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But his wife had died in the meantime of fear and privation, and only his aged father and his little son were there to welcome him. "Friends," he said to his neighbours standing outside the walls, "what is the use of sowing if you know not who will reap?" "No use, no use!" answered several voices. "If God gives you anything, this man Israel takes it away," said Absalam. "True, true! Curse him!
When Israel heard of what had been done he secretly rejoiced; but Ben Aboo was in a commotion of fear, and Katrina was fierce with anger, for the doctrine which Absalam had preached to his neighbours outside the walls was not his own doctrine merely, but that of a great man lately risen among the people, called Mohammed of Mequinez, nicknamed by his enemies Mohammed the Third.
Also he hired mules for himself and Ali, for he knew full well that, unless with his own eyes he saw the followers of Absalam receive what he had bought, no chance was there, in these days of famine, that it would ever reach them.
After that he turned towards his son, and the boy was golden-haired and his face was like the morning, and Israel's heart bled to see him. "Absalam!" he cried in a moving voice; "Absalam, wait, wait!" But Absalam killed his son also, and cast him down after his father.
One day, about a month after his return from his journey, when he was near to the end of his substance, a message came to him that the followers of Absalam were perishing of hunger in their prison at Shawan. Their relatives in Tetuan had found them in food until now, but the plague of the locust had fallen on the bread-winners, and they had no more bread to send.
And he, being as poor as they were, though he might have been so rich, cheered them always, even when they murmured against him, as Absalam had cheered his little fellowship at Tetuan: "God will feed us as He feeds the birds of the air, and clothe our little ones as He clothes the fields." Such was the man whom Israel went out to seek. But Israel knew his people too well to make known his errand.
But Absalam and his people had secret word that the Governor was coming after them, and Israel with him. So they rolled their tents, and fled to the mountains that are midway between Tetuan and the Reef country, and took refuge in the gullies of that rugged land, living in caves of the rock, with only the table-land of mountain behind them, and nothing but a rugged precipice in front.
Abd Allah had made no savings, and, being too old for work, he had lived on the earnings of his son. Absalam followed his father to Fez, and visited him in prison. The old man had been ordered a hundred lashes, and the flesh was hanging from his limbs.
And if the children had risen up before Israel's eyes as he stood on the threshold of the patio, he could not have drawn his breath with more surprise than at the sight of the man who stood that morning in their place. It was Mohammed of Mequinez. He had come to ask for the release of the followers of Absalam from their prison at Shawan. In defiance of courtesy his slippers were on his feet.
Israel concluded that it was his duty to succour them. From a just view of his responsibilities he had gone on to a morbid one. If in the Judgment the blood of the people of Absalam cried to God against him, he himself, and not Ben Aboo, would be cast out into hell. Israel juggled with his heart no further, but straightway began to take a view of his condition.
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