In the Mahdi's Grasp Part 23

"Very, Sam."

"And there are so many troubles about wills when the lawyers get hold of 'em, and often just about a word or two."

"Quite true, Sam," said Frank seriously.

"You see, there's a nice bit of money I've saved up, sir--over fifty pound--and I shouldn't rest easy if it all went in law through the will being made hasty like. P'r'aps it would be better if we stopped till we got to the tents. What do you say, sir? Might be a table there for you to write on."

"Well, I feel very doubtful about the table, Sam; but I can't help thinking that I could write a good deal more clearly lying on the sand with the paper on a box or a biscuit-tin."

"Yes, sir, I feel sure it would be better to wait now, and I'll risk it."

"Risk what--the writing?"

"No, sir; holding out till we get to the tents. Seems as if we shall get there a bit sooner than I thought for."

"Oh, yes! we shall be there in less than half an hour."

"Soon as that, sir?"

"Yes."

"Think I can hold out till then?"

"If you try very hard, Sam," said Frank seriously. "You seem terribly knocked up; but I feel in hope that a good breakfast and a few hours'

sleep will do you a lot of good, and then if the doctor takes you in hand, you will feel a different man by to-morrow."

"To-morrow, sir? Think I shall ever see to-morrow?"

"I hope so. Ah, here's the man from the tents! What a good-looking young Arab he seems, and what a clean-limbed, swift camel he is on--a beauty!"

"Ugh! Don't say that, sir. They seem to me the most unnatural-looking, big, birdy creatures I ever set eyes on; and oh, Mr Frank! do you think it's possible for a man to get to ride them and like it?"

"Look at that fellow," said Frank; "he seems as if he were part of the beast he rides."

"P'r'aps he is, sir; being a native."

"Oh, come, Sam, you're getting better," cried Frank cheerily. "Look, there's a fire outside that tent--two fires. That means cooking, and cooking means breakfast. I feel as if I shall be ready for some after all. Look at the place here."

Sam began to grow interested, for they were approaching an oasis of some two or three hundred acres in extent, where, consequent upon the welling up of a spring of water at the foot of a clump of rocks, a few dom and date palms rose up gracefully, and the ground was covered pretty liberally with closely nibbled-off herbage, and dotted with sheep and goats, a few camels lying about here and there close to the group of booth-like tents, while for three or four hundred yards the course of the flowing water which rose from the spring could be clearly traced, by the richness of the plants and shrubs which owed their existence to its presence.

The clump of tents proved to be more extensive than they had seemed to be at a distance, and the Sheikh's little patriarchal family greater than the travellers had antic.i.p.ated. Children could be seen staring curiously at the newcomers; dark-eyed women stole from tent to tent, and quite twenty tall, dark, well-featured men came forward to bid them welcome and relieve the laden camels of their loads; while when the Sheikh led the way to the largest tent, into whose shadowy gloom the party entered with a feeling of relief, it was to find ample traces of the fact at which the old man had hinted in conversation, that he was comparatively wealthy. For the tent boasted divans; handsome carpets were spread over the sand, and upon one there was that European luxury, a white linen cloth, upon which was already prepared, simple and good, all that was necessary for the welcome breakfast, while in a little side tent, greatest luxury of all, there were bra.s.s basins, towels, and great earthen vessels full of clear, cool water.

"Hah, Sheikh," said the doctor, with a sigh of relief, "this is grand!

I'm coming to life again."

"I am glad the learned Hakim is satisfied with his servant's preparations," said the Sheikh humbly. "There will be breakfast in a very short time. It was hastened by the women as soon as the camels came in sight."

"But of course we cannot travel with tents like this," said the doctor.

"Oh, no, Excellency," replied the Sheikh; "only two that will be smaller; but everything necessary for their Excellencies' comfort will be done. It will be right, and impress the Baggara and others of the Mahdi's followers. For the Hakim is not a poor dervish who tries to cure; he is a great Frankish doctor who travels to do good. He does not treat the sick and wounded to be paid in piastres, or to receive gifts, but because he loves to cure the suffering."

"Quite right," said the doctor gravely.

"Then it is right and fit that he should travel with good tents and camels, and such things as suit his dignity."

"But this will be travelling like an eastern prince," said the doctor, who was beaming with satisfaction, after a refreshing sluice in some cool water.

"A learned Hakim such as his Excellency Landon a.s.sures me that you are, is greater than any eastern prince," said the Sheikh, handing a fresh bath-towel; "and I have a pet.i.tion to make to his Excellency."

"A pet.i.tion? What is it, Ibrahim?"

"I have a son here, Excellency; he is my youngest, and the light of my old eyes, but he is weak and sickly, and there are times when I feel that I am fighting against fate, and that it would be better that I should let him die in peace. But I love him, and I would have him live.

Will the Hakim see the boy and say whether he is to live or die?"

"Yes. What is his ailment?"

"It was through a fall from a camel. A fierce old bull rushed at the young one he rode, and fell upon him and crushed him."

"Ah, I see," said the doctor. "That is in my way."

"Then the learned Hakim will see the boy?"

"Yes, at once. Where is he?"

"No, no, not at once," said the Sheikh. "Poor Ha.s.san has waited three years; he can wait another hour till the Hakim has eaten and rested.

Then his Excellency will be refreshed, his eyes will see more clearly, and may be then he will be able to make an old man's heart rejoice. If it is not to be--well, His will be done."

"Yes," said the doctor gravely, as he laid his hand upon the Sheikh's arm.

"And there are other sufferers here, Excellency, who would pray to you for help, for we are not free from the ills which afflict mankind. A mother would ask you if her little one will live. There is a little girl whose sight is nearly gone, and one of my young men whose broken leg does not grow together again. Shall we be asking too much of the Hakim if we say, look at these sufferers and give them words of comfort if you can give them nothing more, not even hope?"

"I am a learned Hakim, you say, Sheikh, and I have come out here to use my knowledge without fee or reward. Heaven helping me, I hope to do much good, and I place myself in your hands. You will lead us where you think best, and you will bring the people whom I ought to see. That is enough."

"Yes, Excellency, and as soon as your friends are ready the breakfast waits."

CHAPTER TEN.

AN OPERATION.

The meal prepared by the Sheikh's people astounded the little party-- there were crisp cutlets, freshly made cakes, bowls of a porridge made with fresh milk and some kind of finely ground grain, and fruit in abundance, while all p.r.o.nounced the freshly roasted coffee to be delicious. So appetising did it prove in the pleasant, subdued shadow of the tent, that the weariness of the past night was forgotten by more than one, for before the meal was at an end Sam made his appearance, washed and refreshed, to help attend to his master's wants, and say in answer to Frank's inquiries that he couldn't have believed he could feel so much better in so short a time.

Frank smiled to himself, but he did not allude to the will. It was soon evident, though, that the man had his words upon his conscience, for he kept on giving Frank peculiar, meaning looks, one and all of which were ignored, the only words that pa.s.sed being later in the afternoon, when Sam suddenly edged up close to his confidant and said--

"It's wonderful what a good rest does for a man, Mr Frank, sir, isn't it?"

"Wonderful, Sam," was the reply. "I feel very little the worse for my night's ride."