Idris struck the ground with his forehead.
"Yes, oh Mahdi! We belong to the tribe of Dongola; therefore we abandoned our homes in Fayûm in order to kneel at your blessed feet."
"I beheld you in the desert. That was a terrible journey but I sent an angel to guard and shield you from death at the hands of the infidels. You did not see this, but he watched over you."
"Thanks to thee, Redeemer."
"And you brought those children to Smain to exchange them for his own, that the Turks imprisoned together with Fatma in Port Said."
"Thee we desired to serve."
"Whoever serves me serves his own salvation; therefore you have opened for yourselves the path to paradise. Fatma is my relative. But verily I say unto you that when we subjugate the whole of Egypt, then my relative and her posterity will anyway regain liberty."
"And therefore do with these children whatever thou desirest—oh blessed one."
The Mahdi closed his eyelids, after which he opened them, smiling kindly, and nodded at Stas.
"Approach, boy."
Stas advanced a few paces with an energetic, as if soldierly, stride; he bowed a second time after which he straightened as a chord and, looking straight into the Mahdi's eyes, waited.
"Are you delighted that you came to me?" the Mahdi asked.
"No, prophet. We were abducted in spite of our wills from our parents."
This plain answer created a certain sensation upon the ruler accustomed to flattery, and upon those present. Caliph Abdullahi frowned, the Greek gnawed his mus-
