g as these people use us well," said the doctor.

"Well, if they do not we have still our old plan to fall back upon. We
must take to the camels and flee for our lives, even if we leave
everything else behind."

"And with our task undone, Landon," said Frank bitterly.

"Who said anything about leaving our task undone? Nothing of the kind.
It will only mean starting afresh, and from right up the country instead
of from Cairo."

"Well," said the doctor, "as everything depends upon their treating us
well, and I occupy so critical a position, I must do my best."

"Which we know you will," said the professor, "of course. But they are
not likely to keep us long, are they, Ibrahim--only while their chiefs
wound is bad?"

"It is impossible to say, Excellency. It is a dangerous position."

"Then if we get a chance of leaving it we must seize it. They don't
seem very grateful or friendly even now."

"Your Excellency is not quite right," said the Sheikh gravely.
"Behold!"

He pointed to four of the Baggara coming towards the tent, and all well
laden. One bore a fine young kid, another half a dozen chickens in an
open basket in one hand, while slung over his shoulder were a large
bunch of bananas and a bunch of dates. The others bore each a large bag
of meal.

These they set down at once at the Hakim's feet, bowing solemnly and low
the while, and went off without a word.

"Come, doctor," said the professor merrily, as soon as the men were out
of hearing, "you never had such a fee as that before!"

"And look at its value as a token of friendliness on our captors'
behalf!" cried Frank eagerly.

"It's splendid!" said the professor. "All that payment in kind, far
better than guineas out here, for medicine and attendance to one man."

"If his Excellency looks yonder," said the old Sheikh drily, "he will
find that it is not for curing one wounded man. The great Hakim's fame
is spreading fast."

"One, two, three, four--why, there must be over twenty patients coming,
Bob!" cried the professor, looking quite aghast. "You've got to do your
best now, old fellow, and no mistake. But they can't be all chiefs."

The professor was well within bounds in saying twenty, for coming slowly
on, for the most part walking, but several on horse or camel, and in
more than one case supported by companions, came the whole of the sick
and injured of the tribe, the Hakim's treatment of their chief having
brought those who had suf