me time. If there were no other objections I should not hesitate
for a moment; but unfortunately I should have to pass for deaf as well
as dumb, for of course I should not understand anything that was said
to me. I have been thinking it over in every light, and really the only
great objection I see to the plan is that though one might depend upon
the chief's being faithful if he were well paid, it would be very
doubtful as to his followers."

"And are you really serious in saying that you would have your tongue
cut out, Clinton?"

"Of course I am serious," Rupert said, almost angrily. "What is one's
tongue in comparison to one's brother? What do you think, Easton? Do you
think the idea is at all feasible? I may say that for the last two
months I have been working almost night and day at the language. I
engaged a fellow the day I came out of hospital. He was working for one
of those Greek shopkeepers. He is a native of Dongola, but has been down
in Egypt and picked up a certain amount of French. He goes about with me
in the boat, and we talk all day and as long as I can keep him awake at
night. Of course I don't think for a moment that I could learn enough to
pass as a native for at least a couple of years; but it would be of no
use my going up with a party of Arabs if I could not make out what they
say and learn what news they pick up, and make arrangements to get Edgar
away if we find him."

"It would be a fearfully risky business, Clinton," Easton said gravely.
"The betting would be tremendously against you, but I don't say that it
is absolutely impossible that you should be successful. I don't think it
would be necessary to carry out the idea of having your tongue cut out.
As you say, a tongue is nothing in comparison to a brother, and if I
thought that the loss of your tongue would ensure your success I should
say nothing against it, it would be a matter for you and you only to
decide; but I should think it might be managed in some other way. The
fellow you would be with would naturally avoid all large encampments,
and would send you off to look after camels or something if other
natives arrived at the same encampment."

"You don't really mean, Easton," Skinner said, "that you seriously think
that it might be done; that is, that the betting is not more than ten to
one against it?"

"No; I don't think the odds are longer than that, Skinner. You know
Burton went to Mecca in disguise, and I believe that it has bee