We must be away to our own Feringistan, in our flying house.

Let us speak of the gifts.

But first, I would ask thee something." "Speak, in Allah's name, and it shall be answered thee!" "The salt is still in thy stomach for us ?" "It is still in my stomach." "Thou dost swear that, O Bara Miyan, by a great oath ?" "By the rising of the stars, which is a great oath!" "And by the greatest oath, the honor of thy women ?" "Yea, Frank, by the honor of my women! But thou and thine, too, have covenants to keep." Old Bara Miyan bent shaggy white brows at the Master, and peered out intently from under the hood of his burnous.

The Master queried: "What covenants, great Olema ?" "These: That no harm shall befall Myzab and the Great Pearl Star and the Black Stone, before thou and thine fly away to the Lands of the Books.

Then, that no blood of our people shall be shed in El Barr, either the city of Jannati Shahr or the plain.