is city of change, so that in a few hours
Frank's anxiety as to the risk of their expedition being stopped, died
out, and the visits of the Sheikh excited no more notice than those of a
dragoman or letter of boats and donkeys who waited upon the tourists and
arranged to take them to the pyramids, the river, or other objects of
interest within easy reach.

When Ibrahim appeared again about midday, he inquired anxiously about
the amount of baggage the party intended to take, and seemed pleased
with the narrow compass into which, under the professor's
superintendence, it was to be condensed. He then had a long discussion
with the doctor, and when this was over it was announced that the Arab
was going to be busy in the bazaar for the rest of the day, and that in
the evening he would be at the door of the hotel with four camels and
attendants to take the baggage that was ready, the rest being placed in
the care of the manager ready for them upon their return from an
expedition with the Sheikh.

"That's prompt," said the professor. "Are you satisfied, Frank?"

"More than satisfied. But about our disguises, our provisions for the
journey, and other preparations? We have done nothing yet."

"There is nothing to do," said the professor quietly.

"But our disguises?" said the doctor anxiously.

"Ibrahim will see to all that. We don't want to draw anyone's attention
to the task we have in hand. If we did the news would spread, and run
like wildfire amongst the people, perhaps reach the enemy's camp."

"But can we leave everything to this Arab Sheikh?"

"Everything," said the professor, "as I have left things again and
again. Here is our position: I am known here, and it is no novelty for
me to go upon an expedition with this old guide. So all we have to do
is to eat our dinner in peace, and when Ibrahim comes, mount our beasts
and go off in the moonlight and silently steal away through the further
parts of the city, and in a very short time be swallowed up in the
mysterious gloom, travelling onward over the sand."

"All night?" said the doctor.

"Yes, all night, and in good time in the morning we shall have reached
the tents of the Sheikh, where we shall have an early meal and sleep.
When we shall go on depends upon the preparations there. These will be
extremely simple, but they will be sufficient. Make your minds easy,
and throw all the arrangement of the journey upon Ibrahim and me. He
will do his best, bu