he passage over the river.
Stas comforted Nell with the statement that when the dervishes became
accustomed to the sight of them they would cease their threats, and he
assured her that Smain would protect and defend both of them, and
particularly her, for if any evil should befall them he would not have
any one to exchange for his children. This was the truth, but the
little girl was so terror-stricken by the previous assaults that,
having seized Stas' hand, she did not want to let go of it for a
moment, repeating continually, as if in a fever: "I am afraid! I am
afraid!" He with his whole soul wished to get as soon as possible into
the hands of Smain, who knew them of old, and who in Port Said had
displayed great friendship towards them, or at least had pretended to
display it. At any rate he was not so wild as the other Dongolese of
the Sudan, and captivity in his house would be more endurable.

The only concern now was whether they would find him in Omdurman. Of
this Idris spoke with Nur el-Tadhil, who at last recollected that a
year before, while tarrying by the order of the caliph Abdullahi in
Kordofan, far from Khartum, he had heard of a certain Smain, who taught
the dervishes how to fire from the cannons captured from the Egyptians,
and afterwards became a slave hunter. Nur suggested to Idris the
following method of finding him:

"At noon, when you hear the sounds of the umbajas,* [* Umbajas--big
trumpets of ivory tusk.] be with the children at the place of prayer,
to which the Mahdi repairs daily to edify the faithful with an example
of piety and to fortify them in the faith. There besides the sacred
person of the Mahdi you will behold all the 'Nobles' and also the three
caliphs as well as the pashas and emirs; among the emirs you may find
Smain."

"But what am I to do and where shall I stay until the time of the
afternoon prayer?"

"You will remain with my soldiers."

"And will you, Nur el-Tadhil, leave us?"

"I am going for orders to the caliph Abdullahi."

"Is he the greatest of caliphs? I come from far and though the names of
the commanders have reached my ears, nevertheless you may instruct me
more definitely about them."

"Abdullahi my commander is the Mahdi's sword."

"May Allah make him the son of victory."

For some time the boat floated in silence. There could be heard only
the grating of the oars on the boat's edges and once in a while a
splash of water by a crocodile struck in the tail.