But the boat's progress was slow, and
Isaacson sometimes felt as if some human strength were striving
persistently to repel him. He had the sensation of a determined
resistance which must be battled with ruthlessly. And now and then his
own body was tense as he watched his men at their work. But at last they
drew near to the _Loulia_, and his keen, far-seeing eyes searched the
balcony for figures. He saw none. The balcony was untenanted. Now it
seemed to him as if in the fierce heat, upon the unshaded water, the
great boat was asleep, as if there was no life in her anywhere; and this
sensation of the absence of life increased upon him as they came nearer
and nearer. All round the upper deck, except perhaps on the land side of
the boat, which he could not see, canvas was let down. Shutters were
drawn over the windows of the cabins. The doors of the room of the
fountain were open, but the room was full of shadow, which, from his
little boat, the eyes of Isaacson could not penetrate. As they came
alongside no voice greeted them. He began to regret having come in the
hour of the siesta. They glided along past green shutter after green
shutter till they were level with the forward deck. And there, in an
attitude of smiling attention, stood the tall figure of Ibrahim.

Isaacson felt almost startled to find his approach known, to receive a
graceful greeting.

He stepped on board followed closely by Hassan. The deck was strewn with
scantily clad men, profoundly sleeping. Isaacson addressed himself in a
low voice to Ibrahim.

"You understand English?"

"Yes, my gentleman. You come to meet the good doctor who him curin' my
Lord Arminigel. He bin here very long time."

"He's here already?"

Ibrahim smiled reassuringly.

"Very long time, my gentleman. Him comin' here to live with us till my
lord him well."

And Ibrahim turned, gathered together his gold-coloured skirts, and
mounted the stairs to the upper deck. Isaacson hesitated for a moment,
then followed him slowly. In that brief moment of hesitation the words
had gone through Isaacson's mind: "I ought to have been here sooner."

As he mounted and his eyes rose over the level of the top step of the
companion, he was aware of a slight young man, very smartly dressed in
white ducks, a loose silk shirt, a low, soft collar and pale,
rose-coloured tie, a perfectly cut grey jacket with a small blue line in
it, rose-coloured socks, and white buckskin boots, who was lying alm