The attack was planned with the utmost secrecy in the cellar of a house, and at a time but the space of three hours before daybreak, when all Mecca lay chained in slumber.

Yet not all.  Abraham, the Jew, was, as usual, on the alert.  Since his escape he had been prowling about the hills, penniless, and hence unable to leave the district.  He had now come down to steal food, for necessity, in his eyes, rendered any such proceeding pardonable; and, perceiving a mysterious light issuing from a chink in the wall, his natural curiosity asserted itself.  He lay down flat on the ground, put his ear to the chink, and succeeded in hearing every word of the plot.

Here, then, was a chance to gain favor and protection from at least a few in Mecca.  He would disclose the plot to Mohammed and his vizier, and beseech their protection as the price of his services as a savior of the prophet’s life.  Accordingly, a couple of hours before the time appointed for the assassination, and as soon as the cover of darkness rendered his own appearance in the city safe, he hastened to the prophet.

No time was to be lost.  Mohammed, accompanied by Abu Beker and the Jew, at once fled; while Ali, to deceive the spies, and keep them as long as possible in check, wrapped himself in the prophet’s green cloak, moved round with it on for some time, and at last lay down on Mohammed’s bed.

When the assassins entered, intending to rush upon the sleeping form and destroy it, Ali threw the cloak off and sat up.  In the meantime the fugitives had reached the cave of Thor, three miles distant, from whence, after three days, they escaped to Medina.

This was the famous flight of the prophet, the Hegira, or Hejra, in the year 622 A.D. and about the fifty-third year of Mohammed’s age.

CHAPTER X.

Mohammed’s entrance into Medina.

                  “Oh, it is excellent
    To have a giant’s strength:  but it is tyrannous
    To use it like a giant.”

—­Shakespeare.

Once more after the lapse of years let us look at Amzi as he sat one morning in his house at Medina.

The cool and pleasant atmosphere of the town in contrast with the burning, breathless heat of Mecca had charmed him.  He had immediately purchased a house and furnished it with the luxurious splendor which suited his rather voluptuous taste.

The apartment in which he sat was in the middle story, the one sacred to the men in a house of Medina.  Rich Persian carpets were on the floor, rugs of Inde were scattered about and piled with cushions filled with softest down.  Low divans invited repose, and heavy curtains of yellow silk shut out the too bright glare of day.  The ceiling, after the Persian fashion, was inlaid with mirrors, fitted in in different patterns, and divided by carved sticks of palm, stained red; and the sweet odor of richest perfumes of Arabia-Felix spread through the room as if emanating from the silken hangings of the wall.