226 LIFE OF MOHAMMED. 



and lie down in his place, he took his departure ; 

 eluding by this stratagem the vigilance of tlie assas- 

 sins, who had already planted a guard at the door- 

 Favoured by the darkness of the night, Mohammed 

 reached the house of Abu Beker in safety. With- 

 out delay these two fugitives left the city on foot ; 

 and, to lull suspicion, repaired with a hired guide 

 to the cave of Thor, a hill three miles from ^lecca, 

 where they lay concealed for three days, receiving 

 in the twilight of each evening, from Abdallah and 

 Asania, the son and daughter of Abu Beker, a secret 

 supply of intelligence and food. 



Meantime the assassins, perceiving through a 

 crevice their supposed victim, and waiting in anx- 

 ious silence the approach of slumber, remained on 

 the watch till morning, when they were undeceived 

 by the appearance of Ali, whom they aUowed to 

 escape unmolested. The intrepidity of the heroic 

 youth commanded the respect of the Koreish, and 

 was made the subject of exalted panegyric by the 

 Moslem historians, who have lield up his fidelity in 

 exposing his own life to save that of his benefactor 

 as an example which angels were recommended to 

 imitate. Two of these spiritual messengers, we are 

 told, were stationed near his bed, the one at the 

 head, the other at the foot ; but their presence seemed 

 to have failed in quieting his agitation ; for, in some 

 verses still extant, he has expressed with consider- 

 able pathos the conflicting emotions of hope and 

 fear, of tenderness for his friend and confidence in 

 religion, which filled his bosom on that occasion 

 with perplexing suspense. 



Stung with rage and disappointment, the Koreish 

 sent spies and armed parties to explore every haunt 

 in the neighbourhood of the city ; and offered a re- 

 ward of a hundred camels to any man that should 

 take the adventurer alive or dead. They arrived at 

 the cavern, whose terrified inmates overheard their 

 conversation. " We are only two," said the trem- 



