he has mastered it."

"Yes, he has mastered it all," said Frank. "He must have been horribly
sick and faint."

"And that ammonia is not a very exhilarating draught to take. I know
the abomination pretty well. Soap and water is delicious in comparison,
especially if it is scented."

All this time the Hakim stood motionless, watching his patient gravely,
and waiting for the result which soon came. For the peril had passed,
the Baggara chief drawing himself up in his saddle, making his beautiful
Arab charger rear up, and then letting him gallop for a hundred yards or
so in full sight of his men, who began to shout frantically. Then
pulling the horse down upon its haunches, he turned, galloped back, and
checked the graceful creature again in front of the Hakim, to bend over
and say a few words before rejoining his brother chief.

"What said he, Ibrahim?" asked the doctor in a whisper, without moving
his head or seeming to speak.

"That the Hakim is a great prophet, and that it is peace. Excellency,
they will not hurt us now."

This was soon made evident, for the younger chief began to give orders,
and the men dismounted and formed themselves into a camp about a hundred
yards away from the Hakim's tent. Then in fairly regular order the
horses and camels were led up to the water, allowed to drink, and then
led away, all being done so as not to interfere with Ibrahim's train of
camels, which were now pastured on the other side of the tent, to which
the Hakim had returned, and where Frank, the professor, and Sam were
busy replacing the various articles that had been brought out.

Here a little conference was held around the doctor, who had resumed his
calm and thoughtful attitude, but who, beneath his solemn aspect, was as
excited as the rest.

"Well, Frank, lad," he said, "did it go satisfactorily?"

"Of course," replied the young man; "how could it be otherwise. It was
real."

"Splendid," said the professor. "Robert, old fellow, I was proud of
you."

"I don't think you would have been, Fred, if you could have seen
inside."

"What do you mean--not nervous?"

"I was never worse in my life. I wonder I got through it as I did. You
both noticed how my hands shook."

"That I did not," said Frank warmly. "You seemed to me as firm as a
rock."

"Appearances are very deceitful," said the doctor with a quaint look.
"Well, I did my best for him. He was in a terrible state."

At that moment the Sheikh, w