The speech was listened to by soldiers and people, who wondered who this young paleface could be. The result was electrical. Every rifle was reversed. The officer was left alone to return to the fort--a commander without soldiers. At the time when Max so eloquently proclaimed the Mahdi, Mohammed Achmet was close to the gates of the city. He heard the cheering and the firing. His face paled visibly, for he disliked bloodshed. Half an hour later, riding between the Persian Sherif el Habib and the Arab Mohammed, the Mahdi rode into the main street of Kordofan. “The Mahdi!” “The Mahdi has come!” The cheers rose on the air. Songs were sung--the soldiers fraternized with the people. Everywhere the enthusiasm was intense. Even the garrison joined in the cheering, and the officer handed his sword to the Mahdi. “I cannot fight without men,” he said, “so take my sword and use it for truth and our faith.” The Mahdi took the weapon, and immediately handed it back, saying: “General, you are a brave man. Take the sword, for you will use it as only a brave man can.” The fires of joy were lighted. Houses were thrown open, and everywhere the Mahdi was welcomed. Mahmoud Achmet, when he saw that the Mahdi was triumphant, came to offer the hospitality of his house to the conqueror. Max recognized him, and after the man had said all he intended, came forward. “You threw a young man into the Nile. You enveloped him in a sack, and drowned him.” “It is he! I know it! The Mahdi is the Mahdi. He has raised this man from the dead. All my wealth is his,” exclaimed Mahmoud. Max saw the mistake the man had made. He, however, did not contradict him, but allowed him to think that the power of the Mahdi had indeed raised him from the dead. He spoke privately to the Mahdi. “Let him give me Lalla,” said Max. “You spoke of your wealth,” said the Mahdi; “give this man the girl called Lalla.” Mahmoud fell to the ground. He tore his hair and pulled out his beard. “Woe is me, I cannot!” “She is dead?” queried the Mahdi. “Indeed it is true. _Inshallah!_” Mahmoud then admitted that he was jealous of Max, and after throwing him into the river, Lalla had refused to be comforted, had called him a murderer, and refused to allow him to approach her. Then it was that in his anger he ordered her to be drowned. Max told of the brutal way in which Mahmoud acted. The Mahdi called the pashas and beys together, and in the presence of a great concourse of citizens, said: “One of your number, Mahmoud Achmet, has at times made away with such of his wives that displeased him. Now, therefore, to prove to you how abhorrent such a thing is, it is my order that Mahmoud Achmet be taken from here in the sack which he has provided for others, and that he be thrown into the Nile.” “Mercy!” cried the wealthy man--“mercy! I will give you wealth.” “I do not want it.” “All I have shall be yours!” “It is mine already.”