The 'fronting-place' is now aboard _Nissr_."[1] [Footnote 1: So long as the Black Stone was at the Ka'aba, this building was the only spot in the world where the _kiblah_ was circular, that is, where Moslems could pray all around it.

The Legion's theft of the stone had completely dislocated all the most important beliefs and customs of Islam.] "The most intense animosity of religious fanaticism will pursue us.
If the news of our exploit has, in any unaccountable way such as the Arabs know how to employ, reached Jannati Shahr, we are in for a battle royal.

If not, we still have a chance to use diplomacy.

A few hours now will determine the issue.
"We are approaching what will probably be the final goal of this expedition; a city beyond unknown mountains; a city that no white man has ever yet seen and that few have even heard of.

What the conditions will be there no one can tell; but--" "Not even Rrisa ?" put in the major.