Through their bodies he was now ploughing it.
"The hunger is on us!" "Our children are perishing!" "Find us food!" "Food!" "Food!" With such shouts, mingled with deep oaths, the hungry multitude in their madness had encompassed Mohammed of Mequinez as Israel and his company came up with them.

And Israel heard their cries, and also the voice of their leader when he answered them.
First the young prophet rose up among his people, with flashing eyes and quivering nostrils.

"Do you think I am Moses," he cried, "that I should smite the rock and work you a miracle?
If you are starving, am I full?
If you are naked, am I clothed ?" But in another instant the fire of anger was gone from his face, and he was saying in a very moving voice, "My good people, who have followed me through all these miseries, I know that your burdens are heavier than you can bear, and that your lives are scarce to be endured, and that death itself would be a relief.

Nevertheless, who shall say but that Allah sees a way to avert these trials of His poor servants, and that, unknown to us all, He is even at this moment bringing His mercy to pass! Patience, I beg of you; patience, my poor people--patience and trust!" At that the murmurs of discontent were hushed.

Then Israel remembered the presents with which the Kaid of El Kasar and the Shereef of Wazzan had burdened him.