Not that I fear for myself; no, I have
no fear; but I will make one more combatant against the rebels. Give
me a sword and a pistol."
The tschorbadji himself brought both to him, and then bade him
farewell.
Mohammed, at the head of the eight soldiers and the two collectors,
went down the mountain path to the village. There every thing had
become quiet. Obeying the words of the sheik, the men had gone to
their huts, and did not see that Mohammed and his followers had
entered the great mosque, which stood at the entrance of the
village. Then Mohammed bowed down within the holy of holies, and,
turning his head toward Mecca, prayed in a low voice to the prophet
"Thou seest, my lord and God, that I have raised my foot to take the
first step on the way to my great future. Uphold my feet, let me not
fall into the abyss of forgetfulness. Give me strength, that I may
go forward without fainting. Be with me, Mohammed, thou great
prophet. Permit thy stars to be a light unto me, and be merciful to
the poorest of thy servants!"
Then, raising himself proudly up, he ordered the soldiers to close
three of the entrances of the mosque, and to leave only the
principal door open.
"Now draw your swords. Four of you remain with me in the mosque-the
four others go down to the sheik and the ulemas. Inform them that an
ambassador has come from the tschorbadji, to bring them an important
message.
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