God, what did his
master mean?

Ali's big eyes began to fill, and great beads rolled down his black
cheeks. Then, recovering his speech he blurted out that he would not go.
He would follow his father and serve him until the end of his life. What
did he want with wages? Who asked for any? No going his ways for him! A
pretty thing, wasn't it, that he should go off, and never see his father
again, no, nor Naomi--Naomi--that-that--but God would show! God would
show!

And, following Ali's lead, Fatimah stepped up to Israel and offered her
paper back. "Take it," she said; "I don't want any liberty. I've got
liberty enough as I am. And here--here," fumbling in her waistband and
bringing out a knitted purse; "I would have offered it before, only I
thought shame. My wages? Yes. You've paid us wages these nine years,
haven't you; and what right had we to any, being slaves? You will not
take it, my lord? Well, then, my dear master, if I must go, if I must
leave you, take my papers and sell me to some one. I shall not care,
and you have a right to do it. Perhaps I'll get another good master--who
knows?"

Her brows had been knitted, and she had tried to look stern and angry,
but suddenly her cheeks were a flood of tears.

"I'm a fool!" she cried. "I'll never get a good master again; but if I
get a bad one, and he beats me, I'll not mind, for I'll think of
you, and my precious jewel of gold and silver, my pretty gazelle,
Naomi--Allah preserve her!--that you took my money, and I'm bearing it
for both of you, as we might say--working for you--night and day--night
and day--"

Israel could endure no more. He rose up and fled out of the patio
into his own room, to bury his swimming face. But his soul was big
and triumphant. Let the world call him by what names it would--tyrant,
traitor, outcast pariah--there were simple hearts that loved and
honoured him--ay, honoured him--and they were the hearts that knew him
best.

The perilous task reserved for Ali was to go to Shawan and to liberate
the followers of Absalam, who, less happy than their leader, whose
strong soul was at rest, were still in prison without abatement of
the miseries they lay under. He was to do this by power of a warrant
addressed to the Kaid of Shawan and drawn under the seal of the Kaid of
Tetuan. Israel had drawn it, and sealed it also, without the knowledge
or sanction of Ben Aboo; for, knowing what manner of man Ben Aboo was,
and knowing Katrina also, and the