; I
know he wants one badly, because I caught him trying to steal a carbine
from the case. Promise him anything so long as you can square it up."

So I went, taking a bottle of arnica and some court plaster with me, to
find Shadrach surrounded by sympathizers and weeping with rage over
the insult, which, he said, had been offered to his ancient and
distinguished race in his own unworthy person. I did my best for him
physically and mentally, pointing out, as I dabbed the arnica on
his sadly disfigured countenance, that he had brought the trouble on
himself, seeing that he had really no business to poison Pharaoh because
he had tried to bite him. He answered that his reason for wishing to
kill the dog was quite different, and repeated at great length what he
had told the Professor--namely, that it might betray us while we were
passing through the Fung. Also he went on so venomously about revenge
that I thought it time to put a stop to the thing.

"See here, Shadrach," I said, "unless you unsay those words and make
peace at once, you shall be bound and tried. Perhaps we shall have a
better chance of passing safely through the Fung if we leave you dead
behind us than if you accompany us as a living enemy."

On hearing this, he changed his note altogether, saying that he saw
he had been wrong. Moreover, so soon as his injuries were dressed, he
sought out Higgs, whose hand he kissed with many apologies, vowing that
he had forgotten everything and that his heart toward him was like that
of a twin brother.

"Very good, friend," answered Higgs, who never bore malice, "only don't
try to poison Pharaoh again, and, for my part, I'll promise not to
remember this matter when we get to Mur."

"Quite a converted character, ain't he, Doctor?" sarcastically remarked
Quick, who had been watching this edifying scene. "Nasty Eastern temper
all gone; no Hebrew talk of eye for eye or tooth for tooth, but kisses
the fist that smote him in the best Christian spirit. All the same, I
wouldn't trust the swine further than I could kick him, especially in
the dark, which," he added meaningly, "is what it will be to-night."

I made no answer to the Sergeant, for although I agreed with him, there
was nothing to be done, and talking about a bad business would only make
it worse.

By now the afternoon drew towards night--a very stormy night, to judge
from the gathering clouds and rising wind. We were to start a little
after sundown, that is, wit