The Days of Mohammed

that infe

eir tents, li

lently st

gfel

Hejaz, the province that stretches over a considerable portion of western Arabia. His face was brown like leather from exposure, and h

f 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 f

rid valley, through whose barren soil huge, detached rocks of various-colored sands

d he again allowed his faithful beast to slacken its pace and crop a few leave

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 seeme

, but he was instantly beset by half a dozen wild Arabs, who dashed upon him, sc

gleaming teeth of his opponents darting in confusion before him, of hacking desperately, and of receivi

, and waving their long, tufted spears, appeared on the scene. The Bedouin robbers fled precipitately, and Yus

d soon recovered enough to proceed with the

t 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 glint

f horsemen, also armed with long spears tufted with ostrich feathers, left the

ent of the Sheikh, which was marked by being larger than the rest, and situated in

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 front, disc

the enjoyment of Bedouin hospitality, which, we sincerely hope, shall not be lacking in the tents of Musa.

ill draw back at the first scent of danger. Yet I deplore these delays, which bu

t and let us wash this blood from your hair. Hither, Aswan! Bring warm water, knave, and let the traveler know th

e pile of rugs and cushions, and, while the attendant

ms, gazing into the depth

central curtain. This curtain was occasionally twitched aside far enough to reveal a pair of black eyes, and, from the softness of

f the typical Arab. They gesticulated constantly as they talked; but Yusuf, though thoroughly familiar with the Arabic lang

n 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 u

circular table of copper. A wooden platter of boiled mutton was next added, along

handed the cup to him; the chief then picked out the most savory bits

he ground, about the low table; yet, savage-looking though they were, not one of the

rted 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

, 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

of the little Jew's curiosity, and as soon as the

iest, and poising his head

d for the sou

said Yusu

ith

e city of the

and a fool's game they make of it, with their running, and bowing, and kissi

hey wo

of Ishmael, principally. A precious set

eat of day and the untold dangers of night? In searching for that pure essence, the spiritual, tha

he speaks: one with the empty brain and the loose tongue o

" hazarded the little man. "The Magians and

stars themselves, and have set up images to them, no longer perceiving the Great Invisible, the In

ter in Mecca. What are you going t

" replied the

ple 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

e the ap

ws, of

ay I fin

hundred years ago," retur

even one kindred spirit to whom he cou

torian 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 fo

ing for some time, upsetting tawdry jewelry, kerchiefs, and b

r. Abraham the Jew knows little and cares less for religion, but he w

Son of

ad sprung to his feet and stood, with flashing eyes and d

e Jew sprang through the door

hed conte

n mine own tent! Yet, friend Persian, one cannot hear one's own people, and one's own templ

aaba-of the God they worsh

ead, and made a

and as such, it suits me ill to hear it on the tongue of a craven-hearted Jew. In sooth, the coward kn

triped silk garment here

e Sheikh. "Recite for our

y, now giving vent to deep groans as the persecution of the children of Israel was described, now bowing their heads in reverence at the revelati

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 l

g soul! Not one throb of the loving and longing heart is lost;-and Yusuf was yet, after trial, to rejoi

nger 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

e first definite opportunity he h

eaches him. She was a Jewess, of the people of Jesus of Nazareth, but I fear this

areth. I have heard someth

id. "But I shall call Lois. The men have all gone f

e women's apartment, and

e 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

? Is he one of the s

t. He is i

take notice of us, t

t 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

him. Musa entered to conduct him to the rugs set apart fo

nd 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 th

me him. Give me faith, such faith as had he of the withered hand, that I too ma

the stars" were as a bridge to the gulf which,