第87章

Towards midday Israel came under the walls of Tetuan, between the Sultan's gardens and the flour-mills that are turned by the escaping sewers, and there he lit upon a company of Jews.

They were a deputation that had come out from the town to meet him, and at first sight of his face they were shocked.He had left Tetuan a stricken man, it was true, but strong and firm, fifty years of age and resolute.Six months had passed, and he was coming back as a weak, broken, shattered, doddering, infirm old man of eighty.

Their hearts fell low before they spoke, but after a pause one of them--Israel knew him: a grey-bearded man, his name was Solomon Laredo--stepped up and said, "Israel ben Oliel, our poor Tetuan is in trouble.It needs you.Alas! we dealt ill with you, but God has punished us, and we are brothers now.

Come back to us, we pray of you; for we have heard of a great thing that is coming to pass.Listen!"Something they told him then of Mohammed of Mequinez, follower of Seedna Aissa (Jesus of Nazareth), but a good man nevertheless, and also something they said of the Spaniards and of one Marshal O'Donnel, who was to bombard Marteel.But Israel heard very little.

"I think my hearing must be failing me," he said; and then he laughed lightly, as if that did not greatly matter."And to tell you the truth, though I pity my poor brethren, I can no longer help them.

God will raise up a better minister."

"Never!" cried the Jews in many voices.

"Anyhow," said Israel, "my life among you is ended.I set no store by place and power.What does the English poet say, 'In the great hand of God I stand.' Shakespeare--oh, a mighty creature--one who knew where the soul of a man lay.But I forget, you've not lived in England.

Do you know I am to go there again, and to take my little daughter?

You remember her--Naomi--a charming girl.She can see now, and hear, and speak also! Yes for God has lifted His hand away from her, and I am going to be very happy.Well, I must leave you, brothers.

The little one will be waiting.I must not keep her too long, must I?

Peace, peace!"

Seeing his profound faith, no one dared to tell him the truth that was on every tongue.A wave of compassion swept over all.

The deputation stood and watched him until he had sunk under the hill.

And now, being come thus near to home, Israel's impatience robbed him of some of his happy confidence and filled him with fears.

He began to think of all the evil chances that might have befallen Naomi.

His absence had been so long, and so many things might have happened since he went away.In this mood he tried to run.It was a poor uncertain shamble.At nearly every step the body lurched for poise and balance.

At last he came to a point of the path from which, as he knew, the little rush-covered house ought to be seen."It's yonder,"he cried, and pointed it out to himself with uplifted finger.

The sun was sinking, and its strong rays were in his face."She's there, I see her!" he shouted.A few minutes later he was near the door.

"No, my eyes deceived me," he said in a damp voice."Or perhaps she has gone in--perhaps she's hiding--the sweet rogue!"The door was half open; he pushed it and entered the house."Naomi!"he called in a voice like a caress."Naomi!" His voice trembled now.

"Come to me, come, dearest; come quickly, quickly, I cannot see!"He listened.There was not a sound, not a movement."Naomi!"The name was like a gurgle in his throat.There was a pause, and then he said very feebly and simply, "She's not here."He looked around, and picked up something from the floor.

It was a slipper covered with mould.As he gazed upon it a change came over his face.Dead? Was Naomi dead? He had thought of death before--for himself, for others, never for Naomi.

At a stride the awful thing was on him.Death! Oh, oh!

With a helpless, broken, blind look he was standing in the middle of the floor with the slipper in his hand, when a footstep came to the door.He flung the slipper away and threw open his arms.

Naomi--it must be she!

It was Fatimah.She had come in secret, that the evil news of what had been done at the Kasbah and the Mosque might not be broken to Israel too suddenly.He met her with a terrible question.

"Where is she laid?" he said in a voice of awe.