ast months of the war-broke in upon the Master's reveries. Only a few minutes were required to mend the window. Durin

el. "With her almost unlimited power, her impeccable controls and

" the ace replied, "always

etal liner. Now, he

wn cabin. Rrisa, he found, had already unpacked his kit, and had arranged it to p

had learned many years ago on the coast of Yemen. The ticking of the aluminum-cased chronometer, now marking a little past 2 a.m., soothed him, as did the droning h

got himself into his military uniform, the one he had worn at Gallipoli when the Master had saved his life. As

mé desire?" ask

ed, ever ride in such state through the air? Was Al Burak, his magic horse, on which he

bic, weighted every wor

risa, what

hip is very great," the Arab admitted. "But Allah and hi

pear at Mecca in my Nissr Arrib ela Sema-my Eagle of

with as you will, even to the death, but I implore yo

y not,

I can speak true words. You must not go to Mec

ic the tie of sworn brotherhood betwee

to Mecca and they capture

e, for being with you, though I

stay. The wild mystery of that outer night, excluded by the close-drawn curtains, contrasted strongly with the light and the warm comf

reat anxiety had begun to make itself manifest in the Arab's voice and in

ry to all his habits and training, s

hout waiting. But I must ask. This is my hour of night prayer

wrist-watch, peered a moment at one of the charts, and t

sul Allah!" was raised there in the cabin of the rushing Eagle of the Sky-surely the strangest place where Mosl

er, wise in Eastern ways, remained gravely unsmiling. Never in all his dealings with the son of the East had

ds a building called the Ka'aba, also

true," answered the Ar

ndrous silken and gold cloth, every

words a

greatly rever

er of our might

seen it with

he continued: "Prayer, with face to Mecca, alms-giving, the keeping of the fast of Ramadan, and the pilg

or one who has performed the pilgrimage to Mecca, a journey

s lips moved silently, as if still praying; but no words wer

ous to all followers of the Prophet, from Africa to China and to the farthe

. I myself have touch

on

Stone are forbidden to all heretic

all who are not of Islam," Rr

Black Stone is in the western wall of the K

the very corner, Master. It is between four feet and five from the ground. That, a

hey say, too, that certain of the Feringi have indeed to

that dark skin. By the clear white light in the cabin, the Master close

uth?" he inquir

ra men like yourself-have indeed touched and kissed it. Two that we know of. Shaytan el Kabir (the G

med Burckhardt, and

of those names, and silent

, defiled the Black Stone, which was given by Allah to the firs

the hands of

Beneath the veneer of civilization with which life among the Feringi had overlaid him, the Master se

e Master. Then, suddenl

on him a sternl

s would today be moldering in the trenches at Gallipoli or maybe rotting in a Turkish

ahnu malihin." (We hav

is still in th

ection for only twenty-four hours and at the end of that ti

are still dakhil (

ne to do wit

the Ma

ing pit, on the bridge as fine and sharp as the edge of a simitar, if it be laden with treachery to one who hath saved thy life and whose salt thou hast eaten, surely it

ling mouth. He raised his hand to forehead, lip

cried the Master, dominan