o ensure good
following his operations, and this was unanswerable.

"We shall not be losing time, Excellencies," said the Sheikh, "for you
must now take at once to the native dress, and assume the characters of
those you are to represent."

"But your people here," said Frank quickly; "is it wise for them to
know?"

The Sheikh smiled.

"Oh, yes," he said; "why not? They must know. It is to ensure the
safety of you all from the wild and savage followers of the Mahdi, I
have told them, and they feel that it is good. No harm can come from
their knowing all this."

"Forgive me," said Frank quickly. "I feel now that my suspicions were
unworthy."

"Only natural, Frank," said the professor quietly. "You do not know
Ibrahim and his people as I do."

"That is my misfortune," said the young man, smiling. "I am going to
know them as well."

That evening Sam came to the Hakim's tent to ask if he could do anything
for his master.

He found him sitting at the tent door talking with Frank and the
professor, and the three exchanged glances.

"Well, no, Samuel," said the Hakim quietly. "You are tired out with
your long ride."

"Yes, sir; I ache all over, and my hands are quite shaky."

"I shall want nothing more. Go and rest yourself, and go to your bed in
good time, so as to get a long night's rest."

"Thankye, sir; I'm much obliged, sir. I think that is about what I want
to set me right."

Sam went back to the little tent set apart for him, and lost no time in
throwing himself down upon a rug, to lie listening to the bleating of
the sheep and goats, mingled with which came at times the moaning and
complaining of the camels.

As soon as his back was turned the doctor had laughed softly.

"I meant to have set him to work to-night," he said, "over my head; but
I don't think his touch would have been very light after his last
night's work."

"Oh, no," said the professor; "besides, you ought to have daylight for
that job. Between ourselves, I shall not be sorry to take to the native
dress again. It is much more suitable for the climate than ours. I
have used it in a modified form ever since I first came out. The sooner
we begin the better."

The conversation then turned upon the doctor's patients.

"So you found them patient patients," said the professor, smiling.

"Poor creatures, yes. They seem to have the most unbounded faith in
me."

"Of course," said the professor; "and a fine thing for them