The Portland daily press., 1898-01-22
CHAPTER V,

fcer.
CHAPTER V,
The Mahdi re-entered the room by the
little door at which Hosein had gone out.
tsWhere 10 OmafP' he asked.
"Gone," said Rachel, recovering her
self.
ed for q moment and then said, Rachel
answer me without fear, have you driven
him away"
Rachel looked amazed. s'Why should
you say sof" she said.
az remember what you told me-that
he was your 1cver-that he deserted you
at Fee. The past is the past. God Him.
again, does your heart still reproacn
hims" =,
Rachel trembled, but answered "No."
ssYou do not shrink from him?"
"No''
ssYou have no secret torture respecting
himp'
The Mahdi was satisfied. "That Is
well,'' he said. yet perhaps you think
sThe Mahdi will not always be with
me- But take no thought for that. No
man will aspire to you when am gone.
In the past, in the present. in the future,
you are my wife. You Will be the mother
.,
of your footsteps will be honoured, you
viii belong to the Mahdi dead or alive.
Therefore, welcome my friends as you
welcome me-
BOOKER and Asad came into the house.
Both looked anxious and distrustful.
''Five hundred of the tribe OF Benl ldar
will be ready at the mosque" said Asad.
ssGood,' said the Mahdi, "they shall
set out at midnight. "'l
"Then it isitrue you are going to Fee,
said Rachel.
iOtba is to go, "'sssaid the Mahdi, "and
five hundred men are to go with him clad
as Berbers. He is to fly to the city cry
ing, THE Mahdi is pursuing us. let us
in I am to follow with five thousand,
and the same night he is to open the gates
to us and we are to enter and possess the
city"
manned, trick, he SAID:
DEVILS weapons until God wants them
and then it is treason to call them
treachery"
stWhat do the Jews say: Let him that
diggeth pit for another take heed lest
he fall into it himself.
Rachel had listened with looks OF CON
sternation. "But Otba2 Otba, the Der
ber9s' she said in tone of establishment
ssHaye no fear, Rachel, said che Mahdt
"This day he has become Mahdist
II can be trusted"
with five hundred menu" said Ra
chel.
HE is believer, too, praise be t.
God" said the Mahdi.
"a believer of one day only, and he i
TO have five hundred men to lead them tt
prison or to death l'' said Rachel.
'tTrue, the Berbers are unstable al
water, vet Otba alone can enter Fec. u
II ntraI
one must go with him."
sEThe counsel is good" said the Mahdi
''Let me CO., said Asad.
"No,' said Rachel, promptly. 81
must be someone who knows the city
we'll; SOMEONE who knows the Basha. A
thence. "Impossiblel' he said. "Ht
who knows the Basha, the Basha himself
must know"
''Shai he can be disguised!'' SAID
Rachel.
They all laughed.
~ will go myself," said tho Mahdi.
Rachel clasped her hands. "The man o.
ali men" she cried, "Who knows Fe,
so well as the Mahdif'
Booker looked donbtfully at her
ssThen you are not afraid for him?"
'Afraidp'' she said CONTEMPORARY
f'I will disguise him myself. A gun case
about his head; and the sheepsk1n kaftar
IL
"Bring them to the mosque tonight, y
said the Mahdi.
81 WILL" said Rachel.
"Bring my sword too"
eyes"
And my pilgrims sirdle."
1.-THE selham of the pilgrim as WE'LL"
eyes, yes" said Rachel eagerly.
"And with my own hands L will put
them on. Afraid2' she replied mock
ingly. 81 will go before you to the gate
Yes, and my women with me, playing
on their kettledrums."
The Mahdi put his arms about her
"Braye heart of womanP he cried.
"Stronger than the soul OF man !. 1t il
the work of Islam, and it is L who should
begin 1T.
lie began to make preparations. "Asad
find Otba; say intend to go with him:
Instantly, Mahdi," said Asad' and he
land Father Booker said the
Mahdi, "Do you seek Omar straightwayt
say be is to take my place at tne nead o.
the five Thousand, and enter Fez when We
have opened the gates to him"
Booker shrugged his shoulders and an
swered coldly, going out, "My will il
yours, yet beware, the pit-the pitF'
But the Mahdi's enthusiasm wal
kindled. Unto no pit, dug by me o.
another. can the foot of the Mahdi fall
for the Merciful is mighty" be cried
He embraced Rachel again. SOD glv'
you good reward. Follow with the nv
thousand under Omar. You must SCI
the day of Islam's triumph. Tor the dnl
that we enter Fee will be the day OF you