"What was he preaching about?" said the Sirdar.
"The last days, the coming of the Deliverer," said the Sheikh with the wild eyes, in an awesome whisper.
"What Deliverer?"
"Seyidna Isa—our Lord Jesus—the White Christ that is to come."
"Is this to be soon?"
"Soon, O Excellency, very soon."
After this outburst there was a moment of tense and breathless silence, during which the Sirdar sat with his serious eyes fixed on the table, and his officers, standing behind, glanced at each other and smiled.
Immediately afterwards the Sirdar put an end to the interview.
"Tell your people," he said, "that the Government has no wish to interfere with your religious beliefs and feelings, whatever they may be; but tell them also, that it intends to have its orders obeyed, and that any suspicion of conspiracy, still more of rebellion, will be instantly put down."
The group of unkempt creatures went off with sweeping salaams, and then the Sirdar dismissed his officers also, saying—