ButitwasinvainthatthecamelsofAbuSophianexploredanewroadthroughthedesertandalongtheEuphrates:theywereovertakenbythediligenceoftheMussulmans；andwealthymusthavebeentheprize，iftwentythousanddramscouldbesetapartforthefifthoftheapostle。TheresentmentofthepublicandprivatelossstimulatedAbuSophiantocollectabodyofthreethousandmen，sevenhundredofwhomwerearmedwithcuirasses，andtwohundredweremountedonhorseback；threethousandcamelsattendedhismarch；andhiswifeHenda，withfifteenmatronsofMecca，incessantlysoundedtheirtimbrelstoanimatethetroops，andtomagnifythegreatnessofHobal，themostpopulardeityoftheCaaba。ThestandardofGodandMahometwasupheldbyninehundredandfiftybelievers:thedisproportionofnumberswasnotmorealarmingthaninthefieldofBeder；andtheirpresumptionofvictoryprevailedagainstthedivineandhumansenseoftheapostle。ThesecondbattlewasfoughtonMountOhud，sixmilestothenorthofMedina；^132theKoreishadvancedintheformofacrescent；andtherightwingofcavalrywasledbyCaled，thefiercestandmostsuccessfuloftheArabianwarriors。ThetroopsofMahometwereskilfullypostedonthedeclivityofthehill；
andtheirrearwasguardedbyadetachmentoffiftyarchers。Theweightoftheirchargeimpelledandbrokethecentreoftheidolaters:butinthepursuittheylosttheadvantageoftheirground:thearchersdesertedtheirstation:theMussulmansweretemptedbythespoil，disobeyedtheirgeneral，anddisorderedtheirranks。TheintrepidCaled，wheelinghiscavalryontheirflankandrear，exclaimed，withaloudvoice，thatMahometwasslain。Hewasindeedwoundedinthefacewithajavelin:twoofhisteethwereshatteredwithastone；yet，inthemidstoftumultanddismay，hereproachedtheinfidelswiththemurderofaprophet；andblessedthefriendlyhandthatstanchedhisblood，andconveyedhimtoaplaceofsafetySeventymartyrsdiedforthesinsofthepeople；theyfell，saidtheapostle，inpairs，eachbrotherembracinghislifelesscompanion；^133theirbodiesweremangledbytheinhumanfemalesofMecca；andthewifeofAbuSophiantastedtheentrailsofHamza，theuncleofMahomet。Theymightapplaudtheirsuperstition，andsatiatetheirfury；buttheMussulmanssoonralliedinthefield，andtheKoreishwantedstrengthorcouragetoundertakethesiegeofMedina。Itwasattackedtheensuingyearbyanarmyoftenthousandenemies；andthisthirdexpeditionisvariouslynamedfromthenations，whichmarchedunderthebannerofAbuSophian，fromtheditchwhichwasdrawnbeforethecity，andacampofthreethousandMussulmans。
TheprudenceofMahometdeclinedageneralengagement:thevalorofAliwassignalizedinsinglecombat；andthewarwasprotractedtwentydays，tillthefinalseparationoftheconfederates。Atempestofwind，rain，andhail，overturnedtheirtents:theirprivatequarrelswerefomentedbyaninsidiousadversary；andtheKoreish，desertedbytheirallies，nolongerhopedtosubvertthethrone，ortochecktheconquests，oftheirinvincibleexile。^134
[Footnote128:AlJannabiapudGagnier，tom。ii。p。9allowshimseventyoreightyhorse；andontwootheroccasions，priortothebattleofOhud，heenlistsabodyofthirtyp。10andof500p。66troopers。YettheMussulmans，inthefieldofOhud，hadnomorethantwohorses，accordingtothebettersenseofAbulfeda，inVit。Moham。c。xxxi。p。65。IntheStonyprovince，thecamelswerenumerous；butthehorseappearstohavebeenlessnumerousthanintheHappyortheDesertArabia。]
[Footnote129:BedderHouneene，twentymilesfromMedina，andfortyfromMecca，isonthehighroadofthecaravanofEgypt；