oor, and Frank joined him, to prepare all that
would be required, while the young chief looked on, eager and smiling,
but standing aloof from the Hakim as if in perfect confidence as to the
result, but feeling a superstitious dread of his power.

There was an interval of waiting then, with the sound of the instruments
preceding the triumphant warriors coming nearer and nearer, till all at
once the young chief nodded smilingly to Frank, said a few words to the
Sheikh, and hurried out.

"What does that mean?" said the professor.

"He has gone to see how the chief is and will come to see you as soon as
they have brought him in. He says--"

The Sheikh stopped short, and looked from one to the other as if
perplexed.

"What does he say?" asked the doctor sternly.

"He said, O Hakim," replied the Sheikh humbly, "that he hoped his
father's friend and brother was dead."

"He said that! Why? Is this an enemy?"

"No, Excellency; it is because others of the chief men and their doctors
do not believe in you, and he wants to show them how great you are."

The professor uttered a groan and glanced in a horrified way at his old
friend, who sat now on a rug, looking perfectly calm in what seemed to
be an emergency.

"There is nothing to mind," he said. "The young man is superstitious
and ignorant, but his father is wise and our friend. Let us hope that
the chief is not dead; but gun-shot wounds are more to be dreaded than a
gash from a knife or spear. Be perfectly calm, both of you; there is
nothing to mind."

"Of course not," said the professor, recovering himself now. "I was
startled for the moment by that false alarm. No, there is nothing to
mind, even if the other chiefs are sceptical. You have knowledge enough
to win their respect."

Further conversation was put an end to by the coming of the Emir
himself, with his son, who entered, hot and covered with dust, to say a
few words to the Sheikh, who bowed humbly to hear them.

"The Emir bids me ask you to come and save his friend, O Hakim, but he
fears that it is too late."

The doctor rose at once, signed to his followers, and then motioned to
the Emir to lead on.

He drew back, however, and said a few words to his son, who led off at
once, while the father walked quite humbly behind the great man to whom
he owed his life.

Frank glanced wonderingly round as the little procession passed out into
a kind of hall whose floor was covered with Eastern rugs, a