The Portland daily press., 1898-01-24
Chapter VII,

1t was night inside the mosque Of Tadla.
Yhe patio was full of people, not men
only, as in the older days, but also
women and children. Many carried
lighted torches. This was the only illumi-
nation. AS the people entered they went
nm TO a silver bowl that stood on u stool
at the foot of line of steps and cast In
their Offering some silver, some copper,
some their jewels from arms and necks
There was n low hum of many voices.
Boobker and Asad were walking in the
colonnade. "No, no, l repeat 1T, said
BOOKER. "No matter how great man
may be, when he undertakes a venture
like this he should consult ten OF his
friends"
aNGreat ones are not great in friends,
said Asad. "What if he hasnot got temp
'tsIet him consult five friends twice
over said Booker.
''But what if he has not got hve?'
said Asad.
sIThen let him consult one friend ten
times OVER said Booker.
"Nay,s said Asad, <fbut If he stands
SO high that he has not got evon one
Then let him consult his wife," said
Booker.
His wife?"
Yes said Booker, 'sand whatever
she advises let him do the contrary and
he is sure to proceed rightly
Asad laughted and said, "That's just
what the Mahdi has done, Booker
ssIt is Just what the Mahdi has not
DONE" said Booker, land heaven cave
us from the consequences
TO the MOSQUE in great agitation; 1t was
Fstima, sister of the Mahdi.
lsPeace be on you, o Fatima," said
Booker.
."Peaoe, peaoe,'' replied the anxious
woman "where is he?' she SAID, LOOKING
/ m
foo late; vet soon or late what can dor
Rachel is all in all with him. ., is there
no man to stand between him and this
Roobker laughed oyDicalIy. s'Oh yes"
he said, "there is one man to stand be-
tween them; would there were not r.
"But has ne no friend?" said Fatima.
"A friend too said Booker. land
there is the mischief, for not word will
he hear against him.
There was shout without, "God save
the MahdiP'
The Mahdi entered the mosque sur
rounded by a great throng and accom-
panied by Otba and Ell Arby carrying
torches. He assembled the line OF steps
which served for rostrum. The people
gathered round; he lifted his hand and
began to speak. ~
3People of Tadla,'' he said, 81 pro-
claim a pilgrimage. We are to set out
for FeZ. Not until Fee has fallen will
tie Mahdist Empire be complete. only
when we have planted our standard on it's
Kasbah will Barbary be free. We have
to win dear victory Tor GOD; we nave TO
break down the last bulwark ~of Sodom;
we have to restore the ancient faith of
Islam. Ours : is the duty, ours is the
honour-it is war;
There was a great shout of War
Warp
tfPeople of Fez,'' continued the Mahdi,
1--WE are to 90 back to our birthplace. A
year ago you came out to me from the
service of it's hard masters, from the doors
of it's cruel prisons, from the famished
army of its Sultan. Your fathers are
there still, your sons, your daughters,
your sisters. your wives. You are going
hack to them to liberate them. You are
going home"
There were yet ouderEshoutslof "Home!
Homei"
I'VE go In two companies. the firstsof
five hundred, the second of five thousand.
The five hundred shall leave tom ight, the
five thousand tomorrow. Soldiers OF the
five thousand, you shall follow under
Omar, my comrade. my successor. Obey
him, swear feslty to him, come to- him
from every town, from every house. from
every tent; let the women and children
of Fee come with you, and God give you
a good reward ]"
There were deep murmurs of assent.
.sSoldiers OF the five hundred" said the
Mahdi. 81 myself viii head you. Yours
is the greatest honour, it Is also the gray
est danger-we will share them togeth-
er."
At that moment, by q side entrance
near to the steps, Rachel came into the
mosque followed by Asma. who was
carrying.the pilgrim garments, and an
Arab soldier who was bearing his sword
and flintlock. At the same time Omar
who had stood in the crowd, stepped for
ward and said, "Mahdi, my lord, reverse
your order, and let me lead with 0he Anye
hundred
Rachel heard him. She was very pale,
her lips quivered, her hands were restless,
her eyes wandered from face to face.
.WhyP'' said the Mahd1
"First," said Omar, because it best
beseems the Nberator of his country to
enter Fee with five thousand, not with
five hundred with triumph, not by
treachery; with dignity, not IN dis
The Mahdi bowed his head. "What
nextf'' he asked.
Next" said Omar, "no dress will
disguise the Mahdi from the people of
his own province. There is only one face
such as the face of Mohammed Adder.
Rahman and the mensof Fee all know 1t. -
Omar had spoken firmly, resolutely,
almost angrily.
enemy" said the Mahd1, ''but the heart
is the heart of a friend.'' Then he turned
to the people. Companions of my ex-
lie" he said, ~ will listen TO you; what
do you adviser
BOOKER stepped out. master, he
said, with significant accent, "let
Omar go first with the five hundred. He
knows Fee, he knows the Basha. He can
do all that the Mahdi can do, ana run on
risk
Fatfma had been standing by in visible
agitation. The Mahdi turned to her and
said, "Fatima, it is your turn
Brother" said Fatima, in tremulous
tones, "let Omarigo with Otba. The last
man the Basha will look for is the man
whoshas just left him.
Rachel had been struggling hard to
control her emotion. The Mahdi noticed
this. And Rachel?" he said.
''Do not listen to them,'' she burst out
in q choking voice.
There was some movement among the