of course I could not
understand; but he did something insulting which I could. For there was
no doubt about that--he spat at me, sir--regularly spat at me, and then
snarled as much as to say, `Take that! You come within reach, and I'll
bite you!'"

"They're not pleasant creatures," said Frank quietly, glancing round.

"No, sir, they're not, indeed; and that isn't the worst of it."

"Then what is?"

"Why, this, sir: instead of going comfortably to one's night's rest,
I've got to mount one of the ugly, sneering brutes, and he'll play at
see-saw with me and make me as miserable as he can, turning my poor back
into a sort of hinge. Ugh! I haven't forgotten my last dose."

"Don't talk to me any more," said Frank, in a low tone of voice; "here
are some of the other men coming."

"To take down the patients' tent, I suppose, sir."

Frank made no reply, but Sam was right, for they quickly and quietly
lowered and folded the young chiefs tent, leaving him only a rug to lie
upon, after placing the tent ready to be fetched by one of their camels.

Seeing this, Frank went to where the weak, helpless man lay exposed to
the cool night air and turned one side of the rich rug gently over him,
receiving for thanks a gentle tap or two upon the arm.

"I was going across to do that, Frank," said the doctor, as the young
man returned to his own party. "It is not good for him to be exposed
like this, but these people are so accustomed to the desert life that
they bear with impunity what would kill an ordinary Englishman."

"How much longer have we to wait, Ibrahim?" asked the professor.

"We shall begin loading in less than an hour, Excellency," replied the
Sheikh, "so as to have plenty of time."

"Is everything packed?"

"Yes, Excellency."

"Nothing forgotten?"

"I have been over the baggage twice, Excellency, and nothing has been
left; the camels are all in beautiful condition, and there is an ample
supply of water, for I have had four extra skins filled. We may want
it, for the journey to-morrow will be over the hot, fine sand. I
daresay, though, we shall halt for a few hours in the middle of the
day."

Soon after there was the busy sound of loading going on, the soft
silence of the night being broken by the querulous moaning and
complaining of the camels as burden after burden was balanced across
their backs, the uncanny noise sounding weird and strange, the weirdness
applying, too, to the dimly seen, long-necke