el satisfied," said the doctor. "We did not come here of our own
accord, but were brought. We had better have him in, and as if by our
orders Hal can question him."

There was no opposition to this, and one of the camel-drivers was
fetched and sent down to the gate, while Harry lay down with his
bandaged arm exposed, on an angareb close to the door, where he lay
looking ghastly and feeble by the light of the lamp.

The officer came at once, and the professor made him understand what was
required, when he turned to the injured prisoner, who soon proved that
he could speak the desert Arabic tongue pretty well.

"The great doctor," he said, "is thinking about his servant the Sheikh.
Where is he?"

"I fear that he is dead," was the reply. "I told him when he went out
that he carried his life in his hand."

"But why should he be slain?" asked Harry. "He was no fighting man."

"Because no man's life is safe," was the reply. "He went out upon one
of the Hakim's camels, and any dervish who wanted one of the beasts
would have followed him. Hundreds in the town want camels and horses
now, and if the Sheikh gave his up quietly to the man who asked, it
would be well. If he refused, a thrust from a spear or a blow from a
knife would be sufficient."

"Then I am to tell the Hakim he will not return?"

"No. Tell him that he may return, but that I fear he will not. Tell
him, too, that he is to be ready, for we may have to leave here soon
after it is light."

Harry signified that he would, and then started, for the officer said
suddenly--

"How is it that you can speak the Hakim's tongue?"

"Because I was once among the Franks. It is a tongue that is known far
and wide. He is a great man, and my arm will soon be well. Is it not
time that my master fetched me back?"

"Thy master has gone to fight the enemies of Allah," said the officer
scornfully, "and has no time to think of thee."

There was no more information to be obtained of the man, whose whole
manner seemed to have changed, and the sound of the tapping of a
war-drum drew him away directly after, leaving the party undecided what
to do.

One thing was evident, that with the strict guard kept over the place
any attempt at evasion would have been useless, and it was decided that
if they were to escape it must be during their journey to Khartoum.

"But we must not give up all hope of seeing Ibrahim return," said the
doctor. "Go to the men, Landon, and fi