The guard gave him a wetted sponge, with which he
contrived with difficulty to wipe his lips, and then he let it fall to
the ground. The Karasmian struck him.
They arrived at the river. The prisoner was taken from the camel and
placed in a covered boat. After some hours they stopped and disembarked
at a small village. Alroy was placed upon an ass with his back to its
head. His clothes were soiled and tattered. The children pelted him with
mud. An old woman, with a fanatic curse, placed a crown of paper on
his brow. With difficulty his brutal guards prevented their victim
from being torn to pieces. And in such fashion, towards noon of the
fourteenth day, David Alroy again entered Bagdad.
The intelligence of the capture of Alroy spread through the agitated
city. The Moolahs bustled about as if they had received a fresh
demonstration of the authenticity of the prophetic mission. All the
Dervishes began begging. The men discussed affairs in the coffee-houses,
and the women chatted at the fountains.[79]
'They may say what they like, but I wish him well,' said a fair Arab,
as she arranged her veil. 'He may be an impostor, but he was a very
handsome one.'
'All the women are for him, that's the truth,' responded a companion;
'but then we can do him no good.
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