satisfaction out of our perfect freedom," said the
professor.

"But your Excellencies are not to have perfect freedom," said Ibrahim
slowly.

"What do you mean?" cried Frank.

"When you go out I and three or four of my young men are to attend you
with the camels."

"So much the better, Ibrahim. You will be invaluable to us."

"Your Excellency is very good to say so," replied the old man sadly;
"but that is not all."

"Not all?" cried the professor.

"No, Excellency. The Emir Prince says that he feels answerable to the
great Hakim for your safety; that you are well known to be the Hakim's
followers, and that there are wise men, Hakims of the people here in
Omdurman and Khartoum, who are dogs, he said--fools and pretenders who
can do nothing but work ill. These people, he says, hate the great
Hakim with a jealous hate, and would gladly injure his servants.
Therefore he gives the head of his bodyguard, the Baggara who has charge
of us here, orders to attend you everywhere you go."

"Alone?" said Frank, after a few moments' display of blank surprise and
annoyance.

"No, Excellency; always with eight or ten men; and he is to answer for
your safety abroad and here with his head."

The Sheikh's words seemed to have robbed the little party of the power
of speech. But at last Frank exclaimed--

"Then we have journeyed all this way for naught?"

"To be as badly off as if we had stayed in Cairo and waited for the
British and Egyptian advance."

"No," said the doctor quietly; "disappointment is making you both go to
extremes. We are here on the spot, and we must work by other hands."

"Whose?" said Frank bitterly.

The doctor pointed gravely to Ibrahim, who drew himself up with a look
at the speaker full of gratitude and pride.

"Yes, O Hakim," he said quietly; "it seems that I and my young men are
at liberty to come and go with the camels, and we can mix with the
people as we please. If, then, their Excellencies will trust their
servant and give him time he will do all he can to search out tidings of
their friend and brother. Shall it be so?"

"Yes," said the doctor firmly.

The old Sheikh bowed, and then turned to Frank.

"Ben Eddin is black," he said, with a smile, "and the day or night may
come when I shall say to him, `I have glad tidings for you. Come as one
of my camel-drivers, and maybe I can get you past the guard.'"

"Ibrahim!" cried the young man wildly, "don't promise me too much."