ening jaws, not only were the faces and busy hands of
the Hakim and his assistants seen moving rapidly, but directly after
there, in a faint glare, was the bare torso of the dying Emir.

Then, heard above the hissing of the electricity the Hakim's voice was
heard, and all eyes were turned to him as the flashes of light
brightened his stern, firm face.

"Ibrahim," he said, "bid the Emir come here to my side."

The order was interpreted, and firmly and without a moment's hesitation,
the swarthy chief walked close up to the divan, noting as he did so that
the flashes of light in the cylinder glanced from the keen knife which
the Hakim held.

"Now," said the latter calmly, "tell him that as a last effort I am
about to try and find where the bullet which is slaying his friend is
lying."

The Sheikh's voice trembled a little as he spoke, but he interpreted the
words clearly, and the Emir said softly--

"The Hakim is wise and great."

"_Now_!" said the doctor sharply, and wonder of wonders! the upper
portion of the wounded man's flank was seen to become transparent, the
muscular portions to dissolve in a soft, dull light, leaving the bones
weirdly plain as if he had long passed away, and the awe-stricken
beholders were gazing upon the skeleton remains; while most horrible of
all, amidst the low murmur of dread which arose from the Mullahs and
Ibrahim, a skeleton hand suddenly darted out, holding a knife and
pointed to a small, round, black spot close to the dark backbone.

"Enough!" said the Hakim loudly. "Quick, the light!"

No legendary Eastern magic ever expressed one-half the marvels of that
scene. One moment the electricity was hissing and the bright flashes
playing about, giving ghastly effects to the faces of all, as, wild with
horror, they gazed at the dull, black skeleton and the horrible pointing
hand; the next the hissing had ceased, the vision had died out, and then
there was a rustling noise as the curtain was torn away and the Hakim
was seen in the bright sunlight, bending over the prostrate man.

A quick movement or two followed, the knife was thrown down and
instruments used, and the Hakim said shortly--

"Water--sponge."

The professor had only to take a step, and then with a rapidity that was
almost marvellous the marks of blood had been removed, a little lint and
a bandage applied, and the Hakim was pointing to a large bullet, that
which had nearly passed through the wounded man without touch