ght well draw envy and enmity upon me. I will accept
his offer."

"Then the other heirie is yours, El Bakhat," Rupert said, "as a special
present from me for the kindness you have shown my brother. What do you
both mean to do now?"

"We have agreed to journey up the coast together and then to travel
across the mountains to Assouan, and there buy camels and goods, or we
may buy them here if we see bargains to suit us. Then we shall turn
south. I shall go on alone to Khartoum; I know many of the Mahdi's
officers, and shall by presents to them obtain a pardon for El Bakhat,
and permission for him to return to his tribe. Money will do as much
among the Mahdi's people as elsewhere."

"We shall see you again to-morrow, sheiks. A steamer sails in the
afternoon for Suez, and we shall go in her. Come here to say good-bye to
us in the morning."

When the sheiks had left Yussuf was called in, and Edgar told him that
he had purchased his freedom from El Bakhat. The negro threw himself on
his knees in an ecstasy of delight and poured out his thanks.

"Now, what would you like to do, Yussuf?" Edgar went on when the negro
had quieted down. "I can recommend you here to some merchant as a
faithful man whom he can trust, or if you would like to set up a shop
here I will give you two hundred dollars with which to trade. Or I can
take you up with us to Suez and give you strong letters of
recommendation with which you can obtain employment there."

"No, my lord," Yussuf cried, "none of these things. I would go with you
and be your servant; I will never leave you."

"But I don't want a servant, Yussuf," Edgar said. "As I have told you, I
am a soldier, and soldiers do not have servants."

"Oh, that is nonsense!" Rupert put in. "You are not going on as a
private soldier. You know you need not reckon upon that, Edgar. You like
the fellow, and there is no doubt he would make you a faithful servant;
and anyhow they could find something to do for him at home."

Edgar pointed out to Yussuf that the life would be strange to him, the
climate altogether different to that to which he was accustomed, and
that he would find no one who could speak his language. But Yussuf was
unmoved, and entreated so earnestly to be taken that Edgar gave in,
saying that after all, if he repented afterwards, he could be sent back
to Egypt.

Just as this was settled a messenger entered with a telegram from
Captain Clinton in answer to that they had despatched b