ume, expressed his pleasure at the amicable
attitude of the Meccans. He was seated upon a white camel named El Kaswa
in honor of the faithful beast which had borne him in the earlier
vicissitudes of his fortunes. Beside him, at a table placed on the sand,
sat his vizier and son-in-law, Ali, to whom was given the task of
writing the treaty as dictated by Mohammed.

"Begin, O Ali," said the prophet, "'In the name of the most merciful
God'--"

Sohail, the spokesman of the Meccan deputation, immediately objected,
"It is the custom of the Meccans to begin, 'In Thy name, O God.'"

"So be it," assented the prophet; then, continuing, he dictated the
opening of the body of the treaty--"'These are the conditions on which
Mohammed, the apostle of God, has made peace with those of Mecca.'"

A deep murmur of disapproval arose throughout the Meccan embassy.

"Not so, O Mohammed!" cried Sohail again. "Had we indeed acknowledged
you as the prophet of God, think you we would have sent Khaled Ibn Waled
with armed men against you? Think you we would have closed the streets
of Mecca against one whom we recognized as an ambassador of the Most
High? No, Mohammed, son of Abdallah, it must not be 'apostle of God.'"

Mohammed again bowed in token of submission. "Write thus, then, O Ali,"
he said. "'These are the conditions on which Mohammed, son of Abdallah,
has made peace with those of Mecca.'"

He then proceeded to the terms of the treaty, stipulating that the
prophet and his followers should have access to the city at any season
during the period of truce, provided they came unarmed, habited as
pilgrims, and did not remain over three days at a time.

This business concluded, the embassy from Mecca retraced its way; and
Mohammed, changing his mind about entering the city at that time,
ordered that prayers should be offered up on the spot, that seventy
camels should there be sacrificed, and that the pilgrims should then
return home.

This was accordingly done, and the people went back in some
disappointment to Medina, where the prophet announced the success of his
mission in a new passage from the Koran:

"Now hath God verified unto his apostle the vision wherein he said, Ye
shall surely enter the holy temple of Mecca, if God please, in full
security."

CHAPTER XXIV.

THE SIEGE OF KHAIBAR.--KEDAR.

"The drying up a single tear has more of honest fame than
shedding seas of gore."

In the same year, the seventh