ey had returned to the
hut, the priest addressed his converts. "My children," he said, "in
order to do a great right I have done a little wrong. I have baptized
you into a religion that you know nothing of. How should you? You,
Abdullah--I beg your pardon, Philip--that was the name I gave you, was
it not?"

Abdullah bowed.

"You, Philip," resumed the priest, "have changed your religion to win a
woman whom you love; and you, Marie, have changed yours because the man
you love bade you. Neither of you knows anything of the faith you have
adopted. I have had no chance to instruct you; but one thing I declare
to you, the Christian religion tolerates but one husband and one wife."

Nicha rose, pale, hesitating. She stepped slowly into the light. Her
beauty added to the light.

"Beloved," she said, "knew you this?"

"No," he said, "but I know it now, and welcome it."

"Oh, my beloved," she cried, "to think that you are all my own, that I
do not have to share you," and she flung her arms about him.

"Hush," said the priest, "or, as Philip says, you will wake the
camels."

"Father," asked Abdullah, "will you now marry us, since we are
Christians?"

"I would," answered the priest, "but it is necessary to have two
witnesses."

Abdullah's face fell, but in an instant it brightened again. He went to
the door of the hut and stood, listening. In a moment he turned and
said, "Allah is good, or, rather, God is good. This new religion works
well. Here are our witnesses."

And, even as he spoke, there came out of the darkness the halt-cry of
the camel-driver.

"It is Ali," said Abdullah, "and Nicha's maid is with him. They have
caught us up."

He ran out and found the camels kneeling and Ali easing the surcingles.

"Ali," he cried, "you must change your religion."

"Willingly," said Ali; "what shall the new one be? The old one has done
little for me."

"Christian," said Abdullah.

"That suits me," said Ali; "under it one may drink wine, and one may
curse. It is a useful religion for a trader."

"And the maid?" asked Abdullah.

"We have travelled a day and a part of a night together," said Ali,
"and she will believe what I tell her to believe."

"The old religion is good in some respects," said Abdullah. "Call the
maid;" and they went to the hut.

"Here are the witnesses," said Abdullah, "ready to be Christians."

"It is not necessary," said the priest, "if they can make their mark;
that is all that is requir