se, camel, or man shall perish if he speak the
word."

The Sheikh's words were heard and understood by many; and a low, angry
murmur arose, which ran right to the rear.

"Is it peace?" said the Sheikh calmly, as he noted the impression he had
made; "if so the pool of water is sweet for all; and if you have sick or
wounded men among you, bring them to the Hakim that he may make them
whole."

They were veritable words of wisdom that Ibrahim boldly spoke, and full
of force, for though it was extremely doubtful whether, in case of an
inimical display, the doctor would have either been able or willing to
make use of his power, he had with him that which would, if deftly
distributed, have poisoned the water so that it would have been
dangerous to man or beast.

They were words of wisdom, though, for they went direct to the
understanding and interests of the superstitious tribe, whose readiness
to believe in any so-called prophet or learned doctor was easily
awakened, while as it happened, Ibrahim's last command had gone home to
its mark at once.

For by a fortunate accident, the chief who seemed of the greater
importance, turned sharply to his companion and handed to him the shield
and two leaf-bladed spears he carried, and then threw himself from the
beautiful Arab horse he rode, giving the bridle to one of his followers.

And now for the first time it was evident that his left arm, which had
been covered by the shield, was injured, for it was supported by a broad
scarf passed round his neck.

He strode forward haughtily, taking his steps slowly with head thrown
back, and as Frank gazed at him with heart throbbing painfully and
heavily under the stress of his emotion, he could not help thinking how
noble and fierce a warrior the Baggara looked, with his simple white
robe, and how dangerous an enemy with the curved dagger in his girdle,
and long, keen, crusader-like sword hanging from a kind of baldric from
his right shoulder.

As he approached Morris, Frank turned his eyes for a moment upon his
brother's friend, and a pang shot through him, for the doctor sat
cross-legged holding the pipe, in his studied pose, slowly exhaling a
little smoke, but his face looked fixed and strange, his eyes were half
closed, and he seemed to be unconscious of all that was going on.

"He has lost his nerve!" thought Frank in agony, and he drew his breath
hard. "What shall I do?"

The next glance, though, was at the Baggara chief,