One of the mob struck the old professor in the face. Instantly Dick started forward.
Then a most fortunate thing happened.
From the balcony of a near-by minaret a muezzin sent forth the call to prayer:
“God is great. There is but one God. Mohammed is the prophet of God. Prayer is better than sleep. Come to prayer.”
Immediately a wonderful change came over the crowd on the street. As one man, they lifted their hands to their ears, the lobes of which they touched with their thumbs, keeping their hands outspread, at the same time beginning to repeat certain passages from the Koran. This was the beginning of the Mohammedan prayer.
The professor seemed forgotten. Dick realized instantly that this was a time to be improved, for the shortest prayer would require several minutes.
The call to prayer had come at a moment most fortunate for Professor Gunn. Instantly Dick hurried past the confused and trembling old man, hissing in his ear:
“Follow me!”
All around them were the praying Mussulmans, but not one of them put out a hand to stop the disguised foreigners.
Brad followed after Dick and the professor, thus acting as a sort of rear guard.