was no shirking or
making the worst of wounds or sickness, the men being only too ready to
leave the hospital tent with its occupants, so as to join the guard in
their little camp.

Consequently as the days sped quickly by the number of patients rapidly
decreased, while the principal sufferer, after lying as if between life
and death for a week, began to mend, his terrible wound healing rapidly,
and signs of returning strength gradually appearing.

At first he lay quiet and sullen, submitting to all that was done for
him, watching the Hakim with what appeared to be a suspicious dread, for
his mind did not seem to grasp the possibility of this Frankish
physician wishing to save his life. He scowled, too, at the professor,
and at first gave the dumb, black slave Frank fierce looks whenever in
his ministrations he approached and touched him. But during the course
of the second week, as his strength began to return, he appeared more
grateful, and once or twice smiled and nodded after being lifted or fed,
or having his position changed.

One day when the Sheikh came to the tent the patient began to speak, and
asked him questions about the Hakim--why he was there, and what payment
he would require for all he had done; and looked surprised when told
that the learned Frankish physician did everything for the sake of doing
good.

It was a problem that lasted him till the next day, when he signed for
something, and the professor found that they could make one another
comprehend after a fashion, enough for the Englishman to grasp that the
wounded man wanted Ibrahim, who was summoned.

It was for a mere trifle. He wanted to question him about Frank--how he
came to be the Hakim's slave, and why he could not speak, the old Arab
making up the best explanation he could over the first, and referring to
the professor for an explanation as to the latter, the young chief being
evidently under the impression, and bluntly expressing the belief, that
the Hakim had cut out the young slave's tongue so that he should not
reveal any of the secrets of the magic by whose means he performed his
cures.

There being visible proof afforded, to Frank's disgust, that the Hakim
had not treated his slave in this barbarous way, the young chief felt
certain that the silence was the result of some magic spell, and he
began to display a certain amount of pity for the young man, and lay and
watched him curiously.

From that day Frank found that he