rest honey; of trees bending with fruit which should be handed down
by houris of wondrous beauty; he told them of treasures of gold, silver,
and jewels. "They shall dwell in gardens of delight, reposing on couches
adorned with gold and precious stones.... Upon them shall be garments of
fine green silk and brocades, and they shall be adorned with bracelets
of silver, and they shall drink of a most pure liquor--a cup of wine
mixed with the water of Zenjebil, a fountain in Paradise named
Salsabil."

Such was the sensual character of the paradise promised to his followers
by Mohammed. The soldiers were listening eagerly to the words when the
army of Abu Sofian was seen, advancing in the form of a crescent, with
Abu Sofian and his idols in the center, and Henda and her women in the
rear, sounding their timbrels, and singing loud war-chants.

The horsemen of the left wing of the Koreish now advanced to attack the
Moslems in the flank, but the archers fired upon them from the top of
some steep rocks, and they retired in confusion.

Hamza, a Moslem leader, then shouted the Moslem cry, "Death! Death!" and
rushed down the hill upon the center. The crash and roar of battle
began. High in air gleamed spear and lance; horses shrieked and reared,
and tossed their long manes; dark, contorted visages and shining teeth
shone out from clouds of dust; sashes floated on the air, and sabres
flashed in the sunlight; all was mad confusion.

In the melee two young men met hand to hand. Both were tall and slight,
and had dark, waving hair. So like were they that a warrior near them
called out, "Behold, doth Manasseh fight with Manasseh!" But the youths
heard not, recked not. Their blows fell thick and fast, until at last
the Moslem gave way, and fell, wounded and bleeding, in the dust by the
side of Hamza, who lay stiffening in death.

Then arose the shout, "The sword of God and his prophet!" and Abu
Dudjana, armed with the prophet's own sword, waved it above his head and
dashed into the thick of the battle.

Mosaab, the standard-bearer, followed close and planted the standard at
the top of a knoll. An arrow struck him in the eye. He fell, and the cry
arose that the prophet himself had fallen. Ali seized the standard and
floated it aloft on the air; but the Moslems, seized with confusion,
would not rally, and withdrew to the hill-top.

The Koreish, thinking Mohammed killed, forbore to follow them, and began
the revolting work of plunderi