prophet again set out
on foot for Mecca. He sat down to rest in an orchard. There he dreamed
that a host of genii waited before him, begging him to teach them El
Islam.

In the night[8] he arose and proceeded, with renewed courage, on his
journey. On the way he fell in with some pilgrims from Yathrib, or
Medina, and to them he unfolded his revelations. They listened
spell-bound as he preached from Al Akaba, and besought him that he would
come or would send disciples with them to their northern town.
Accordingly, Mohammed chose several converts to accompany them upon this
first mission, and a time was set for their going.

On the evening preceding this appointed time, Yusuf sat in a hanging
balcony of Amzi's house. The pink flush of the setting sun was over the
sky; the murmur of the city arose with a subdued hum--"the city's stilly
sound"; a parchment containing a part of the Scriptures was on the
priest's knee, but he stopped reading and gave himself up to meditation,
wondering deeply at the strange course that events were taking, and
surmising vaguely the probable result of the revolution that seemed
impending.

His thoughts turned to Amzi, who, as yet, closed his ears to the Gospel
tidings which were proving such a comfort and joy to the priest.

A step sounded behind him. It was Amzi himself, attired in traveling
garb, and with his camel-stick already in his hand.

"What now, friend Yusuf? Dreaming still?" he said. "Will you not say
farewell to your friend?"

"What! Are you going on a journey? Pray, where goes Amzi on such short
notice?"

"Ah," smiled Amzi, "I almost fear to tell my Persian proselyte, lest the
vials of his wrath be poured on my defenceless and submissive head. To
make a long story short, I go with the disciples of Mohammed to Medina."

"As Mohammed's disciple? Amzi, has it come to this!" exclaimed the
priest.

"Chain your choler, my friend," laughed the other. "I merely go to
observe the outcome of this movement in the town of the North. Besides,
the heat of Mecca in this season oppresses me, and I long for the cool
breezes of Medina. Yusuf, I shall have rare letters to write you, for I
feel that there will be a mighty movement in favor of Mohammed there."

"You begin to believe in him, Amzi!" said Yusuf in tones of deepest
concern.

"His doctrines suit me, as containing many noble precepts. His
proclamations are moving the town in such a way as was never known
heretofore."

"Consid