or help do not come."

"That's all true enough," said the doctor sadly.

"But the question is," said the professor, holding out one hand and
apparently putting down every word he said with the other: "How--are--
we--to--help--the--poor--boy?"

"Let's all three go," said Frank hotly.

"Oh!" ejaculated the doctor.

"That's more and more impossible still," cried the professor.

"No, it isn't," cried Frank. "I have a plan in my head now that would
answer if it were properly done. I haven't been out in Egypt like
Landon here, but ever since poor Hal got his appointment I've read up
the country till I'm regularly soaked with it."

"Can't be," said the professor, smiling grimly. "Moisture's too scarce
when you're away from the Nile. You may be gritty with it."

"Never mind about that," said Frank. "I know one or two things about
the people, and I know this--there is one man who is always welcome
among them and their sufferers from fever and eye complaints and
injured, and that is the doctor--the surgeon."

"Eh?" ejaculated the professor sharply, looking up. "Yes, that's true
enough, boy."

"Well," said Frank, pointing, "there he is--the Hakim--the learned
physician and curer of all ills. Look at him now in that dressing-gown,
with his big, long beard, and that handsome, calm appearance. Doesn't
he look as if he could cure anything? Just suppose him sitting
cross-legged in a tent now, with a big white turban on; what would he
look like then?"

"An impostor!" cried the doctor angrily. "Frank, the good news has
swollen your head up till it has cracked."

"That it hasn't," cried the professor sharply, "and you would not look
like an impostor, sir. Well done, Franky. I say he'd look like what he
is--a splendid specimen of a man, and as good a doctor and surgeon as I
know of. Impostor, indeed! I should be ready to punch the head of any
scoundrel who dared to say so. Bravo, my boy! The great Frankish
physician--the learned Hakim travelling through the country to perform
his cures."

"Yes," cried Frank; "and performing them too."

"To be sure," said the professor, growing excited. "The news of his
cures would spread through the land, and the people would welcome him,
and he could go anywhere. Here, I say, Bob, this plant's coming up."

"You're as bad as Frank," said the doctor angrily. "You both take my
breath away. What! me go masquerading through the Soudan, dressed up as
a mock doctor?"

"Mo