d the oasis of Kaba.
He ordered his people to encamp there for the night. The servants,
porters, and animals formed the outer ring, the tent--in which he took
his supper, stretched himself on his cushions, and let himself be
fanned to sleep by the maidens--was in the centre. But he did not
sleep well. He had bad dreams: his house in Jerusalem was burnt down,
his ships were wrecked, faithless stewards broke open his chests. And
amid all, always the cry, "Give it all up!" About midnight he awoke.
And it was no longer a dream, but terrible reality. A muffled noise
could be heard throughout the camp, dark forms with glittering weapons
moved softly about, in the camp itself crawling figures moved softly
here and there. A tall, dark man, accompanied by Bedouins, carrying
torches and knives, stood in front of Simeon.

"Do not be alarmed, my princely friend!" he said to Simeon, who jumped
up; but none could tell whether he spoke from arrogance or authority,
kindly or in scorn. "It's true we are disturbing your night's repose,
but, provided you give no trouble, we have no evil designs. Hand over
all that you possess."

In the first confusion the wretched man thought he heard the Prophet
speaking, but he soon noted the difference. The Prophet and His
disciples gave up everything that they possessed. This man took
everything that others possessed.

"I know you, proud citizen of Jerusalem. I am Barabbas, called the
king of the desert. It is useless to resist. Three hundred men are at
this moment keeping watch round your camp. We've settled matters with
your servants and slaves; they are powerless."

It was clear to the poor rich man what the chief meant. His slaves
were slain, he was menaced by a like fate. What had that disciple of
the Prophet said? Wealth endangered life, and poverty protected it.
If he had set his followers free, giving them what they needed, and
wandered about in simple fashion on his own legs, the robber's knife
would not now be pointed at his breast. In unrestrained rage he
uttered a brutal curse: "Take whatever you can find, and do not mock
me, you infamous beast of the desert!"

"Calmly, calmly, my dear sir," said the chief, while dusky men rolled
up carpets, clothes, arms, jewels, and golden goblets, and threw them
into big sacks. "See, we are helping you to pack up."

"Take the rubbish away," shouted Simeon, "and leave me in peace."

The chief, Barabbas, grinned. "I fancy, my