CHAPTER XXIII.
UNDER THE MAHDI.
To the simple minds of those Soudanese peasants and soldiers, the experiment, or trick, of the Mahdi, was sufficient evidence of his power and of the truth of his mission.
Sherif el Habib, however, was grieved.
He had seen the dervishes do a similar thing, and he wished that the Mahdi had shown his power in some other way.
Not that any doubt crossed his mind, but Sherif el Habib wanted to believe that the Mahdi possessed a power unlimited, and which no one could imitate.
Reading his thoughts, the Mahdi turned to him.
“Believer from the glorious mosque of Khorassan, the proof of my power must be adapted to those who are witnesses of it. Had I said to this mountain: ‘Get thee back ten leagues,’ and it had obeyed, it would not have been more convincing than the snake transformation.”
“To me it would,” said Max, “and if you will remove the mountain even ten feet, I’ll give up my country and adopt yours.”
The Mahdi made no answer.
He treated the young American with contempt.