true that those cursed
Zionists intend to desecrate the place. This fellow, who you say
is deaf and dumb, is one of your spies--is he not? Perhaps he
can smell a Zionist--eh? Well, there are others! Better tell me
the truth, Jimgrim, and in fifteen minutes I will pack this place
so full of true Moslems that no conspirator could worm his way
in! Then if the Jews start anything let them beware!"

"By the beard of your Prophet," Grim answered impiously, "this
has nothing to do with Zionists."

"Neither have I, then, anything to do with this trespass. You
have my leave to depart at once, Jimgrim!"

"After the ruin--"

"There will be no ruin, Jimgrim! I will fill the place
with men."

"Better empty it of men! The more there are in it, the bigger
the death-roll! Shall I say afterwards that I begged leave to
set a watch, and you refused?"

"You--you, Jimgrim--you talk to me of ruin and a death-roll? You
are no every-day alarmist."

"Did you ever catch me in a lie?"

"No, Jimgrim. You are too clever by far for that! If you were
to concoct a lie it would take ten angels to unravel it! But--
you speak of ruin and a death-roll, eh?" He stroked his beard
for about a minute.

"You have heard, perhaps, that Moslems are sharpening their
swords for a reckoning with the Jews? There may be some truth in
it. But there shall be no gathering in this place for any such
purpose, for I will see to that. You need set no watch in here
on that account."

"The time always comes," Grim answered, "when you must trust a
man or mistrust him. You've known me eleven years. What are you
going to do?"

"In the name of God, what shall I answer! Taib,* Jimgrim, I will
trust you. What is it you wish?" [*All right.]

"To leave this deaf-and-dumb man and the boy, below the
Rock, undisturbed."

"That cannot well be. Occasionally others go to pray in that
place. Also, there is a Moslem who has made the pilgrimage from
Trichinopoli. I myself have promised to show him the mosque
tonight, because he leaves Jerusalem at dawn, and only I speak a
language he can understand. There will be others with him, and I
cannot refuse to take them down below the Rock."

"That is nothing," Grim answered. "They will think nothing of a
deaf-and-dumb man praying or sleeping in a a corner."

"Is that all he wishes to do? He will remain still in one place?
Then come."

"One other thing. That fellow who went and fetched you--he si