The Portland daily press., 1898-01-19
PART Ill.
(Chapter ~

1t was early morning IN Iaula. lAe Guy
was not yet awake; the gate was stiLl ciosed
and the porter was asleep. Two camels ana
two camel drivers lay on the ground at the
foot of the stone da1s which stood by the
CITY wall. A third man had also been sleep
ing there He arose. 1t was Otba, the Der
Der. The sun was coming up. "l1lne 10 po
stirring, bIothers,'' said Otba.
$50 soon?'' said one of the camel drivers
His name was Larby. He was young man.
impulsive and talkative. 81 was dreaming
was the prophets eunuch, and had forty
slaves and twenty wives
The other camel driver aroused himself.
He was an old man, solemn and taciturn.
ssWhat says the poet? 'sleep makes us all
Bashasp"
"seems less than an hour since we came
IN from Fez,'' said Larby, "and now, before
we have time to turn"
"To turnr' cried the old man. "Leave
xon to sleep, and you'll turn and turn till
midday"
..Well. one good turn deserves another
said Larby. Then, facing toward Otpa, All
and here is the stranger"
The old man grunted. Il tell you again he
is no Mahdist," he said. ''And well be pun
ished for bringing him into the city. Here,
stranger. take back your money, and go
while you're safe"
keep it. I'm in Tadla now," said Otpa,
with laugh.
..That's just why your life is in danger,
and our skins as well,'' said the older camel
driver.
.sI'll risk it, said otba.
$50 will 10 said Larby "What does the
Koran say, 'It the infidel seeks refuge with
Won. give it him that he may hear the WORD
of God
aGood," said Otba, 'sbut am no infidel
Only I'VE not been in Tadla since the Mahdl
settled there ~
Larby made long whistle. "Not IL
Tadla since year ago! Then you'll see
some changes
..Thinps do seem altered" said Otba.
Altered cried Larby rapturously. essay
.,.,,sfionred. where's the old Kasbah?
Gone. Where's the old prison that was
dungeon on a dunghill? Gone. where's the
harem of the Basha? Gone. Where's the
Rasha himself who used to grind the faces
of the poor? Gone! Where's the kadl VINO
used to sell his justice to the rich? Gone
all aonei Instead of these look and see'
the MOSQUE, the courts of law, the BARRACKS,
the women in the streets with uncoVefeo
faces. the Moslem and the Nazarene, the
lew and the Christian, all equal and free.
otba curied his lip contemptuously.
"Wonderful!'' he said in tone OF mockery.
s.And the Mahdi himself, is changed also?
..The apostle of God-God favour and pre-
serve him-is changed only in cendltlon; IN
character he is the same. Then he was
hunted wolf-now he is a conquering hon.
"And Rachel, the Jewess, what OF her1
ssNo Jewess, now, brother. When she was
f7.O N
ieverr'
ssHumphl No--Jew ever changes his fa1th'
said Otba. $50 she is the Mahdi's wife?"
Larby's fmpulsive tongue hesitated. ellis
wife-hum! ha !-w ell-we are the Mahdi's
servants"
"Larby,' said the old man, severely, "you
exceed i'll talk. Ask pardon OF Cod
$50 THAT'S how tis.'' thought otba. "And
her young maid, AsHa, the Berber-1s she
one of the MalIliss concubines?'
The old man S face clouded. stranger,
Iisten,' he said. believer or infidel, re-
member the saw that says 'I'm the slave of
what I speak, and the lord of what L
think -
AT that moment deep low murmur as OF
many voices came from mosque whose
minare.s overlooked the city gate.
10000 r' said otba, cheerfully. 'But why
be afraid of me?'' He paused to listen.
s.What's that noise7?'' ne asked.
prayer in the mosque said Larby.
troop of people came down the street
behind the mosque. Among them were the
blind, the lame and the infirm.
"And who are these people?" said Otba.
s.Pensioners and petitioners of the Mahdp'
said Larby "He will come out presently"
''Hush, he is coming now," said the older
camel driver.
The camel drivers reused their camels and
drove them aside Otba stepped back.
Voices came from within the mosque.
'sPraise be to God and his prophet!'
Chapter II.
A moment later the Mahdi came out OF the
Mosque, attended by Booker and Asad,
and made his way to the dais. He was
clothed in white. The people pressed round
him, kneeling and suppiicating. He was
pushing his way to the dais when he saw the
camel drivers, and stopped.
ssLarby,'' he said, 'when did you return?''
"Late last night .rnyslord,' said Larby.
Sand Omar?'' asked the Mahdi eagerly.