again I shall throw something at you. Ibrahim, once more," he
continued, spelling the name letter by letter.

"But that's only his ignorant way of spelling it, sir," protested Sam.
"He told me himself it's the same name as we read of. It's Abra--ham,
as I told him myself; but he only smiled at me as if he knew better."

"Well, what about him?"

"He hasn't been near, sir, and his young men--and one of them's ten
years older than me--say that he hasn't been back since he went out last
night."

"Tut--tut--tut--tut!" said the doctor. "I hope he has not fallen into
any trouble now."

But before the breakfast was over--a meal that was interrupted twice by
the doctor's visits to the patient--Ibrahim came to the door, and was
told to enter.

He looked sharply at the two gentlemen, and then at the door leading
into Frank's room, and back inquiringly at the doctor.

"Yes," said the latter gravely; "he is ill, Ibrahim."

"The heat of the sun and the dreadful trouble yesterday, Excellency,"
said the old man excitedly. "I feared it. The heat made even me feel
ill. But he will soon be better?"

"I hope so," said the doctor; and the professor broke in--

"But what of yourself, Ibrahim? You have news?"

"Yes, Excellency. If you listen you can hear them coming."

"Not the Egyptian Army?"

"No, no, Excellency, not yet. But spies keep coming in, all bringing
the same news, that British forces are slowly and surely coming up the
river to Khartoum, and the Khalifa is sending out his people to gather
in more and more of the wild troops. They are crowding into the city
and camping about outside. There will be war before long."

"There must not be till we have escaped, Ibrahim," said the professor.
"We being respectable singing birds must not be caught in the net along
with the black dervish daws."

"If the British and Egyptians win the battle, Excellency," said the
Sheikh gravely. "We must not shut our eyes to the fact that these wild
tribes are very brave, while the Egyptians--well, Excellency, we know
that they have not made a very brave stand in the past."

"But our British force will be up here in strength?"

"Yes, Excellency, and if it depended entirely upon them I should not
fear."

"Then you do fear?" said the doctor gravely.

"Hardly fear, Excellency, but I have my doubts, and I am troubled about
our position in any case."

"Why?" said the professor.

"I have been out all night gathering news fro