"Great, very great, but God will protect them."
"To disobey may be to suffer imprisonment, perhaps discharge, possibly death."
"I know! I know! But God will bring them to a happy end."
"Therefore," said Helena, whose nervousness was gathering feverish strength, "the messenger who goes into Cairo in advance must be one who can make them forget the dangers of death itself."
Ishmael reflected for a moment and then, in a burst of eagerness, he said—
"The counsel is good. I will go myself!"
Helena's flushed face looked triumphant. "The man of all men," she said. "What messenger from Ishmael could be so sure as Ishmael himself?"
"Yes, please God, I will go myself," said Ishmael in a louder voice, and he began to laugh—it was the first laugh that had broken from his lips since Helena came to Khartoum. Then he paused and said—
"But the people?"
"Anybody can follow with them," said Helena. "Their loyalty is certain; they need no persuading."