In the Mahdi's Grasp Part 35

"It is right, Excellencies."

"And you think it possible that this may be one of the new Mahdi's wandering bands?"

"Yes, Excellency; sent forth to see if the English and Egyptian forces are advancing, as well as to gather plunder."

"Then by and by they will rejoin their leader far away yonder at Omdurman or Khartoum?"

"It is most likely, Excellency."

"Then so long as they treat us decently it seems to me that nothing could have happened better," continued the professor; "they will lead us exactly where we want to go, and see that no other party takes a fancy to our heads."

"That is exactly what I thought, Excellency," said the Sheikh; "but I was afraid to speak."

"Why?" said the doctor sharply.

The old man shrugged his shoulders.

"Their Excellencies took me to be their guide, and placed themselves in my hands. They said, 'We have faith in you and your young men, who will protect us.'"

"Yes," said the doctor. "Go on."

"Well, Excellency, I have failed."

"How failed?" said the professor sharply.

"I have brought you into danger--into the hands of the enemy at once."

"Then you feel that we are prisoners?" said the doctor sternly.

"I must be truthful with those who have trusted me, Excellency. I fear that these sons of evil will not let us go."

"I'm afraid you are right, Ibrahim. No, I promised you, Frank, that I would not be afraid of anything now. I feel, then, that you are right.

But look here, so long as they treat us well nothing could have happened better for us."

"Nothing, Excellency, for at some time or another we shall be brought to the heads of the invading tribes."

"And sooner or later if we tried we might escape."

"Yes, Excellency."

"Then where is the cause for fear?"

"I feared that their Excellencies would not look upon it like this,"

said the Sheikh humbly. "I knew that they must find out before many hours that we were prisoners, and then I felt that they would turn and reproach me for what I had done."

"When you know us better, Ibrahim," said the doctor quietly, "you will find that we are not unreasonable. Then as I see it now, _if_--I say _if_ these ruffians treat us well we are on the high road to the place we seek to reach."

"Yes, O Hakim."

"But on the other hand, as we have found out this morning, everything depends upon my treatment of my patients."

"Yes, O Hakim, it is so," replied the Sheikh sadly.

"Pleasant for a weak man," said the doctor drily. "If I cure I am a prophet; if I fail--"

"You'll be a Hakim without a head, old fellow," said the professor.

"Ergo, as Shakespeare says, you must not fail. It was rather a close shave, too, this morning--there, I wasn't alluding to you, Sam," he continued, turning to the man, who was looking ghastly, as he stood close by hearing every word. "There, pluck up, my lad; your master did cure this time. Well, Frank, you are silent. How do matters strike you?"

"It seems to me that we have thoroughly fallen upon our feet, and have nothing to mind."

"So long as these people use us well," said the doctor.

"Well, if they do not we have still our old plan to fall back upon. We must take to the camels and flee for our lives, even if we leave everything else behind."

"And with our task undone, Landon," said Frank bitterly.

"Who said anything about leaving our task undone? Nothing of the kind.

It will only mean starting afresh, and from right up the country instead of from Cairo."

"Well," said the doctor, "as everything depends upon their treating us well, and I occupy so critical a position, I must do my best."

"Which we know you will," said the professor, "of course. But they are not likely to keep us long, are they, Ibrahim--only while their chiefs wound is bad?"

"It is impossible to say, Excellency. It is a dangerous position."

"Then if we get a chance of leaving it we must seize it. They don't seem very grateful or friendly even now."

"Your Excellency is not quite right," said the Sheikh gravely.

"Behold!"

He pointed to four of the Baggara coming towards the tent, and all well laden. One bore a fine young kid, another half a dozen chickens in an open basket in one hand, while slung over his shoulder were a large bunch of bananas and a bunch of dates. The others bore each a large bag of meal.

These they set down at once at the Hakim's feet, bowing solemnly and low the while, and went off without a word.

"Come, doctor," said the professor merrily, as soon as the men were out of hearing, "you never had such a fee as that before!"

"And look at its value as a token of friendliness on our captors'

behalf!" cried Frank eagerly.

"It's splendid!" said the professor. "All that payment in kind, far better than guineas out here, for medicine and attendance to one man."

"If his Excellency looks yonder," said the old Sheikh drily, "he will find that it is not for curing one wounded man. The great Hakim's fame is spreading fast."

"One, two, three, four--why, there must be over twenty patients coming, Bob!" cried the professor, looking quite aghast. "You've got to do your best now, old fellow, and no mistake. But they can't be all chiefs."

The professor was well within bounds in saying twenty, for coming slowly on, for the most part walking, but several on horse or camel, and in more than one case supported by companions, came the whole of the sick and injured of the tribe, the Hakim's treatment of their chief having brought those who had suffered during their wandering raid in the desert; and the calmness for a few moments deserted the Hakim's countenance.

But he was soon himself again, and ready for what he saw at a glance must be a long and heavy task--one that would call forth all his energies.