The one happy chance of his life had come.
It was a miracle, at least so thought the Gondos, and nothing was too good for Ibrahim and Max.
But even among those primitive people there were skeptics, and a long discussion took place as to the powers possessed by Max.
Ibrahim heard the discussion, and returned to the madcap, his face white as death.
“You are to be taken to some high rock and ordered to jump down. If you fail your character is gone.”
“And life, too. Never mind. Get me some giant palm leaves, and I’ll not be afraid.”
Ibrahim obeyed without question, and when on the following morning Max and the Persian were conducted by the tribe to a steep cliff, Max laughed heartily.
But when he looked over, he saw that he had a thousand chances against him, and naturally felt nervous.
“Tell them,” he said, in English, to Ibrahim, “that to jump off there would be no test. Anyone could do it.”
“Of course they could, but they would be killed.”