Ya Allah! To think that they had ever been afraid of him!
As the procession crossed the market-place, a woman who was enveloped in a blanket spat at Israel as he passed.Then it was come to the door of the Mosque, an old man, a beggar, hobbled through the crowd and struck Israel with the back of his hand across the face.
The woman had lost her husband and the man his son by death sentences of Ben Aboo.Israel had succoured both when he went about on his secret excursions after nightfall in the disguise of a Moor.
"Balak! Balak!" cried the soldier in front, and still the chant of the crier rang out over all other noises.
At every step the throng increased.The strong and lusty bore down the weak in the struggle to get near to the procession.