to
act like a slave for all the many weary months in that disguise?"

"Yes," said Frank firmly.

"And hold your peace, no matter what may befall?"

"Yes. I _will_" said Frank, through his set teeth.

"We may come suddenly upon the prisoner in chains; we may see him beaten
by his taskmaster. Brothers love brothers," said the Sheikh gravely.
"Could the young Excellency hold his peace and stand by looking on at
such a time?"

"Yes," said Frank, in a low, harsh voice: "it is to save my brother's
life. I would not speak to save my own."

The old Sheikh's face was stern and rugged as ever; not a muscle
twitched; but there was a new light in his eyes as they rested upon
Frank's, and he uttered a low sigh of satisfaction.

"The English are a great, brave nation," he said gravely. "No wonder
they make themselves masters of the world."

"Then you are satisfied, Ibrahim?"

"No, Excellency, not yet," replied the Sheikh. "Take off those clothes
and put on those that I will get, and you are the interpreter of the
great Frankish Hakim. That is enough. The people will rush to you and
call you brother. His Excellency here, clothed as I will clothe him,
that great, grand head white from the barber's razor, with that
magnificent beard hanging down over his robe in front, and with the
wisdom of the physician to cure the sufferers who will come--even the
Khalifa and his greatest officers would come and bend to him. Yes, all
this is grand."

"Well done," said the professor, with a sigh of relief.

"His Excellency here _is_ a great doctor--one who can cure bad wounds?"
asked the Sheikh.

"One of the best in London," said the professor enthusiastically. "He
can almost perform miracles."

"It is good," said the Sheikh gravely. "He will find much work to do,
for the Mahdi's followers die like flocks and herds in time of plague
for want of help. Now about his young Excellency here. He will be the
Hakim's slave?"

"Yes; his learned slave, Ibrahim. He is skilled in chemistry and
science."

"I do not know what chemistry and science mean, Excellency."

"The power to perform natural miracles," said the professor.

"It is enough; but he must do as he said. As he is now he would be
watched by suspicious eyes; I could not answer for his life. As the
Hakim's black slave who helps his master and is mute, yes, he will be
safe too. But this man--this servant? What can he do? Will he be
black and mute?"

"H'm, no,"