We wuz a-makin’ our last preperations, for it only lacked about six weeks of the time when we wuz to embark. Our satchels stood all unlocked, with the keys fastened to ’em with good strong weltin’ cord, so’s we wouldn’t have to hunt for the keys at the last minute. Some long letters for the relations on both sides lay on Josiah’s desk, to be sent after our departure; they wuz dretful affectin’ letters; we thought more’n as like as not they would bring tears.
And as Al Faizi come in and witnessed our hasty preperations, he announced in that calm way of hisen that he would go with us.
For a minute I wuz dumfoundered, and knew not whether I wuz tickled to death at the proposal, or felt sorry and meachin’ over it.
I felt queer.
Sez Al Faizi, “I come to your land expecting I hardly know what.
“My heart had been touched by learning of your holy religion. I had accepted the teachings of the blessed Lord Christ with all my heart and soul; warmed by His love, I come to your country to learn what that Divine religion would be amongst the people who had followed His teachings eighteen hundred years, and had no false religion to paralyze its power——and now—”
“Wall,” sez I, for Al Faizi paused for a good while, not a-lookin’ mad, nor pert, nor anythin’, but jest earnest and some sad, and very quiet.
“Now what?” sez I.
He didn’t say nothin’. He looked as if he wuz afraid of hurtin’ somebody’s feelin’s; but at last he said in that soft, melodious voice of hisen—
“Now, I should like to go to other lands.”