at
as often as the bandage became dry the one must be dipped in the
calabash with the lotion, the other in water, and applied again. For
two or three days this treatment was continued, and then Edgar burned
the unhealthy surfaces with caustic, continuing the carbolic poultices.

In a week the inflammation had greatly abated, and the sore assumed a
healthy aspect. The process of healing would in England have been a long
and tedious work, but in the dry air of the desert it healed with a
rapidity that surprised Edgar, and in a fortnight the boy was able to
walk again. The girl too had gained strength rapidly, and Edgar was
regarded in the encampment as a Hakim of extraordinary skill; and even
the children who had at first shouted Kaffir after him, and thrown
stones at him whenever they could do so unobserved, now regarded him
with something like awe, while the friends of the boy and girl showed
him many little kindnesses, often giving him a bowl of camels' milk, a
handful of dates, or a freshly-baked cake of meal. With one of the negro
slaves he got on very well. He could not be persuaded to continue to
work with the energy which he had displayed the first afternoon, but he
seconded Edgar's efforts fairly, and his merry talk and laughter,
although he could understand but a small portion of what he said,
cheered Edgar at his toil.

The other negro remained sullen and hostile. For some days after his
encounter with Edgar his face was so swollen up that he was scarcely
able to see. He would have been compelled to work as usual, for humanity
is not a characteristic of the Arabs; but Edgar told the sheik's wife
that if the man was forced to work at present he would be very ill, and
that he must for a time remain quiet and apply bandages soaked in hot
water to his face. Under this treatment the swelling gradually abated,
but the nose did not resume its normal shape, the bridge having been
broken by Edgar's blow. Any presents that the latter received in the way
of milk or other articles of food he shared with the negroes, the
allowance of food served out being very scanty and of the coarsest
description.

"Kaffirs are dogs," the sheik said to his wife as he one day saw Edgar
dividing some milk and dates with the others; "but there is good in
them. That Muley," for so they had named Edgar, "divides all that is
given him with the others, even giving Hamish a share. I could
understand his giving it to the other, so that he might