ut from the darkness
galloped Al Abbas, uncle of Mohammed, mounted on the prophet's white
mule. He caught the Meccan up with him, and hastened off to the tent of
the prophet.

"Ha!" exclaimed Mohammed, "you have come at last, Abu Sofian, to
acknowledge the supremacy of the prophet of Allah?"

"I come," said Abu Sofian surlily, "to beg mercy for my people."

"Will you, then, acknowledge Mohammed as the prophet of God? Do this,
Abu Sofian, and thy life shall be spared, and terms of peace granted to
all Meccans who are willing to follow their leader's example."

Abu Sofian gave a surly assent, and was set free. Favorable terms for
the inhabitants of the city were then presented to him; and, that he
might be able to take back with him a full account of the strength of
the prophet's army, he was placed with Al Abbas at the head of a narrow
defile, through which the whole army, with fluttering banners and
proudly flapping standards, passed before him.

Even the stern old warrior stood aghast at the mighty multitude. He
returned to the city, and, from the roof of the Caaba, once more
assembled the people of Mecca. Then, while they listened, with bowed
heads and heaving sobs, he told them of the great host, of the
uselessness of resistance, and of the terms offered in case of
submission. To this course, humiliating as it was, he strongly urged
them. Silent in despair, or weeping wildly, they returned to their
homes, and that night the darkness which fell seemed like a pall upon
the stricken city.

CHAPTER XXVII.

THE TRIUMPHANT ENTRANCE INTO MECCA.

"One murder made a villain; millions, a hero."--_Porteus._

Upon the following morning ere the sun rose, a deputation was sent to
the prophet to inform him that his terms had been accepted.

The people of Mecca were curious to note the triumphant entrance of the
great conqueror. Many, indeed, threw themselves upon their faces in
agony of lost hope; but the housetops swarmed with people, and the side
of Abu Kubays was moving with a dense crowd of women and children, who,
at a safe distance, watched for the strange pageant.

The prophet was allowed to enter the borders of the town unmolested, but
when the deserter, Khaled Ibn Waled, appeared, the rage of the Koreish
knew no bounds; a howl of derision arose, and an ungovernable mob fired
straight upon him with their arrows. Khaled dashed upon them with sword
and lance, but Mohammed, noting the commotion, rode u