arty slept, and that this was their return.

Certainly there was no danger, for by degrees the various sounds died
out, and all was still.

Frank's eyes closed once more, and his next awakening was at broad day,
to find that a fire was burning and that Sam and his help from the
camel-drivers were busy preparing for the morning meal, while the Sheikh
and his men were as busy seeing to the camels, after being in doubt as
to whether they would be there.

But there had been no interference with anything belonging to the
Hakim's party, and the old man was evidently fairly contented in mind as
he made his report about what he knew of the night's proceedings.

His first and most important announcement was that the Baggara chiefs
force had been nearly doubled during the night, it seeming probable that
the water-holes had been made the place of meeting for a divided force.
The question that troubled the party now was whether the newcomers would
prove well disposed; but they were not long left in doubt, for quite
early in the morning the Baggara chief made his appearance for his wound
to be dressed, and smiled with satisfaction at the change in its state.

"Tell the Hakim," he said, "that he is great, and that he can stay here
to rest his camels till to-morrow, and then he shall come with us."

This was as he was about to leave the Hakim's presence, with his injured
arm resting comfortably in its sling, and he turned away at once.

"_Nolens volens_, Frank," said the professor; "but so far nothing could
be better for us. Look here, another present."

For three men were approaching with a kid, dates, and bananas, and in
addition one of them bore a handsome large rug, evidently intended for
the Hakim's use.

The men approached with the same deference that they had displayed on
the previous day, and then departed; but before they were half over the
space which divided the two camps, a party of five men were seen
approaching, one of whom was mounted upon a cream-coloured horse, two
others supporting him as he swayed to and fro, apparently quite unable
to retain his seat.

It was the _avant-garde_ of the patients the Hakim was to treat that
day, and coming as it did on the Baggara chiefs announcement that they
were to accompany him the next morning, quite settled what, for at all
events the present, was to be their position in connection with the
force.

"You are to be surgeon in chief to the tribe, Robert," said the
prof