And what then ?" "Is it not a fact that they could not even safeguard the Kaukab el Durri from the hand of the Great Apostate Sheik?
How much less, then, could they protect their other and more sacred things, if some Shiah dog should come to rob them of the things they value?
"Would it not be better that such things should be carried far from danger, to the hidden, inner city?
I ask thee this, Rrisa; would it not be better far ?" "And what is the meaning of my master's strange words ?" ventured Rrisa, a sort of dazed horror dawning in his eyes.

"The other and more sacred things of Islam--are they there under that cloth, O Master ?" "Thou hast said it, Rrisa! Now, behold them!" With a quick, dramatic gesture, well-calculated to strike at the roots of the superstitious Arab's nature, he flung away the blanket.

To Rrisa's horrified gaze appeared the Myzab and the sacred Black Stone.
"_Ya Allah!_" gulped the orderly, in a choking whisper.

His face became a dull gray.

His eyes, rimmed with white, stared in terror.