you one of his slaves, O Hakim, and bids
you for the sake of your young friend, whom he saved from a dervish
band, to heal his hurt."

The doctor felt as if something had clutched his breast, and he looked
up, fighting hard to be composed, to see that the professor had come to
the inner door and was hearing every word.

His voice sounded husky as he spoke, but he mastered his emotion and
said gravely--

"My knowledge is at the service of all who suffer, and I will try and
heal the slave of the great Emir's friend. Let the injured man be
brought to the door. What is his hurt?"

"Thy servant cannot tell," said the old man, and he interpreted the
Hakim's words to the officer, who retired, and in a few minutes
returned, ushering to the outer door a white figure lying with
fast-closed eyes upon a hand litter, which was set down outside.

The Hakim drew a deep breath, and again had to fight hard to maintain
his composure, for he felt that the critical time had come, just, too,
when he who had toiled so hard to bring all this about was lying
insensible to the success of his plot.

It was only a temporary fit of nervous agitation, and then the Hakim was
walking gravely and full of dignity of mien to where the injured man
lay, the professor following him, trembling with excitement.

There were about a dozen of the chiefs followers standing about the
litter, all eager to catch a glimpse of the great Hakim, but ready to
shrink back reverently when he appeared, leaving only the chief of the
guards and one who was their leader.

These, too, drew back a little, and all seemed to accept as a matter of
course that the great Hakim should pass gravely out of the door, walk
round the litter, and then stand by its side with his back to them, the
professor and Ibrahim taking their positions close by.

"Let the Emir's people say why this man has been brought," said the
Hakim slowly, and as he looked down he saw the occupant of the bier
start and tremble; but did not raise his eyelids.

The Sheikh interpreted the words, and the head man, who had
superintended the bringing of the slave, said quickly--

"Tell the great wise Hakim that our master's slave is broken. We know
not how, and he has not spoken since. But he waits upon the horses, and
one must have kicked him in the side."

It was hard work to be calm at such a time, the man's words when
interpreted by the Sheikh seeming to stab and give the hearers intense
pain.