t Jill heard nothing, neither his light footfall as he moved some
yards from the unclean Christian whom he loved, and placing his
prayer-rug upon the ground turned towards Mecca, which in Islam is
called Keblah, which, being translated, means "centre"; nor the
splashing of water as he washed three times his nostrils, his mouth,
and hands and arms to the elbow, the right first as ordained, then head
and neck, and ears once and feet once, whilst murmuring a prescribed
form of words, these words being repeated in different positions,
standing erect or sitting, with inclinations of the head and body, and
prostrations in which the Arab in all humility touched the ground with
his forehead.

For Hahmed was a true Mohammedan, carrying out the precepts of his
religion as laid down by the Koran as fully and conscientiously as is
within the power of man. But, you will say, he was voluntarily
consorting with a Christian, who, by the edicts of the Koran, is
considered unclean, inviting pollution by touching the bare skin of her
hands and feet.

True! but the man was no evil liver, picking up to throw away, buying
to regret the purchase within the hour, attracted by this pretty face
or that lovely form. Nay. He loved the girl as it is unhappily given
on this earth for but few women to be so loved, and with all the
strength of his will he intended the outcome of this love to be one
more triumph to the glory of Allah.

As for the pollution of her satin skin, did he not murmur the prayer of
purification when in contact with it?

Neither did Jill notice that the man, his purification and his prayers
ended, had come over to her, standing gazing down at the almost tragic
picture she made out-stretched on the sands.

Her death-white face was buried in the curve of one folded arm, the
other, flung out, lay with the palm of the hand uppermost. The little
feet were crossed under the crumpled skirt, from which peeped the folds
of her last white silk petticoat.

"Poor little bird," he murmured, as the sense of mastership rose strong
within him at the sight of the helpless child at his feet. "So weary,
so beautiful, and so young. Behold, shall a nest be built for thee in
which thou shalt rest, shaking off the plumage harmed in thy short
passage through life, to appear at last more beautiful than the most
glorious bird in Paradise," and bending he touched her gently.

But Jill, who had had no real sleep since she had left the boat, h