usal in terms that would not anger the sheik. Then he said,
"I am indeed grateful for your offer, sheik, which does me great honour,
but were I to accept it I know that even in your eyes I should be viewed
with contempt. Had our people captured Metemmeh when you were there, and
carried you off a prisoner, I know well that you would have treated with
scorn any offer my people might have made you of a post of honour and
wealth among us if you would have abjured Mohammed and become a
Christian. You would have died first."

"That would I indeed!" the sheik exclaimed hotly.

"Honourable men do not change their religion for profit, sheik. You were
born a follower of the Prophet, I was born a Christian. We both believe
what we were taught as children; it is in our blood and cannot be
changed. Were I to say the words that would make me a Mohammedan, you
know well that I should say them with my lips and not with my heart,
that I should be a false Mohammedan as well as a false Christian. I
could as easily change the colour of my skin as my religion, and you in
your heart would be the first to condemn and despise me did I do so."

The sheik sat for some time stroking his chin in silence. "You are
right, Muley," he said at last; "a man cannot change his religion as he
can his coat. I did not think of it when I made the offer; but as you
say, I would rather die a thousand deaths than abjure Mohammed; and
though I now think you worthy to be my son, and to become a sheik after
me, I might not think you worthy did you become a renegade."

"Believe me, sheik," Edgar said, rising, "I feel deeply the kindness of
your offer, and so long as I remain with you I shall take as much
interest in the tribe as if I were a member of it, and I shall do my
best to prove myself your faithful slave. You saved my life by refusing
to hand me over to the Mahdi. I shall never forget it, and shall be
ready at all times to risk it for you, for my kind mistress, and for the
tribe."

"You have spoken well, Muley, and although I am sorry, I cannot feel
angered at your decision."

Edgar saw that the interview was over, and left the tent, well content
that he had been able to refuse the offer without exciting the anger of
the sheik. For another two months the tribe remained in the wady. By
that time forage was running short, and the sheik announced his
intention of leaving it for a time and of going to El-Obeid, where he
might obtain employment for his came