Frederick Britten Austin

“ Karl Schultz's perception leaped up, clawing at danger, and then was dragged down again, engulfed. He felt himself like a man drowning in black waters of night—down—down; and then, fighting obscurely, he shot up again, heard the inexorable voice continuing:
“This magic you have looked upon is false magic—the magic of unbelievers in league with Eblìs!” ”

“ God is great! There is none but God, and unto Him be all the praise!”
“Listen, O true believers! The holy Prophet laid a command on the great Sultan Wilhelm that he should immediately convert all the Frankish nations to the true faith. And the Sultan Wilhelm gave glory to Allah that this command was laid upon him. He sent forth his armies in the great Jehad. The Sultan's armies are the most numerous and bravest in the whole world—not Timur nor Rustum might have stood against them; and none may count the number of their victories in the great war against the infidel Franks. ”

“ I have work for you, Mohammed Din—dangerous work.”'
“It is well, Sahib.”
“An emissary of our foes is among the tribes, Mohammed Din, and is preaching a false gospel to them. War and the woes of war will surely follow if we do not still his tongue. Listen. You have heard that the infidel Caliph Wilhelm of the West has falsely proclaimed himself a follower of the Prophet that he may use the power of true believers to further his own wicked ends?” ”

“ From far and near the tribesmen swarmed in, and men met face to face whose habitual encounter would have sent both dodging to cover, rifle to the shoulder. Blood-feuds were laid aside. Families that for months had lived in terror of their neighbors across the village street—quitting their domiciles stealthily by the back way when they had occasion to go out, while the sudden rifle-shot of the concealed marksman added steadily to the tale of vendetta-victims on both sides—mingled now with the throng, albeit cautiously. ”

“ Men whose dwellings were doorless towers which they entered and left by a basket on a rope, who tilled their fields with ever a rifle in their hand, strode now down the street, their dark eye roving from side to side, and passed their adversaries with scarce a scowl. ”

“ This fakir calls himself Abd-ul-Islam, but he is a Feringhi, no true believer, and no true friend to the religion. Yet he is leading many astray, for he deludes them with a false magic. You remember the magic pictures you saw at Karachi?”
“I remember, Sahib.”
“It is such magic as that. There is none but Mohammed Din,” went on the Political Officer, “whom I might safely trust to close the mouth of such a rogue; therefore, Mohammed Din,”—the eyes of white sahib and Moslem fakir again looked into each other,—“I am sending you on the mission. ”