owed, and hurried into the tent, while the Hakim supported the
injured arm and raised his eyes to the Baggara chief, whose gaze was
fixed upon him searchingly, and gave him a calm, reassuring smile, as if
saying, "Wait, and you shall be cured."

There was another low murmur now, and the crowd was pressing closer in,
but Ibrahim's lips parted as he raised his hands in protest, and at a
harsh command from the second chief the men stood fast.

The next minute Frank came out, followed by Sam bearing the doctor's
surgical case and the necessaries he had ordered to be brought, every
eye watching as these were opened out.

"Come and help, Landon," said the doctor quickly, and the great turban
was handed to Sam to bear into the tent, while the professor took up the
brass basin and held it ready for Frank to fill, the latter then placing
his hands ready to support the patient's arm.

During the next quarter of an hour the Baggara looked curiously on while
his festering wound was manipulated by the light touches of one of
London's most skilful surgeons, armed with the newest discoveries of
science. And formidable as the task was, and severe the treatment,
those firm white hands, and the cleansing, cooling applications gave
more relief than pain, so that the stoical patient, when the touches
from glittering knife and keen needle had ceased and given way to
medicated cotton wool, lint, and tenderly applied supporting bandages,
uttered a sigh of relief, and the scornful look of contempt gave way to
one of perfect satisfaction, for to him this was a miracle indeed.

A few minutes later the scarf was retied from the shoulder so that the
wounded arm rested comfortably and free from pain, the Baggara smiling
at his leech as he rose, and in an instant a tremendous shout rent the
air.

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN.

THE SURGEON'S FEE.

The Hakim's patient was evidently a man of stern determination--of iron
will; but he was only human after all, and he turned slowly to his
brother chief, to lay his uninjured hand upon his shoulder to support
himself, evidently making a brave effort to master the almost inevitable
consequences of the long operation.

But Morris was watching him keenly, and quite prepared. A few words to
Frank resulted in a small glass of water being placed in his hand in
company with a bottle and graduated measure; a small quantity of a
colourless fluid was transferred to the glass, and the Hakim rose and
walked with