The Portland daily press., 1898-01-20
(Chaper II continued.)

(Chaper II continually
The woman was being hustled out when
+be Gate of the city opened and Omar came
in covered with dust, and threw himself at
the feet of the dais.
..omar!' cried the Mahdi, rising to his
feet.
..Peace be on you, Mahdir' said Omar.
uAnd on YOU aisop' said the Mahd1.
s.What new sfrom Fee? What welcome from
your embassy?'
omar rose and drew himself up. ''Wfat
1velcomeq'' he SAID, ssInsuits, Mahdi taunts,
jeers, curses!'a
Curses, Omar'?' 'Aye, curses, and all
but bows
blows? Speak, Omar. speak
e.They recefved me in the Kasbash," said
Omar. 1.-THE Basha, the Kadi, the Kaleefa
everybody. sThe Mahdi has conquered
Morocco torathe Moors,' Isaid. 'The Sultan
is dead, his ministers are banished, his
prisons broken open, his harems dispersed,
man in Barbary is free, and woman Is
slave no longer. The Mahdist empire IS
founded. the nations of the world aclznowl-
edge if. ONLY Fee remains what she was
a disagree to humanity, an outrage on Is
lam. the Mahdi calls on her to submit?
nRight and true said the Mahdl. what
answer did they make?"
what answer? They gave me Liar ZOE
INV answer. Traitor, Coward LIAR L
am,not,' Isaid traitor never was, ana leu
him wno.called me coward step out and
prove4is '''
.sBraye9y spoken, What then?"
"Then they said, tAnd pray what will
this Mahdi do il Fee should refuses?
saarcasnout;on her. I crieds fight her, de-
sfrov her, burn heE- Whichs1s it to be-peace
or WEEP Give me your answer for the
prophet of God g."
what did they say to that?'
6. We know of no prophet of God, save
one, they said. That's strange I cried
for YOUR master the devil knows him but
too wen.' sAs for this second Mohammed,
said they, stenhim that we have sentenced
him to Death sSo,' said i, has thesecond
Nohammed sentenced YOU At that they
1ifted I'D stones and would have stoned
ma The white flag was useless. 1hefe
was nothing Left but to escape: andA leapt
TO nv horse and fed. Thus am heme
from Fee, my aord, bringing nothing oack
of nv mission butsmenace, and mockerles.
The Mahdi was moved. Eyes, Omar he
said, proudly, -you br1ngsback that which
YOUR mxster prizes abaTe hononrs and
obeisance-ypurself. the hon and sword OF
Islam. What though you were drive out OF
Fee? Even SO was the Mahai before you.
Fee shall father day of deetsionls past.
If the insults of the Bashas ring in your ears
YOU shall yet wipe them out on their races
Welcome, thrice welcome! More welcome to-
dav than when yoa came to me covered IN
the glory of your blood from battle"
Omar half turned aside 81 am weary
after my journey, Mahdi,'' he said.
.sYou,shau &c. into my house nd rest.
Omar made o 1soyement of dissent
yes, nv wife herself shall see to you.
Yet waitrsfEe said, and rose to his feet.
s.Men az gadaa, nsten,'' he cried raising his
voice, so.fhat the people might hear ''here
appoint OnraS my friend and brother the
heeo, of IslaIn, the. insulted of Fez, to be the
first Califs of your leader, his heir ana
successor, qtos stand atsthe head of an bel1eV-
ers when sGod shall need your Mahd1 no
more"
There vas a shout of assent from. the
crowd, but Omar shook his head. ~ am
not ft.to walk in yourshadoW, my loro'
he3sain. ssgnpr words crush, me more imam
your honolirs hfS1neup. You-donot know
me-but letme go, / am faint and fathlrst.
Lead him into my honse.
Roobker stepped OUT He had been watch
ing Omar withno friendly eyes, 'tNay' out
into mine, Mahdi, tits the nearest, he said.
ssInto mine, say" said. the Mahdi, "for
Rachetlherse1f sha1fserve him. ="
Omar washed away, andthe Mahdi, step
ping down from the -dais, lifted his clenched
hand towards -thescountry beyond the gate.
ss9h Fee, Fer he cried, ''you are my
mother, yet feel towards you as father
who mussschastenshis son, though MS DOW
els yearn oper;him to4spare him"
Asad. the Iherchant'svas standing near.
''Yousll leaveps at:Tala, he said
.God has wliIed ill., said the Mahdi.
esEezas the heart of Barbary. Not till Fee
has fallen will Barbary be free. She 1s4the
strongholdtof' the old order, and we must
60 out against her. Make ready. Bring
your tributes to the Mosque tonight-your
gold, your silver, your Jewels your adorn-
ments. Make ready, mazereadyi we must
take her by surprise
He was going back to his house, followed
by HIS people, when Otba stepped In 'front.'
of.hi1n. The Mahdi stopped.
Hotba the Bernerr' he said with astonish-
ment.
..otba. the friend of the Basha," said
Booker, in.his ear.
The nIahdi hesitated a moment and then
cried, '-TakeS ilin."
Two men. laid hands on otpa.
s'Kaye no fear, 8tahdi,' said the Berber.
''Im not here to play the spy for Fee. Ny
own business is enough for Ine.
What is it?'' said the Mahdi.
My daughter-where is she? By what
-.
GHEREMEH e.