Naomi broke down at last. Next morning at dawn, kneeling among men in
the Grand Mosque in the Metamar, she repeated the Word after the Iman:
"I testify that there is no God but God, and that our Lord Mohammed is
the messenger of God; I am truly resigned."

Then she was taken back to the women's apartments, and clad gorgeously.
Her child face was wet with tears. She was only a poor weak little
thing, she knew nothing of religion, she loved her father better than
God, and all the world was against her.



CHAPTER XXIII

ISRAEL'S RETURN FROM PRISON


Such was the method of Israel's release. But, knowing nothing of the
price which had been paid for it, he was filled with an immense joy.
Nay, his happiness was quite childish, so suddenly had the darkness
which hung over his life been lifted away. Any one who had seen him in
prison would have been puzzled by the change as he came away from it.
He laughed with the courier who walked with him to the town gate, and
jested with the gate porter as with an old acquaintance. His voice was
merry, his eye gleamed in the rays of the lantern, his face was flushed,
and his step was light. "Afraid to travel in the night? No, no, I'll
meet nothing worse than myself. Others _may_ who meet me? Ha, ha!
Perhaps so, perhaps so!" "No evil with you, brother?" "No evil, praise
be God." "Well, peace be to you!" "On you be peace!" "May your morning