a demon of the rock, were seized with sudden
panic; others shouted excitedly, "Spies! spies!" and the assembly broke
up in confusion, all scurrying off, leaving Yusuf and his guide again
alone on the rock.

"Amzi! Amzi!" shouted the priest, with a forlorn hope that his friend
might have lingered behind the fleeing party; but the only response was
the beat of hoofs flying in every direction, and the dull thud of the
camels' padded feet. There was nothing better to be done than wait until
morning, so Yusuf and the guide lay down on the hard rock for the rest
of the night.

For some time after this affairs seemed to be at a standstill. Mohammed
still continued to preach, now from the hill Safa, now from the knoll El
Akaba at the north of the town.

His wife, Cadijah, had died some time before, and he had since married a
widow, Sawda, and become betrothed to a child, Ayesha, the daughter of
his friend and disciple, Abu Beker.

But events in Mecca were fast hastening to a crisis. Abu Sofian, still
the most mortal enemy to Mohammed and his religion, had succeeded Abu
Taleb in the government of Mecca, and no sooner had he become head of
the state than he determined to crush Mohammed, and exterminate his
religion at any cost. A plot for the assassination of the prophet was
formed. Several of the tribe of the Koreish and their allies were
appointed to kill Mohammed, in order to avert the blood-revenge of
Mohammed's immediate kin, the Haschemites, who, it was thought, would
not dare to avenge themselves upon such numerous and such scattered
foes.

The attack was planned with the utmost secrecy in the cellar of a house,
and at a time but the space of three hours before daybreak, when all
Mecca lay chained in slumber.

Yet not all. Abraham, the Jew, was, as usual, on the alert. Since his
escape he had been prowling about the hills, penniless, and hence unable
to leave the district. He had now come down to steal food, for
necessity, in his eyes, rendered any such proceeding pardonable; and,
perceiving a mysterious light issuing from a chink in the wall, his
natural curiosity asserted itself. He lay down flat on the ground, put
his ear to the chink, and succeeded in hearing every word of the plot.

Here, then, was a chance to gain favor and protection from at least a
few in Mecca. He would disclose the plot to Mohammed and his vizier, and
beseech their protection as the price of his services as a savior of the
prophet's lif