ce?"

"I can only speak from past experience," replied the professor. "I have
always found him thoroughly trustworthy, and I feel sure he will be so
now."

"And about the preparations, the dress, provisions, and the many odds
and ends we shall require?"

"All that I shall leave to Ibrahim. What you have to get ready is a
couple of portmanteaus that can be swung one on either side of a strong
camel by means of straps. These must contain all your chemical and
electrical apparatus in one, the doctor's instruments and medicines in
the other, with an ample supply of lint, bandages, antiseptics,
plaisters, and the like. Chloroform, of course. But there must be no
superfluities. As to dress, we must place ourselves in Ibrahim's
hands."

"What about weapons?" said Frank. "Swords and revolvers, of course.
What about rifles?"

"I have brought two or three antiquated weapons for show; that is all.
We are not going to fight. Give up all thoughts of that."

Frank stared at the speaker anxiously.

"Surely we ought to carry revolvers," he said.

"Surely we ought not. If we go as men of war we shall fail. If we go
as men of peace we may succeed. Leave all that to Ibrahim, and we shall
know what is to be done when he comes back this morning. Now then, the
first thing to be done is to eat and drink."

Frank sighed.

"Without this we shall do no work."

Frank knew the wisdom there was in these words, and he resigned himself
to his fate, accompanying his companions to the hotel coffee-room to
take their places at the table set apart for them, to become for the
time being a mere group of the many, for the place was full of visitors
staying, and others making a temporary sojourn before continuing their
steamer's route, these to India or China, those back to Europe; while
other tables were occupied by officers awaiting their orders to go up
country, or go on making preparations for the advance of the troops
already there, and further arrangements for those coming out by the
great transports expected; for it was the common talk now that before
long a large force was to march against the Mahdi's successor, and
Gordon was to be at last avenged.

CHAPTER SEVEN.

BY MOONLIGHT.

The people at the hotel were too much occupied with their own affairs to
pay much heed to three ordinary visitors and their servant. It was
rumoured that one of them was a famous Egyptologist, but plenty of
scientists came and went in th