worship any but the one God; we will not steal, nor commit adultery, nor kill our children (female):  we will not slander at all, nor disobey the prophet in anything that is right.”  This was afterward called the “Pledge of Women,” because it did not require them to fight for Islam.  This faith spread rapidly among the idolaters at Medina,—­much more so than the Jewish system.  The Jews required too much of their proselytes; they insisted on their becoming Jews.  They demanded a change of all their previous customs.  But Mohammed only asked for submission.

About this time Mohammed had his famous dream or vision, in which he was carried by Gabriel on a winged steed to Jerusalem, to meet all the prophets of God and be welcomed by them to their number, and then to the seventh heaven into the presence of God.  It was so vivid that he deemed it a reality, and maintained that he had been to Jerusalem and to heaven.  This, and the Koran itself, were the only miracles he ever claimed.

The Medina Moslems having entered into a second pledge, to receive Mohammed and his friends, and to protect them, the prophet gave orders to his followers to leave Mecca secretly in small parties, and repair to Medina.  As the stout sea-captain remains the last on a sinking vessel, Mohammed stayed quietly at Mecca till all the others had gone.  Only Abu Bakr’s family and his own remained.  The rest of the believers, to the number of about two hundred, had disappeared.

The Koreish, amazed at these events, knew not what to do.  Why had the Moslems gone? and why had Mohammed remained?  How dared he to stay, unprotected, in their midst?  They might kill him;—­but then his tribe would take a bloody vengeance on his murderers.  At last they proposed to seize him, and that a number of men, one from each tribe and family, should at the same moment drive their dirks into him.  Or perhaps it might be better to send an assassin to waylay him on his way to Medina.  While they were discussing these alternatives, news was brought to them that Mohammed also had disappeared, and Abu Bakr with him.  They immediately went to their houses.  In that of Mohammed they found the young Ali, who, being asked where his father was, replied, “I do not know.  I am not his keeper.  Did you not order him to go from the city?  I suppose he is gone.”  Getting no more information at the house of Abu Bakr, they sent out parties of armed men, mounted on swift horses and camels, to search the whole route to Medina, and bring the fugitives back.  After a few days the pursuers returned, saying that there were no signs of any persons having gone in that direction.  If they had gone that way they would certainly have overtaken them.

Meantime where were the fugitives?  Instead of going north to Medina, they had hidden in a cave on a mountain, about five or six miles to the south of Mecca.  Here they remained concealed three days and nights, in imminent danger from their pursuers, who once, it is said, came to the mouth of the cave, but, seeing spiders’ webs spun across the opening, concluded no one could have gone in recently.  There was a crevice in the roof through which the morning light entered, and Abu Bakr said, “If one of them were to look down, he would see us.”  “Think not so, Abu Bakr,” said the prophet.  “We are two, but God is in the midst, a third.”