id Israel, "would not repeat for her her father's
troubles, and what Muslim could save her from her own?"

"Who that trusts in God," said the Mahdi, "need fear the Kaid?"

"But what man can save her?" cried Israel again.

And then the Mahdi, touched by Naomi's tears as well as her father's
importunities, answered out of a hot heart and said--

"Peace, peace! If there is no one else to take her, from this day
forward she shall go with me."

Naomi looked up at him then with such a light in her beautiful eyes
as he has often since, but had never before seen there, and Israel ben
Oliel who had been holding at his hand, clutched suddenly at his wrist.

"God bless you!" he said, as well as he could for the two angels, the
angel of love and the angel of death, were struggling at his throat.

Israel looked steadily at the Mahdi for a moment more, and then said
very softly--

"Death may come to me now; I am ready. Farewell, my father! I tried to
do your bidding. Do you remember your watchword? But God _has_ given me
rewards for repentance--see," and he turned his eyes towards the eyes of
Naomi with a wasting yet sunny smile.

"God is good," said the Mahdi; "lie still, lie still," and he laid his
cool hand on Israel's forehead.

"I am leaving her to you," said Israel; "and you alone can protect her
of all men living in this land accursed of God, for God's right arm is
round you. Yes, God is good. As long as you live you will cherish her.
Never was she so dear to me as now, so sweet, so lovable, so gentle. But
you will be good to her. God is very good to me. Guard her as the apple
of your eye. It will reward you. And let her think of me sometimes--only
sometimes. Ah! how nearly I shipwrecked all this! Remember! Remember!"

"Hush, hush! Do not increase your pains," said the Mahdi. "Are you
feeling better now?"

"I am feeling well," said Israel, "and happy--so happy."

The sun had set, and the swift twilight was passing into night, when
another messenger arrived from Tetuan. It was Ali's old Taleb, shedding
tears for his boy, but boasting loudly of his brave death. He had
heard of it from the black guards themselves. After Ali fell he lived
a moment, though only in unconsciousness. The boy must have thought
himself back at Israel's side, "I've done it, father," he said; "he'll
never hurt you again. You won't drive me away from you any more; will
you, father?"

They could see that Israel had heard the story. The eyes