Page:The Faith as Unfolded by Many Prophets.djvu/172

 whole troop appeared as the shadow of a cloud on the distant pathway.

The blessing of God, and the aid of the Prophet be with them! cried Havilah, when he could see them no more.

On the conquerors who shall live, and on the martyrs who shall fall! added Aza.

Father, said the child, when shall I go forth to conquer in the name of Mohammed, or to gain the reward of a martyr?

When thou shalt have given tokens of wisdom and valor, my child. Till then, the sword which our wise men call 'the key of heaven and hell' must not be put into thy young hands, lest thou shouldst through idleness suffer it to rust, or through cowardice fling it away.

Aza will promise for me, said the boy, that the sword shall be more precious to me than all the riches of my father's house, and that I shall ever hasten to the battle rather than to the feast.

Aza replied, If I yet live a few years, I indeed hope to send forth this boy as if he were the son of my sons, and to welcome him back as a conqueror, or to glory in him as a martyr.

Why, inquired Eber, is the sword called the key of heaven and hell? and why is the name