The officer said something excitedly as he waved his sword, and the
man's manner suggested that he had come with his followers to massacre
the party.

But at that moment Ibrahim entered, looking wild and strange, and a few
words passed between him and the guard, while from outside the walls
there was shouting, the trampling of horses, and hurried rush of feet.

"For heaven's sake speak, Ibrahim!" cried the professor in Arabic.
"What does this man mean?"

"He has come to see that you are all safe, Excellency," said the old
man. "The Emir sends orders that you are to bar yourselves in the room
farthest from the wall, for the palace is about to be attacked. You are
not to venture outside in the garden, for fear the enemy may be within
throwing distance with their spears."

The Emir's officer only stayed till he was satisfied that his prisoners
fully understood the message, and then hurried out, followed by his men,
for the noise and excitement outside were increasing fast. Trumpets
were being blown, drums beaten, and there were all the sounds of a
gathering force.

"What does all this mean?" asked the doctor.

"I hardly know, O Hakim," replied the Sheikh, who was gradually
recovering his breath, "It is some jealous quarrel between the Emirs,
and they will mount and ride out to the nearest part of the desert to
gallop wildly here and there, firing guns, throwing spears, and shouting
defiance at one another, till their horses and camels are tired out.
Then they will ride back, blowing trumpets and beating drums again, with
each chief riding by his standard, looking proud, and behaving as if he
had gained a great victory."

"Then it will be a kind of sham fight?" said Frank.

"No, Ben Eddin; it will be quite real, but they will not do each other
much mischief, because there is nothing to gain. There is no spoil, and
besides, they are all bound to obey the new Mahdi, who has bidden them
to be at peace till the Egyptian forces are driven into the Nile."

"We are too late," said the Hakim grimly.

"What! Do you think our Emir will be conquered?" said the professor
eagerly.

"No, but there will be work for us to-night or to-morrow morning with
the wounded. Then how can we ask the Emir to let us go?"

"The great Hakim is right," said the Sheikh. "Hark!"

He held up his hand, and plainly enough the reports of guns and the
shouting of combatants reached their ears, the fighting having already
commenced, and