."

"We are still hopeful," said Frank, "but we feel that it is time to
journey on to Khartoum and search there. We can come back here if we
fail."

"But the Emir will not let you go, Excellency."

"How do you know that?"

"I feel sure, Excellency, and then there is the young Emir; he spoke to
me yesterday about having you in his household."

"Having me?" said Frank, aghast.

"Yes, Excellency; he has taken a fancy to you. Did he not make you
another present yesterday?"

"Yes," said Frank; "a handsome sword and knife. Of course, I did not
want them, but you know his disposition."

"Yes," said the professor; "he would have looked black as thunder and
flown in a passion if you had refused them."

"He did because I hesitated. But we must try if the Emir will consent."

"We might propose going for a time," said the doctor, "and promise to
come back, as there is so little to do here for the people."

The Sheikh shook his head.

"I daresay you are right, Ibrahim," said Frank; "but we are doing no
good at all here, and you must try."

"I am your Excellencies' servant," said the old man quietly, "and I will
do my best; but I would rather we stayed here for a while longer."

"Hah!" exclaimed Frank excitedly; "then you have some clue!"

"No, no; not yet, Ben Eddin," said the old man, who looked startled by
the speaker's manner; "but I have hopes. I have been trying so hard,
making friends with several of the better people, and as your English
Excellencies would say, feeling my way. When we find your Excellency's
brother it will be through my meeting some one who knows what slaves
have been kept. But it is very hard. I dare not say much, for fear of
making the people doubt that I am a friend."

"Yes, that is true, Ibrahim," said the doctor gravely; "and I like your
caution. But make one appeal to the Emir to let us go to Khartoum for a
few weeks. Ask him to send us with an escort--say with our present
guard."

The old Sheikh shook his head.

"The great Hakim does not understand," he said. "The Khalifa has many
followers, Emirs and chiefs of tribes who are banded with him to conquer
and hold the Soudan. But they are all chiefs in their own right who
have brought their followers, and the jealousy and hate among them is
great. The Emir, our friend, is one of the greatest, but he has enemies
here."

"Ah, you know that?" said Frank eagerly.

"Yes, Excellency, chiefs who hate him, but his son more,