nuns did not assent to it, but that is a different matter. The Koran
prohibits the slaughter of priests, so though their fate is horrible,
they are not at least threatened with death. For the secular people,
however, there was no other salvation. I repeat, they all accepted
Mohammedism; the Germans, Italians, Englishmen, Copts, Greeks--I
myself."

And here, though Stas had assured him that no one in that crowd
understood English, he nevertheless lowered his voice.

"Besides, I need not tell you that this is no denial of faith, no
treason, no apostasy. In his soul every one remained what he was and
God saw it. Before superior force it is necessary to bend, though
seemingly. It is the duty of man to preserve life and it would be
madness, and even a sin, to jeopardize it--for what? For appearances,
for a few words, which at the same time you may disavow in your soul?
And remember that you hold in your hands not only your life but the
life of your little companion which it is not permissible for you to
dispose of. In truth, I can guarantee to you if ever God saves you from
these hands then you will not have anything to reproach yourself with,
nor will any one find fault with you, as this is the case with all of
us."

The Greek, speaking in this manner, perhaps deceived his own
conscience, but Stas' silence deceived him also for in the end he
mistook it for fear. He determined therefore to give the boy courage.

"These are the houses of the Mahdi," he said. "He prefers to live in
the wooden sheds of Omdurman rather than in Khartum, though there he
could occupy Gordon's palace. Well then, bravely! Don't lose your head!
To the question reply firmly. They prize courage here. Also do not
imagine that the Mahdi will at once roar at you like a lion! No! He
always smiles, even when contemplating nothing good."

And saying this he began to shout at the crowd standing in front of the
house to make way for the prophet's "guests."

XVIII

When they entered the room, the Mahdi lay on a soft cot, surrounded by
his wives, two of whom fanned him with great ostrich feathers and the
other two lightly scratched the soles of his feet. Besides his wives,
there were present only the caliph Abdullahi and the sheref caliph, as
the third, Ali Uled Helu, was despatching at that time troops to the
north, particularly to Beber and Abu Hamed, which already had been
captured by the dervishes. At sight of the arrivals the prophet
dismissed