covered my head in +the day of battle. He hath delivered my soul +in peace from the battle that was against +me. Yea, though I walk through the valley +of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, +for thou art with me. He that dwelleth in +the secret place of the Most High shall abide +under the shadow of the Almighty. I will +say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my +fortress: my God; in him will I trust.' Amzi, +whether in life or in death, it shall be as he +wills."</p> + +<p>Amzi looked at him curiously. "Yusuf," +he said, "is there no extremity of your life +in which your religion fails to give you comfort? +It seems to furnish you with words +befitting every occasion."</p> + +<p>"Comfort in every hour of need," returned +Yusuf, "deliverance in every hour of temptation, +is our God able to bestow if we seek +him in spirit and in truth. Things temporal, +as well as things spiritual, call for his almighty +love and attention; and our love for +him brightens every pathway in life. It is +the knowledge of this which has upheld his +children in all the ages;—not one of them +who has not gloried in feeling that 'God is +our refuge and strength, a very present help +in time of trouble. Therefore will we not +fear, though the earth be removed, and +though the mountains be carried into the +midst of the sea.' Not one of them but has +at some time found comfort in the promises, +'When the poor and the needy seek water, +and there is none, and their tongue faileth +for thirst, I the Lord will hear them; I, the +God of Israel, will not forsake them. He +that keepeth Israel slumbers not, nor sleeps. +Fear thou not, for I am with thee; be not +dismayed, for I am thy God; I will strengthen +thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold +thee with the right hand of my righteousness.' +Think of this help, Amzi, in every +struggle: in the struggle, worse than any +time of battle, with one's own sinful heart. +And there is not one of God's children but +has realized the blessedness of following the +commands of Jesus, 'Have faith in God. +Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye +shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto +you.' Amzi, you who love gentleness and +peace, truth and humility, cannot you find in +Christ and his loving precepts all you would +ask? Can anything appeal to your warm +heart more than such injunctions as +these?—'Love your enemies, bless them that +curse you, do good to them that hate you, +and pray for them that despitefully use you +and persecute you. When thou doest alms, +let not thy left hand know what thy right +hand doeth. Let your light so shine before +men, that they may see your good works, +and glorify your Father which is in heaven. +Judge not, that ye be not judged. Watch ye, +therefore, and pray always. Pray that ye +enter not into temptation.'"</p> + +<p>He paused, out of breath; for such had +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">[48]</a></span>been his study of the Scriptures that the +words came in a flood to his lips.</p> + +<p>Amzi sighed. "Yes, Yusuf," he said, +"such words seem to me full of goodness +and sweetness; yet, try as I may, I cannot +realize their true import. I cannot rejoice, +as you and your friends do, in your religion +and its promises."</p> + +<p>"My Amzi," returned the priest, "how +can you be warmed except you come to the +fire? Remember the man with the withered +hand. Did he not stretch it out in faith? +My friend, like him, act! Reach out your +heart to God. He will not fail you. Look +not upon yourself. Look upon God, who is, +indeed, closer to you than you can imagine. +Put your hand in his, behold his love manifested +to us in the coming of his dear Son, +and feel that that love is to-day the same, +proceeding from the Father in whom is 'no +variableness, neither shadow of turning.'"</p> + +<p>Amzi sighed. "Yusuf," he said, "it appears +all dark, impenetrable, to me. A wall +of adamant seems to stand between me and +God. Pray for me, friend. In this matter +I fear I am heartless."</p> + +<p>In spite of this assertion, there was genuine +concern in the tone, and the priest's face +flushed in the glad light of hope.</p> + +<p>"Amzi," he exclaimed, "my hope for you +increases. Even now, you begin to realize +your own self: it remains for you to realize +God's self. Know God—would I could burn +that upon your heart! All else would be +made plain."</p> + +<p>Amzi sighed again. For a time he sat in +silence, then he said:</p> + +<p>"I have been reading of the tabernacle, +and of the sacrifices therein."</p> + +<p>"Typical of the death of Christ," returned +Yusuf. "A constant emblem of that mind +which was, and is to-day, ready to suffer, +that we may understand its infinite love."</p> + +<p>"Strange, strange!" said Amzi, musingly. +Then after a long silence: "Yusuf, have +you ever noted the resemblance of the +Caaba to the reputed appearance of the tabernacle?"</p> + +<p>"The resemblance struck me from the first +glance—the courtyard, the temple itself, +and the curtain (or 'Kiswah') corresponding +to the veil of the tabernacle. This same +Caaba may trace its origin in some dim way +to the ancient tabernacle, of which, in this +land, the significance must have become lost +in the centuries during which the Ishmaelitish +race forgot the true worship of God."</p> + +<p>"And what think you of the course which +affairs are now taking in Arabia?" asked +Amzi. "You believe in the supervision of +God; why, then, does he permit such outbreaks +as the present one is proving to be?"</p> + +<p>"I certainly believe that the Creator sees +and knows all things. I believe, too, that +even to Mohammed, at one time in his life, +the Holy Spirit appealed, as he did to me, +and, I hope, does now to you, Amzi,—for his +pleadings come sometime to all men; but, I +think that if in earnest at first, Mohammed—if, +indeed, he be not a monomaniac on the +subject of his divine calling—has given himself +up to the wild indulgence of his ambition, +forgetting Him whose power is able +to direct us all aright. Hence, he guides +himself, rather than seeks to be guided, and, +in such a case, he may sometimes be allowed +to go on in his own way, bearing with him +those who are so foolish as to accept his +teaching. Something of this kind may, indeed, +be one of the secrets of the crimes and +calamities which enter into many human +lives. God leaves us free to choose. When +we come to know him we choose to be his +followers. If we are indifferent to him, he +may, at times, look on without interfering +in our lives except to send us occasionally +great trouble, or great joy, as an appeal to +us. His mercy is great. He pities and +pleads with us, yet he leaves us free."</p> + +<p>"And what, think you, will be the effect +upon Arabia of this rising?"</p> + +<p>Yusuf shook his head. "I know not," he +said. "We cannot see now, nor mayhap +until ages have rolled by; but 'at eventide it +shall be light.'"</p> + +<p>So talked Amzi and the priest until the +gray dawn shone in, and the voice of Bilal, +the muezzin, was heard calling from the +mosque:</p> + +<p>"God is great! There is no God but God!<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">[49]</a></span> +Mohammed is the prophet of God! Come to +prayers! God is great!"</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XV" id="CHAPTER_XV"></a>CHAPTER XV.</h2> + +<h3>THE PERSECUTION BEGINS.</h3> + +<div class="chquote"><p>"In doing good we are generally cold and +languid and sluggish.... But the works of +Malice and Injustice are quite in another +style."—<i>Burke.</i></p><br /></div> + + +<p><span class="dropcap049"><span class="dropcap">A</span></span>mong those left +dead on the field +of Bedr were the +father, uncle and +brother of Henda, +the wife of Abu +Sofian. Fierce +and savage as +was her nature, she was yet +capable of deep feeling, and +her love for her kindred +was one of the ruling passions of her life.</p> + +<p>When the caravan at last reached Mecca +in safety, she rushed to meet Abu Sofian, +weeping wildly, wringing her hands in grief, +and throwing dust on her long hair. She +besought him frantically to avenge their +death, and he, knowing that the debt of +"blood revenge" was now upon him, and +that blood alone would wipe the stain from +his honor, gathered two hundred swift +horsemen and set out almost immediately +for Medina.</p> + +<p>On the way he ravaged the whole country, +burning the villages and date-groves of +Mohammed's followers.</p> + +<p>When within three miles of Medina the +prophet sallied out to meet him. A brief +contest took place, and Abu Sofian was once +more defeated in what was jestingly called +the Battle of the Meal Sacks.</p> + +<p>The Moslems were exultant over their success, +but Abu Sofian returned to Mecca, the +blood-dues still unpaid, and with bitter +enmity gnawing at his heart.</p> + +<p>In the meantime Mohammed began to assume +all the airs of an independent sovereign. +He married a beautiful maiden, +Hafza, to whom he entrusted the care of the +Koran, according as it was revealed; and +shortly afterwards he issued a decree by +which all true believers were ordered to face +Mecca when praying. Thus early in his +career of conquest he had fixed upon Mecca +as the future holy city of the Moslems. As +usual, the Koran was called in to authorize +him in thus fixing the Kebla, or point of +prayer.</p> + +<p>"Unto God belongeth the East and the +West. He directeth whom he pleaseth in +the right way. Turn, therefore, thy face +towards the holy temple of Mecca; and +wherever ye be, turn your faces towards +that place."</p> + +<p>At this time also he sanctioned the retaining +of the holy fast of Ramadhan and the +pilgrimages connected therewith. As he +was well aware that the doing away with +the great bazar upon which the prosperity +of Mecca so largely depended would loose a +host of enemies upon him, he declared:</p> + +<p>"O true believers, a fast is ordained you, +as it was ordained unto them before you, +that ye may fear God. The month of +Ramadhan shall ye fast, in which the Koran +was sent down from heaven, a direction +unto men."</p> + +<p>Henceforth, during the fast, all true believers +were to abstain from eating or drinking, +and from all earthly pleasures, while +the sun shone above the horizon and until +the lamps at the mosques were lighted by +the Imaums. It is needless to say that the +Moslems obviated this self-sacrifice by +sleeping during the day as much as possible, +giving the night up to all the proscribed indulgences +of the interdicted season.</p> + +<p>And now Mohammed's hatred to the Jews +began to show itself, and the awful persecution +of the little Jewish band in Medina +commenced.</p> + +<p>Poor Dumah was one of the first to bring +the rod of wrath upon himself. When wandering +down the street one day, not very +long after the Battle of Bedr, he paused by +a well, just as Mohammed, accompanied by +his faithful Zeid, appeared in the way. +Dumah saw them and at once began to sing +his thoughts in a wild, irregular lament. His +voice was peculiarly sweet and clear, and +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">[50]</a></span>every word reached the ear of the enraged +prophet. The song was a weird lament +over those slain at Bedr:</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"They are fallen, the good are fallen,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Low in the dust they are fallen;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And their hair is steeped in blood;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">But the poison-wind shrieks above them,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Sighing anon like the cushat,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And breathing its curses upon him,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Upon him, the chief of impostors.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">As he passes the leaflets tremble,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And the flowers shrink from his pathway;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And the angels smile not upon him,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">For he maketh the widow and orphan;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And the voice of Rachel riseth<br /></span> +<span class="i0">In mourning loud for her children.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And no comfort doth fall upon her.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Soft like the balm of Gilead."<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>Turning to one of his followers, Mohammed +commanded angrily:</p> + +<p>"Seize that singer!"</p> + +<p>Dumah heard the exclamation, and was +off like the wind, followed by two or three +Moslems, each anxious to secure the victim +first, and thus win the approval of the +august Mohammed.</p> + +<p>On, on, straight to the house of Amzi fled +Dumah. Bursting open the door, he rushed +in, his long hair disordered, his face purple +with running and his eyes wide with terror.</p> + +<p>"Save me, Yusuf! Save me, Amzi!" he +cried. "Mohammed will kill me! Mohammed +will kill me!"</p> + +<p>Yusuf sprang to the door, and the poor +fugitive threw himself at Amzi's feet, +clinging to his garments with his thin, +white hands.</p> + +<p>But the pursuers were already upon him. +Yusuf strove in vain to detain them, to reason +with them.</p> + +<p>"Can you not see he is a poor artless lad? +Can you not have mercy?" he cried.</p> + +<p>"It is the order of the prophet of Allah!" +was the response.</p> + +<p>Yusuf resisted their entrance with all his +might, but, unarmed as he was, he was +quickly thrown down, and the terrified +Dumah was dragged over his body and hurried +off to be put in chains in a Moslem cell.</p> + +<p>Amzi was distracted. There seemed little +hope for Dumah. The small Jewish band +then in Medina could not dare to cope with +the overwhelming numbers of Moslems that +swarmed in the streets. If Dumah were +delivered it must be by stratagem; and yet +what stratagem could be employed?</p> + +<p>Early in the evening Amzi and the priest +withdrew to the roof for consultation.</p> + +<p>"You believe that your God is all-powerful—why +do you not beseech him for our +poor lad's safety?" cried Amzi passionately.</p> + +<p>"I have not ceased to do so since his capture," +returned Yusuf. "But it must be as +the Lord willeth. He sees what is best. +Even our blessed Jesus said to the Father, +'Not my will, but thine be done.'"</p> + +<p>Amzi was not satisfied. "Can he then be +the God of Love that you say, if he could +look upon the death of that poor innocent +nor exercise his power to save him?"</p> + +<p>"Amzi, I do not wonder at you for speaking +thus. Yet consider. We will hope the +best for our poor singer. May God preserve +him and enable us, as instruments in his +hands, to deliver him. But God may see +differently from us in this matter. Who can +say that to die would not be gain to poor +Dumah? All witless as he is, he shall have +a perfect mind and a perfect body in the +bright hereafter. We know not what is well. +We can only pray and do all in our power +to effect his deliverance; we must leave the +issue to God."</p> + +<p>Amzi bowed his head on his hands and +groaned. Yusuf raised his eyes towards +heaven; the tears rolled down his cheeks, +and his lips moved. Even he could not understand +the mysteries of this strange time. +Yet he was constantly comforted in knowing +that "all things work together for good to +them that love God."</p> + +<p>Saddest of all was the vision of the handsome, +dark face that, contorted in the fury +of combat, had glared upon him from the +Moslem ranks in the Battle of Bedr, while +Manasseh's hand showered blows upon the +head of his best friend—for the sake of the +prophet of Islam.</p> + +<p>"Manasseh! Manasseh!" he exclaimed in +bitter sadness. "Why hast thou forsaken +thy father's God? O heavenly Father, do +thou guide him and lead him again into thy +paths!"</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">[51]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVI" id="CHAPTER_XVI"></a>CHAPTER XVI.</h2> + +<h3>AMZI FINALLY REJECTS MOHAMMED.</h3> + +<div class="chquote"><p>"'Do the duty which lies nearest thee' which thou +knowest to be a duty! Thy second duty will already +have become clearer."—<i>Carlyle, "Sartor Resartus."</i></p><br /></div> + + +<p><span class="dropcap051"><span class="dropcap">U</span></span>pon the following +morning Yusuf +hastened to obtain +an interview with +Mohammed. The +prophet lived in an +ostentatiously humble +abode—a low, +broad building, +roofed with date-sticks, +and thatched with the broad leaves of +the palm tree.</p> + +<p>Mohammed absolutely refused to see him. +Ayesha, the youngest and fairest of the +prophet's wives, sent to inform him that Mohammed +had nothing to say to the Christian +Yusuf. So with heavy heart he turned away +and sought the house of Zeid, deeming that +he, as the prophet's adopted son and most +devoted follower, might have some influence +in obtaining Dumah's release.</p> + +<p>Zeid sat in a low, airy apartment, through +whose many open windows a cool breeze +entered. By him sat his newly-wedded wife, +unveiled, for at that time the rules in regard +to veiling were not so strictly insisted upon +as at a later day, when the prophet's decree +against the unveiling of women was more +rigorously enforced.</p> + +<p>Even Yusuf noted her marvelous beauty. +There was a peculiarity of action, a something +familiar about her, too, which gave +him a hazy recollection of having seen her +before; but not for several moments did the +association come up in his memory, and he +saw again the little Jewish home of Nathan +in Mecca, the dim light, and the beautiful +child whose temples Nathan's wife was so +tenderly bathing. Yes, after the lapse of +years, in a flash he knew her for Zeinab!</p> + +<p>She listened with interest to the tale of +the Jewish singer; but there was a heartlessness +in her air, and a certain contempt +in the look which she bent upon the Christian +who was thus making intercession for +an unworthy Jew.</p> + +<p>"I have neither eyes to see, tongue to +speak, nor hands to act, save as the prophet +is pleased to direct me," was Zeid's reply, in +the most determined tone.</p> + +<p>Yusuf, seeing no hope, left the house, and +shortly afterwards Zeid, too, went down +into the town. Scarcely had he left when +Mohammed entered.</p> + +<p>Zeinab was still at the window, which +opened directly on the courtyard. A myrtle +bush grew near, and she listlessly plucked +some of the white blossoms and twined +them in the braids of her glossy black hair. +She wore a loose gown of sky-blue silk with +a drape of crimson, and deep pointed sleeves +of filmy, white lace. Her veil was cast +aside, and when the prophet entered she +turned her magnificent dark eyes, with their +shading of kohl, full upon him.</p> + +<p>Ever susceptible to the influence of beauty, +he exclaimed, "Praise be God, who turneth +the hearts of men as he pleaseth!" And he +at once coveted her for his wife; although +according to law she bore the relation of +daughter to him.</p> + +<p>He intimated his desire to Ali, who, in +turn, broke the news to Zeid. Zeid returned +pale and trembling to his home. He loved his +wife deeply; yet his devotion to the prophet +and the sense of obligation which he owed +him as foster-father, for having freed him +from servitude, appealed to him strongly. +Bowing his head upon his wife's knee, he +wept.</p> + +<p>"Why do you weep, Zeid?" she asked.</p> + +<p>"Alas!" he cried, "could one who has +known thee as wife forbear to weep at having +thee leave him?"</p> + +<p>"But I will never leave my Zeid."</p> + +<p>"Not even to become the wife of the +prophet?"</p> + +<p>"Mohammed does not want me for his +wife," she said quickly.</p> + +<p>Zeid sighed. "Could you be happy were +you his wife?" he asked.</p> + +<p>The beauty's ambitious spirit rose, but she +only said: "Were I made his wife, it would +be the will of Allah."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">[52]</a></span>Zeid pushed her gently from him, and went +out. "Mohammed," he said, seating himself +at the prophet's feet, "you care for Zeinab. +I come to offer her to you. Obtain for your +poor Zeid a writ of divorce."</p> + +<p>The prophet's face showed his satisfaction. +"I could never accept such a sacrifice," +he said, hesitatingly.</p> + +<p>"My life, my all, even to my beloved wife, +belongs to my master," returned Zeid. "His +pleasure stands to me before aught else."</p> + +<p>"So be it, then, most faithful," said the +prophet. "O Zeid, my more than son, a +glorious reward is withheld for you."</p> + +<p>Then, as ever, a revelation of the Koran +came seasonably ere another day, to remove +every impediment to the union of Mohammed +and Zeinab.</p> + +<p>"But when Zeid had determined the matter +concerning her, and had resolved to +divorce her, we joined her in marriage unto +thee, lest a crime should be charged on the +true believers in marrying the wives of their +adopted sons: and the command of God is to +be performed. No crime is to be charged on +the prophet as to what God hath allowed +him."</p> + +<p>There were those in Medina who resented +Mohammed's selfishness in thus appropriating +Zeinab to himself, and there were those +who questioned the honor of such a proceeding; +but this questioning went on mostly +among the few Bedouin adherents who had +flocked into the town in his service, for the +most sacred oath of the highest class of +Bedouins has long been, "By the honor of +my women!"</p> + +<p>In none did the prophet's action inspire +more disgust than in our two friends, Yusuf +and Amzi. Amzi had long since lost all faith +in the prophet as a divine representative; +and this marriage with Zeinab only confirmed +his distrust.</p> + +<p>"Pah!" he said to Yusuf, "he not only lets +his own impulses sway him, but he uses the +sanction of heaven to authorize the satisfaction +of every desire, no matter who is +trampled upon in the proceeding. Was there +ever such sacrilege?"</p> + +<p>Yusuf returned: "For this I am <ins class="correction" title="Transcriber's Note: original has period instead of comma">thankful,</ins> +brother: that you at last apply the term +'sacrilege' to the claims of this impostor."</p> + +<p>"Think you he is no longer in earnest at +all for the raising of his countrymen from +idolatry?"</p> + +<p>"He seeks to throw down idols, but to +raise himself in their stead. Cupidity and +ambition, Amzi, have well-nigh smothered +every struggling seed of good in Mohammed's +haughty bosom."</p> + +<p>"Do you not think that, at the beginning, +he imagined himself inspired?"</p> + +<p>"Mohammed is strangely visionary. At +the beginning he, doubtless, thought he saw +visions, but, if the man thinks himself inspired +now, he is mad."</p> + +<p>"Yet what a personality he has!" said +Amzi, musingly. "What a charm he bears! +How his least word is sufficient to move this +crowd of howling fanatics!"</p> + +<p>"A man who might be an angel of light, +were he truly under divine guidance," returned +Yusuf. "And, mark me, Amzi, his +influence will not stop with this generation. +The influence of every man on God's earth +goes on ever-rolling, ever-unceasing, down +the long tide of eternity; but, in every age, +there are those who, like Mohammed, possess +such an individuality, such a personality, +that their power goes on increasing, +crashing like the avalanche down my native +mountains."</p> + +<p>"How eloquently such a thought appeals +to right impulse, right action!" said Amzi, +thoughtfully. "Did a man realize its import +fully, he would surely be spurred on to act, +not to sit idly letting the world drift by."</p> + +<p>"'No man liveth unto himself,'" said +Yusuf slowly. "Whether we will it or not, +we are each of us ever exerting some influence +for good or for ill upon those with whom +we come in contact. No one can be neutral. +Acts often speak in thunder-tones, when +mere words are heard but in whispers."</p> + +<p>"I fear me, Yusuf," said the Meccan, with +a half-smile, "that Amzi has neither thundered +in action, nor even whispered in +words. So little good has he done, that he almost +hates to think of your great influence +theory."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">[53]</a></span>Yusuf smiled and slipped his arm about +the Meccan's shoulder. "Amzi, the name of +'benevolent' belies your words," he said. +"Think you that your home duties faithfully +performed, your pure and upright life, pass +for naught?"</p> + +<p>"You would stand aghast, Yusuf," returned +Amzi, "if I told you the amount of +time that I have squandered, simply in +dreaming, smoking, and taking my ease."</p> + +<p>"Time is a precious gift," replied Yusuf, +"it flows on and on as a great river towards +the sea, and never returns. It appears to +me, every day, more clearly as the talent +given to all men to be used rightly. I, as well +as you, have let precious hours pass, and, in +doing so, we have both done wrong. Yet I +pray that we may every day see, more and +more, the necessity of well occupying the +hours,—'redeeming the time, because the +days are evil.'"</p> + +<p>"Would that I had your decision of purpose, +your firmness of will!" said Amzi, wistfully. +"Yusuf, it would be impossible for +me to spend all my time as you do,—visiting, +relieving, studying, speaking ever the +word in season, and ever working for others. +I should miss my <i>kaif</i>."</p> + +<p>"Even if you know it was in the cause of +the Lord?" asked Yusuf, with gentle reproof. +"Yet, Amzi, you have done as much as I, +considering your opportunities. The great +thing is to do faithfully whatever comes to +one's hand, whether that be great or small. +Know you not that it was said to him who +had received only two talents, 'Well done, +good and faithful servant; thou hast been +faithful over a few things, I will make thee +ruler over many things.' As bright crowns +await the humble home-workers as the great +movers of earth, provided all be done 'as +unto the Lord.'"</p> + +<p>"But," returned Amzi, impatiently, "my +'good works,' as you call them, have not +been done 'as unto the Lord.' My charities +have been done simply because the sight of +misery caused me to feel unhappy. I felt +pity for the wretched, and in relieving them +set my own mind at ease, and gave satisfaction +to myself. I feel that it is right to do +certain things, and so I do them under a +sense of moral obligation."</p> + +<p>"Then," said Yusuf, "has this acting +under a sense of moral obligation brought +you perfect satisfaction, perfect rest?"</p> + +<p>"Frankly, it has not."</p> + +<p>Yusuf rose, and, placing both hands on +Amzi's shoulders, said earnestly: "My +friend, who can say that every good impulse +of man may not be an outcome of the divine +nature implanted in him by the Creator, and +which, if watered and developed, will surely +burst into the flower of goodness when +once the influence of God's Spirit is fully +recognized and ever invoked? Amzi, you +have many such seeds of innate good. Your +very longings for good, your tone of late, +show me that you are near this blessed +recognition. Why will you not believe? Why +will you not embrace the Lord Jesus Christ? +We are all weak of ourselves, but we have +strength in him. Amzi, my friend, pray for +yourself."</p> + +<p>He turned abruptly and left Amzi alone, to +ponder long and earnestly over the conversation +of the past hour.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVII" id="CHAPTER_XVII"></a>CHAPTER XVII.</h2> + +<h3>THE FATE OF DUMAH.</h3> + +<div class="chquote"><p>"Death is the liberator of him whom freedom cannot +release, the physician of him whom medicine cannot +cure, and the comforter of him whom time cannot +console."—<i>Colton.</i></p><br /></div> + + +<p><span class="dropcap053"><span class="dropcap">A</span></span>nd now began a veritable +reign of terror for the +Jews of Medina. The +first evidence of the +closing of Mohammed's +iron hand was +shown in his forcing +them to make Mecca, +rather than Jerusalem, +their kebla, or +point of prayer. Many refused to obey this +command, and were consequently dragged +off to await the pleasure of the prophet.</p> + +<p>At first the keenest edge of Moslem vindictiveness +seemed to be directed against the +bards or poets, for the power of stirring and +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">[54]</a></span>pathetic poetry in arousing the passionate +Oriental blood to revenge was recognized as +an instrument too potent to be overlooked.</p> + +<p>Ere long even the form of imprisonment +was, to a great extent, set aside, and the +knife of the assassin was set at work. +Among those who thus fell were Kaab, a +Jewish poet who strove to incite the Koreish +to aggressive measures against the Moslems; +and Assina, a young woman who had been +guilty of writing satires directed against the +prophet himself.</p> + +<p>Yusuf and Amzi became greatly alarmed +for the safety of Dumah. Every possible +means of rendering assistance to the poor +singer seemed to be cut off. They could not +even find any clue to his whereabouts, and +feared that he, too, had fallen beneath some +treacherous blade.</p> + +<p>As yet, Amzi and Yusuf had been permitted +to wander at will. For hours and +hours did they roam about the streets seeking +for some clue to Dumah's place of imprisonment, +but all efforts were futile, until +one day Amzi heard a faint voice singing in +the cellar of one of the Moslem buildings. +He lay down by the wall, closed his eyes, +and strained his ears to catch the sound. +It was assuredly Dumah, singing weakly:</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Oh, why will they not come,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">The friends of Dumah!<br /></span> +<span class="i0">For living death is upon him,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And the walls of his tomb close over,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Yet will not in mercy fall on him.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Does the sun shine still on the mountain,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And the trees wave?<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Do the birds still sing in the palm-trees,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And the flowers still bloom in Kuba?<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And yet doth Dumah languish<br /></span> +</div> + +<div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"But Dumah's friends have forgotten him,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Nor seek him more,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And even the angels vanish,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And the tomb is all about him:<br /></span> +<span class="i0">O Death, come, haste to Dumah!"<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>The voice sank away in a low wail, and +Amzi sprang up. His first impulse was to +rush in and batter at the door of Dumah's +cell; his second, to call words of comfort +through the wall. Yet either would be imprudent +and might ruin all, so he hastened +home to Yusuf.</p> + +<p>"I will go to him immediately," said the +priest.</p> + +<p>"But how?"</p> + +<p>"In disguise if need be," was the reply.</p> + +<p>"In disguise!" exclaimed Amzi. "Friend, +with your physique, think you you can disguise +yourself? Not a Moslem in Mecca who +does not know the figure of Yusuf the +Christian. Nay, Yusuf, your friend Amzi +can effect a disguise much more easily. +Here,"—running his fingers through his gray +beard,—"a few grains of black dye can soon +transform this; some stain will change the +Meccan's ruddy cheeks into the brown of a +desert Arab. The thing is easy."</p> + +<p>"As you will, then," said the priest; and +the two were soon busy at work at the transforming +process.</p> + +<p>With the garb of a Moslem soldier, Amzi +was soon, to all appearance, a passable Mussulman, +with divided beard, and chocolate-brown +skin.</p> + +<p>He set out, and, having arrived at the door +of the sort of barracks in which Dumah was +imprisoned, mingled with the soldiers, quite +unnoticed among the new arrivals who constantly +swelled the prophet's army.</p> + +<p>With the greatest difficulty, yet without +exciting apparent suspicion, he found out the +exact spot in which Dumah was confined. +Upon the first opportunity he slipped noiselessly +after the attendant who was carrying +the prisoner's pittance of food. Under his +robe he had tools for excavating a hole beneath +the wall, and his plan was to step +silently into the room, secrete himself behind +the door, and permit himself to be locked in, +trusting to subsequent efforts for effecting +the freedom of himself and Dumah.</p> + +<p>Silently he glided into the darkened room +behind the keeper. All within seemed dark +as night after the brighter light without; +but Dumah's eyes, accustomed to the darkness, +could see more clearly. He penetrated +the disguise at once.</p> + +<p>"Amzi! Amzi!" he cried out delightedly, +"you have come! You have come!"</p> + +<p>Amzi knew that all was undone.</p> + +<p>"Treachery!" called the keeper.</p> + +<p>The Moslems came pouring into the room. +Amzi was overpowered, and pinioned on the +spot.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">[55]</a></span>"What means this?" cried Asru, the captain +of the guard.</p> + +<p>"Treachery, if it please you," returned the +keeper. "An asp which has been in our +camp with its poison-fangs hid! No Moslem, +but an enemy—a friend of this dotard poet!"</p> + +<p>"Search him!" was the order.</p> + +<p>The tools were found.</p> + +<p>"Aha!" said the captain. "Most conclusive +proof, wretch! We will teach you, +knave, that foxes are sometimes trapped in +their own wiles. Off with him! Chain him!"</p> + +<p>Amzi was hurried off, and Asru strode +away to execute some other act of so-called +justice. He was a man of immense stature, +heavy-featured, and covered with pock-marks, +yet his face was full of strength of +character, and bore traces of candor and +honesty, though the lines about the mouth +told of unrestrained cruelty and passion.</p> + +<p>At home Yusuf waited in an agony of suspense. +The day passed into night, the night +into day, the day into night again, yet Amzi +did not come. Yusuf could bear it no longer. +Anything was better than this awful waiting. +Only once he almost gave up hope and +cried in the words of the Psalmist, "O Lord, +why castest thou off my soul? Why hidest +thou thy face from me?" Then like balm of +healing came the words, "Cast thy burden +upon the Lord, and he will sustain thee; he +shall never suffer the righteous to be +moved."</p> + +<p>Dressed in his quiet, scholarly raiment, +and quite unarmed, he set out in search of +Amzi. Arriving at the place, he saw none +whom he knew. He was stopped at the +door.</p> + +<p>"I wish to see the captain who has command +here," he said.</p> + +<p>"You are a peaceable-looking citizen +enough," said a guard, "yet we have orders +to search all new-comers, and you will have +to submit, stranger."</p> + +<p>Yusuf was searched, but as neither arms +nor tools were found upon him, he was allowed +to have audience with the captain.</p> + +<p>"Ah!" said Asru, recognizing him at once. +"What seeks Yusuf, a Christian, of a follower +of Mohammed the prophet?"</p> + +<p>"I seek but the deliverance of two harmless, +inoffensive friends," he replied.</p> + +<p>"A bold request, truly," said the other. +"Yet have I not forgotten my debt of gratitude +to you. I have not forgotten that it +was Yusuf who nursed me through the foul +disease whose marks I yet bear, when all +others fled;" and he passed his hand over his +pock-marked face.</p> + +<p>"Of that speak not," returned Yusuf, with +a gesture of impatience. "'Twas but the service +which any man with a heart may render +to a needy brother. However, if you are +grateful, as you say, you can more than repay +the debt, you can make me indebted to +you, by telling me aught of Amzi, the +benevolent Meccan, whose hand would not +take the life of a worm were he not forced +into it."</p> + +<p>"He is here in chains," said Asru haughtily, +"as every spy who enters a Moslem +camp should be."</p> + +<p>"Amzi is no spy!" declared Yusuf emphatically.</p> + +<p>"His sole object, then, was to free that +half-witted poet?" asked Asru, incredulously.</p> + +<p>"It was none other. He loves him as his +own son, as do I. Amzi would suffer death +willingly, Yusuf would suffer death willingly, +would it spare that poor, confiding +innocent!"</p> + +<p>The priest's eyes were flashing, and his +tones bore witness to his earnestness. He +did not notice, nor did Asru, a pair of +bright eyes that peered at him from the +chink of the doorway; he did not know that +a face full of petty, vindictive spite was +partially hidden by the darkness without, or +that two keen ears were listening to every +word he said.</p> + +<p>"Yusuf," returned the captain in a low +tone, "you are the only man who has ever +seemed to me good. Your words, at least, +are ever truth. You wonder, then, that I +follow the prophet? Simply because the excitement +of war suits me, and"—he shrugged +his shoulders with a laugh—"it is the best +policy to be on the winning side. Most of +these crazed idiots believe in him, and fear<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">[56]</a></span> +that he will work enchantments upon them +if they do not; but the doctrine of the sword +and of plunder goes farther with a few, of +whom Asru is one. Because I believe in +you, Yusuf, I shall try to carry out your +request. But it would cost me my life were +it found out, so it must be seemingly by +chance. Rest assured that, bad as I am, +cruel as I am, I shall see that Yusuf's +friends have some 'accidental' way of escape."</p> + +<p>So spoke Asru, nor knew that a pair of +feet were hurrying and shuffling towards +the prophet, while a soldier kept guard at +the door.</p> + +<p>"May heaven bless you for this!" cried +the priest. "So long as Amzi and Yusuf +breathe you shall not lack an earthly +friend."</p> + +<p>"Tush!" exclaimed the captain. "'Tis but +the wish to make old scores even. You +serve me; I serve you. We are even."</p> + +<p>"Then I shall leave you," said Yusuf, rising +with a smile.</p> + +<p>Asru opened the door.</p> + +<p>"Hold!" cried a guard. "By order of the +prophet, Asru is my prisoner!"</p> + +<p>"Wherefore?" cried Asru, attempting to +seize his dagger.</p> + +<p>"Because, though it is politic to be on the +winning side, it is not always safe to be a +traitor and to countermand Mohammed's +orders," replied the prophet's musical voice, +as the soldiers gave way to permit his advance.</p> + +<p>Asru freed himself and dashed forward, +wielding his dagger right and left, but it +was a rash effort. He was instantly overpowered +and bound hand and foot. The +priest shared the same fate.</p> + +<p>The prophet looked down upon the captain. +"Asru," he said, "you whom I deemed a +most faithful one, you who have proved +false, know that death is the meed of a +traitor. Yet that you may know Mohammed +can show mercy, I give you your life. +For the sake of your past services I grant +it you, and trust that, having learned obedience +and humility, you may once again +grace our battle-fields nobly. Guards, chain +him, yet see that he is kept in easy confinement +and lacks nothing. Send me Uzza."</p> + +<p>The Oman Arab came forward. He was +a dark-browed man, under-sized, and with +one shoulder higher than the other. His +eyes were long and narrow, with a look of +extreme cunning about them, and his mouth +was cruel, his lips being pressed together so +tightly that they looked like a long white +line.</p> + +<p>"Upon you, Uzza, O faithful, as next in +command, I confer the honor of the position +left vacant by Asru. Do thou carry out its +obligations with honor to thyself and to the +prophet of Allah."</p> + +<p>Uzza prostrated himself to the ground.</p> + +<p>Mohammed turned to Yusuf. "Whom +have we here? What said you in your accusation, +Abraham? An accomplice of Asru, +was it?"</p> + +<p>The little peddler, the silent watcher at +the door, came forward, hopping along as +usual, but with malignant triumph in his +face.</p> + +<p>"This, O prophet," he said, making obeisance, +"is not only an accomplice of Asru, +but a sworn enemy of the prophet of Allah +and of all who believe in him."</p> + +<p>"Why, methinks I have seen him before," +said Mohammed, passing his hand over his +brow. "Is not this the gentle friend of +Amzi?"</p> + +<p>"He is the friend of Amzi," returned the +Jew, "but even Amzi lies in chains as a spy +among the Moslems."</p> + +<p>"I had forgotten," said the prophet. "Yet +what harm hath this gentle Meccan done?"</p> + +<p>"He is Yusuf, the Magian priest," said +the Jew. "And believe, O prophet of Allah, +the Magians are your most bitter enemies."</p> + +<p>Uzza started and leaned forward with intense +interest. Yusuf felt his burning gaze +fixed on his face.</p> + +<p>"What proof have you that this is a +Magian priest?" asked the prophet, wearily.</p> + +<p>"See!" exclaimed the Jew.</p> + +<p>He tore back the priest's garment, and +there was the red mark of the torch outlined +distinctly against the white skin.</p> + +<p>"Ha!" cried Uzza, starting forward, the +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">[57]</a></span>veins of his forehead swelling with excitement. +"The very mark! The secret mark +of the priests among those who worship fire +and the sun! This, O Mohammed, is not +only a priest, but a +priest who has fed the +temple fires, and as +such has been pledged +to uphold the Guebre +religion at whatever +cost."</p> + +<p>Yusuf said nothing.</p> + +<p>"Can you not speak, +Yusuf?" asked Mohammed. +"Have you +no word to say to all +this?"</p> + +<p>"It is all true, O +Mohammed," replied +Yusuf, quietly. "It is +true that in my youthful +days I was a +priest at Guebre +altars. Now, I am +not Yusuf the Magian +priest, but Yusuf the +Christian, and a humble +follower of our +Most High God and +his Son Jesus."</p> + +<p>"Dare you thus +proclaim yourself a +Christian to my very +face?" exclaimed Mohammed. +"Magian +or Christian, ye are +all alike enemies. Off +with him! Do with +him as you will, Uzza,—yet," +relenting, "I +commend him to your +mercy." He turned +abruptly and left the +apartment.</p> + +<p>Yusuf was immediately taken and thrown +into a close, dark room. He was still bound +hand and foot.</p> + +<p>The little Jew entered, and sat down with +his head on one side.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 306px;"> +<a href="images/p057.jpg"> +<img src="images/p057thum.jpg" width="306" height="400" alt=""He knows that Yusuf's hands reek with blood," said Uzza." /> +</a> +<span class="caption">"He knows that Yusuf's hands reek with blood," said Uzza.—See <a href="#Page_58">page 58</a>.</span> +</div> + +<p>"Now, proud Yusuf," he said, "has come +Abraham's day. Once it was Yusuf's day; +then the poor peddler, the little dervish, was +scourged and chained, and well-nigh smothered +in that vile Meccan chamber. Now it +has come Abraham's day, and Yusuf and +Abraham will be even. How does this suit +your angelic constitution? Angelic as you +are, you cannot slip through chains and +bolted doors so easily as the little Jew. Oh, +Yusuf, are you not happy? Uzza hates you;<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">[58]</a></span> +I saw it in his face. Did you ever know him +before?" The Jew's propensity for news +was to the fore as usual.</p> + +<p>Yusuf answered nothing.</p> + +<p>"Tell me," said the Jew, giving him a +<ins class="correction" title="Transcriber's Note: original has period instead of comma">shake,</ins> "what does Uzza know of you?"</p> + +<p>"He knows," said a thin, grating voice +from behind, "that Yusuf's hands reek with +the blood of Uzza's only child, the fair little +<ins class="correction" title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'Imra'">Imri</ins>, murdered in the cause of religion; and +ere I could reach him—yes, priest, with +vengeance in my heart, for had I found you +then your blood would have blotted out the +stain of my child's on your altar!—the false +priest had fled, forsaken the reeking altar, +left it black in ashes, black as his own false +heart. And then, that vengeance might be +satisfied, was Uzza's blade turned against +the aged grandmother who had delivered +the little one up to Persian gods. O priest, +your work is past, but not forgotten!"</p> + +<p>"Uzza," cried the priest, "I neither ask +nor hope for mercy. Yet would God I could +restore you your child! Its smile and its +death gurgle have haunted my dreams +through these long years! 'Twas in my +heathendom I did it!"</p> + +<p>"That excuse will not give her back to +me," said Uzza, stepping out of the room +with the Jew, as the warden came with the +keys.</p> + +<p>It was not Uzza's purpose to bring about +Yusuf's speedy death. As the cat torments +the mouse which has fallen into its power, +so he resolved to keep the priest on the rack +for a considerable length of time.</p> + +<p>Hearing of the conversation between him +and Asru, he knew that exquisite torture +could be inflicted on the priest through +Dumah, and determined to strike at him +first through the poor singer. Dumah's execution +was, accordingly, ordered.</p> + +<p>Early one morning, Amzi, looking out of a +little chink in his window through which the +bare court-yard below was visible, was horrified +to see a scene revolting in its every +detail, and over which we shall hasten as +speedily as may be.</p> + +<p>There in the gray morning light stood Yusuf, +bound and forced to look on at the +death of the bright-haired singer, whose +sunny smile had been as a ray of sunshine +to the two men.</p> + +<p>Amzi looked on as if turned to stone—heard +Dumah's last cheerful words, "Do not +weep, Yusuf; it will be all flowers, all angels, +soon. Dumah is going home happy,"—then, +he fell on his face, and so lay for hours unconscious +of all. Reason came slowly back, +and he realized that another of the tragedies +only too common in those perilous days +had taken place.</p> + +<p>"I am going home happy," rang in his +ears. The cold moonlight crept in, shining +in a dead silver bar on the ceiling. Amzi +lay looking at it, until it seemed a path of +glory leading, for Dumah's feet, through the +window and up to heaven.</p> + +<p>"I am going home happy." Was that home +Amzi's home too? Ah, he had never thought +of it as his home, though he remembered the +words—"In my Father's house are many +mansions." He imagined he saw Dumah in +one of those bright mansions, happy in +eternal love and sunshine, while he, Amzi, +was without.</p> + +<p>For the first time in his life Amzi was concerned +deeply about his soul; and now there +was no Yusuf to answer his questions. Ere +another day had passed he, too, might be +called upon to undergo Dumah's fate. He +could not say "I am going home happy." +How, then, might this blessed assurance be +his? He strove to remember Yusuf's words, +but they seemed to flit away from his memory. +His whole life appeared so listless, so +selfish, so taken up with gratification of +self! At last he seemed a sinner. How +could he obtain forgiveness?</p> + +<p>He turned over in agony, and the little +stone tablet fell against his bosom. With difficulty, +on account of the manacles on his +hands, he drew it forth and traced the words +with his finger.</p> + +<p>"For God so loved the world, that he gave +his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth +in him should not perish, but have +everlasting life."</p> + +<p>As when a black cloud passes away from +the moon and a flood of brightness fills the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">[59]</a></span> +whole air below, so the light burst upon +Amzi. He saw it all now! His talk with +Yusuf on the love of God came back to him, +and he shouted aloud with joy:</p> + +<p>"Praise the Lord, he hath set me free!"</p> + +<p>"Then for the sake of mercy, help me to +get out of this too," said a voice from the +other side of the partition. It was Asru.</p> + +<p>"Alas, my friend," returned Amzi, "chains +are still on my body. It is my soul that +soareth upward as an eagle."</p> + +<p>"Wherefore?"</p> + +<p>Amzi read the verse of Scripture aloud.</p> + +<p>"I have heard somewhat of that before," +said Asru. "Read it again."</p> + +<p>Amzi did so, and explained it as well as he +could. Asru listened eagerly. This new +creed interested him by its novelty, especially +since he was in forced inaction and +had nothing else to think of. But it also appealed +to a heart which had some noble +traits among many evil ones; and as Amzi +talked, sorrow for his sins came upon him.</p> + +<p>"But the promise cannot be given to such +as I," he said, wistfully. "A long life of +wickedness surely cannot win forgiveness."</p> + +<p>"O friend," returned Amzi, eagerly, "'believe +on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou +shalt be saved.' How often did they tell me +those words and I would not believe, could +not understand!"</p> + +<p>And then Amzi told the story of the thief +on the cross, as he had read it and talked it +over with Yusuf. His voice thrilled with +eagerness, and, on the other side of the wall, +Asru wept tears of repentance. To him too, +the door was opening, and a great longing +for the love of Christ and for a better life +filled his bosom. So they talked until the +noise of the awakening Moslems in the passage +without rendered it impossible for them +to hear each other. But joy had come to +both Amzi and Asru within the prison-walls.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVIII" id="CHAPTER_XVIII"></a>CHAPTER XVIII.</h2> + +<h3>A SCENE IN PALESTINE.</h3> + +<div class="chquote"><p>"I had rather choose to be a pilgrim on earth with +Thee than without Thee to possess heaven. Where +Thou art, there is heaven: and where thou art not, +there is death and hell."—<i>Thomas á Kempis.</i></p><br /></div> + + +<p><span class="dropcap059"><span class="dropcap">I</span></span>t was a scene perfect in its +calm beauty. A small, low, +white house, flat-roofed, +and dazzlingly clean, nestled +at the foot of one of +the fairest hills in Palestine; +and before the door +swept the river Jordan, +plashing with that low, soft +ripple which is music everywhere, +but nowhere more so than in the +hot countries of the East.</p> + +<p>A grove of banana and orange-trees sheltered +the house, and the delicate fragrance +of the ripening fruit mingled with the perfume +of late roses. On the green hills near, +sheep rambled at will, and an occasional low +bleat arose above the busy hum of bees, giving +an air of life to the quiet scene.</p> + +<p>In the shade of the trees sat Nathan, his +wife and Mary. They had been talking of +Manasseh,—poor Manasseh, left behind in +barren Arabia! Nathan too had wanted to +stay with his distressed countrymen, but +failing health had forced him to seek the +more genial atmosphere of the North; and, +after a long, tedious journey, he at last +found himself safe once more in his beloved +Palestine, poor in worldly goods, yet serene +and hopeful as ever.</p> + +<p>And fortune was at last smiling on the +Jewish family. Nathan's health had come +back to him in the clearer, more bracing air +of the Northern land, his flocks were increasing, +and the only gloom upon their perfect +happiness was the absence of Manasseh, +from whom they were not likely to hear +soon. And yet they gloried in knowing that +Manasseh had chosen to meet tribulation for +the sake of his faith, and that, wherever he +was, he was helping others and fighting on +the side of right.</p> + +<p>"Father," said Mary, "how grand it is to +be able to do something great and noble in +the cause! Were I a man, I would go with +Manasseh to fight for the Cross."</p> + +<p>Nathan stroked her hair softly. "The life +of everyone who is consecrated to God is +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">[60]</a></span>directed by him," he said. "To Manasseh is +given the privilege of defending the faith +and helping the weak by his strong, young +arm; to Mary is given the humble, loving life +in which she may serve God just as truly +and do just as great a work in faithfully +performing her own little part. Think you +not so, mother?"</p> + +<p>"Ah, yes," returned the mother, with her +gentle smile. "Life is like the cloth woven +little by little, until the whole pattern shows +in the finished work; and it matters not +whether the pattern be large or small. So +the little things of life, done well for Christ's +sake, will at last make a noble whole of +which none need be ashamed."</p> + +<p>"But mother, watching the sheep, grinding +the meal, washing the garments, seem such +very little things."</p> + +<p>"Yet all these are very necessary things," +returned the mother quietly, "and if done +cheerfully and willingly, call for an unselfish +heart. A gentle, loving life lived amid little +cares and trials is no small thing, my child."</p> + +<p>Mary kissed her mother. "Mother, you always +say what comforts one; you always +make me wish to live more patiently and +lovingly."</p> + +<p>"And yet, Mary," said her father, +"mother's life has been one round of small +duties."</p> + +<p>Mary sat thinking for a moment. "Yes, +father," she answered slowly, "I see now +that mother's life has been the very best sermon +on duty. I shall try to be patient and +happy in simply doing well whatever my +hands find to do. But I wish Manasseh were +home;" and she looked wistfully to the west, +where bands of color were spreading up the +sky, saffron at the horizon, blending into +gold and tender green above, while all +melted into a sapphire dome streaked and +flecked with rosy pink rays and bars.</p> + +<p>"How he would enjoy this glorious sunset! +Oh, father, how dreadful if he were to +be killed!—if he were nevermore to sit with +us looking at the sunsets!" Her voice trembled +a little as she spoke.</p> + +<p>"We are committing him to the care of +Almighty God," returned Nathan, solemnly. +"God is love, and whatever he does will be +best."</p> + +<p>"You find great comfort, father, in believing +that 'all things work together for good +to them that love God,'" said Mary.</p> + +<p>"For the children of God, everything that +happens must be best."</p> + +<p>"Even persecution and death?"</p> + +<p>"Even persecution and death, if God so +will."</p> + +<p>Mary looked at his placid face for a long +time, then she said: "How very peaceful +you and mother are!"</p> + +<p>"How could we be otherwise," the father +replied, smiling, "with Jesus with us each +hour, each moment? And we know that he +'will never leave nor forsake us.' I think, +too, that he is very close to my daughter. +Mary, is there anything in this world that +could take the place of Jesus to you? Would +wealth or honor or any earthly joy make you +perfectly happy if you could never pray to +Jesus more, never feel him near you as an +ever-present Friend, nevermore have the +hope of seeing his face?"</p> + +<p>Mary clasped her hands, and her face +glowed. "Never, oh, never!" she cried. "I +would rather be like poor blind Bartimeus +begging by the wayside, yet able to call, +'Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!'"</p> + +<p>The sun had now set, and the sky had +faded with that suddenness common in Eastern +lands.</p> + +<p>Nathan arose. "Let us now offer up +prayer for the safety of Manasseh, and for +the steadfastness of the brethren; for we +know that where two or three are gathered +together in Jesus' name, there is he in the +midst of them. Let us pray!"</p> + +<p>The three knelt in the dim chamber, with +silence about and the evening stars above, +and prayed for the lad who, amid very different +scenes, was in the heart of the strange +revolution. And then they sang the words +of that sublime psalm, than which no +grander poem was ever written:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from +whence cometh my help.</p> + +<p>My help cometh from the Lord, which made +heaven and earth.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">[61]</a></span>He will not suffer thy foot to be moved; he +that keepeth thee will not slumber.</p> + +<p>Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither +slumber nor sleep.</p> + +<p>The Lord is thy keeper; the Lord is thy shade +upon thy right hand.</p> + +<p>The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the +moon by night.</p> + +<p>The Lord shall preserve thee from all evil; +he shall preserve thy soul.</p> + +<p>The Lord shall preserve thy going out and +thy coming in from this time forth, and even +for evermore.</p></div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIX" id="CHAPTER_XIX"></a>CHAPTER XIX.</h2> + +<h3>THE BATTLE OF OHOD.</h3> + +<div class="chpoem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Dost thou not know the fate of soldiers?<br /></span> +<span class="i0">They're but Ambition's tools, to cut a way<br /></span> +<span class="i0">To her unlawful ends."<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p class="cite">—<i>Southern.</i><br /></p> + + +<p><span class="dropcap061"><span class="dropcap">W</span></span>hile these events +had been taking +place in the +North, Henda had +given Abu Sofian +little peace, urging +him every day +to pay the dues +of blood-revenge +for her relatives, +and taunting him +with cowardice in his long delay.</p> + +<p>At length, in the third year of the Hegira +he gathered a considerable army, and with +three thousand men of the Koreish tribe, +among whom were two hundred horsemen, +left Mecca, accompanied by Henda and fifteen +of the matrons of Mecca bearing timbrels +and singing war-like chants.</p> + +<p>The whole army advanced with the intention +of besieging Medina, but Mohammed's +men entreated him to let them encounter +Abu Sofian outside of the city, and he +yielded to their entreaties. With only one +thousand men,<a name="FNanchor_10_10" id="FNanchor_10_10"></a><a href="#Footnote_10_10" class="fnanchor">[10]</a> fifty of whom were chosen +archers, the prophet took up his stand on a +declivity of Mount Ohod, about six miles +north of the city. There, on its black and +barren slope, he divided his army into four +parts, three of which bore sacred banners, +while the great standard was placed before +Mohammed himself.</p> + +<p>In order to imbue his men with courage, +he came out in full view of the whole army, +and, in a loud voice that penetrated even +the farthest ranks, gave promise of victory. +Then, for the sake of those who should be +killed in battle, he expatiated upon the delights +of that Paradise which surely awaited +all who should be slain in the cause, representing +it such a paradise as would be peculiarly +adapted to the tastes and stimulating +to the imagination of the Arabs—a race +accustomed to arid wastes, burning sands, +and glaring skies; a paradise of green fields +and flowery gardens cooled by innumerable +rivers and sparkling fountains, which glittered +from between shaded bowers inter-woven +with perfumed flowers. He gave +them promise of streams literally flowing +with milk and clearest honey; of trees bending +with fruit which should be handed down +by houris of wondrous beauty; he told them +of treasures of gold, silver, and jewels. +"They shall dwell in gardens of delight, reposing +on couches adorned with gold and +precious stones.... Upon them shall be garments +of fine green silk and brocades, and +they shall be adorned with bracelets of silver, +and they shall drink of a most pure +liquor—a cup of wine mixed with the water +of Zenjebil, a fountain in Paradise named +Salsabil."</p> + +<p>Such was the sensual character of the +paradise promised to his followers by Mohammed. +The soldiers were listening eagerly +to the words when the army of Abu Sofian +was seen, advancing in the form of a crescent, +with Abu Sofian and his idols in the +center, and Henda and her women in the +rear, sounding their timbrels, and singing +loud war-chants.</p> + +<p>The horsemen of the left wing of the +Koreish now advanced to attack the Moslems +in the flank, but the archers fired upon +them from the top of some steep rocks, and +they retired in confusion.</p> + +<p>Hamza, a Moslem leader, then shouted the +Moslem cry, "Death! Death!" and rushed +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">[62]</a></span>down the hill upon the center. The crash +and roar of battle began. High in air +gleamed spear and lance; horses shrieked +and reared, and tossed their long manes; +dark, contorted visages and shining teeth +shone out from clouds of dust; sashes floated +on the air, and sabres flashed in the sunlight; +all was mad confusion.</p> + +<p>In the mêlée two young men met hand to +hand. Both were tall and slight, and had +dark, waving hair. So like were they that a +warrior near them called out, "Behold, doth +Manasseh fight with Manasseh!" But the +youths heard not, recked not. Their blows +fell thick and fast, until at last the Moslem +gave way, and fell, wounded and bleeding, +in the dust by the side of Hamza, who lay +stiffening in death.</p> + +<p>Then arose the shout, "The sword of God +and his prophet!" and Abu Dudjana, armed +with the prophet's own sword, waved it +above his head and dashed into the thick of +the battle.</p> + +<p>Mosaab, the standard-bearer, followed +close and planted the standard at the top of +a knoll. An arrow struck him in the eye. +He fell, and the cry arose that the prophet +himself had fallen. Ali seized the standard +and floated it aloft on the air; but the Moslems, +seized with confusion, would not rally, +and withdrew to the hill-top.</p> + +<p>The Koreish, thinking Mohammed killed, +forbore to follow them, and began the revolting +work of plundering the dead. Henda +and her companions savagely assisted in the +gruesome task; and, coming upon Hamza, +the fierce woman mutilated his dead body.</p> + +<p>By him she found the handsome youth, +whom she believed to be Manasseh, so torn +and covered with blood as to conceal his +Moslem adornments. To Manasseh she had +taken a strange fancy, and she now ordered +the youth to be conveyed in safety to the +camp, with the army which was forming in +line of march.</p> + +<p>The band of Jews who had come with the +forces of Abu Sofian, mainly for the purpose +of delivering those of their afflicted brethren +who had refused to join Mohammed, and of +whom many were imprisoned in Medina, +now joined with a band of the Koreish, who +desired the freedom of some of their tribe, +and, while the excitement of battle was still +fresh, the party entered the city by stealth, +then, dashing furiously down the street to +the guard-house, overpowered the guards +and battered open the doors, setting many of +the prisoners free. Among these were Amzi, +Asru, and Yusuf.</p> + +<p>It was Manasseh himself who broke in the +door of the apartment in which Yusuf was +confined.</p> + +<p>An exclamation of pleasure burst from +him on recognizing the priest, and he threw +his arms about his neck.</p> + +<p>"Yusuf! My dear Yusuf!" he cried.</p> + +<p>"My boy!" exclaimed the priest, in astonishment. +"What means this?"</p> + +<p>"It means that you are free," said the +youth as he knocked off the chains. "Haste! +We must on to the camp ere the Moslems return. +Anything more than this I will tell +you on the way."</p> + +<p>Once again Yusuf stepped out into the +pure air, along with many others who bore +part of their chains in the broken links that +still clanked upon their wrists and ankles.</p> + +<p>In passing through the court-yard, the +priest noticed some one crouched in a pitiable +heap in a corner of the yard. Manasseh +hauled him out. It was the peddler, +with ashen face and eyes rolling with fear.</p> + +<p>"Come along, my man!" laughed Manasseh. +"Like the worm in a pomegranate, +you are apt to do harm if left to yourself."</p> + +<p>Abraham writhed and begged for mercy.</p> + +<p>"Come along!" said Manasseh, impatiently. +"I shall not hurt you; I shall +merely look after you for awhile."</p> + +<p>Thus consoled, the peddler hopped on +with alacrity. A hasty mount was made +and the party set out for the camp of Abu +Sofian.</p> + +<p>Yusuf then had a chance to ask the question +burning at his heart. "How comes it, +Manasseh, that you again fight against the +prophet? When last I saw you, you wore +the green of the Moslem."</p> + +<p>"I!" said the youth in astonishment. "You +jest, Yusuf!"</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">[63]</a></span>"It was surely you who met me on the +field of Bedr."</p> + +<p>"Yusuf, are you mad? It was never I."</p> + +<p>"Then who can it have been? It was +your very face."</p> + +<p>"For once, Yusuf, your eyes have played +you false. How could you have believed +such a thing of Manasseh?"</p> + +<p>"A strange resemblance!" mused Yusuf; +then—"Whom see I before me yonder?"</p> + +<p>"Manasseh's eyes do not play him false, +and he declares it to be Amzi," said the +youth.</p> + +<p>They hastened up the narrow street, now +crowded with soldiers, prisoners, camels, +and horses; and, escaping the missiles +thrown by infuriated Moslem women from +the housetops, soon overtook Amzi and +Asru. All proceeded at once to the camp of +Abu Sofian.</p> + +<p>Some large tents were set apart for the +wounded Koreish, and here Yusuf and Amzi +found speedy occupation in binding wounds, +and giving drinks of water to the parched +soldiers. Manasseh entered with them.</p> + +<p>"What means this?" cried Henda. "Did +I not have you conveyed, soaked with blood, +among the wounded of the Koreish?"</p> + +<p>"I have not been wounded to-day," returned +Manasseh. "Read me this riddle, +Henda. There must be a second self—"</p> + +<p>"Here, Manasseh!" <ins class="correction" title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'interupted'">interrupted</ins> Yusuf from +one side. "Had you a twin brother, this +must be he."</p> + +<p>Yusuf was bending over a youth whose +dark eyes spoke of suffering, and who lay +listlessly permitting the priest to bathe his +blood-covered brow. His eyes were fixed on +Manasseh, who was quickly coming forward, +and those near wondered at the striking resemblance, +more marked than is often found +between brothers.</p> + +<p>"Who are you, friend?" asked Manasseh, +curiously.</p> + +<p>"Kedar the Bedouin!" returned the youth, +proudly. "Though how I came into a Koreish +camp, is more than I can explain."</p> + +<p>"For that you may thank your resemblance +to me," laughed Manasseh. "You +are weak, Kedar, my proud Bedouin, and we +will ask you to talk but little; yet, I pray +you, tell me, who was your father?"</p> + +<p>"Musa, the Bedouin Sheikh,"—haughtily.</p> + +<p>"And your mother was Lois, daughter of +Eleazar?"</p> + +<p>"Even so," returned the other, wonderingly.</p> + +<p>"My cousin!" exclaimed Manasseh, delightedly +seizing his hand.</p> + +<p>"And son of my Bedouin friend, Musa!" +exclaimed Yusuf.</p> + +<p>So the Bedouin youth, the rash, hot-headed +Moslem recruit, found himself among friends +in a Koreish camp.</p> + +<p>Night had now fallen, and under cover of +darkness, Mohammed's army silently returned +to Medina.</p> + +<p>There were those who censured the +prophet for his conduct at this battle; and +some even dared to charge him with deception +in promising them victory. But Mohammed +told them that defeat was due to +their sins: "Verily, they among you who +turned their backs on the day whereon the +two armies met at Ohod, Satan caused them +to slip for some crime which they had committed."</p> + +<p>To quiet those who lamented for their +slain friends, he brought forth the doctrine +that the time of every man's death is fixed +by divine decree, and that he must meet it +at that time, wherever he be.</p> + +<p>In the morning the majority of Abu Sofian's +forces set out for Mecca. Among them +were Yusuf and Amzi, also Asru the captain; +and it was with no small sense of comfort +that the half-starved prisoners sat again +about Amzi's well-stocked board.</p> + +<p>Manasseh was with them. Kedar, scorning +to desert the Moslem army, had refused +to leave Medina, and, by the earnest intercession +of Yusuf and Amzi, whose word was +of some import in Meccan ears, he had been +given his freedom.</p> + +<p>It was with deep relief that all felt the +short respite from the blare of battle; and, +though they looked forward to the future +with anxious forebodings, and though their +joy was clouded by the death of Dumah, they +were thankful for present blessings. Not +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">[64]</a></span>alone prayer, but praise, was an essential +part of their religion, and their voices ascended +in song,—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>I will bless the Lord at all times; his praise +shall continually be in thy mouth.</p> + +<p>My soul shall make her boast in the Lord; +the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad.</p> + +<p>O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt +his name together.</p> + +<p>I sought the Lord, and he heard me, and delivered +me from all my fears.</p> + +<p>They looked unto him, and were lightened; +and their faces were not ashamed.</p> + +<p>This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him, +and saved him out of all his troubles.</p> + +<p>The angel of the Lord encampeth round +about them that fear him, and delivereth them.</p> + +<p>O taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed +is the man that trusteth in him.</p> + +<p>O fear the Lord, ye his saints; for there is no +want to them that fear him.</p></div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XX" id="CHAPTER_XX"></a>CHAPTER XX.</h2> + +<h3>THE BATTLE OF THE DITCH.</h3> + +<div class="chpoem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Blood! blood! The leaves above me and around me<br /></span> +<span class="i1">Are red with blood."<br /></span> +<br /></div></div> + + +<p><span class="dropcap064"><span class="dropcap">I</span></span>n the year which followed, +Mohammed's +forces were more than +once directed against +Syrian caravans, and +the plunder divided +among the Moslem +troops after one-fifth +had been appropriated +by the prophet; but otherwise the truce was +unbroken, until at the end of the year, the +Koreish, uniting with neighboring tribes, +many of whom were Jews, formed the plan +of a grand attack which was to free El Hejaz +forever from the power of the Islam despot.</p> + +<p>From the Caaba the call was given to all +who could be appealed to through religion, +through the interests of commerce, or +through desire for blood-revenge in consequence +of the battles of Bedr and Ohod. To +the more earnest Jews the undertaking took +the form of a vast religious war, undertaken +against the hosts of Satan for the deliverance +of a land in bondage; to the Meccan +merchants it assumed the guise of a commercial +transaction which would again restore +the trade so long ruined by Mohammed's +hostile measures; to the Koreish and +the desert tribes it seemed the grand opportunity +of clearing the honor stained by the +unrevenged death of their friends.</p> + +<p>Accordingly a host of volunteers to the +number of one hundred thousand offered +themselves, and the vast array set out. +Among the volunteers were Yusuf, Amzi, +Asru, and the valiant Manasseh, all of whom +deemed the necessity of the hour a sufficient +reason for entering upon a course foreign to +the laws of peace which they would fain +have seen established.</p> + +<p>A mighty host it seemed in a land whose +battles had chiefly been confined to skirmishes +between different tribes. As it +wound its way down the narrow valley, the +women of Mecca stood upon the housetops, +listening to the trampling, and beseeching +their household gods to bless the enterprise.</p> + +<p>Long ere they reached Medina the prophet +had received word of their advance, and had +had a ditch or entrenchment dug about the +city as a sort of fortification.</p> + +<p>Abu Sofian ordered his tents to be pitched +below on the plain, and, this done, he at +once laid siege to the city.</p> + +<p>But his bad generalship ruined the undertaking. +For a month he kept his men +wholly inactive, and during that time Mohammed +busied himself in sending emissaries +in the midst of Abu Sofian's men for +the purpose of sowing disaffection among +them; and so completely was this done that +the besieging force became hollow and rotten +to its core. Tribe after tribe left. The +few faithful besought their leader to permit +them to attack the city, and when at last the +order was given, but a feeble remnant of +the original host remained. Notwithstanding +this, the command "Forward!" was +hailed with tumultuous joy, and the besiegers +pressed forward in irregular yet serried +masses.</p> + +<p>Scarcely had the attack begun when a terrific +storm arose. It was in the winter season, +and a sudden hurricane of cold winds +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">[65]</a></span>came shrieking through the gaps of the +mountains to the north.</p> + +<p>Amzi, having, as an influential Meccan, +been appointed to the command of a division, +charged boldly forward in the teeth of +the tempest, waving his sword above his +head and cheering his men on with his hopeful +voice. Yusuf, Asru and Manasseh pressed +forward close behind him. A cloud of +arrows met them, yet they poured impetuously +on. And now the bank was climbed +and the conflict became almost hand-to-hand. +The priest's tall form rendered him +conspicuous in the fray. Some one came +hacking and hewing his way towards him. +It was the agile Uzza. The priest was beset +on all sides and was defending himself +against fearful odds, when the face of Uzza, +fiend-like in its hate, burst upon him as a +new opponent. He raised his weapon for a +blow, but the vision of a Guebre altar upon +which a little, bleeding child lay, rose before +him, and his arm fell.</p> + +<p>Uzza perceived his advantage. With a +howl of triumph he cried, "False priest, you +shall not escape me this time!" and made a +fierce stroke with his scimitar. But the +blow was parried.</p> + +<p>"Simpleton! Would you let him kill you?" +cried a harsh voice close by the priest. And +the next moment Uzza fell with a death-groan +at the feet of Asru.</p> + +<p>And now the storm struck with full fury, +howling among the houses of Medina, whistling +shrilly on the upper air, and bending +the palm trees low along its furious path. +Thatches were torn from the roofs and carried +whirling through the air; clouds of dust +were blown high along the streets, and +black, ragged clouds scurried across the sky +as if urged on by demon-force. Horses +neighed loudly. Many of them became unmanageable, +and dashed, with terrified eyes +and distended nostrils, through the midst of +the flying soldiery. The tents of Abu Sofian +were torn from their pegs and hurled away. +Then the rain descended in sheets, or, +whirled round by the wind, swirled along in +columns with almost the force of a water-spout.</p> + +<p>Suddenly a cry was raised: "It is Mohammed! +The prophet has raised the storm +by enchantment!"</p> + +<p>The cry echoed from mouth to mouth +above the roar of the tempest. The superstitious +Arabs were seized with terror and +fled precipitately, believing themselves surrounded +by legions of invisible spirits. +Amzi and his little band stayed until the +last; then, deserted by all and blinded by the +descending torrents, they, too, were obliged +to withdraw, and another victory, that of +the Battle of the Ditch, had fallen to the +prophet.</p> + +<p>This was the last expedition undertaken +by the Koreish against their victorious +enemy. Mohammed, of course, attributed +his great conquest to divine agency. In a +passage from the Koran he declared:</p> + +<p>"O true believers, remember the favor of +God toward you, when armies of infidels +came against you, and we sent against them +a wind and hosts of angels which ye saw +not."</p> + +<p>The heart sickens in following further +Mohammed's willful career of blood. During +the following five years he is said to have +commanded twenty-seven expeditions and +fought nine pitched battles. Against the +Christian Jews in particular the bitterest +expressions of his hate were directed; and to +his dying day this incomprehensible man, +from whose lips proceeded words of mercy +and of deadliest rancor, words of love and +of hate, words of purity and of gross sensuality—this +strange man persecuted them to +the last, nor ever ceased to direct his arms +against all who followed that gentle Jesus +of Nazareth of whose power this blood-marked, +self-proclaimed prophet of Allah +was envious.</p> + +<p>His followers, dazzled by the glare of his +brilliant victories or solicitous for self-preservation, +constantly swelled in numbers, but +there were a few who, like Kedar, had +heard of the peaceableness of the religion of +Jesus Christ, and who began to sicken of the +flow of blood which deluged the sands of El +Hejaz, and ran even into the Nejd, the borders +of Syria, and of Arabia-Felix.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">[66]</a></span>Kedar often longed for the friendly touch, +the hearty, kindly words, of the friends +whom he had met and parted from as in a +dream. He had soon refused to believe in +Mohammed's divine appointment. Even +this Bedouin youth had enough penetration +to see that religion must stand upon its +results, and that the private life of Mohammed +would not stand the test of inspection. +Fain would he have left his ranks many and +many a time. The brand of coward he +knew could not be attached to him for leaving +victorious ranks to ally himself with the +few and feeble Jews, yet there was something +in the idea of "turning his coat" +which he did not like. He imagined in a +vague way that such a proceeding would +compromise his principles of honor, and he +had not reached the wisdom of that great +educator, Comenius, who, not long ere his +death, wrote a treatise upon "the art of +wisely withdrawing one's own assertions." +So he fought doggedly on, until circumstances +again threw him into the bosom of +his friends.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXI" id="CHAPTER_XXI"></a>CHAPTER XXI.</h2> + +<h3>THE FAMILY OF ASRU.</h3> + +<div class="chquote"><p>"God's in his heaven, all's right with the world."</p><br /></div> + + +<p><span class="dropcap066"><span class="dropcap">O</span></span>n the evening upon +which the Battle of +the Ditch was +fought, the wife of +Asru, and his +daughter, Sherah, +now almost grown +to womanhood, +were returning from performing +Tawaf at the temple. +They had prayed for the success of the +Koreish expedition; they had drank of the +well of Ismael, Zem-Zem, and had poured its +water on their heads. Now they were hastening +home to offer prayers to their household +gods in the same cause, for, during Asru's +apostasy to the Moslem ranks, his wife, a +woman of the Koreish, and her family had +never swerved from their hostility to Mohammed +and all connected with him. For +their obstinacy in this, they had been cruelly +abused by Asru, who, with the superiority +which most men in the East assume over +women, ruled as a tyrant in his house.</p> + +<p>It was with unspeakable satisfaction that +Sherah and her mother found that Asru had +at last broken all connection with the +prophet, but a change had come into his +manner which was to them most unaccountable. +Instead of cruelty now was kindness; +instead of stormy petulance, now was patience; +and yet, Asru had not mentioned the +cause of his new life. A sort of backwardness +on the subject, a desire to know more of +it before communicating with others, strove +with him against the dictates of his conscience, +and he had as yet been dumb. He +had not concealed his connection with the little +band of Jewish Christians. In spite of +the jeers of his friends among the Koreish, +he had attended their meetings regularly. +That had been the extent of his active Christian +work; yet his life had been preaching +while his lips were still.</p> + +<p>Sherah and her mother talked of him as +they walked.</p> + +<p>"Mother, however it be, father was never +kind until he went to the Jewish meetings."</p> + +<p>"True. Yet many of these same Jews are +wicked, thieves, low robbers, not fit for such +as Asru to mingle with," said the mother +haughtily.</p> + +<p>"Yet not the Jews who attend the church," +returned the girl, quickly. "I know them. +Most of them are poor, but not thieves; they +seem quiet, industrious people. Then, Amzi +attends there now, you know, and Yusuf, +who, when the plague was raging, spent +weeks in attending the sick. Did he not +come to father and sit with him night after +night, when, mother—I shame to say it—both +you and I fled!"</p> + +<p>The mother walked in silence for a moment.</p> + +<p>"There must be some strange power that +urges a man to do such acts," she said, +musingly. "It would be easier far to go out +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">[67]</a></span>to battle, urged on by the enthusiasm of conquest, +and cheered by the music and clash +of timbrels to deeds of bravery. It takes a +different spirit to enter the houses of filthy +disease, to court death in reeking lazar-houses, +to sit for weeks watching hideous +faces and listening to the ravings of madmen +through the long, hot nights of the plague-season."</p> + +<p>"Mother, I am convinced that their religion +prompts them to do it. What else can +it be?"</p> + +<p>"What is their religion?"</p> + +<p>"I know not; yet we may know for the +going, perhaps. See, the lights gleam in +their little hall. They hold meeting to-night. +Let us go."</p> + +<p>"What! And let the proud tribe of the +Koreish, the guardians of the Caaba, see a +woman of the Koreish enter there?"</p> + +<p>"We can go in long cloaks, mother, and it +is well-nigh dark. Come, will you not?"</p> + +<p>The pleading voice was so earnest that the +mother consented. Yet, that the influence of +the gods in the result of the battle might not +be lost, they first entered their own house, +prostrated themselves before the gods, and +besought their aid in the Koreish cause. +Then, donning long outer cloaks, and veiling +their faces closely, the two slipped out of a +back way and stealthily hastened towards +the Jewish church.</p> + +<p>It was late when they arrived. Neither +Yusuf nor Amzi was present to raise the +hearts of their hearers with words of simple +and earnest piety, no voice of Manasseh was +there to lead in the songs of praise, but an +old man with snowy hair and a saint-like +face was standing behind a table, a volume +of the Scriptures before him, and the +voices of the congregation, some twenty in +number, arose in the old, yet ever new +words:</p> + +<p>"The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not +want. He maketh me to lie down in green +pastures; he leadeth me beside the still +waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth +me in the paths of righteousness for his +name's sake. Yea, though I walk through +the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear +no evil, for thou art with me; thy rod and +thy staff they comfort me."</p> + +<p>The Koreish woman listened. She could +not understand all this. Yet it was beautiful,—"green +pastures," "still waters." Could +it be that these people knew of an Elysian +spot, unknown to Meccans—that their God +led them to such favored retreats? She +could restrain her impatience no longer.</p> + +<p>"Where are the green pastures and still +waters?" she cried, impetuously, "that I too +may go to them!"</p> + +<p>The old man smiled with serene kindness. +"Daughter," he said, "the green pastures +and still waters are the pleasant places of +the soul. Hast thou never known what it +was to have doubts and fears, restlessness +and dissatisfaction in the present, uncertainty +for the future, a feeling that there is +little in life, and a great gulf in death?"</p> + +<p>"I have felt so almost every day," she replied, +passionately.</p> + +<p>"Hast thou not found comfort in thy +gods?" he asked, gently.</p> + +<p>"Alas, I fear to say that I have not!" she +exclaimed.</p> + +<p>"And why fearest thou thus?" he said.</p> + +<p>"Ah, knowest thou not that the gods are +gods of vengeance?" she replied in an awed +whisper.</p> + +<p>"I know naught of your gods," he returned. +"Our God is a God of love. He +gives us the certainty of his presence ever +with us in this life, his companionship in +death, and the privilege of looking upon his +face and being 'forever with the Lord' in +the world to come."</p> + +<p>"And are you not afraid of death?" she +asked. "To me it seems a dreadful thing. +It makes me shudder to think that I too +must one day suffer the struggle for breath, +and then lie still and cold."</p> + +<p>"To those who love the Lord 'to die is +gain,'" he said. "Have we not sung 'Yea, +though I walk through the valley of the +shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for +Thou art with me'? Surely one who believes +that, and knows that he is going to be +always with the Lord, always able to look +on his face, need not fear death."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">[68]</a></span>"It is a beautiful thought," the woman +said, bowing her head on her hands.</p> + +<p>"Yet not more beautiful than the thought +that the Holy Spirit is ever with us; that +Jesus himself is our brother, and understands +all our little troubles; that he has +promised to help us in overcoming all evil. +'For every one that asketh receiveth, and he +that seeketh findeth, and to him that knocketh +it shall be opened.' 'If a son shall ask +bread of any of you that is a father, will he +give him a stone? If he ask a fish, will he +for a fish give him a serpent? Or if he shall +ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? If +ye, then, being evil, know how to give good +gifts to your children, how much more shall +your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to +them that ask him.' Daughter, these are the +very words of Jesus. Do they not show you +the way to the still waters and green pastures? +Do you not see that the love of our +God acts upon the heart as gentle showers +upon the barren land, causing it to rejoice +and bring forth fruit worthy of being presented +to our Lord and Master? 'He hath +loved us with an everlasting love.' He loves +us ever, therefore in our returning this love +to him doth the 'peace of God that passeth +all understanding' lay hold upon our +hearts."</p> + +<p>"But ye are Jews!" she said. "Such +promises are not for the Koreish."</p> + +<p>"Such promises are for all," was the confident +reply. "Jesus said whosoever believeth +in him should not perish, but have everlasting +life. None so sinful that Jesus cannot +wash out the stain; none are excluded +from his mercy. Daughter, believe, receive. +Let the love of God enter thine heart, +and repent best by doing thine evil deeds no +more. Only come to Jesus himself. Only +have faith in him."</p> + +<p>The Koreish woman hid her face in her +hands again, and answered nothing. The +old man turned to the Scriptures and read +the story of Jesus and the woman of +Samaria, raising his voice in triumphant fervor +as he reached the words: "Whosoever +drinketh of the water that I shall give him +shall never thirst; but the water that I shall +give him shall be in him a well of water +springing up into everlasting life."</p> + +<p>Then he turned to the words spoken by +Jesus to his disciples just before his betrayal, +and read: "Peace I leave with you; +my peace I give unto you. Let not your +heart be troubled," and, "Abide in me, and +I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of +itself except it abide in the vine, no more can +ye except ye abide in me. I am the vine, +ye are the branches; he that abideth in me, +and I in him, the same bringeth forth much +fruit; for without me ye can do nothing."</p> + +<p>The woman listened. With the quick appreciation +of the Arab for metaphor and +simile, she grasped the meaning of the +words, and a new, wonderful train of +thought came into her mind as she sat with +bowed head while simple, pleading, heart-offered +prayer was sent up to the Throne of +Grace, and the parting hymn was sung.</p> + +<p>Then the little band gathered around her, +speaking words of cheer, and the aged leader +dismissed her with a gentle, "Come again, +daughter."</p> + +<p>As Sherah and her mother walked home, +the last remnant of the fearful storm that +had visited Medina passed over Mecca. They +saw the ragged clouds borne wildly over +the northern hills; they saw the stunted +aloes bending low beneath the sweep of the +wind. Yet to them there was a grandeur in +it, for there was still upon them the influence +of the Divine presence, and they thought of +Him who "walketh upon the wings of the +wind."</p> + +<p>And as they went on, bowing their heads +before its spent fury, Asru, Amzi, and Yusuf, +far to the northward, struggled on with the +fugitive army, wondering at the continued +triumph of the false prophet, yet serene in +the confidence that in the Divine Hands all +was well, and that in the far-distant end, +however blurred to human vision, all must +work for good to those who love God, even +though the reason of his working, the seeming +mystery of the fortunes of the great conflict, +might not be unravelled until in the +bright hereafter, when all things will at last +be made plain.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">[69]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXII" id="CHAPTER_XXII"></a>CHAPTER XXII.</h2> + +<h3>MANASSEH AND ASRU AT KHAIBAR.</h3> + +<div class="chpoem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Spirit of purity and grace,<br /></span> +<span class="i1">Our weakness, pitying, see!<br /></span> +<span class="i0">O make our hearts thy dwelling-place,<br /></span> +<span class="i1">And worthier Thee."<br /></span> +<br /></div></div> + + +<p><span class="dropcap069"><span class="dropcap">T</span></span>he Koreish, after their +disastrous defeat at the +Battle of the Ditch, returned +in bitter disappointment +to Mecca. +Many even of the bravest +of the tribe felt that it was +hopeless to strive against +the prophet, whose phenomenal +success seemed +to render his troops invincible. +Many, too, with the superstition +at all times common to the Arabs, were in +deadly dread of his "enchantments," and +were only too ready to listen to his bold +assertions that the momentous storm at the +siege of Medina had been caused in his favor +by heavenly agency; that a great host of +angels had been in invisible co-operation +with the Moslems and had drawn their +legions about the ill-fated company, crying, +"God is great!" and striking panic to the +hearts of the besiegers.</p> + +<p>Because of these superstitions the hearts +of the Arabs failed them, and they day after +day lessened in their hostility, and increased +in their spirit of submission to the now +famous prophet of El Islam.</p> + +<p>The Jews, however, held out to the last, +and against them the reeking blades of Mohammed's +army were turned. The Jewish +tribes of the Koraidha, Kainoka, and the +Nadhirites, in the vicinity of Medina, were +speedily overthrown, and their goods taken +possession of by the Moslems. Then, before +the blood cooled on the scimitars, these conquests +were followed by the dastardly assassination +of the few Jews who were still in +Medina, and, being possessed of considerable +property, were a tempting bait to the avaricious +prophet, who now, making religion a +cloak to cover his greed and ambition, went +to the wildest excesses in attaining his objects.</p> + +<p>Many of the Jews, escaping dearly with +their lives, fled to the city of Khaïbar, five +days' journey to the northeast of Medina, a +city inhabited by Jews, who, living in the +midst of a luxuriant farming district, had +grown rich in the peaceful arts of agriculture +and commerce. Others hastened +thither in the hope that Khaïbar might become +the nucleus of a successful resistance +of Mohammed's power in the near future; +and among the latter class was Manasseh.</p> + +<p>Late one afternoon he arrived in the rich +pasture-lands surrounding the city. The air +of peace and prosperity, the lowing of herds +and bleating of sheep, delighted him; and, +though weary from his journey, it was with +a light heart that he urged his flagging horse +between the long groves of palm-trees until +the city came in sight.</p> + +<p>His martial spirit glowed as he noted the +heavy out-works, and the strength of the +citadel Al Kamus, which, built on a high +rock, and towering ragged and black against +the orange sky of the setting sun, seemed to +the young soldier almost impregnable.</p> + +<p>He was welcomed at the gates as another +recruit to the gathering forces, and, on his +request, was at once directed to the house of +the chief, Kenana Ibn al Rabi, a man reputed +to be exceedingly wealthy. Here he +was courteously received by Kenana and his +wife Safiya; and, in a long conference, +he informed the chief of the numbers +and zeal of Mohammed's army, urging upon +him the immediate strengthening of the city, +as it was highly probable that the prophet +would not long desist from making an attempt +upon a tid-bit so tempting as that +which Khaïbar presented.</p> + +<p>That evening an informal council of war +was held in the court-yard of the chief's +house. Al Hareth, a brother of Asru, a man +who, although an Arab, had been appointed +to high office, and had proved himself one of +the most distinguished commanders of the +Jewish colony, was present; and, among +others, Asru himself entered.</p> + +<p>"Asru!" exclaimed Manasseh, delightedly, +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">[70]</a></span>hurrying him aside to an arbor, "you here! +I thought I had become separated from you +all in that ill-fated storm. Where are Amzi +and Yusuf, know you?"</p> + +<p>"Gone to Mecca with Abu Sofian's remnant +of an army—as miserable and hang-head +lot of fugitives as ever disgraced field!" +said Asru contemptuously. "By my faith, +it shamed me to see our brave friends in +their company, even for the journey!"</p> + +<p>"Why did they go to Mecca?"</p> + +<p>"Because they were firmly convinced that +Mecca will be the next point of attack," said +Asru, "but methinks they shall find themselves +mistaken. Mohammed will keep +Mecca as a sort of sacred spot, dedicated to +his worship—and the worship of Allah!" +with infinite scorn. "But Khaïbar is a pomegranate +of the highest branches, too mellow, +too luscious, too tempting, to elude his grasp. +Yes, Manasseh, Khaïbar will be his next +point of attack. However, I am truly glad +that Yusuf and Amzi have gone home. The +Jews and Christians in Mecca will be safe +enough for some time to come, and our +friends are getting too old to endure much +fatigue of battle."</p> + +<p>"Aye, Asru, you and I are better fitted to +face the brunt of the charge and the weariness +of the march. The work of Yusuf and +Amzi should be milder, though not less +glorious, than ours."</p> + +<p>"You say well," returned the other, with +kindling eye. "Asru, for one, can never forget +what they have done for him."</p> + +<p>"Asru, are all the stories of the wickedness +of your past life—your cruelty, your +treachery, your blasphemy—true?"</p> + +<p>"Manasseh, let my past life go into the +tomb of oblivion if you will. 'Tis a sorry +page for Asru to look upon. The cruelty, +the blasphemy,—aye, boy, I was full of it; +but treacherous, never! Whatever Asru was, +and no devil was blacker than he in many +ways, he was never guilty of perfidy, except +you call the trying to free Amzi and poor +Dumah perfidy."</p> + +<p>"I am glad," returned Manasseh, quietly; +"yet it would not matter now, since our +Asru is a changed man."</p> + +<p>Asru looked at the youth earnestly. +"Manasseh," he said, "does the old nature +never come back upon you? Or have you +never known what it was to feel wrong impulses?"</p> + +<p>"Wrong impulses!" exclaimed the other. +"Yes, Asru, many and many a time. Yet, +when one does not even look at the evil, but +keeps his face turned steadfastly towards +the right, the old self seems to lose its hold. +In drawing near to God we draw away from +evil."</p> + +<p>"Your words, I know, are true," returned +the other; "yet the keeping from doing +wrong seems to me the hardest thing in living +a Christian life."</p> + +<p>"But, Asru," said Manasseh, "perhaps +you are not loving enough. The more you +love Jesus, and the more you feel him in +your life, the easier it will be to turn from +temptation—to hate the thing that inspires +it. If you really love him you simply cannot +do what will pain him."</p> + +<p>"But the temptation to act hastily, to +speak unkindly, comes upon me so often, +Manasseh, that I grow discouraged."</p> + +<p>"The only safety is in always looking +Above for help. Believe me, Asru, I speak +from experience. Temptation in itself is not +sin; the yielding to it is. Little by little the +temptations bother us less, and we grow in +grace. You know this is expected of us. +Paul speaks of 'perfecting holiness in the +fear of the Lord.' He says, too, 'The +weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but +mighty through God to the pulling down of +strongholds.' He said, also, to the Philippians, +'It is God that worketh in you, both +to will and to do of his good pleasure,' and +the Lord himself has said, 'My grace is sufficient +for you, for my strength is made perfect +in weakness.' So, Asru, my friend, the +whole secret is in accepting that gift, in +knowing him, and in keeping the soul in a +constant state of openness for the working +of the Holy Spirit—a 'pray-without-ceasing' +attitude in which one's whole life is resolved +into the prayer: 'Thy will, not mine, be +done.'"</p> + +<p>Asru regarded Manasseh curiously.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">[71]</a></span>"How is it, young as you are," he said, +"that these things are so plain to you?"</p> + +<p>"Ah, you forget," said Manasseh, "what a +blessed home training I have had, and that +from my childhood I have had Yusuf for my +counsellor. For these Christian friends of +my childhood, I never cease to be thankful."</p> + +<p>Asru turned his face away. "And I, too, +have children, Manasseh," he said in a low +voice, "children who, with their mother, are +little better than idolaters, and I have never +told them differently."</p> + +<p>"But you will teach them?" returned +Manasseh.</p> + +<p>"Ah, yes, if God spares me through this +perilous time I shall teach them."</p> + +<p>"Have you heard or seen aught of Kedar, +lately?" asked Manasseh, abruptly.</p> + +<p>"In the Battle of the Ditch I saw him for +a moment, charging furiously against one +of Abu Sofian's divisions. He was in advance +of the rest, riding with his head bent +in the teeth of the tempest. On a knoll above +me, I saw him for a moment, between me +and the sky, his hair and long sash streaming +in the wind; then the rain came, and I +saw him no more. Aye, but he is a brave +lad!"</p> + +<p>"Poor cousin!" said Manasseh. "It is misplaced +bravery. Would he were one of us!"</p> + +<p>"He is not a Christian; and, unless he +were so, a spirit like his would scorn to be +one of such a craven, contention-torn mob as +that which Abu Sofian brought to the field. +Strange, is it not, that the little band of +Christians find themselves allied to a set of +idolaters, against one who would cast idols +down?"</p> + +<p>"Aye, but Mohammed would trample +Christians and idolaters alike. Think you +that defeat was owing wholly to cowardice +of the soldiers?"</p> + +<p>"Not so much, perhaps, as to bad generalship +of the leader," returned Asru. "Nevertheless +the superstition of the heathen Arabs, +and their fear when the cry of Mohammed's +enchantment was raised, made a craven of +every one of them. Manasseh, had we had +ten thousand Christian Jews, there might +have been a different story."</p> + +<p>"We are nearly all Jews, here," said +Manasseh, proudly. "Have you happy forebodings +for the issue of the next combat?"</p> + +<p>Asru shook his head, gloomily. "There +will be a brave resistance on the part of our +garrisons," he said, "although many of the +men are well-nigh as ignorant and superstitious +as the heathen Arabs; but Mohammed's +forces have swelled wondrously since +the 'enchanted' storm. Well, we can but +do our best. Now, I see that the council has +assembled. They call us. Come."</p> + +<p>The two left the arbor and joined the +others in the middle of the garden. And +there, while the stars shone peacefully above +in the evening sky, and the palm-trees +waved, and a little bird twittered contentedly +over its nest in an olive bush, these +men talked of measures of fortification, of +tactics of war, and schemes of blood-shed; +a conversation forced upon them, not as a +matter of choice but of necessity—the necessity +of a desperate few, earthed by a relentless +conqueror and a ruthless despot, +whose intolerance to all who denied his +claims has never been surpassed in earth's +history.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXIII" id="CHAPTER_XXIII"></a>CHAPTER XXIII.</h2> + +<h3>MOHAMMED'S PILGRIMAGE.</h3> + +<div class="chquote"><p>"Five great enemies to peace inhabit with us, viz.: +Avarice, Ambition, Envy, +Anger, and Pride."—<i>Petrarch.</i></p><br /></div> + + +<p><span class="dropcap071"><span class="dropcap">I</span></span>n the meantime Yusuf +and Amzi had taken +up the old routine of +life in Mecca—the +faithful doing of the +daily round, the little +deeds of charity, the +duties of business, the +attendance at meetings +in the little +church. Everything +seemed to sink back +into the old way, yet there was not a man in +the city but held himself in readiness to take +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">[72]</a></span>up arms were an attack made upon them to +wrest from them their freedom.</p> + +<p>And word came that Mohammed was coming,—coming, +not in war, but in peace, on his +first pilgrimage to the Caaba. Mecca was +instantly thrown into the wildest confusion. +Some deemed the prophet's message honorable, +but the majority were dubious, and +thought that if Mohammed once gained an +entrance, notwithstanding the fact that it +was the sacred month Doul Kaada, his coming +would be but to deluge the streets with +blood.</p> + +<p>A hasty consultation was held, and a troop +of horse under one Khaled Ibn Waled, was +sent out to check the prophet's advance. +Mohammed, however, by means of his spies, +early got word of this sally, and, turning +aside from the way, he proceeded by ravines +and by-paths through the mountains; and, +ere the Meccans were aware of his proximity, +his whole force was encamped near +the city.</p> + +<p>A deputation came from his army to the +dignitaries of Mecca bearing messages of +peace; but their reception was haughty.</p> + +<p>"Go to him who sent you," was the reply +to their overtures, "and say that Meccan +doors are shut to one against whom every +family in Mecca owes the revenge of blood."</p> + +<p>For days the deputation was sent, with the +same result, until at last ambassadors of +the prophet entered with the offer of a truce +for ten years.</p> + +<p>The promise of a long respite from blood, +and the hope of securing time to recuperate +their forces, caught the ear of the Meccans. +A deputation was appointed to treat with the +prophet, and Amzi, though a Christian, by +reason of his wisdom and learning was +chosen as one of the representatives.</p> + +<p>Yusuf accompanied him to an eminence +above the defile in which the Moslem tents +were pitched. A strange sight it was. Far +as eye could reach, tents, white and black, +dotted the narrow valley; horses were +picketed, and camels browsed; and in the +foreground one thousand four hundred men +were grouped, waiting to hear the issue of +the conference,—one thousand four hundred +men, bare-footed, and with shaven heads, +and each wearing the white skirt and white +scarf over the shoulder, assumed by pilgrims. +Strangely different were they from +the ordinary troops of the prophet, strangely +unrecognizable in their garb of humility and +peace; yet a second glance revealed the fact +that each carried a sheathed sword.</p> + +<p>Yusuf remained above, but Amzi descended +with the embassy sent with the message +that the treaty, if suitable, would be at +once ratified. Mohammed, who, in place of +his green garb, now with obsequious humility +wore the pilgrims' costume, expressed +his pleasure at the amicable attitude of the +Meccans. He was seated upon a white camel +named El Kaswa in honor of the faithful +beast which had borne him in the earlier +vicissitudes of his fortunes. Beside him, at +a table placed on the sand, sat his vizier and +son-in-law, Ali, to whom was given the task +of writing the treaty as dictated by Mohammed.</p> + +<p>"Begin, O Ali," said the prophet, "'In the +name of the most merciful God'—"</p> + +<p>Sohail, the spokesman of the Meccan deputation, +immediately objected, "It is the custom +of the Meccans to begin, 'In Thy name, +O God.'"</p> + +<p>"So be it," assented the prophet; then, continuing, +he dictated the opening of the body +of the treaty—"'These are the conditions on +which Mohammed, the apostle of God, has +made peace with those of Mecca.'"</p> + +<p>A deep murmur of disapproval arose +throughout the Meccan embassy.</p> + +<p>"Not so, O Mohammed!" cried Sohail +again. "Had we indeed acknowledged you +as the prophet of God, think you we would +have sent Khaled Ibn Waled with armed +men against you? Think you we would have +closed the streets of Mecca against one +whom we recognized as an ambassador of +the Most High? No, Mohammed, son of Abdallah, +it must not be 'apostle of God.'"</p> + +<p>Mohammed again bowed in token of submission. +"Write thus, then, O Ali," he said. +"'These are the conditions on which Mohammed, +son of Abdallah, has made peace +with those of Mecca<ins class="correction" title="Transcriber's Note: missing ' in original">.'</ins>"</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">[73]</a></span>He then proceeded to the terms of the +treaty, stipulating that the prophet and his +followers should have access to the city at +any season during the period of truce, provided +they came unarmed, habited as pilgrims, +and did not remain over three days at +a time.</p> + +<p>This business concluded, the embassy from +Mecca retraced its way; and Mohammed, +changing his mind about entering the city at +that time, ordered that prayers should be +offered up on the spot, that seventy camels +should there be sacrificed, and that the pilgrims +should then return home.</p> + +<p>This was accordingly done, and the people +went back in some disappointment to +Medina, where the prophet announced the +success of his mission in a new passage from +the Koran:</p> + +<p>"Now hath God verified unto his apostle +the vision wherein he said, Ye shall surely +enter the holy temple of Mecca, if God +please, in full security."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXIV" id="CHAPTER_XXIV"></a>CHAPTER XXIV.</h2> + +<h3>THE SIEGE OF KHAIBAR.—KEDAR.</h3> + +<div class="chquote"><p>"The drying up a single tear has more of honest +fame than shedding seas of gore."</p><br /></div> + + +<p><span class="dropcap073"><span class="dropcap">I</span></span>n the same year, the seventh +year of the Hejira, +Mohammed made the expected +attack on Khaïbar. +The chief, Kenana, +got word of his approach, +and ordered that the +country for miles around +the capital should be laid +waste. For days the long roads leading into +the city from every direction, swarmed with +a moving line of anxious-faced people, driving +their camels and sheep ahead of them, +and leading mules laden with household +property. Low wagons creaked beneath the +weight of fodder for the animals, and corn +and dates for the people; and the loud +"Yákh! Yákh!" of the camel-drivers +mingled with the thud of the camel-sticks +falling upon the thick hides of the lazy animals.</p> + +<p>Asru was given charge of the expedition +for laying waste the country; and never was +a more considerate destroyer.</p> + +<p>"Here, here!" he would cry to an aged +man, "let me load that animal for you!" and +he would lift the heavy burden to the back +of the pack-mule, while the old man would +say, "You are surely a kind soldier after +all."</p> + +<p>"I will carry this sick girl," he would say, +to another, and would lift her as gently as +a mother and place her in the shugduf in +which she was to be conveyed to the city.</p> + +<p>His spirit of gentleness spread among his +men.</p> + +<p>"Let us be kind to our friends, men," he +would urge upon them. "The day is fast +coming when we can scarcely be kind to our +enemies, be we never so willing."</p> + +<p>So the people, though sad as they looked +back upon their smouldering homes and +blazing palm trees, were filled with love for +the gentle soldiers, and went up with a new +motive in striking for their liberty, for there +is naught that will bring forth the strongest +powers of action like the impulse of love.</p> + +<p>Ah, the blight and misery of war! Manasseh +looked out from the citadel upon the +scene which he had deemed so fair—the +waving corn-fields, the groves of palms and +olives and aloes, the nestling houses, the +pastures covered with flocks—now but a +blackened and smoking waste, with here +and there the skeleton of a palm tree pointing +upward like a bony finger; and here and +there a reeking column of black smoke, or +the dull glare of a burning homestead.</p> + +<p>The people murmured not. "Better let it +lie in ashes than permit it to fall into the +hands of the impostor!" they cried, and they +muttered curses upon the head of the destroyer +of their happiness and prosperity.</p> + +<p>All were at last in and the anxious waiting +began. Keen eyes peered from the citadel +night and day. Watchmen were posted at +every point of the out-works and spies were +sent broadcast through the country.</p> + +<p>Then the fateful word came. Breathless +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">[74]</a></span>scouts told of an army fast approaching, +twelve hundred men and two hundred +horse, commanded by the prophet himself, +his vizier Ali, and his friend Abu Beker.</p> + +<p>Al Kamus, the citadel, was immediately +crowded with men, and soldiers were posted +along the walls, neither strong in numbers +nor in arms, for many were armed but with +staves and stones. Desperation was in their +hearts, and calm, resolute faces looked forth +for the advancing host.</p> + +<p>Just as the morning sun flashed defiantly +from the towers of Al Kamus, the Moslem +army came in sight. At first it seemed like +a moving, shapeless mass over the blackened +fields,—and as the rising sun fell upon it, +the moving mass became dotted with glints +and lines of silver, like the ripple of waves +on a sunlit sea; but the watchers recognized +the deadly import of those bright gleams, and +by the flash of scimitars and lances were +able to compute in a vague way the strength +of their opponents.</p> + +<p>On they came until the stony place called +Mansela was reached, and there, beneath a +great rock, the host halted. The anxious +watchers from the city could not discern the +exact meaning of this, but more than one +guessed that the halt was made for the +offering of ostentatious prayer by the +prophet.</p> + +<p>This indeed was the case. As Mohammed +came in full view of the citadel he cried out: +"There, O believers, is the eyrie to which +ye must climb. But victory has been promised +us. Angels shall again lend us their invisible +aid. Therefore have courage, O +believers! Remember that for each of those +vile infidels slain, a double joy awaits you +in paradise. Know ye that every drop of an +unbelieving Jew shed is as the crystal drops +of nectar of paradise to the happy follower +of Mohammed, the prophet of God. And +fear not that ye be slain in this combat, O +faithful! Ye will not be slain except your +appointed time has come, when ye must in +any case die. Remember that to be slain in +battle for the cause of Islam is to reap a +glorious reward!"</p> + +<p>Then, mounting the great rock, he called +with a loud voice: "La illaha il Allah! +Mohammed Resoul Allah!" (There is no God +but God! Mohammed is the prophet of +God!)</p> + +<p>And while the fanatics below prostrated +themselves he prayed long and loudly.</p> + +<p>Then the tents were pitched and the siege +began. For many days it lasted. So abundant +had been the supplies of food, and so +numerous the droves of animals brought +into the city, that those within the +walls had no fear of famine. But so complete +was the devastation of the country +that the prophet's troops began to suffer +for want of food. Yet they waited, as a +suitable time of attack had not arrived. In +the meantime they were engaged in digging +trenches as a protection to the troops.</p> + +<p>Manasseh and Asru were much together. +They had become like brothers, and night +after night they met on the citadel and +looked out over the strange scene that was +presented to the inhabitants of Khaïbar +every evening during the siege. For, daily, +just as the sun was setting, the whole Moslem +army, with the prophet praying loudly +at its head, set out in solemn procession, +then proceeded round and round the city +until seven circuits were completed, as in +Tawaf at the Caaba.</p> + +<p>Many among the more superstitious Jews +of Khaïbar and their few Koreish adherents +felt a thrill of awe as they looked upon +this ceremony, fearing that the prophet was +again practicing his arts of enchantment +upon them; but the performance never failed +to bring the smile of scorn to Asru's lips.</p> + +<p>"Blind fanatics!" he exclaimed one evening. +"A precious set of idiots!"</p> + +<p>But Manasseh looked serious. "Asru," he +said, "of course, I do not believe in all +this; yet there is a something solemn in it +to me. It makes me think of the seven circuits +made about Jericho, when the priests +blew upon the trumpets and the walls fell."</p> + +<p>"Ah, but the voice of Jehovah gave the +order then; now,"—and he smiled contemptuously—"the +commanding voice is that of +Mohammed, the peaceful Meccan trader, +anon the gentle prophet of Allah, anon the +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">[75]</a></span>blood-thirsty vulture and cut-throat robber, +destroyer of life and liberty."</p> + +<p>"Verily, Asru the Moslem soldier has completely +changed," returned Manasseh, smiling.</p> + +<p>"Aye, Manasseh, thanks to the peaceful +Gospel of Jesus, Asru the Moslem, the lover +of war, would now fain see this fair land +smiling with happy homes and peaceful +tillers of the soil. What is that about the +child and the cockatrice?"</p> + +<p>"'And the sucking child shall play on the +hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall +lay its hand on the cockatrice' den. They +shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy +mountain; for the earth shall be full of the +knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover +the sea,'" quoted Manasseh solemnly.</p> + +<p>Asru looked thoughtfully out towards the +distant hills, but he did not see them. He +saw a quiet home in Mecca, where a pale-faced +wife, a beautiful daughter, and two +bright-eyed boys, sat.</p> + +<p>"Manasseh," he said at length, "it may +be that I shall be killed in this battle. If I +am and you are spared, go to my wife and +children. Tell them the Gospel for me. My +great regret is that I myself put it off until +too late. Will you, Manasseh?"</p> + +<p>Manasseh pressed his friend's hand +warmly. "You may trust me, if I live," he +said simply. And the soldier was satisfied.</p> + +<p>"Manasseh, I am rich," he continued. +"See that my wealth is used for the best."</p> + +<p>Manasseh pressed his hand again, and the +tall soldier left him, feeling that, whatever +happened, this young man's fidelity and integrity +could be depended upon.</p> + +<p>And now the Moslem army began to weary +of inaction. Several desultory attacks were +made by them, and battering-rams were set +in play against the walls, but with no effect, +until a grand attempt was decided upon. +Night had scarcely faded into morning, and +the rock of Mansela still stood black and +shapeless against a gray sky, when a commotion +was seen in the Moslem camp. Mohammed's +troops no longer made the wild +onslaught of untrained Bedouin hordes. The +experience of scores of engagements had +taught their leader the necessity of system; +and now the host began to move in regular +order in three main divisions. Above the +center one floated the sacred flag of the +prophet; to the right waved Ali's standard, +a design of the sun; and to the left fluttered +the Black Eagle of Abu Beker's division.</p> + +<p>The battle began by an assault led by Abu +Beker. Scaling-ladders were placed, and +the Moslems swarmed up the walls, but a +desperate band led by Al Hareth met them, +and the besieging party, after a sharp fight, +was compelled to withdraw. Shouts of triumph +and jeers of derision arose from the +city walls. The Moslems were frantic. Cries +of vengeance were heard from their ranks.</p> + +<p>Then Ali, shouting, "For God and the +prophet!" dashed forward. He was dressed +in scarlet, and wore a cuirass of steel. Over +his head he waved the prophet's sword, and +at the head of his division floated a sacred +banner. Straight on he dashed towards a +breach in the wall, and there, on a pile of +loose stones, he fixed the standard.</p> + +<p>Al Hareth rushed to the fore, and a desperate, +single-handed combat ensued. The +Moslem army and the garrison of the city +alike held their breath. The contest was unequal. +In a moment Al Hareth had fallen, +and a mighty cheer burst from the prophet's +men.</p> + +<p>Manasseh was stationed at the head of a +band of horsemen, whom he was now with +difficulty keeping in check. Yet for a moment +he forgot all in watching a figure that +was ascending the breach.</p> + +<p>Whose but Asru's that gigantic form? +Whose but Asru's that floating turban of +white—that helmet in which flashed a diamond +placed there by Kenana's own hand? +Whose but Asru's that clanking sword and +that three-pronged spear which none but he +could wield?</p> + +<p>"Surely now the Moslem will waver!" +thought the youth; and with bated breath +he watched this second combat, waged beside +the bleeding form of Asru's dead +brother.</p> + +<p>With dauntless air the Moslem awaited +the coming of Asru. They closed upon each +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">[76]</a></span>other. The armies looked on, motionless, +breathless, the combatants struggled, a +writhing mass, broken only by the flash of +the spear and glitter of the lance, as deadly +blows were dealt or parried—and the sunshine +rained from above. The very air +seemed to stand still in watching, and the +clash of every stroke was borne, with painful +distinctness, to the ears of Asru's friend.</p> + +<p>The combat was an equal one, Ali's agility +matching well the superior strength of his +antagonist, and it was not soon over. At +last the Moslem seemed to stagger.</p> + +<p>There, there, Asru, strike! He falls, he +falls! There is your advantage! Strike! +Joy, joy! victory is ours!</p> + +<p>But no! Ye gods, what is wrong! Why +stands Asru there, helpless? Why does he +not act? By Allah, he loses time! Ha! his +turban end has become twisted over his eyes +beneath his helmet! Help! Help! Ye gods! +Ha! Ali rises with a sharp recoil! He +strikes! Woe! Woe! Asru is down!</p> + +<p>A shout breaks afresh from the Moslem +army as the brave Asru's body is dragged +to one side of the breach. And now the +Moslems dash forward like an avalanche. +The breach widens; the green and yellow +turbans swarm within the walls. Manasseh's +horse dash forward. Over the open +square a detachment of Moslem horse is +spurring, the horsemen bending low as they +ride, their maddened animals, gorgeous in +trappings of scarlet, yellow and blue, with +tails knotted at the ends, "like unto the +heads of serpents." With regular sway the +long spears swing with the motion of the +horses.</p> + +<p>Clash! The opposing forces meet. Men +fall. Horses roll over in the dust. Back! +Back! The Moslems are in headlong flight! +Yet one youth fights on. Straight for the +young Jewish leader he dashes. Blows rain +on each side. Some of the Jewish horse +close round.</p> + +<p>"Keep off, men!" shouts Manasseh. +"Would ye attack a man fifty to one?"</p> + +<p>Blows fall faster and breath comes in +short gasps.</p> + +<p>The Moslem's horse gives way beneath +him, and falls with a shriek backwards. +The gallant youth springs to his +feet, then throws up his arms and falls. His +turban drops off from his brow, and, for the +first time, Manasseh recognizes Kedar.</p> + +<p>He turns sick. Is the Moslem dead? No, +his heart still beats. "Here, men, take him +into that house. I will seek him later."</p> + +<p>On goes the young leader to a fresh scene +of battle. Alas! in the meantime the poorly-armed +Jews have been everywhere driven +back. The Moslems have entered the citadel; +the Jews give way before them everywhere. +Even his own hopeful spirit cannot +revive them. They are seized with a panic +and fly, leaving the brave youth almost +alone.</p> + +<p>Manasseh was soon overpowered, bound, +and thrown into the corner of a great hall of +the citadel, where he lay apparently forgotten, +listening, with heavy heart, to the +shrieks and cries of his countrymen without, +and to the hum of war, gradually growing +fainter, until it ceased, and he knew that +the conflict was over. The Moslems began +to enter the hall, among them Mohammed.</p> + +<p>The prophet took his seat at the end of the +apartment, and presently several of the +chief citizens were brought in with hands +bound. Manasseh perceived that a tribunal +was being held, and, from his corner, listened +eagerly to the sentence passed upon +each.</p> + +<p>It soon appeared that treasure was the +prophet's aim. Exorbitant demands were +made upon the rich merchants, who, pale +and trembling, offered their all in exchange +for their lives. Among the rest, Kenana, +with his handsome wife, was brought in.</p> + +<p>"They tell me, Kenana," said the prophet, +"that you have immense wealth stored up +in this citadel. If you desire your life, inform +me where this treasure is."</p> + +<p>"I have no treasure in the citadel," said +Kenana, proudly; "and if I had, the apostle +of Azazil should not know of it."</p> + +<p>The prophet's face colored with passion. +"Apostle of Azazil! O blasphemer!" he exclaimed. +"Do you then thus defy the only, +the true prophet of Allah?"</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">[77]</a></span>"I do."</p> + +<p>"Then we shall see what can be done +with a stubborn infidel spirit!" returned +Mohammed. "Hither! Apply the torture!"</p> + +<p>A machine of +fiendish invention was +applied to the chief's +hands. His fingers +were squeezed until +the bones cracked; his +veins swelled in +agony; yet no sound +escaped his lips. He +could not, or would +not, tell where the +treasure was concealed, +and he was +handed over to a +Moslem whose +brother Kenana had +slain. Manasseh +closed his eyes in +horror, for he knew +that Kenana's fate +was sealed.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 306px;"> +<a href="images/p077.jpg"> +<img src="images/p077thum.jpg" width="306" height="400" alt="The Moslem's horse gives way beneath him!" /> +</a> +<span class="caption">The Moslem's horse gives way beneath him!—See <a href="#Page_76">page 76</a>.</span> +</div> + +<p>Kenana's wife, Safiya, +was taken by +Mohammed, and on +the homeward march +she became the wife +of the prophet.</p> + +<p>Manasseh lay there +in great depression of +spirit. He was weary +in mind and cramped +in body, and it almost +seemed as though he +were completely forsaken. +Yet his ever-present +source of comfort +returned to him, +and like a sweet refrain +came the words +into his mind: "Thou +hast been a strength to the poor, a strength +to the needy in his distress, a refuge from +the storm, a shadow from the heat, when the +blast of the terrible ones is as a storm +against the wall."</p> + +<p>The half-starved Moslem troops now began +to clamor for food, and the defenceless Jewish +women were forced to prepare victuals +and to serve their conquerors. Among these +women entered Zaynab, the niece of Asru. +She placed a shoulder of mutton before the +prophet, then went towards the door. Perceiving +Manasseh in the corner, she severed +his bonds with a quick stroke of a small dagger, +then, shielding him as best she might, +she bade him begone.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78">[78]</a></span>"Have hope!" she whispered in his ear. +"I have poisoned the prophet."</p> + +<p>Manasseh uttered an exclamation of +horror.</p> + +<p>"Why not?" she said, with a laugh. +"Manasseh fights with a lance, Zaynab with +poison. Now, fly, ere they see you!"</p> + +<p>Manasseh hastened down the dark streets +to the house in which Kedar had been +placed. He found the youth moaning feebly. +Hurrying out, he caught a couple of stray +camels, and fastened a shugduf in its place. +Then, raising the youth in his strong arms, +he laid him in the shugduf, and set off in the +darkness.</p> + +<p>To Mecca he must go. It was a long, weary +way. He had little money, and the few provisions +which a Jewish woman in the house +gave him would not last long; yet he trusted +to Providence, and remembered with satisfaction +that the dates were now at their +ripest. He would nurse Kedar tenderly; they +would journey in the cool shades of night +when there was less danger of being stopped +on the way. Planning thus, he proceeded, as +noiselessly as possible, with his precious burden, +through a gap in the wall, and urged +his faithful beasts on in the cool night +breezes over the blackened plain.</p> + +<p>Then he thought of Asru. Asru must not +be left to be rudely thrown into a grave by +infidel hands. There was danger in it, but +he must go back. Kedar was sleeping. He +fixed the camels by a charred palm grove, +and went back, with flying feet, through the +gloom. The towers of Al Kamus rose above +him, with lights twinkling on the battlements. +He wondered if the prophet were +yet alive and what would be the result to +Arabia if he were dead. On, on, through the +darkness, until the fatal breach was reached. +It was quite deserted, peopled only by a +heap of dead bodies, from which, in the night +time, the superstitious Arabs shrank in +horror. Groping among them, he soon came +upon Asru's huge form, which he readily +recognized by its armor. He dragged the +precious clay of his friend from the mass of +dead and brought it, with difficulty, outside +of the wall; and there beneath a palm tree, +he hollowed out a lonely grave, loosening the +clay with a battle-axe taken from a dead +Arab, and throwing the clods out with his +shield. He then cut a wisp of hair from the +dead soldier's long locks, placed it in his +bosom, kissed the cold brow, and uttered a +short prayer over the lifeless form. Tenderly +he placed the body in the shallow grave, and +covered it with the clay, then, breathing a +last farewell, left Asru forever in this life.</p> + +<p>In the meantime Mohammed and one of +his followers had begun to eat of the +poisoned mutton. The soldier was ravenous +with hunger, and set upon the tempting +roast with eager relish. Mohammed partook +of it more slowly.</p> + +<p>Suddenly the soldier threw up his arms, +and fell back in a convulsion. Mohammed +started back in consternation. He, too, felt +pain, and raised the cry of "Poison!" The +Moslems came rushing in in great alarm. +Antidotes were given him, and he shortly recovered, +with but a slight sensation of burning +in his head. The poor soldier was soon +stiff in death.</p> + +<p>Mohammed sent for the woman who had +brought him the mutton. She came at once.</p> + +<p>"Know you who put the poison in this +meat?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"It was I," she confessed, boldly.</p> + +<p>"And how dared you perpetrate so wicked +a scheme?"</p> + +<p>"If you were a true prophet," she replied, +"you would have known that the meat was +poisoned; if not, it were a favor to Arabia to +rid it of such a despot."</p> + +<p>"See then," exclaimed the prophet, "how +Allah hath preserved the life of his apostle! +Behold, I forgive you. Return to your tribe, +and sin not in like manner again."</p> + +<p>So saying, with one of his strange freaks +of magnanimity, he waved her off, and soon +afterward went to rest.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 362px;"> +<img src="images/p078.png" width="362" height="138" alt="" /> +</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79">[79]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXV" id="CHAPTER_XXV"></a>CHAPTER XXV.</h2> + +<h3>MANASSEH AND KEDAR AT MECCA.</h3> + +<div class="chquote"><p>"Home, sweet home."</p><br /></div> + + +<p><span class="dropcap079"><span class="dropcap">T</span></span>he flame of a smoky +oil-dip dimly lighted +a spacious room in the +house of Amzi. At the +low table sat Yusuf and +his friend with a chart +before them, anxiously +following, with eye and +finger, the course of Mohammed's +northern exploits.</p> + +<p>The thoughts of both +were with Manasseh. A knock sounded at +the bolted door. Yusuf opened it, and there, +like a cameo in the setting of darkness, was +the youth himself.</p> + +<p>"Manasseh, my son!" cried both in astonishment.</p> + +<p>He stepped in, now laughing, now brushing +tears from his eyes. "There!" he said, +freeing himself from their embraces, "I have +one more surprise. I come like a grandee, +bearing my company in a litter. Help me +bring him in."</p> + +<p>They stepped out, and Manasseh's second +face, that of Kedar, peered from the curtains +of the shugduf. None the less warm was +the greeting extended to the Moslem, whose +weak and trembling frame was an instant +call upon their sympathy.</p> + +<p>"Now," said Manasseh, piling up a heap of +cushions, in his impetuous way, "get us +some supper, will you not? I can eat my +own share, and half of Kedar's. Like the +birds, he takes but a peck at a time."</p> + +<p>Supper was ordered, and soon attendants +entered bearing platters, until the copper +table was burdened with the most tempting +dishes of Mecca—roast of spiced lamb, slices +of juicy melon and cucumber, pyramids of +rice, pomegranates, grapes of Tayf, sweetmeats, +fragrant draughts of coffee.</p> + +<p>Kedar watched with a languid smile. The +peace of this quiet home life affected him +almost to tears. Strange had been his emotions +when he awoke to consciousness in the +shugduf, alone with Manasseh, in the wilderness—feelings +first of indignation, then of +gratitude, then of admiration for Manasseh, +in whom he now discovered the leader of the +Jewish horse. And on the way this admiration +had ripened into love for the unselfish +Jewish youth.</p> + +<p>The weariness of the long journey began +to tell upon him now, and he was glad that +he was among friends. He could eat but little, +and was content to listen to Manasseh's +bright talk, and to watch him as, with flashing +eye and eloquent gesture, he fought over +again the Battle of Khaïbar, or when, with +hushed tone and tearful eye, he told of the +death of Asru, and his lonely burial.</p> + +<p>"I must seek his widow and his children," +said he. "This is all I have brought them;" +and he drew the tangled, blood-stained lock +of hair from his bosom.</p> + +<p>Silence fell on the little group as they +looked upon it, then Yusuf's tones, falling +like the low, deep cadence of a chant, repeated +the words:</p> + +<p>"And there shall be no more curse, but the +throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in +it; and his servants shall serve him. And +they shall see his face; and his name shall be +in their foreheads. And there shall be no +night there; and they need no candle, neither +light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth +them light; and they shall reign forever and +forever."</p> + +<p>"Amen!" responded Amzi, fervently. And +Manasseh looked out of the window towards +the bright heavens above Abu Kubays, +imagining that he could see Asru, clad in +shining apparel, with a happy smile on his +lips, and the courageous eyes of old looking +forth with a new love-light from his radiant +countenance.</p> + +<p>"Do you know his family?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"Ah, yes; they are now regular attendants +at the Christian church. They have destroyed +all their household gods."</p> + +<p>"What!" exclaimed Manasseh, "is this +true! How I wish Asru had known it! What +joy it would have given him!"</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80">[80]</a></span>Amzi smiled. "Dare you think, Manasseh, +that he does not know it long ere this,—that +he did not know it even at the breach of +Khaïbar? I like to think that our Asru now +has a spiritual body wholly independent of +time or space, capable of transporting itself +whenever and wherever the mind dictates."</p> + +<p>"We cannot know these things as they +are, in this time," remarked Yusuf. "But +the day is not very far distant now, Amzi, +when you and I shall explore these mysteries +for ourselves."</p> + +<p>So the talk went on. Kedar listened with +interest. He thought it a curious conversation, +and felt so strangely out of place that +it seemed as though he were dreaming, and +listening to the talk of genii.</p> + +<p>Next morning he was in a decided fever. +Then came long days of pain and nights of +delirium, in which Manasseh and his two +friends hovered like ministering spirits about +the youth, whose wounds had healed only to +give place to disease far more deadly. In +those terrible nights of burning heat his +parched tongue swelled so that he could +scarcely swallow; he tossed in agony, now +fancying himself chained to a rock unable to +move, while the prophet urged him on to the +heights above where the battle was raging; +now imagining himself fastened near a burning +furnace whose flames were fed by the +bodies of those whom he had slain. He +would cry out in terror, and beads of perspiration +would start upon his forehead. He +lived the whole war over again, and his only +rest was at times when, partially conscious, +he felt kindly hands placing cool bandages +on his burning head, or gently fanning his +face.</p> + +<p>The time at last came when he sank into a +heavy sleep, and awoke calling "Mother."</p> + +<p>It was Manasseh who came, almost +startled by the naturalness of the tone.</p> + +<p>"I have been very ill, Manasseh?"</p> + +<p>"Very."</p> + +<p>"Long?"</p> + +<p>"For weeks. But you must not talk. You +will soon be well now."</p> + +<p>The invalid closed his eyes, not to sleep, +but to think. Presently he opened them.</p> + +<p>"Manasseh, if I had died, would I have +seen Asru?"</p> + +<p>Manasseh was embarrassed. "I—I cannot +say," he stammered. "I do not know you +well enough to be sure."</p> + +<p>"You do not think I should. I do not think +so either," he returned decidedly, and closed +his eyes again.</p> + +<p>In a few days he was able to talk.</p> + +<p>"Manasseh, did I hear Yusuf praying for +me once when I was ill?"</p> + +<p>"He prayed for you every day,—not only +that you might be spared to us, but that you +might come to know Jesus, and to reject Mohammed."</p> + +<p>"I do not think that I ever accepted him—that +is, in a religious sense," he returned.</p> + +<p>Manasseh's eyes opened wide in astonishment. +"Then why did you follow him?" he +asked.</p> + +<p>"Because, I suppose, his successes dazzled +me. It seemed a grand thing to be a hero in +the war—to ride, and charge, and drive all +before me. Aye, Manasseh, it is after the +war that the scales fall from one's eyes."</p> + +<p>"How could you, then, follow one whom +you did not accept, and must, therefore, have +deemed an impostor?"</p> + +<p>"I tell you, Manasseh, I gave little heed +to matters of religion. For the first time, +during the last few days, I have thought of +a religious life, or of a hereafter, as I lay +here feeling that but for you and your +friends, I should even now be in the unknown +land beyond the grave."</p> + +<p>Manasseh talked long and earnestly to the +now convalescent youth. Yusuf and Amzi +too talked gently to him when he seemed inclined +to hear, but, in his present weak state, +they deemed that the consciousness of living +in a godly house would appeal more strongly +than words of theirs. The weeks passed on, +yet he gave no indication that their hopes +were being realized. Once indeed he said:</p> + +<p>"Manasseh, would that I had had a godly +training such as yours!"</p> + +<p>"Did your mother not tell you of these +things?"</p> + +<p>Kedar shook his head. "My poor mother +drifted away from her early training in our +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">[81]</a></span>half-heathen Bedouin atmosphere," he said. +"The Bedouins know little of Christ. They +have traditions of the creation, of the +deluge, and such old-time stories; in all else +they are almost heathen. When I am well, +Manasseh, we will go to them—to my father—and +you will tell them, Manasseh?"</p> + +<p>Manasseh nodded a smiling assent.</p> + +<p>It was with no little trepidation that Yusuf +and Amzi watched for some sign of spiritual +growth in the young Bedouin. As the days +wore on, and he was able to get about, +though still weak, he was willing to attend +the Christian meetings; but he sat in silence, +and persisted in wearing the garb of a Moslem. +The friends did not understand his attitude. +They did not recognize the sort of +petulant shamefacedness that hindered him +from coming forth boldly in defence of principles +which he fully endorsed in his secret +heart, and made him fear to cut himself +loose from the side on which he had taken +so bold a stand, lest the epithet of "turncoat," +be fixed upon him. Kedar had not +yet been touched by that "live coal" which +alone can set man in touch with God, and +free him from all human restrictions. But +though he said little, he was thinking deeply. +He was not indifferent; and there is ever +great room for hope where there is not indifference.</p> + +<p>And while the little Meccan household +was thus engrossed in its own circle, momentous +events were happening without +the capital.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXVI" id="CHAPTER_XXVI"></a>CHAPTER XXVI.</h2> + +<h3>INTERVENING EVENTS.</h3> + + +<p><span class="dropcap081"><span class="dropcap">D</span></span>uring the months +that followed, Mohammed +still went +on in his career of +conquest—a course +rendered easier day +by day, as his enemies +were now +weak indeed. The tribes of Watiba, Selalima +and Bedr speedily gave way before +him, but were permitted to remain in their +homes upon the payment of a heavy yearly +tribute.</p> + +<p>He made one more pilgrimage to Mecca, +and on this occasion the Koreish, in accordance +with the truce, offered no resistance; +hence for three days the prophet and his +shaven followers walked the streets of +Mecca, and performed Tawaf at the Temple.</p> + +<p>Mohammed found the Caaba still desecrated +by idols, and, while pressing his lips +to the sacred Black Stone, he solemnly +vowed to conquer Mecca and to remove the +pollution of images from the floor of the +sanctuary.</p> + +<p>In the meantime, the prophet enticed many +of the most prominent families of Mecca to +his standard. By his marriage with the aunt +of Khaled Ibn Waled he secured the alliance +of that famous soldier; and by marrying +Omm Habiba, daughter of Abu Sofian, he +hoped to gain the friendship of his ancient +and inveterate enemy.</p> + +<p>But time seemed to lag, and his restless +spirit soon set itself to look about for some +pretext by which he might attack Mecca. A +casual skirmish of a few soldiers of the +Koreish with a detachment of his soldiers +gave the necessary excuse, and he at once +charged the Koreish with having broken the +truce. They were anxious to make overtures +of peace, but Mohammed would listen to +nothing.</p> + +<p>All saw plainly that no concessions would +conciliate a conqueror thus bent upon hostility, +and the attitude of Mecca became that +of a patient waiting, a dread looking for a +surely impending calamity ready to fall at +any hour.</p> + +<p>And yet, when it did come, the Meccans +were not expecting it, so silent, so sudden +was the swoop of the conqueror. Every road +leading to Mecca was barred by Mohammed, +so that none might tell of his plans. All his +allies received a mysterious summons to +meet him at a point some distance from +Mecca, and they came none the less readily +that they did not know why they were thus +assembled.</p> + +<p>With a host of ten thousand men, Moham<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82">[82]</a></span>med +set out over the barren plains, and +through the defiles of the mountains. Like +a vast funeral procession the long train +wound its way in a silence broken only by +the dull tread of the beasts and the whispered +ejaculations of the soldiers. In the +night they reached the appointed valley. +Lines of men came pouring in from every +side, and at last, as a signal to all the rest, +Omar, the chief in command, gave the order +that the watch-fires be lighted,—and at once +every summit sent up its spire of flame.</p> + +<p>The citizens of Mecca were stricken with +awe.</p> + +<p>"I myself will go and see what this +means," said Abu Sofian; and with a single +companion he set out over the hills. As they +stood in sight of the great host below, the +step of men sounded near them. They were +seized as spies, and hurried off to the tent of +Omar.</p> + +<p>The bright light of Omar's camp-fire revealed +the white hair and flashing eye of the +grim old warrior.</p> + +<p>"By the prophet of Allah! Ye have +brought in a rich prize!" exclaimed Omar, +and his dagger flashed in the firelight as he +drew it to plunge into Abu Sofian's bosom. +But deliverance was near. Out from the +darkness galloped Al Abbas, uncle of Mohammed, +mounted on the prophet's white +mule. He caught the Meccan up with him, +and hastened off to the tent of the prophet.</p> + +<p>"Ha!" exclaimed Mohammed, "you have +come at last, Abu Sofian, to acknowledge the +supremacy of the prophet of Allah?"</p> + +<p>"I come," said Abu Sofian surlily, "to beg +mercy for my people."</p> + +<p>"Will you, then, acknowledge Mohammed +as the prophet of God? Do this, Abu Sofian, +and thy life shall be spared, and terms of +peace granted to all Meccans who are willing +to follow their leader's example."</p> + +<p>Abu Sofian gave a surly assent, and was +set free. Favorable terms for the inhabitants +of the city were then presented to him; +and, that he might be able to take back with +him a full account of the strength of the +prophet's army, he was placed with Al +Abbas at the head of a narrow defile, +through which the whole army, with fluttering +banners and proudly flapping standards, +passed before him.</p> + +<p>Even the stern old warrior stood aghast at +the mighty multitude. He returned to the +city, and, from the roof of the Caaba, once +more assembled the people of Mecca. Then, +while they listened, with bowed heads and +heaving sobs, he told them of the great host, +of the uselessness of resistance, and of the +terms offered in case of submission. To this +course, humiliating as it was, he strongly +urged them. Silent in despair, or weeping +wildly, they returned to their homes, and +that night the darkness which fell seemed +like a pall upon the stricken city.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXVII" id="CHAPTER_XXVII"></a>CHAPTER XXVII.</h2> + +<h3>THE TRIUMPHANT ENTRANCE INTO MECCA.</h3> + +<div class="chquote"><p>"One murder made a villain; +millions, a hero."—<i>Porteus.</i></p><br /></div> + + +<p><span class="dropcap082"><span class="dropcap">U</span></span>pon the following morning +ere the sun rose, a +deputation was sent to +the prophet to inform +him that his terms had +been accepted.</p> + +<p>The people of Mecca +were curious to note the +triumphant entrance of +the great conqueror. +Many, indeed, threw themselves upon their +faces in agony of lost hope; but the housetops +swarmed with people, and the side of +Abu Kubays was moving with a dense +crowd of women and children, who, at a +safe distance, watched for the strange +pageant.</p> + +<p>The prophet was allowed to enter the borders +of the town unmolested, but when the +deserter, Khaled Ibn Waled, appeared, the +rage of the Koreish knew no bounds; a howl +of derision arose, and an ungovernable mob +fired straight upon him with their arrows. +Khaled dashed upon them with sword and +lance, but Mohammed, noting the commotion, +rode up and ordered him to desist.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83">[83]</a></span>The mêlée subsided, and, just as the sun +rose over Abu Kubays, the conqueror entered +the city. He was habited in scarlet, +and mounted upon a large Syrian camel; +and, as he rode, followed by the whole host +of his army, he repeated aloud passages from +the Koran.</p> + +<p>Straight on towards the Caaba he went, +looking neither to right nor to left. Its gates +were thrown open before him, and the vast +procession, with the prophet at its head, performed +Tawaf about the temple. Then, ere +the mighty trampling ceased, Mohammed +entered the Caaba—that Caaba in which he +had been spat upon and covered with mud +thrown by derisive hands. Little wonder +that he felt his triumph complete!</p> + +<p>Three hundred and sixty idols still stared +from the walls of the temple, and, ere night +fell, not an image remained to pollute an +edifice in which, if in ever so blind a manner, +the name of the living God had been +once mentioned.</p> + +<p>Mohammed then took his stand upon the +little hill Al Safa, and gave the command +that every man, woman, and child in Mecca, +save those detained by illness, should pass +before him.</p> + +<p>Kedar found his weakness a sufficient +reason for remaining at home, but Yusuf, +Amzi, and Manasseh were forced to join the +long procession.</p> + +<p>One by one, the inhabitants knelt before +the victor, renouncing idolatry and declaring +their fealty to him as their governor and +spiritual head. But a few among the Christian +Jews refused to acknowledge him as the +prophet of God.</p> + +<p>"As conqueror we accept you," they said; +"as subjects we will obey you in all that +does not interfere with our worship of the +true God, and his Son, the Christ. But as +Mohammed prophet of God, we will not acknowledge +you."</p> + +<p>The prophet, however, was in a lenient +frame of mind. At no time a cruel tyrant +when victory was once assured, he was still +less inclined to be so upon a day when everything +augured so favorably for the future. +Moreover, when it seemed to him practicable, +Mohammed delighted in showing mercy. +This trait is but one of the incomprehensible +features of his strange, contradictory character.</p> + +<p>"So be it," he returned, graciously. "I give +you your lives and property. They are a +gift from the prophet ye despise. Yet, lest +ye be stirrers up of sedition, I enjoin you to +leave the city with what expedition ye will. +Go where ye please, provided it be out of +my dominions; take what time ye need to +settle your affairs, and dispose of your +property; then, in the name of Allah, I bid +you good speed."</p> + +<p>The Jews, among them Yusuf and Amzi, +passed thankfully on. A tall, gaunt, Bedouin +woman, with flashing eyes and hands showing +like the claws of a vulture beneath her +black robe, came next. It was Henda in disguise.</p> + +<p>"What!" exclaimed the prophet, with a +smile, "has Abu Sofian taken to the hills +again, that his wife thus comes in Bedouin +garb<ins class="correction" title="Transcriber's Note: original has '"">?"</ins></p> + +<p>Henda, seeing that her disguise was penetrated, +fell at his feet imploring for pardon.</p> + +<p>"I forgive you freely," he said, raising her +to her feet. "You will now acknowledge +your prophet?"</p> + +<p>"Never!" cried the Koreish woman.</p> + +<p>"Boldly said!" returned Mohammed. "The +wife of Abu Sofian doth not readily follow in +the path of her master. He has trained her +but poorly. Yet, go in peace, O daughter of +the Koreish, and know that the prophet of +Islam has a merciful heart."</p> + +<p>Thus passed the whole long day until the +stars shone through the blue; and Mohammed +went to rest, serene in his triumph, yet +troubled by bodily pain, for, ever since he +had eaten the poisoned mutton at Khaïbar, +his health had been steadily declining.</p> + +<p>In a few days he returned to Medina. A +fresh revelation of the Koran, commending +fully his doctrine of the sword, was there +proclaimed from the mosque; and to Khaled +was given the task of subjugating the remaining +tribes.</p> + +<p>The prophet's health now began to give +way rapidly, and he resolved upon a last pil<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84">[84]</a></span>grimage +to the holy city. In the month +Ramadhan, at the head of one hundred +thousand men, the mightiest expedition he +had ever led, he started for Mecca. He rode +in a litter, and about him were his nine +wives, also seated in litters; while, at the +rear of the procession, trudged a great array +of camels destined for sacrifice, and gayly +decorated with ribbons and flowers.</p> + +<p>About a day's journey from Mecca, at twilight, +the vast host met the troops of Ali, returning +from an expedition into Yemen, and +these immediately turned with the pilgrimage. +It was a weird and impressive scene. +In the night, the augmented host now +pressed onward, with increased impatience, +over a plain strewn with basaltic drift. The +soft thud of padded feet sounded over the +hard ground. Huge camels loomed shapelessly +through the uncertain haze. No voice +of mirth or singing arose from the vast +assemblage, but the night-wind sighed +through the ribs of the scant-leaved acacias +above, and stooped to blow the red flames of +the torches back in a smoky glare; while, +here and there, a more pretentious light, +issuing from between the curtains of a shugduf, +shed a passing gleam upon the dusky +faces of the pilgrims, plodding like eerie +genii of the night over the barren wilds.</p> + +<p>Next morning, the host reached Mecca. +The prophet once more entered the sacred +court-yard of the temple, and was borne +sadly about the Caaba in Tawaf. Then, +weak as he was, he insisted upon taking part +in the sacrificial ceremony. With his own +hand he slew sixty-three camels, one for +each year of his life. Then he ascended the +pulpit and preached to the people.</p> + +<p>Upon his return to Medina, he preached +again from the mosque, enjoining upon the +faithful strict compliance with the form of +worship set forth in the Koran and by the +example of the prophet—the giving of alms; +prayer towards the kebla; the performance +of Tawaf, and ablutions at Zem-Zem; prostration +prayers at the Caaba, and all the +rites of pilgrimage. Thus did Mohammed +formulate the rules for the future guidance +of the Moslem world.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXVIII" id="CHAPTER_XXVIII"></a>CHAPTER XXVIII.</h2> + +<h3>KEDAR AT THE CAABA.</h3> + + +<p><span class="dropcap084"><span class="dropcap">O</span></span>nce more the shades of night +hung over the Eastern world. +And there, while the hush of +slumber fell upon the hills of +the North, the cities of the +South awoke to life and bustle, +for during the earlier half +of the hours of darkness the Oriental +awakes from the lethargy of +the day, and really begins to live. +The moon, almost at full, and glowing like +a silver orb on a purple sea, rose slowly over +the black top of Abu Kubays, tipping its +crest with a shimmering line of light, and +throwing its radiance across the vale below, +where all lay shapeless in shade save the +top of the huge temple, which, with its pall-like +kiswah (curtain), arose like a bier above +the low houses about it. Upon it the moonbeams +fell with solemn, white light, and the +young man standing alone by one of the pillars +of the portico felt a thrill of awe as he +looked upon the mysterious structure, and +thought of the great antiquity of the institution.</p> + +<p>For the moment, lost in contemplation, he +was oblivious to the swarming of the dusky +multitudes now pouring into the court-yard +on all sides. Then, as the increasing hum +fell upon his ears, he gave them his attention. +It was the scene of which he had so +often heard, and upon which he now looked +for the first time. There were the people at +Tawaf, walking, running, or standing with +upturned eyes, sanctimoniously repeating +passages of the Koran; there were the frantic +few clinging to the great folds of the +kiswah, as though its contact procured for +them eternal salvation; there were the +crowds gulping down copious draughts of +the brackish water of Zem-Zem, or pouring +it upon their heads.</p> + +<p>There, too, within a stone's throw of the +temple, were the busy stalls of the venders, +whence issued cries of:</p> + +<p>"Cucumbers! Cucumbers O!"</p> + +<p>"Grapes! Grapes!—luscious and juicy +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85">[85]</a></span>with the crystal dews of Tayf! Grapes, O +faithful!"</p> + +<p>"Who will buy cloth of Damascus, rich +and fit for a king? Come, buy thy lady a +veil! Buy a veil to +screen her charms +blooming as the rosy +light of morn, to +screen her hair black +as midnight shades on +the hills of Nejd, and +her eyes sparkling +like diamonds of +Oman!"</p> + +<p>"O water! Precious +water from Zem-Zem! +Water to wash +away thy sin, and +help thee into Paradise! +O believer, buy +water of Zem-Zem!"</p> + +<p>And there, beneath +the twinkling lights +of the portico, sat a +group of Abyssinian +girls, waiting to be +sold as slaves.</p> + +<p>As the youth looked +upon it all with no little +curiosity he observed +the crowd give +way before a man +clothed wholly in +white, who proceeded +directly to the Caaba +and, pausing beneath +the door, gave utterance +to a loud prayer, +while the people +about fell prostrate +on the ground. Then, +in a loud voice, he +commanded that the +stair be brought. Attendants +hastened to roll the bulky structure +into its place, and the priest, or guardian of +the temple, ascended, and received from his +attendants several buckets of water which +he carried into the edifice.</p> + +<p>Presently, small streams began to trickle +from the doorway, and the guardian's white +vestments again appeared, as he proceeded +to sweep the water out, dashing it far over +the steps. The people rushed beneath it, +crowding over one another in their anxiety +holding their upturned faces towards it and +counting themselves blessed if a drop of it +fell upon them. It was the ceremony of +washing the Caaba.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 294px;"> +<a href="images/p085.jpg"> +<img src="images/p085thum.jpg" width="294" height="400" alt=""Be not discouraged, my son," was Yusuf's reply." /> +</a> +<span class="caption">"Be not discouraged, my son," was Yusuf's reply.—See <a href="#Page_87">page 87</a>.</span> +</div> + +<p>The youth beside the pillar, though he +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86">[86]</a></span>wore Moslem garb, looked on in contempt; +and, barely waiting for the conclusion of the +ceremony, walked proudly from the enclosure, +merely pausing to examine somewhat +critically the Black Stone, which, deserted +for the moment, was visible in the red light +of a torch above. Then, passing through the +nearest gate, he walked, rather feebly, towards +the house of Amzi.</p> + +<p>Yusuf, wearied after a long day's work, +was resting upon the carpeted Mastabah +(platform) which forms a part of the +vestibule of every comfortable house in +Mecca. There was no light in the apartment +save that afforded by the dim glimmer of a +fire-pan, over which bubbled a fragrant urn +of coffee. His thoughts had been wandering +back over the events of his changeful life; +events which would culminate, as far as his +immediate history was concerned, in his +early banishment from this city of his adoption. +The little Jewish band would go together—precisely +where, they did not know,—Amzi, +Manasseh, the family of Asru, a few +other devoted souls, and, it was to be hoped, +Kedar.</p> + +<p>Yusuf's thoughts dwelt upon Kedar. To-night +he seemed to feel a sweet assurance +that his prayers in the youth's behalf were +soon to be answered; and, in the darkness, +he cried out for the lad's salvation, until +the blessed Lord seemed so near that he almost +fancied he could put forth his hand +and feel the strong, loving, helping touch of +Him who said, "I am the good shepherd, +and know my sheep, and am known of mine.... +And other sheep I have, which are not +of this fold; them also I must bring; and +they shall hear my voice; and there shall be +one fold, and one shepherd."</p> + +<p>A step sounded on the door-stone, and the +very youth of whom Yusuf was thinking entered.</p> + +<p>"Well, my Kedar," said the priest, "have +you been enjoying the moon?"</p> + +<p>"I have been to the Caaba," returned Kedar, +with amused contempt in his voice, +"yet I have neither swung by the kiswah +nor drenched myself, like a rain-draggled +hen, at Zem-Zem."</p> + +<p>"And you have not kissed the Black +Stone?"</p> + +<p>"Neither have I kissed the stone. By my +faith, if it has become blackened by the +kiss of sinners, those poor simpletons caress +it in vain! On the word of a Bedouin, it can +hold no more, since it is as black as well +may be already."</p> + +<p>"The worship of our little church, then, +suits you better?" The priest's tone scarcely +concealed the anxiety with which he asked +the question.</p> + +<p>"You seem to worship in truth," returned +the youth, solemnly. "You seem to find a +comfort in your service which these poor +blindlings seek in vain. Aye, Yusuf, in living +among you I have noted the peaceful +tenor of your lives, the rest and confidence +which nothing seems to overthrow. You rejoice +in life, yet you do not fear death! +Could such a life be mine, I would gladly accept +it. But I do not seem to be one of you."</p> + +<p>The priest made no reply for a moment. +Kedar did not know that he was praying for +the fit word. Then his deep, tender tones +broke the silence.</p> + +<p>"You believe in Jesus, whom we love?"</p> + +<p>"I believe that he was the Son of God; +that he lived on the very hills to the north +of us; that he died to reveal to us the greatness +of his love. Yet—" He paused.</p> + +<p>"'Whosoever believeth on the Son hath +everlasting life,'" said Yusuf in a low tone.</p> + +<p>"I know, but—" the youth hesitated again.</p> + +<p>"But what, Kedar?" asked the priest.</p> + +<p>"Jesus said to Nicodemus," returned the +youth, "'Except a man be born again, he +cannot see the kingdom of heaven.' Yusuf, +this is what bothers me. I cannot understand +this being born again."</p> + +<p>"Let us call it, then, just 'beginning to +love and trust Jesus,'" said Yusuf quietly.</p> + +<p>Kedar almost started in his surprise. This +aspect of the question had never appeared +to him before. For a long time he sat, deep +in thought, and Yusuf did not break in upon +his meditations.</p> + +<p>"Is that all?" he asked at length.</p> + +<p>"That is all," returned Yusuf. "To trust +him you must believe in him, love him, +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87">[87]</a></span>recognize his love, and leave everything to +his guidance—everything in this physical +life, in your spiritual life, and in the life to +come. Then you will find peace. All your +days will be spent in a loving round of +happy labor, in which no work seems low or +trifling—happy because love to Jesus begets +the wish to do his will in every affair of life; +and perfect love renders service, not a bondage, +but the joyful spontaneity of freedom."</p> + +<p>Kedar was again silent, then he said +slowly:</p> + +<p>"Yusuf, I begin to understand it all now; +yet—is there something wrong still?—I +have not the overpowering thrill of joy, the +exuberance of feeling, the wondrous rapture +of delight, which Amzi says he experienced, +when, in the prison of Medina, he saw the +light."</p> + +<p>"Be not discouraged, my son," was the +reply. "To different temperaments, in religion +as in all else, the truth appeals in different +ways. If you are trusting implicitly +now in God's love, go on without doubt +or fear. Most Christians—growing Christians—find +that at different stages in their +experience certain truths stand out more +clearly, and, as the days go by, their difficulties +clear away like mists before the +morning sun."</p> + +<p>"Yusuf, can I ever become such a Christian +as you?" returned Kedar, in a half-awed +tone at the thought.</p> + +<p>"My son, look not on me," returned Yusuf, +tenderly. "Strive only to perceive Jesus in +all your life, to find him a reality to you—a +companion, ever with you, walking by your +side in the hot mart, riding by you in the +desert, sitting by you in solitude,—then, +where he is, evil cannot come. Your life +will become all upright, conscientious, and +loving, for his life will show through yours."</p> + +<p>"And do temptations never come to those +so blessed?"</p> + +<p>"Ah, yes, Kedar, so long as life lasts 'our +adversary, the devil, goeth about as a roaring +lion, seeking whom he may devour.' Yet, +think you that the God who 'stretcheth out +the heavens as a curtain, who layeth the +beams of his chambers in the waters, who +maketh the clouds his chariot, who walketh +upon the wings of the wind, who maketh +his angels spirits, his ministers a naming +fire'—think you that such an One is not able +to stand between you and the tempter? +Think you that he before whom devils cried +out in fear, is not able to deliver you from +the power of evil? Kedar, know that the +Christian may even glory in his own weakness, +for Jesus has said, 'My strength is +made perfect in weakness;' and yet, while +thus feeling his helplessness, the believer +must ever be conscious of the unconquerable +strength of Christ, and should rest +serene in the knowledge that, clothed in the +full armor of God, he is able to withstand +all the darts of the wicked one."</p> + +<p>Kedar said no more, but from that hour +his humility, his patience, his gentleness, began +to show forth as the outcome of the +power of that working of the Spirit, whose +fruit is "love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, +goodness, faith, meekness, temperance."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXIX" id="CHAPTER_XXIX"></a>CHAPTER XXIX.</h2> + +<h3>KEDAR RETURNS TO HIS HOME.</h3> + +<div class="chquote"><p>"Death exempts not a man from being, but only +presents an alteration."—<i>Bacon.</i></p><br /></div> + + +<p><span class="dropcap087"><span class="dropcap">W</span></span>hen Kedar left +Yusuf on that +memorable night +it was not to sleep. +He ascended the +stair and went out +upon the hanging +balcony, where he +could look at the sky and +the mountains, and ponder +over the conversation of the evening. His +was not the excitable, rapturous joy experienced +by many, but a feeling of quiet contentment +that settled upon his soul, and +brought a calm smile to his features.</p> + +<p>So he sat, when Manasseh burst upon him +exclaiming, "What! my invalid able to stay +up all the night as well as half the day! +Come, listen to me! I have news!"</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88">[88]</a></span>"Yes?"</p> + +<p>"This evening a courier from Medina arrived +in the city. He has with him a proclamation +requiring all unsubmissive Jews to +leave Mecca by to-morrow night at the +latest."</p> + +<p>"So soon!" exclaimed Kedar. "Where +are they to go?"</p> + +<p>"I have just talked with Yusuf, and with +Amzi, who, poor fat man! is trying to get a +little sleep in the fresh air of the housetop. +They propose that we join my father's family +in Palestine. Of course, I do not object!" +added the youth, with a smile.</p> + +<p>"Think you it will be safe for so small a +band to face the dangers of the desert +alone?" asked Kedar.</p> + +<p>"A caravan leaves for Damascus to-morrow," +replied Manasseh. "Fortunately we +may obtain its protection."</p> + +<p>"Good! Then I shall turn aside to the +table-lands of Nejd and see my parents +again," said Kedar.</p> + +<p>"Think you your parents would join our +band?"</p> + +<p>Kedar shook his head. "Not likely. You +see my father has lived all his days as a +Bedouin. To be tied down to commerce he +would consider a degradation. Neither +would he become a shepherd, as watching +sheep is a task held fit for women only in +our tribe."</p> + +<p>"And will you stay with them, Kedar?" +asked Manasseh.</p> + +<p>"I know not. We will see what the future +has in store; but, at any rate," he added, +half slyly, "your cousin Kedar will wear the +Moslem turban no more."</p> + +<p>The tone, rather than the words, told all. +Manasseh took a quick, sharp look at the +face smiling quietly in the moonlight, then +he seized Kedar's hand warmly and whispered, +"I am glad."</p> + +<p>The following day was spent in packing +and bidding adieux. Yusuf and Amzi passed +the last hours among their poor, and, from +the housetop, Kedar and Manasseh saw them +returning in the evening, followed by a +ragged crowd who clung to their gowns or +wiped tearful eyes with tattered sleeves.</p> + +<p>The sun went down as the caravan left +the city, and on an eminence above, the little +Jewish band stopped to take a last look at +their old home—Mecca, with its low houses, +its crooked streets, its mystic Caaba, and its +weird mountain scenery.</p> + +<p>All gray it lay beneath the shades of falling +night; yet, as they looked, a wondrous +change ensued. Gradually the landscape began +to brighten; the houses shone forth; the +aloe trees became green; the side of Abu +Kubays sparkled with a seemingly self-emitted +light; the rocks of the red mountain +were dyed with a rosy glow; the Caaba grew +more and more distinct, until even the +folds of its kiswah were visible; and the +sand of the narrow valley shone, beneath a +saffron sky above, with a coppery radiance. +It was the wondrous "after-glow" of the +Orient,—a scene unique in its beauty, yet not +often beheld in so sheltered a spot as Mecca.</p> + +<p>The exiles, with tearful eyes, looked upon +the fair landscape, which thus seemed to bid +them an inanimate farewell. Then, as the +glow paled and the rocks again took their +sombre hue, and the city faded in redoubled +shadow, the little band turned slowly away, +and followed in the wake of the caravan +now winding through the pass at some distance.</p> + +<p>The Hebrew band consisted of twenty +souls, among whom were Sherah, the daughter +of Asru, and her mother, and the old +white-haired man Benjamin, who had +preached in the church and had become a +father indeed to Asru's family.</p> + +<p>Needless to speak of the long, tedious journey. +Suffice it to say that, while the caravan +wound through the north of El Hejaz, +Kedar and Manasseh turned aside to the +fresher plateaux of the Nejd, and the Bedouin +once more found himself amid the +scenes of his boyhood.</p> + +<p>His spirits rose as the cool breeze from the +plains struck him. The vision of sweet +home—sweet to the roving Bedouin as to +the pampered child of luxury—rose before +him, and he urged his horse on with an ever-increasing +anxiety.</p> + +<p>From neighboring tribes they found out +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89">[89]</a></span>the way to Musa's present encampment, +then, spurring their horses on over a crisp +plain, and beguiling the time with many a +laugh and jest, they proceeded in the direction +indicated, until, in a broad valley, the +circle of tents lay before them.</p> + +<p>"Come, Manasseh," said Kedar, "let us +give them a surprise. Let us take a turn up +yonder hill and swoop down upon them like +a falcon."</p> + +<p>"Agreed!" quoth Manasseh; and, with almost +childish pleasure, they proceeded to +make a short detour, and then galloped rapidly +down from the hill-crest.</p> + +<p>The encampment was strangely quiet.</p> + +<p>"What is the matter, Manasseh?" asked +Kedar. "There is scarcely anyone about."</p> + +<p>A few dogs now set up a savage barking, +and a man came out with a heavy whip and +drove them, yelping, away.</p> + +<p>"What is wrong, Tema?" asked Kedar, +anxiously.</p> + +<p>"Alas, my young master," said the man, +"your father will soon be no more."</p> + +<p>The youth sprang to the ground and entered +the chief's tent. There lay the brave +old Sheikh, dying, as he had scorned to die, +in his bed, with pallid face and closed eyes, +his gray hair damp and tangled, and his +grizzled beard descending upon his brawny +chest, from which the folds of his garments +were drawn back. About him knelt his wife +and children. Lois raised a tear-stained +face to her son, then buried it again in her +hands. Kedar threw himself beside the +couch. The old man's lips moved.</p> + +<p>"Aha!" cried he, "it is blood-revenge! +Mizni, bold chief, I have you now! Yes, fly +up to your eyrie among the rocks, if you can. +I shall reach you there! Blood must be +spilled. My honor! My honor!"</p> + +<p>He was thinking of a fray of his youth in +which he had paid the dues of blood for an +only brother. Again, he seemed to be dashing +on in the chase.</p> + +<p>"On, on, Zebe!" he cried, in a hoarse whisper, +"on, good steed! The quarry is ahead +there! See the falcon swoop! Good steed, +on!"</p> + +<p>His voice was growing fainter, yet he +continued to wave his arms feebly, and to +move his lips in inaudible muttering. Once +more the words became distinct:</p> + +<p>"Here, Kedar, little man! Let father put +you on his horse. There, boy, there! You +will make a son for a Bedouin to be proud +of!"</p> + +<p>A tear rolled down Kedar's cheek as the +dying man thus pictured a happy scene of +his childhood. "Poor old father!" he murmured. +"Manasseh, it is hard to see him +die thus godlessly. Had I but come sooner!"</p> + +<p>The old Sheikh's breath came shorter. His +hand moved more feebly; he turned his head +uneasily and opened his eyes.</p> + +<p>He fixed them upon his son with a look of +consciousness. His face brightened.</p> + +<p>"Dear father," whispered the youth, and +kissed his cheek.</p> + +<p>A smile spread over the old man's face. +His lips formed the words "My son!" His +eyes closed, and the old Bedouin was dead.</p> + +<p>The women broke into a low wail, and +Kedar, with a tenderness not of the old time, +strove to comfort his mother. The rites of +anointing the body for burial were performed, +and all through the evening the different +members of the tribe gathered mournfully +in to take a last look at the brave old +leader.</p> + +<p>When night fell Kedar went out; the atmosphere +of the tent seemed to choke him. +Manasseh stood silently by his side. The +wail of the women sounded in a low burial-song +from within, and groups of men, talking +in whispers, gathered before the door.</p> + +<p>Kedar stood with folded arms and head +thrown back, looking upon the heavens. A +star fell. Every Bedouin bowed his head, +for the Arabs believe that when a star falls +a soul ascends to paradise.</p> + +<p>"Manasseh," said Kedar in a low tone, "I +cannot let them bury him. They would do +it with half-heathen rites."</p> + +<p>"Can none among all these conduct Christian +service?"</p> + +<p>"Not one. My mother is the only one who +knows aught of Christianity."</p> + +<p>"Then," said Manasseh, "if you will let +me, I shall offer prayers above his grave."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90">[90]</a></span>"No, Manasseh," said Kedar decidedly, +"these people would resent it in a stranger. +I shall do it; they will grant me the privilege +as the right of a son."</p> + +<p>"And rightly," exclaimed Manasseh, surprised +and pleased at the staunchness with +which his cousin took his new stand.</p> + +<p>On the following day the funeral wound +slowly up the defile to the place of the lonely +grave. And there Kedar prayed simply and +earnestly, a prayer in which the spiritual enlightenment +of the sorrowful people about +him was the chief theme. They did not understand +all its meaning, but they were impressed +by the solemnity and sincerity of the +young Arab's manner.</p> + +<p>Then the little heap of sand was raised, +and four stone slabs were placed, according +to Bedouin custom, upon the grave.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXX" id="CHAPTER_XXX"></a>CHAPTER XXX.</h2> + +<h3>THE DEATH OF MOHAMMED.</h3> + +<div class="chquote"><p>"Nothing can we call our own but death"—<i>Shakespeare.</i></p><br /></div> + + +<p><span class="dropcap090"><span class="dropcap">W</span></span>hile Musa thus +lay dying in the +tents of Nejd, the +cold hand of death +was fast closing +upon another in +the land of Arabia. +Day by day +the germs of disease +pulsed +stronger and stronger through the veins of +Mohammed. Monarch of Arabia, originator +of a creed which was eventually to push itself +throughout Egypt, India, Afghanistan, +Persia, and even to the wild steppes of +Siberia, he must now die. He viewed the +end with firmness, and it has been a matter +of controversy as to whether in these later +days he still had the hallucination of being +a prophet.</p> + +<p>Too feeble to walk to the mosque, he lay, +tended by his wives, in the tent of Ayesha, +his favorite. Not many days before his +death he asked that he might be carried to +the mosque. Willing arms bore him thither, +and placed him in the pulpit, from whence +he could look down upon the city, and away +to the palm-groves of Kuba. Then, turning +his face towards the holy city, Mecca, he +addressed the crowds of waiting people +below.</p> + +<p>"If there be any man," said he, "whom I +have unjustly scourged, I submit my own +back to the lash of retaliation. Have I +aspersed the reputation of any Mussulman?—let +him proclaim my faults in the face of +the congregation. Has anyone been despoiled +of his goods?—the little that I possess shall +compensate the principal and the interest of +the debt."</p> + +<p>He then liberated his slaves, gave directions +as to the order of his funeral, and appointed +Abu Beker to supply his place in +offering public prayer. This seemed to indicate +that Abu Beker was to be his successor +in office; and the long-tried friend accordingly +became the first caliph of the Saracen +empire.</p> + +<p>After this the prophet was conveyed again +to the house of Ayesha. The fever increased, +and the pain in his head became so great +that he more than once pressed his hands +upon it exclaiming, "The poison of Khaïbar! +The poison of Khaïbar!"</p> + +<p>Once, perceiving the mother of Bashar, the +soldier who had died of the poison in the +fatal city, he said:</p> + +<p>"O mother of Bashar, the cords of my +heart are now breaking of the food which I +ate with your son at Khaïbar!"</p> + +<p>At another time, springing up in delirium, +he called for pen and ink that he might +write a new revelation; but owing to his +weak state, his request was refused. In talking +to those about him he said that Azraël, +the Angel of Death, had not dared to take his +soul until he had asked his permission.</p> + +<p>A few nights before his death, he awoke +from a troubled sleep, and, starting wildly +from his couch, sprang up with unnatural +strength from his bed.</p> + +<p>"Come, Belus!" he cried to an attendant. +"Come with me to the burial-place of El +Bakia! The dead call to me from their +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91">[91]</a></span>graves, and I must go thither to pray for +them."</p> + +<p>Alone they passed into the night; through +the long, silent streets they walked like +phantoms; up the white road of Nedj they +glided, until the few low tombs of the cemetery +to the southeast of the city were in +sight.</p> + +<p>At the border of the bleak, lonely field, +where the wind moaned among the tombs +like the sighing of a weeping Rachel, Mohammed +paused.</p> + +<p>"Peace be with you, O people of El +Bakia!" he cried. "Peace be with you, +martyrs of El Bakia! One and all, peace be +with you! We verily, if Allah please, are +about to join you! O Allah, pardon us and +them! And the mercy of God and his blessings +be upon us all!"</p> + +<p>Thus he prayed, stretching his hands towards +the spot where his friends lay in their +long sleep. His companion stood in awe +behind him, shivering in superstitious terror, +as the white tombs gleamed like moving apparitions +through the gloom, and the night-owls +hooted with a mournful cadence o'er +the dreary waste.</p> + +<p>When he had concluded, the prophet +turned towards home. But the excitement +of mind which had endowed him with almost +supernatural strength now deserted +him. His steps grew feeble and he was fain +to lean upon Belus on his painful way back.</p> + +<p>He grew rapidly worse. His wife Ayesha, +and his daughter Fatima, wife of Ali, seldom +left his bedside. When the last came, he +raised his eyes to the ceiling and exclaimed, +"O Allah, pardon my sins!" He then, with +his own feeble hand, sprinkled his face with +water, and soon afterwards, with his head +on Ayesha's bosom, he departed, in the sixty-third +year of his age, and the eleventh year +of the Hejira, A.D. 632.</p> + +<p>The frenzied people would not believe that +he was dead. "He will arise, like Jesus," +they said. But no returning breath quivered +through the cold lips or animated the rigid +form of him whom they passionately called +to life; and not until Abu Beker assured +them that he was really no more, saying, +"Did he not himself assure us that he must +experience the common fate of all? Did he +not say in the Koran, 'Mohammed is no +more than an apostle; the other apostles +have already deceased before him; if he die +therefore, or be slain, will ye turn back on +your heels?'"—not until then did they disperse, +with deep groans.</p> + +<p>Mohammed was buried in the house in +which he died, his grave being dug in the +spot beneath his bed; but some years later +a stone tomb was erected over the grave, +and until the present day the place is held +so sacred that it is at the risk of his life that +anyone but a Mussulman dares enter.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXXI" id="CHAPTER_XXXI"></a>CHAPTER XXXI.</h2> + +<h3>THE NEW HOME.</h3> + +<div class="chpoem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"On these small cares of daughter, wife, or friend,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">The almost sacred joys of Home depend."<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p class="cite">—<i>Hannah More.</i><br /></p> + + +<p><span class="dropcap091"><span class="dropcap">I</span></span>n the quiet valley in Palestine +life had been dealing +gently with Nathan and his +family. The long, long absence +of Manasseh was the +one thing lacking for their +perfect contentment.</p> + +<p>"It is well," Nathan would +say, yet his eyes would turn +wistfully towards the South, +as though he half-hoped to see the beloved +face of his son appearing over the hill. The +mother grew weary with waiting, yet she +did not murmur, but whispered to her lonely +heart, "Living or dead, it must be well." +Only once she said, "Husband, he is surely +dead," and Nathan replied:</p> + +<p>"Let us still hope, wife, that we may yet +see the goodness of the Lord in permitting +us to behold his face."</p> + +<p>So they hoped on, and worked on, amid +their orange trees, their corn and vegetables, +and their sheep browsing peacefully on the +hills. And Mary tended the jasmine flowers +and rose-bushes at the door, carrying water +to them night and morning, that they might +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92">[92]</a></span>look at their prettiest when Manasseh came. +Only one letter had reached them—a +cheery, hopeful letter,—but it had been a +long time on the way, and the events of +which it told had taken place many weeks +before it reached the Jordan valley. It had +told them of Yusuf and Amzi, of the little +church, of the sender's strange meeting with +Kedar, and the news he had gathered of +Lois. Then it had told of the war, and had +closed with an affectionate farewell, in +which the writer expressed his wish, rather +than his expectation, of being able to make +his way to the new home soon.</p> + +<p>How long it seemed to Mary since that +last word had come! And he was not home +yet! She kept the precious manuscript in +her bosom, and twenty times a day she +looked down the long valley for the well-known +form. One morning she sat by the +river, idly plashing her bare feet in its +golden ripples, and looking at the shadows +on the little stones near the shore. About +her gamboled a pet lamb, and above, a soft +blue sky was flecked with fleecy white +clouds. She twirled a sprig of blossoms in +her hand, but her thoughts were far away in +dear, hot, dusty, dreary Mecca.</p> + +<p>"It is not so pleasant as this, though," she +thought, "if Manasseh were only here."</p> + +<p>Just then the tinkle of a camel-bell was +heard,—a strange sound in that secluded +spot. Mary looked up, and saw what seemed +to be a great many people coming over the +hill, camels bearing shugdufs, too, and pack-mules, +heavily laden.</p> + +<p>Trembling, she rushed into the house.</p> + +<p>"Oh, mother, what means this? See the +people! Manasseh would not bring all of +those with him?"</p> + +<p>The mother shaded her eyes with her hand, +and looked forth, anxiously.</p> + +<p>Nearer and nearer came the train. Who +were they? Not Manasseh; Manasseh would +not come so slowly. Can it be? Not +Yusuf! Not Amzi! Yes, yes! O joy! It is +they!—and many other familiar faces smile +also from the train!</p> + +<p>"Is Manasseh well?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, Manasseh is well, and happy."</p> + +<p>So questions were asked and answered in +joyful confusion; and Nathan came in from +the hills to bid the travelers welcome. Then +the dusty, travel-stained tents were pitched +once more, this time on a grassy slope by the +rippling Jordan. A simple repast was +spread, and the company dined in royal +state.</p> + +<p>With what surprise did Nathan and his +household greet the wife of Asru and her +sweet-faced daughter as sisters in Christ, +and with what sympathy did they hear of +Asru's sad death!</p> + +<p>Then plans for the immediate settlement +of the little party were made. Pasture-land +in abundance was to be had; hence the +majority of the new-comers would be +speedily and comfortably provided with new +homes. Amzi would take up his abode in +some comfortable town-house not far distant, +and Yusuf would remain with him for +the present.</p> + +<p>Mary and Sherah were friends at once, and +ere evening fell, they sat, as girls will, in a +cozy nook by the river-side forming plans +for walks and talks during the long, bright, +summer days.</p> + +<p>Every cloud had drifted, for the time being, +from the happy company; and, ere they retired +to rest, all united with fervor in the +words of the grand song:</p> + +<p>"Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not +all his benefits: who forgiveth all thine +iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases; who +redeemeth thy life from destruction; who +crowneth thee with loving kindness and +tender mercies; who satisfieth thy mouth +with good things; so that thy youth is renewed +like the eagle's. The Lord executeth +righteousness and judgment for all that are +oppressed.... Bless the Lord, all his +works, in all places of his dominion! Bless +the Lord, O my soul!"</p> + +<p>And later in that same evening, another +group came to Nathan's house. The door +was closed, for the evening was chill without. +A knock was heard. Mary opened the +door, and there was Manasseh himself, +radiantly happy; and close behind him was +another Manasseh with Bedouin eyes.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93">[93]</a></span>Mother, sister, and father pressed round +the youth until he could scarcely move.</p> + +<p>"There, there!" he said, shaking them off +playfully, "my cousin Kedar will be jealous. +Mother, this is Lois' son, and there is someone +in the darkness here still."</p> + +<p>The youth went out. Who was this that +he assisted from the shugduf?—the living +image of Lois in her girlhood days! Not +Lois, but her daughter, a Bedouin maid, +fresh as the breeze from her native hills. +And can this be Lois—this sad-faced yet +stately woman? It is, indeed, and the long-separated +sisters are once more united. +Kedar's brothers are there too, and one more +family is added to the little community.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXXII" id="CHAPTER_XXXII"></a>CHAPTER XXXII.</h2> + +<h3>A WEDDING IN PALESTINE.</h3> + +<div class="chquote"><p>"God, the best maker of all marriages."—<i>Shakespeare.</i></p><br /></div> + +<p><span class="dropcap093"><span class="dropcap">F</span></span>or a moment let us +look more closely +at the little district +where the Jewish band +found a home after all +their wanderings.</p> + +<p>They settled at a +point where the Jordan +River, that strange +river flowing for its entire length through a +depression one thousand feet below the +level of the sea, is cut up by many a +cataract; and the rushing noise of the +water, carried from its mysterious source +at the foot of Mount Hermon, fills the +valley with a music not lost upon ears +long accustomed to the dry wastes of +Arabian deserts. To the north lie plains +where cold blasts blow, and mountains +whose crests gleam with never-failing snow; +yet in the fair vales of Jordan the tempered +breeze fans the air with the mildness of a +never-ceasing-summer, and the soft alluvial +soil is luxuriant with the rich growth of the +tropics. To the west the rugged and picturesque +mountains of Judea rise, and to the +east, at a distance of some ten miles, lie the +blue-tinted mountains of Moab, rich in associations +of sacred history.</p> + +<p>In this favored spot, shaded by waving +groves and hidden by vines, was the house +of Asru's wife; and at a little distance from +it was a well, an old-fashioned well such as +is seen only in the East, walled about with +ancient and worn flag-stones, between +which, at one side, the water trickled and +ran over mossy stones to the river below.</p> + +<p>A large tamarisk tree waved above it, and +in its shade, with one knee resting on the +flag-stone, her hands clasped behind her +head, and her large eyes fixed upon the +mountains of Moab beyond, stood Sherah, +ere the sun rose, on one beautiful autumn +morning.</p> + +<p>An earthen water-pitcher, such as is carried +by the girls of the Orient, was beside +her, yet she moved not to execute her +errand.</p> + +<p>The sun arose behind the mountain; the +amber sky became golden; the rosy pink +clouds changed to radiant silver; the birds +sang; the dew glittered; and the sun shone +through the leaves of the trees with a flush +of green-gold.</p> + +<p>The beauty of the scene touched the girl. +In a low, clear voice, spontaneous as the +song of a bird, she sang: "For the Lord shall +comfort Zion; he will comfort her waste +places: and he will make her wilderness like +Eden, and her desert like the garden of the +Lord; joy and gladness shall be found +therein, thanksgiving and the voice of melody."</p> + +<p>The song brought comfort to her; for was +she not soon to leave this fairy spot, this +Aidenn, to return to the land of the Mussulman; +not the land of—</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Deep myrrh thickets blowing round<br /></span> +<span class="i0">The stately cedar, tamarisks.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Thick rosaries of scented thorn,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Tall Orient shrubs, and obelisks<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Graven with emblems of the time,"<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>but to the bleak, treeless plains of Nejd, +breezy with the warm breath of desert-swept +winds, bounded by rolling mountains, +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94">[94]</a></span>and dotted by the black tents of those roving +hordes of whom it has been said that "their +hand is against every man, and every man's +hand is against them,"—the fierce, cruel yet +generous, impulsive, courteous tribes of the +desert.</p> + +<p>For Manasseh and Kedar were both going +back to the desert tribes, braving the dangers +of persecution, that they might exert an +influence in christianizing the Bedouin +tribes over whom the Moslems as yet had +little power. Sherah was going back as +Manasseh's wife, and this was her wedding-day. +She was willing to go, yet she could +not help feeling a little lonely on this last +morning in her mother's home.</p> + +<p>Presently the call "Sherah! Sherah!" came +through the olive groves, and the old nurse +hobbled out. The woman was a thorough +type of an aged Arab, lean, wrinkled, hook-nosed, +with skin like shrunken leather, and +a voice like a raven. Yet Sherah knew her +goodness of heart, and loved her dearly. +She was taking the old woman back with +her, for, oddly enough, Zama had never +felt at home in the new land, and often +craved that her bones might be buried in +the old soil.</p> + +<p>"Why disturb me, Zama?" said the young +woman kindly. "See you not that I am bidding +farewell to this dear valley?"</p> + +<p>"Aye, aye, child," muttered the old nurse, +"but we must put the wedding-gown upon +you, and twine jasmine in your hair." She +stroked the glossy masses fondly. "Ah, +to-morrow it must be braided in the plaits of +the matron, and the coins will be placed +about my precious one's neck; yet it seems +only yesterday that she was a toddling baby +at my feet."</p> + +<p>The two women, the one tall and lithe as a +willow, the other bent and shrunken, took +their way to the house. Mary was already +there, and assisted in adorning the bride.</p> + +<p>The guests arrived, and the simple ceremony +was soon over; then the company sat +down to the wedding feast. Lois and her +sister talked in low tones to the mother of +Sherah, who grieved a little at the separation +from her daughter. Happy jests and laughter +passed about among the young people. +Amzi went, with beaming face, from group +to group; and Yusuf looked quietly on.</p> + +<p>In the midst of the entertainment some one +came to the door.</p> + +<p>"It is a peddler!" cried one. "Let us see +what he has—perhaps another gift for our +fair bride."</p> + +<p>The young people gathered about the glittering +trinkets. Manasseh came near, and, +with a merry twinkle in his eyes, placed his +hand on the man's shoulder. The peddler +looked up, and his face blanched with fear.</p> + +<p>It was the little Jew, who, having escaped +like an eel from Manasseh's care after the +Battle of Ohod, and having become thoroughly +frightened at the idea of remaining +longer in a war-ridden district, had disappeared +like magic from the plains of Arabia, +and had become once more the insignificant +Jewish peddler in the more secure provinces +to the north.</p> + +<p>"Do not be frightened," laughed Manasseh. +"We no longer take prisoners of war; +yet, for the sake of old acquaintance, I +claim you to partake of our feast."</p> + +<p>The little man was half-dragged to the +table and given a place by Nathan, who +spoke kindly to him. Yet he did not feel at +ease. The stolen cup seemed to point an accusing +finger at him; and he ate little, and +talked less.</p> + +<p>Presently he caught a glimpse of Yusuf. +The sight of the man whom he had so nearly +delivered to death was too much for him. +His little eyes darted about as if suspicious +of some design upon his freedom. He could +not understand the magnanimity of these +people, and, deeming discretion the better +part of valor, he sprang from the table, +shouldered his pack, and was off, to be seen +no more.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 368px;"> +<img src="images/p094.png" width="368" height="152" alt="" /> +</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95">[95]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXXIII" id="CHAPTER_XXXIII"></a>CHAPTER XXXIII.</h2> + +<h3>THE FAREWELL.</h3> + +<div class="chquote"><p>"Sondry folk, by aventure +y-falle in felaweschipe."—<i>Chaucer.</i></p><br /></div> + + +<p><span class="dropcap095"><span class="dropcap">A</span></span>nd now, our tale +draws to a close, +and time permits but +a parting glance at +those who have been +so long a goodly company +of friends.</p> + +<p>Amzi has, in his +descent to old age, +developed a wonderful activity +of mind and body. He has become +one of the most influential +members of the little town in which he has +taken up his abode. Realizing as never before +the duty which man owes to man, and +fully awakened at last to the fact that our +talents are given us to be exercised fully, he +no longer dreams away time in the Arab +Kaif; but, from morning to night, his plump +figure and good-natured old face are seen, up +and down, in the mart, in the council-chamber, +in the church, wherever he can lend a +helping hand. He has even assumed the +role of schoolmaster, and upon the earthen +floor of an unused hall he gathers day by +day a troop of little ones, over whom he +bends patiently as they cling to his gown for +sympathy in their small trials, or as they +trace upon their wax tablets, with little, uncertain +hands and in almost illegible characters, +the words of a copy, or text.</p> + +<p>"Aye," he says, "who knows what these +little ones may some day become? They are +as impressionable as the wax upon which +they write. Heaven grant that the impression +made upon them may be mighty for +good!"</p> + +<p>Kedar has married a Bedouin maid, and is +happy in his free life in the old land. Naught +but the desert could satisfy him; he would +stagnate in the calm life which those in the +Jordan valley are finding so pleasant.</p> + +<p>As yet he and Manasseh have not been +molested in their work by the Moslems; and +in their remote mountain recesses they are +persistently fighting against heathendom, +and are leading many to live better and nobler +lives.</p> + +<p>And Yusuf? He is in his home-land again. +Once more he stands upon the highest point +of the Guebre temple. The priests have not +refused him admittance, for no one has +recognized in this harmless old man the +once Guebre Yusuf.</p> + +<p>Ah, it is heathen Persia still! The fires +flicker upon the altar, and the idolatrous +chants arise on the air. Yusuf covers his +face with his mantle and weeps. He has +but a few years of strength before him, but +he will spend them in trying to bring the +Gospel of love to these poor, blind people.</p> + +<p>He grieves for his benighted country; but +when the moon slowly rises, shedding her +soft rays over the old scene, the mountains, +the valleys below, all calm, peaceful, radiant, +he is comforted. He thinks of Him who +"created the lesser orb to rule the night," +and a great joy fills his heart that he has +been led to a recognition of Him, and +that he has been enabled to lead others to +Him.</p> + +<p>His face glows with serene happiness and +hope. He raises his eyes to the calm, deep +heavens, and says:</p> + +<p>"O Father, I thank thee that 'mine eyes +have seen the King, the Lord of hosts,' and +his dear Son! I thank thee that thou hast +led me to see Truth! O God, thou hast +taught me from my youth, and hitherto have +I declared thy wondrous works! Now also +when I am old and gray-headed, O God, forsake +me not until I have showed thy +strength unto this generation, and thy power +to every one that is to come! And now, +Father, 'what wait I for? My hope is in +thee,' the great God, the ever-loving Father, +now and for evermore. Amen and amen."</p> + +<p>And there will we leave him.</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i10">"May he live<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Longer than I have time to tell his years!<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Ever beloved and loving, may his rule be!<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And when old Time shall lead him to his end,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Goodness and he fill up one monument!"<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p class="cite">—<i>Shakespeare.</i><br /><br /><br /></p> + + +<p class="center">THE END.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h3><a name="FOOTNOTES" id="FOOTNOTES"></a>FOOTNOTES</h3> + +<div class="footnote"> + <p><a name="Footnote_1_1" id="Footnote_1_1"></a><a href="#FNanchor_1_1"><span class="label">[1]</span></a> + The month of Ramadhan was held as holy prior to Mohammed's time; its sanctity + was but confirmed by him.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + <p><a name="Footnote_2_2" id="Footnote_2_2"></a><a href="#FNanchor_2_2"><span class="label">[2]</span></a> + Medina at this time bore the name of Yathrib, but in this volume we shall + give it the later and better-known name of "Medina," derived from the earlier + "<ins class="correction" title="Transcriber's Note: period missing in original">Mahdinah.</ins>"</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + <p><a name="Footnote_3_3" id="Footnote_3_3"></a><a href="#FNanchor_3_3"><span class="label">[3]</span></a> + The Moslems <i>now</i> assert that the sacred fire went out of itself at the + birth of Mohammed.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + <p><a name="Footnote_4_4" id="Footnote_4_4"></a><a href="#FNanchor_4_4"><span class="label">[4]</span></a> + A fourth, the "Darb-el-Sharki," or Eastern Road, has since been built by order + of the wife of the famous Haroun al Raschid.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + <p><a name="Footnote_5_5" id="Footnote_5_5"></a><a href="#FNanchor_5_5"><span class="label">[5]</span></a> + Joseph Pitts, A.D. 1680, says: "Mecca is surrounded for several miles with + many thousands of little hills which are very near to one another. They are + all stony-rock, and blackish, and pretty near of a bigness, appearing at a + distance like cocks of hay, but all pointing towards Mecca."</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + <p><a name="Footnote_6_6" id="Footnote_6_6"></a><a href="#FNanchor_6_6"><span class="label">[6]</span></a> + Burton says the black stone is volcanic, but is thought by some to be a meteorite + or aërolite. Burckhardt thought it composed of lava. Of its appearance + Ali Bey says: "It is a block of volcanic basalt, whose circumference is sprinkled + with little crystals, with rhombs of tile-red feldspath on a dark background + like velvet or charcoal<ins class="correction" title="Transcriber's Note: missing quote mark in original">."</ins></p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + <p><a name="Footnote_7_7" id="Footnote_7_7"></a><a href="#FNanchor_7_7"><span class="label">[7]</span></a> + By the latest statistics the number of Mohammedans now scattered throughout + Asia, Africa, and the south-eastern part of Europe amounts to some 176,834,372.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + <p><a name="Footnote_8_8" id="Footnote_8_8"></a><a href="#FNanchor_8_8"><span class="label">[8]</span></a> + Moslems assert that upon this night Mohammed was carried through the seven + heavens of which El Islam tells.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + <p><a name="Footnote_9_9" id="Footnote_9_9"></a><a href="#FNanchor_9_9"><span class="label">[9]</span></a> + The initial "A" is placed at the top of all Arabian writings. It is the initial + of "Allah" and the first letter of the alphabet, and is symbolic of the origin + of creation.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + <p><a name="Footnote_10_10" id="Footnote_10_10"></a><a href="#FNanchor_10_10"><span class="label">[10]</span></a> + Burton gives seven hundred.</p> + <br /><br /></div> + + +<div class='tnote'><h4>Transcriber's Notes</h4> + +<p>The Table of Contents was added by the transcriber.</p> + +<p>Obvious printing errors were repaired and noted by the use of +a dashed <ins class="correction" title="like this">underline</ins> +in the text. 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