In the Mahdi's Grasp Part 14

We want a brisk, dashing fellow, full of spirit and recklessness."

He turned to the professor, and spoke a few words in Latin.

The professor smiled.

"You do not know Ibrahim yet," he said quietly. "A young Englishman dashes at a thing without consideration; an Arab looks before he leaps, and examines the starting and the landing place. Hush!"

"Yes," said the Sheikh at last, and he bowed his head again and again as he spoke, evidently calculating every move in the great game of chess with live pieces in which he was about to engage. "Yes; his Excellency here will be the learned Hakim--he _is_ a learned Hakim, and the people will crowd to his tent. I could take him and his Excellency the professor, who speaks our tongue like I speak it myself, anywhere, and they would be welcome. The idea is grand and cannot fail, but my heart grows faint when I think of his young Excellency here. Could he bear to act like a slave for all the many weary months in that disguise?"

"Yes," said Frank firmly.

"And hold your peace, no matter what may befall?"

"Yes. I _will_" said Frank, through his set teeth.

"We may come suddenly upon the prisoner in chains; we may see him beaten by his taskmaster. Brothers love brothers," said the Sheikh gravely.

"Could the young Excellency hold his peace and stand by looking on at such a time?"

"Yes," said Frank, in a low, harsh voice: "it is to save my brother's life. I would not speak to save my own."

The old Sheikh's face was stern and rugged as ever; not a muscle twitched; but there was a new light in his eyes as they rested upon Frank's, and he uttered a low sigh of satisfaction.

"The English are a great, brave nation," he said gravely. "No wonder they make themselves masters of the world."

"Then you are satisfied, Ibrahim?"

"No, Excellency, not yet," replied the Sheikh. "Take off those clothes and put on those that I will get, and you are the interpreter of the great Frankish Hakim. That is enough. The people will rush to you and call you brother. His Excellency here, clothed as I will clothe him, that great, grand head white from the barber's razor, with that magnificent beard hanging down over his robe in front, and with the wisdom of the physician to cure the sufferers who will come--even the Khalifa and his greatest officers would come and bend to him. Yes, all this is grand."

"Well done," said the professor, with a sigh of relief.

"His Excellency here _is_ a great doctor--one who can cure bad wounds?"

asked the Sheikh.

"One of the best in London," said the professor enthusiastically. "He can almost perform miracles."

"It is good," said the Sheikh gravely. "He will find much work to do, for the Mahdi's followers die like flocks and herds in time of plague for want of help. Now about his young Excellency here. He will be the Hakim's slave?"

"Yes; his learned slave, Ibrahim. He is skilled in chemistry and science."

"I do not know what chemistry and science mean, Excellency."

"The power to perform natural miracles," said the professor.

"It is enough; but he must do as he said. As he is now he would be watched by suspicious eyes; I could not answer for his life. As the Hakim's black slave who helps his master and is mute, yes, he will be safe too. But this man--this servant? What can he do? Will he be black and mute?"

"H'm, no," said the professor, hesitating.

"Has he a brother in chains and misery whom he would die to save?"

"H'm, no," said the professor again. "Frank, lad," he said, in Latin, "I'm afraid Sam will not pa.s.s."

"What will he do, then?" asked the Sheikh.

"Attend on his master, the Hakim."

"One of my young men can do that."

"Hold the wounded when the Hakim bandages their cuts."

"One of my young men would be safer far."

"He knows the Hakim's ways, and will sponge the bullet-wounds and fetch the water bowl."

"The Hakim's black slave should do all that, Excellency."

"I'm afraid you are right," said the professor; "but I want to take him if we can. Come, he is a capital cook."

"A learned Hakim like his Excellency here would live on simple food, such as one of my young men could prepare."

"Well, I don't know what to say, Ibrahim. He is a very useful fellow."

"But his being with us might mean making the Mahdi's followers doubt, and once they doubted it means death to us all."

The professor's face was a study as he turned to Frank.

"He's right, my lad; he's right."

"It may mean ruin to our journey, even as men perish when they make for a water-hole, to find it dry. Can he do anything else?"

"Heaps of things," cried the professor.

"But they are as nothing if they are not suited to our task, Excellency.

Does he look to be an Englishman?"

"A thorough-paced c.o.c.kney, Ibrahim, I am sorry to say."

"c.o.c.kney, Excellency?"

"Well, very English indeed."

"Would he be painted black, Excellency?" said Ibrahim.

"He'd only look like an imitation Christy Minstrel if he were, eh, Frank?" said the professor.

"Would he have his head shaved like his Excellency the Hakim?" said the Sheikh.

"Got him!" cried the professor excitedly. "Here, Ibrahim, you wanted to know what he can do. He's the Hakim's barber, and can shave a head."

"Ah-h-h-h!" said the Sheikh, drawing out the e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.i.o.n to an inordinate length. "He can shave--and well?"