Idris considered the question a while, for he was not prepared to answer it because he had not previously thought of these new dangers; then he said:
“We have knives and a gun.”
“A gun like yours is of no use.”
“I know it. Yours is better, but we do not understand it, and we shall not give it into your hands.”
“Even if it is not loaded?”
“Yes, for it might be bewitched.”
Stasch raised his eyebrows.
“Idris, if Gebhr had said this I should not have been surprised; but you—I thought you had more sense! With an unloaded gun even the Mahdi could not shoot.”
“Be silent!” interrupted Idris angrily. “The Mahdi can shoot with nothing but his fingers.”
“Then you shoot like that yourself.”