But ere he reached the last, a shot went through his breast, and he fell. No sound was heard, and no blood was seen.
Elmas, standing at the window, had witnessed all. Strong in her great love, that frail girl went out amongst the murderous crowd, knelt down beside her father, and put her hand upon his forehead.
He opened his eyes, looked up at her, and smiled.
"Father," she prayed, "father, speak to me! Only once; only one word more!"
That word was given to him, and to her. "Fear not, the Lord is with you. I have no fear, for I am going to my dear Saviour."
Again he closed his eyes, and in another moment, without struggle or suffering, he saw Him face to face.
She "sat there in her grief, and all the world was dark—blank" (the words are her own). She seemed to have no consciousness of the terrors all around her. The first sound that touched her broken heart was the wailing of her little brother, a babe of three, who wanted "father." He had followed her down the steps. She took him in her arms, and held him up that he might see. His sobs grew still at once. "Father is asleep," he said. So He giveth His beloved sleep.
Could they but have all lain down by his side and slept! But their rest was yet to be won. More Moslems crowded into the yard, slaying all the men they could discover. Then they seized the women, the girls, and the children, tore off their clothing and their jewels, and drove them in their midst as a flock of frightened sheep and lambs are driven to the slaughter.