EBNO’L AMED.

caravan, they noticed a little atom of humanity so completely covered with a
mourning sarai, that it was hard to say if it were a boy or girl. It was no one’s
concern where it came from or whither it went. The grand Mussulman law of
hospitality provided the little stranger with food and shelter, but beyond that
the national lack of curiosity allowed him to follow his own course, unmolested.

As the caravan entered the gate of the great city on the sea, there was
excitement and consternation everywhere. Some British soldiers were posting
a notice upon the arch, stating that the English government had discovered a
plot to injure her subjects between the desert and the sea, and to rise in insur-
rection. The man who was at the head of it was known to be in that region,
and a large reward was offered for him, dead or alive. He was Abu’ Hasham.

Ebno’l Amed left the caravan, and turned into the first narrow alley which:
they passed. He, alone, knew that Abu’l Hasham must have entered that same
gate, only a few hours before; but he had no one to whom he could go for
advice. Instinct told him that as soon as Abw’l Hasham saw those notices he
would make his escape, and that if he was to do anything to rescue his mother
he must do it quickly.

He wanted to be alone, to see if he could not think out what should be done.
He turned into one narrow alley after another, pulling the soiled sarai closer
about him, and slowly walking along the damp and slimy pavement — so differ-
ent from his own desert sand— without so much as noticing it, though it was
the first time in his life that he had ever been in a city.

While he was wandering on, a water-carrier passed him. He noticed the
skin water-bag, and, being very thirsty, he turned round and called to the man,
asking him fora drink. He called twice, but the man seemed little inclined to
heed him; but, turning, Ebno’l Amed ran after him, caught him by the arm,
and shouted: “ Water! In Allah’s name, give me water!”

Then the man paused and filled his cup, and Ebno’l Amed, while he waited,
looked up at him, to find himself face to face again with Abu’ Hasham.

He was too thoroughly frightened to utter a sound. He even took the water
and drank it, without knowing what he did; but the whole situation was unfold-
ing itself in the boy’s mind. He realized that, discuised as a water-carrier, Abu’l
Hasham was stealing down those deserted alleys intent upon escaping from the
city. He knew that if he let him go he would escape, and all hope of saving
his mother would be lost. As the water-carrier hurried on, Ebno’l Amed tried
to throw off the fright, and as it was all he could do, he fixed two bright,
black eyes upon the retreating figure, determined not to lose sight of him.

On and on they went, twisting about in the narrow lanes, till the water-carrier
suddenly turned to the right. While Ebno’l Amed was wondering why, and hur.
rying to catch up with him again, he almost ran into the very officers whom he
saw at the gate, putting up the notice.