if it was to be, perhaps he
could do a good turn to Macnamara by warning him, by planting deep in
the Khalifa's mind the Irishman's simple-minded trustworthiness. When,
therefore, the Khalifa suddenly turned and asked him about Macnamara
he chose his words discreetly. The Khalifa, ever suspicious, said that
Macnamara had been thrown into prison twice for insubordination. To this
Slatin replied:

"Sire, what greater proof could be had of the man's simplicity? His life
is in your hands, sire. Would he have risked it, had he not been the
most simpleminded of men? But you who read men's hearts, sire, as
others read a book, you know if I speak truth." Slatin bent his head in
humility.

The flattery pleased the Khalifa.

"Summon Osman Wad Adam and the man to me," he said.

In the questioning that followed, Macnamara's Arabic and his
understanding of it was so bad that it was necessary for Slatin to ask
him questions in English. This was a test of Macnamara, for Slatin said
some things in English which were not for the Khalifa's knowing. If
Macnamara's face changed, if he started, Abdullah's suspicions, ever
ready, would have taken form.

But Macnamara's wits were not wool-gathering, and when Slatin said to
him, "If I escape, I will try to arrange yours," Macnamara replied,
with a respectful but placid stolidity: "Right, sir. Where does the old
sinner keep his spoof?"

It was now for Slatin to keep a hold on himself, for Macnamara's reply
was unexpected. Ruling his face to composure, however, he turned to the
Khalifa and said that up to this moment Macnamara had not been willing
to become a Mahommedan, but his veneration for the Mahdi's successor was
so great that he would embrace the true faith by the mercy of God and
the permission of the Khalifa. When the Khalifa replied that he would
accept the convert into the true faith at once, Slatin then said to
Macnamara:

"Come now, my man, I've promised that you will become a Mahommedan--it's
your best chance of safety."

"I'll see him on the devil's pitchfork first," said Macnamara; but
he did not change countenance. "I'm a Protestant and I'll stand be me
baptism."

"You'll lose your head, man," answered Slatin. "Don't be a fool."

"I'm keepin' to what me godfathers and godmothers swore for me,"
answered Macnamara stubbornly. "You must pretend for a while, or you'll
be dead in an hour--and myself too."

"You--that's a different nose on me face," answered Macnamara.