I was happy, when I was content,
when she filled my heart with sunshine, God snatched me away from her.
And where is she now? Yonder, alone, friendless, a child new-born into
the world at the mercy of liars and libertines. And where am I? Here,
like a beast in a trap, uttering abortive groans, toothless, stupid,
powerless, mad. No, no, not mad, either! Tell me, boy, I am not mad!"

In the breaking waters of his madness he was struggling like a drowning
man. "Yet I do not weep," he cried in a thick voice. "God has a right to
do as He will. He gave her to me for seventeen years. If she dies she'll
be mine again soon. Only if she lives--only if she falls into evil
hands--Tell me, _have_ I been mad?"

He gave no time for an answer. "Naomi!" he cried, and the name broke
in his throat. "Where are you now? What has--who have--your father
is thinking of you--he is--No, I will not weep. You see I have a good
cause, but I tell you I will never weep. God has a right--Naomi!--Na--"

The name thickened to a sob as he repeated it, and then suddenly he rose
and cried in an awful voice, "Oh, I'm a fool! God has done nothing for
me. Why should I do anything for God? He has taken all I had. He has
taken my child. I have nothing more to give Him but my life. Let Him
take that too. Take it, I beseech Thee!" he cried--the vault of the
prison rang--"Take it, and set me free!"

But at the next moment he had fallen back to his place, and was sobbing
like a little child. The other prisoners had risen in their amazement,
and 'Larby, who was shedding hot tears over his cold ones, was capering
down the floor, and singing, "El Arby was a black man."

Then there was a rattling of keys, and suddenly a flood of light shot
into the dark place. The Kaid el habs was bringing a courier, who
carried an order for Israel's release. Abd er-Rahman, the Sultan, was to
keep the feast of the Moolood at Tetuan, and Ben Aboo, to celebrate the
visit, had pardoned Israel.

It was coals of fire on Israel's head. "God is good," he muttered. "I
shall see her again. Yes, God has a right to do as He will. I shall see
her soon. God is wise beyond all wisdom. I must lose no time. Jailer
can I leave the town to-night? I wish to start on my journey.
To-night?--yes, to-night! Are the gates open? No? You will open them?
You are very good. Everybody is very good. God is good. God is mighty."

Then half in shame, and partly as apology for his late intemperate
outburst, wit