llahs and repeated his father's message, with the result
that they whispered together for a few moments and then raised their
heads haughtily and stalked slowly out of the tent-like room.

The Emir then nodded shortly to his son, who, as he followed the
Mullah's example, turned out of his way to go close to Frank and pat his
shoulder warmly, as if to commend him for all that had been done.

The next minute the Emir whispered again to Ibrahim, speaking earnestly,
and bending reverently once more to the Hakim, he crossed to the curtain
and passed behind it, the low sobbing of a woman being heard directly
after. Then all was silent as the grave.

"Yes, Ibrahim, what is it?" said the doctor, for the Sheikh was waiting
to speak.

"The Emir bids me say, O Hakim, that you will please consider his house
your own, and order his servants to bring everything you desire. That
he will have refreshing foods and drinks placed in the room through
which we came, and divans and rugs are there for those who would rest.
That three women of the household will be waiting all night with his
friend's wife in the room beyond the curtains there. That if you find
the danger increases and his friend the Emir is about to die, you will
send me to the women with the sad tidings, that he and they may come to
the wounded man's side. That he thanks, and prays for your success in
bringing his friend back to life. That is all."

"Then he does not expect me to perform miracles--to do impossibilities,
Ibrahim?" said the doctor quietly.

"No, Excellency," replied the Sheikh. "The Emir is a half-savage chief,
but if he had been born in Cairo and lived amongst the English and the
French he would have been great. He is wise. He says little, but he
laughs in his heart at the fables of the Mullahs."

"Then he is too sensible to take me for a prophet."

"Oh, yes, Excellency; he thinks as I do, that you are a great physician,
learned in all the wisdom of the Franks. He is a wise man, but his son
is what you English call a fool. But will the Emir's friend live? His
Excellency can trust me."

"It is very doubtful, Ibrahim," said the doctor gravely. "There is a
bullet lodged in a very dangerous part, and I fear that everything
depends upon its being extracted before bad symptoms arise."

"But the learned Hakim can do all those wonders I have seen, and cuts
and sews, and the people grow well and strong."

"Yes, Ibrahim, sometimes," said the doct