yself a Brutestant of
the English Church."

"Whist!" said Abdullah warningly.

Some one was hurrying towards them down the path.

"Who is it?" breathed the mother of Iskender.

It was Elias, who was looking for his friend.

"No word to him, or all is lost!" hissed old Abdullah.

But Elias for the moment had no ears. After parting from Iskender he
had been seized with a new and vivid inspiration, and felt the need of
his accustomed listener. Dragging his friend aside he whispered
breathlessly:

"I am in great haste. A lady--ah, a beauty!--waits for me--a Muslimeh,
I do assure thee--one of the most closely guarded. I go now to the
tryst. It is to risk my life; but what care I, for love has maddened
me. I would not tell a living soul save thee; but if I die in the
adventure, thou wilt pray for me. I sought thee in thy house, but
found thee not."

"May Allah guard and prosper thee!" replied Iskender.

But by then his friend was gone, driven on by the fierce wind of his
imagining towards the house-door, not far distant, where his wife stood
looking for him. Iskender could not prevent a lump from rising in his
throat at the vision of requited love, however perilous. From a dream
of the Sitt Hilda he was roused by his mother saying:

"Thou must sup with us, O Abdullah! After all thy kindness to
Iskender, thou canst scarce refuse me."

They were at the house.

With a polite show of reluctance Abdullah entered, and sat down beside
the wall, while Iskender helped his mother spread the feast for him.
Then, when all was ready, the young man wrapped some morsels in a piece
of bread, and carried them out beyond the threshold, to be alone.
Squatting there, he was once more happy in thoughts of the fair young
Englishman who, though a prince, had shown such kindness towards him.
By Allah, he would give his life for that sweet youth. He asked no
better than to serve him always.

The highest lobes of the cactus hedge before him were like great hands
shorn of fingers thrust against the sky. Through a gap he beheld the
lights of the Mission--fierce hostile eyes intent upon his thoughts.
The wail and bark of a jackal came from the landward plain.

"Praise to Allah!" The voice of his mother raised for a moment above
its monotone caused him to turn and look into the house.

They had made an end of eating in there and were now arranging the
programme of Iskender's conduct towards the young Emir. His uncle sat
c