a man?" And he answered, "Verily, if the Lord will take that ransom, my son's life shall be spared."
So they cast lots again, with ten camels against the son, but a second time the lot fell to Abdallah. Again and again they cast lots, and at every throw the father added ten camels to the stake, until ninety camels stood against Abdallah, but each time the Lord called for the blood of the man. Then Abd al Muitalib wept aloud, for a hundred camels were all his wealth, but his son cried, "Peace, peace, my father, who shall strive against God?" "None" answered his father; "but sheddest thou no tears, my son?" And Abdallah lifted his face and said, "Nay, but I should weep indeed if I won my life and thou didst eat the bread of poverty all thy days." "Forgive me," his father answered, and Abdallah comforted him.
So they led Abdallah to the altar, and bound him, but when they raised the knife Abd al Muttalib cried, "One hundred camels—let it be my son's life against all else the Lord has given me." So they cast lots yet again, and this time, the eleventh time, the lot fell on the camels, and they were slaughtered, and Abdallah was a freedman, and Abd al Muttalib and his sons and daughters shouted and wept for joy.
Now, this Abdallah, the fair of face, the lion-hearted, died young, falling by the wayside from his caravan, and, after all, his father's hopes in him were lost. But his son, the son of him who fell, was Mahomet, the prophet, the leader and the saviour of his country from unrighteous masters and false gods.
Such is the glorious sequel, that on the forehead of the future shine? as a star.
The End.
Printed by Ballantyne, Hanson & Co.
Edinburgh & London
