who was so long. Then all was over, for the
slave jumped back now the stirrup was lengthened, and stood with bent
head and extended hands as the horse bounded off along the empty side of
the court, Frank passing the chief at full gallop, pointing to the
lengthened stirrups as he went, and then on and on at full speed to pass
round the court again, seeing that his brother was standing near the
opening of his shed, and as he passed he had ready and jerked towards
him three or four bright piastres, without so much as turning his head.

The next minute he pulled up short by the Emir's side, sprang from the
horse, and threw the bridle to the nearest man, not daring to stay while
his brother ran up to take the rein.

So it was that when the slave took charge of the horse Frank was with
the Sheikh, mounting his own a dozen yards away, but was stopped by the
Emir, who hurried up to him and seized upon Ibrahim to interpret his
words of thanks for the present and for the admirable way in which he
had taught his people how to ride. "But," he said, with a peculiar,
mocking smile, "they will be obstinate; they will not ride with long
stirrups like the Hakim's friend."

And the next minute--

"Tell the Hakim's friend that if he would learn to ride as we do, with
the stirrups short, so that he could get a better hold of the saddle, he
would be as fine a horseman as ever lived."

Frank nodded and smiled, and signed that he was about to mount.

"Ask the Hakim's friend to enter and partake of such poor fare as I can
give," protested the Emir; and upon the words being interpreted Frank
shook his head, but pointed to his lips, signifying that he would drink.

The Emir clapped his hands, and as Frank turned he saw his brother
passing out of sight, while from the house a couple of slaves came
quickly, bearing brass vessels and cups.

The long, cool draught of some refreshing beverage was welcome to
Frank's parched throat, but he kept up the set smile upon his
countenance, in spite of the agonising mental torture from which he
suffered, and it was with a sigh of relief that at last he rode away,
followed by a friendly shout from the party in the court, and reached
the cool, darkened rooms of the Emir's place feeling more dead than
alive.

"Well," asked his friends in a breath, as he threw himself upon the
rug-covered angareb in his room, "did you succeed?"

"Ask Ibrahim," he said. "I hardly dare to hope."

They turned to the o