travel with tents like this," said the doctor.

"Oh, no, Excellency," replied the Sheikh; "only two that will be
smaller; but everything necessary for their Excellencies' comfort will
be done. It will be right, and impress the Baggara and others of the
Mahdi's followers. For the Hakim is not a poor dervish who tries to
cure; he is a great Frankish doctor who travels to do good. He does not
treat the sick and wounded to be paid in piastres, or to receive gifts,
but because he loves to cure the suffering."

"Quite right," said the doctor gravely.

"Then it is right and fit that he should travel with good tents and
camels, and such things as suit his dignity."

"But this will be travelling like an eastern prince," said the doctor,
who was beaming with satisfaction, after a refreshing sluice in some
cool water.

"A learned Hakim such as his Excellency Landon assures me that you are,
is greater than any eastern prince," said the Sheikh, handing a fresh
bath-towel; "and I have a petition to make to his Excellency."

"A petition? What is it, Ibrahim?"

"I have a son here, Excellency; he is my youngest, and the light of my
old eyes, but he is weak and sickly, and there are times when I feel
that I am fighting against fate, and that it would be better that I
should let him die in peace. But I love him, and I would have him live.
Will the Hakim see the boy and say whether he is to live or die?"

"Yes. What is his ailment?"

"It was through a fall from a camel. A fierce old bull rushed at the
young one he rode, and fell upon him and crushed him."

"Ah, I see," said the doctor. "That is in my way."

"Then the learned Hakim will see the boy?"

"Yes, at once. Where is he?"

"No, no, not at once," said the Sheikh. "Poor Hassan has waited three
years; he can wait another hour till the Hakim has eaten and rested.
Then his Excellency will be refreshed, his eyes will see more clearly,
and may be then he will be able to make an old man's heart rejoice. If
it is not to be--well, His will be done."

"Yes," said the doctor gravely, as he laid his hand upon the Sheikh's
arm.

"And there are other sufferers here, Excellency, who would pray to you
for help, for we are not free from the ills which afflict mankind. A
mother would ask you if her little one will live. There is a little
girl whose sight is nearly gone, and one of my young men whose broken
leg does not grow together again. Shall we be asking too much of