236 LIFE OF MOHAMMED. 



attacked the Moslems, flank and rear, with such bra- 

 very that they were soon thrown into a state of 

 complete disorder, and exposed to tlie carnage of a 

 ruthless and vindictive foe. To terrify them still 

 more, he raised the cry that Mohammed was slain. 

 Courage and presence of mind forsook the believers. 

 The rout became general ; nor could the voice or 

 example of the Prophet, who fought with desperate 

 vJilour, rally for a moment his broken and discomfited 

 troops. Surrounded vvith a few of his bravest sol- 

 diers, he contested the victory with a heroism worthy 

 of a better cause. Firm and cool, he exposed his 

 person freely wherever the danger appeared greatest. 

 He was assailed by showers of stones, arrows, and ja- 

 velins; and saw many of his gallant officers wounded 

 by his side. When Mosaab fell dead at his feet, he 

 seized the standard and planted it in the hand of 

 Ali. The ferocious infidels had penetrated to the 

 spot where he stood, encouraging his generous fol- 

 lowers, who had formed a guard or rampart around 

 him. In the tumult of the affray, he was struck 

 from his horse, wounded and bleeding to the ground ; 

 his face was dangerously pierced by ten javelins, 

 Avhose iron heads stuck in the wound ; two of his 

 teeth were beaten out ; his lip cleft to the bone ; 

 and his life itself must have fallen a sacrifice had 

 not Telha, nephew of Abu Beker, received a blow 

 levelled at his master, which shattered his arm so as 

 to deprive him of its use ever after. Yet, in the 

 midst of confusion and dismay, he calmly reproached 

 the impious Otba for staining the visage of a prophet 

 with blood, and blessed the friendly hand that 

 stanched his wounds, and conveyed him to a place 

 of safety. 



Finding the rumour of his death a false alarm, 

 Othman and a chosen body of adherents returned to 

 the charge, and with the most determined valour 

 succeeded in rescuing the apostle from his furious 

 assailants, and bore him to a village in the neigh- 



