xt morning feeling ready for any amount more effort, as he
carefully applied more of the water to his skin, after dissolving a few
crystals, with the result that when the solution was dry he was ready to
compare with the blackest slave in the city, while after breakfast he
was in the best of spirits as he helped the Hakim over his patients--
poor creatures half blind from the horrible ophthalmia produced by the
desert dust and sand; wounded men, sufferers from the terrible fevers of
the country; and as he saw them go away relieved a pleasant sensation of
what French people call _bien etre_ stole over him.

Then the Emir's son came in his litter and was attended to, the Hakim
saying, when his task was done and Ibrahim had been summoned, that the
patient need come no more, at which he frowned and looked displeased,
and the next day he came again, contenting himself with seeing Frank
only, and on leaving presenting him with a new white robe.

The following morning he was back again to see Frank, and when he left,
the professor laughingly made the remark that the Emir's son was
evidently a young man of very low tastes, he being a prince among his
people and taking to the society of a slave.

Another excursion was made through the city, with the guard following
patiently, and evidently feeling something like contempt for these
strange people who preferred wearying themselves in wandering through
the filthy lanes of the city to sitting comfortably in the Emir's
grounds, smoking a long pipe in the shade of the trees. But they were
silent and watchful all the same saving the travellers more than once
from insult and attack.

Then days followed days with always the same result: weary hopelessness;
and a long conversation ensued, the result of which was that as the
number of important cases had diminished and the complaints of the poor
patients were for the most part of a kind that their own Hakims could
very well attend, a petition should be taken to the Emir, asking him to
send the Hakim on to Khartoum with his people to do good there.

This was announced to Ibrahim, who shook his head.

"Why do you do that?" said Frank quickly.

"For reasons, Excellency. I have been much about the city lately."

"I know," said Frank, "and supposed that you were still searching now."

"I was, Excellency."

"So have we been, as you know, but without result. You have found out
nothing?"

"Not yet, Excellency, but I am still hopeful