That shadow seemed a scout going on before them, spying out the way to Arabia and to Mecca, the Forbidden City.

To the white men that shadow was only a shadow.
To Rrisa, who watched it from the lower gallery, it portended ominous evil.
"It goes ahead of us, by Allah!" he murmured.

"Into the Empty Abodes, where the sons of Feringistan would penetrate, a shadow goes first! And that is not good." He whispered a prayer, then added: "For the others, I care not.

But my Master--his life and mine are bound with the cords of Kismet.

And in the shadows I see darkness for all!" At 4:27, _Nissr_ passed the eastern shores of the Red Sea.