"What Moorish man are you ?" cried Ali, pushing him back as he pressed forward.
"Ali! Hush! It is I--Israel." Then Ali knew him and cried, "God save us! What has happened ?" "What has happened here ?" said Israel.

"Naomi," he faltered, "what of her ?" "Then you have heard ?" said Ali.

"Thank God, she is now well." Israel laughed--his laugh was like a scream.
"More than that--a strange thing has befallen her since you went away," said Ali.
"What ?" "She can hear!" "It's a lie!" cried Israel, and he raised his hand and struck Ali to the floor.

But at the next minute he was lifting him up and sobbing and saying, "Forgive me, my brave boy.

I was mad, my son; I did not know what I was doing.