was more truth than he had at
first imagined in his daring prophecy, in his foretelling of the
calamity which was to befall all Christian countries. He had been
perfectly accurate on the subject of his own journey, that it had not
been successful in regard to the treasure of Akhnaton. He had seen
with extraordinary clearness all which had happened, even to the
reading of his heart. It was unnecessary for Michael to tell him in
words all that he had gone through, for the African was tired, and his
eyes had seen. There was just one thing he had been craving to ask him
about; it had been glowing at the back of his mind like a light from a
sacred lamp. That precious thing was Margaret. Had this mid-African,
whose feet were bending to the open grave, any seer's knowledge which
would assist him?

"I would ask you yet one more question, O my father. Of my dear
friends, whom I left in Upper Egypt when I journeyed into the
desert--have you counsel regarding them which will ease the anxiety I
feel?"

The old man's eyes flashed brightly. He had forgotten; his voice was
expressive of human sympathy. "Your guarded lady, _insha Allah_, the
future mother of your sons, she was never far from you, she it was who
many times comforted you. Often have I seen her spiritual presence
very close to you."

"Your words are the truth, O my father. When the weakness of man's
nature overwhelmed me, she came to me in the desert."

"Spiritually you embraced her, my son; Allah, in His perfect
understanding, granted you this great comfort."

"I have not heard from her, my father, nor has her spiritual presence
been close to me for many weeks. My heart is desolate."

"Pray for fortitude, my son, that moral condition which enables us to
meet danger and endure pain with calmness." As he said the last words,
his eyes looked into the future; his expression became agonized.
"Fortitude," he repeated the word slowly and deliberately,
"fortitude--you must pray for it without ceasing, for without it you
cannot face the future."

"You do not explain, O my father, why I do not see or hear anything
from those who love me."

Michael had seen by the visionary's expression that his thoughts were
again obsessed with the Armageddon he had visualized.

The African shook his head. "Some things I may not see, O my son,
Allah withholds them from my imperfect human understanding. It is only
by His ordaining that I can see what I see. If your heart