ened to be at the Caaba, and came anxiously at the
unexpected summons.

"Omair!" he exclaimed. "Allah! What has happened?"

"Send them help!" gasped Omair. "Send them help at once, or not one in
our fair caravan may escape! Mohammed is lying in wait for them in the
mountain passes."

"May Allah have mercy!" ejaculated the old man; and the crowd about
shrieked and groaned.

"Bring me the stair!" called Abu Jahl. "Place it close to the Caaba!"

This done, he ascended to the roof where all might see him. His snowy
beard descended to his waist over his flowing garments, and his white
locks fell thinly from beneath his kufiyah.

Silence fell upon the assembly below, and from every street men came
hurrying in to hear the strange tidings.

"In the name of Allah, hear!" called Abu Jahl in loud tones. "Ye of the
tribe of Koreish, hear! Ye who love Abu Sofian, hear! Ye who have
friends or goods in the great caravan from Syria, hear! Ye above whom
the arch-impostor, Mohammed, aspires, and whom he would fain crush
beneath his feet as the vile serpent in the dust, hear! He hath beset
our friends in the fastnesses of the mountains. He swoopeth upon them as
the eagle upon the defenceless lamb out of the fold! Who, then, among
you, will follow Abu Jahl to deliver them?"

An approving murmur rose, long and loud; then a hush fell as the aged
man continued, appealing to the courage of his hearers:

"Ye who fear not the foul rebel's sword, ye who would uphold the honor
of your wives and little ones, nor send your children out upon the world
as the offspring of cowards, beseech your gods for blessing, then mount,
and meet me as soon as may be outside the temple gates. In the name of
Allah, good-speed!"

A shout of assent arose. The thoroughly excited multitude swayed and
surged like the waves of the sea. Hundreds hurried off to do the behest
of their leader, and, returning, hastened to perform Tawaf about the
Caaba before setting out on their perilous journey.

Yusuf, as a Christian, dared not enter the temple; but he heard the news
from without. His heart was moved with compassion for the poor,
defenceless traders, caught like mice in a trap, and he decided to fall
into the ranks of the rescue party, intending, if his life were spared,
to pay a visit to Amzi, at Medina.

While the recruits were gathering, Henda, the wife of Abu Sofian, rushed
up, her face wild and haggard with terror, her long black hair streaming
on the win