But the inhabitants of Tayf grew hostile, and the prophet again set out on foot for Mecca.  He sat down to rest in an orchard.  There he dreamed that a host of genii waited before him, begging him to teach them El Islam.

In the night[8] he arose and proceeded, with renewed courage, on his journey.  On the way he fell in with some pilgrims from Yathrib, or Medina, and to them he unfolded his revelations.  They listened spell-bound as he preached from Al Akaba, and besought him that he would come or would send disciples with them to their northern town.  Accordingly, Mohammed chose several converts to accompany them upon this first mission, and a time was set for their going.

On the evening preceding this appointed time, Yusuf sat in a hanging balcony of Amzi’s house.  The pink flush of the setting sun was over the sky; the murmur of the city arose with a subdued hum—­“the city’s stilly sound”; a parchment containing a part of the Scriptures was on the priest’s knee, but he stopped reading and gave himself up to meditation, wondering deeply at the strange course that events were taking, and surmising vaguely the probable result of the revolution that seemed impending.

His thoughts turned to Amzi, who, as yet, closed his ears to the Gospel tidings which were proving such a comfort and joy to the priest.

A step sounded behind him.  It was Amzi himself, attired in traveling garb, and with his camel-stick already in his hand.

“What now, friend Yusuf?  Dreaming still?” he said.  “Will you not say farewell to your friend?”

“What!  Are you going on a journey?  Pray, where goes Amzi on such short notice?”

“Ah,” smiled Amzi, “I almost fear to tell my Persian proselyte, lest the vials of his wrath be poured on my defenceless and submissive head.  To make a long story short, I go with the disciples of Mohammed to Medina.”

“As Mohammed’s disciple?  Amzi, has it come to this!” exclaimed the priest.

“Chain your choler, my friend,” laughed the other.  “I merely go to observe the outcome of this movement in the town of the North.  Besides, the heat of Mecca in this season oppresses me, and I long for the cool breezes of Medina.  Yusuf, I shall have rare letters to write you, for I feel that there will be a mighty movement in favor of Mohammed there.”

“You begin to believe in him, Amzi!” said Yusuf in tones of deepest concern.

“His doctrines suit me, as containing many noble precepts.  His proclamations are moving the town in such a way as was never known heretofore.”

“Consider the movement caused by the teaching of Christ when he was on earth!” cried Yusuf.  “Dare you compare this petty tempest with that?”

“Yet Christ’s very words have been here where all might read them, for long enough.  Why have they not drawn the attention of, and, if divine, why have they not shown their power among, our citizens?”