In the Mahdi's Grasp Part 34

At the sound of his voice the Baggara, whose countenance had turned of a peculiar, muddy hue, revived and turned to him sharply, saw, and stretched out his hand eagerly for the gla.s.s, but shrank back directly with a look of suspicion.

The Hakim smiled, raised the gla.s.s to his lips, and looking frankly in his patient's eyes drank about a third of the liquid slowly, and would have gone on, but the Baggara signed to him to desist, took the gla.s.s, and swallowed the remainder, to stand for a few minutes with his eyes half-closed and his hand clutching his brother chief's arm desperately.

"Why doesn't he make him lie down?" said the professor in a low tone to Frank, who was standing by his companion's side as if waiting for the Hakim's next command, but watching everything keenly the while.

"Afraid it would have a bad effect upon the people," said Frank in the same low tone. "He has given him a dose of ammonia."

"If he goes down, my lad, I'm afraid that it will be bad for us."

"Afraid?" replied Frank. "We have made our plunge, and nothing must make us afraid."

"That's right," said the professor; "but I wish that stuff would begin to act."

"It is beginning to act," said Frank. "Look!"

He was right, for the chief drew a deep breath, his muscles seemed to be growing more firm, and he stepped back from his companion, then signed for his shield to be handed to him, placed the loops over the bandaged arm, took his two spears, beckoned to the follower who held his horse, and stood for a minute or two making believe to pat its beautiful, arching neck and arrange its mane before placing a foot in the stirrup and springing into the saddle, when another shout arose from his followers, and Frank breathed more freely.

"That's about as savage, bloodthirsty a brute as his younger companion,"

said the professor softly; "but he's a brave man."

"Yes," said Frank laconically, as he kept his eyes fixed nervously upon the chief. "Think he'll be able to keep his seat?"

"I hope so."

"So do I, for if he comes off with a thud I won't give much for our lives. Hah! he has mastered it."

"Yes, he has mastered it all," said Frank. "He must have been horribly sick and faint."

"And that ammonia is not a very exhilarating draught to take. I know the abomination pretty well. Soap and water is delicious in comparison, especially if it is scented."

All this time the Hakim stood motionless, watching his patient gravely, and waiting for the result which soon came. For the peril had pa.s.sed, the Baggara chief drawing himself up in his saddle, making his beautiful Arab charger rear up, and then letting him gallop for a hundred yards or so in full sight of his men, who began to shout frantically. Then pulling the horse down upon its haunches, he turned, galloped back, and checked the graceful creature again in front of the Hakim, to bend over and say a few words before rejoining his brother chief.

"What said he, Ibrahim?" asked the doctor in a whisper, without moving his head or seeming to speak.

"That the Hakim is a great prophet, and that it is peace. Excellency, they will not hurt us now."

This was soon made evident, for the younger chief began to give orders, and the men dismounted and formed themselves into a camp about a hundred yards away from the Hakim's tent. Then in fairly regular order the horses and camels were led up to the water, allowed to drink, and then led away, all being done so as not to interfere with Ibrahim's train of camels, which were now pastured on the other side of the tent, to which the Hakim had returned, and where Frank, the professor, and Sam were busy replacing the various articles that had been brought out.

Here a little conference was held around the doctor, who had resumed his calm and thoughtful att.i.tude, but who, beneath his solemn aspect, was as excited as the rest.

"Well, Frank, lad," he said, "did it go satisfactorily?"

"Of course," replied the young man; "how could it be otherwise. It was real."

"Splendid," said the professor. "Robert, old fellow, I was proud of you."

"I don't think you would have been, Fred, if you could have seen inside."

"What do you mean--not nervous?"

"I was never worse in my life. I wonder I got through it as I did. You both noticed how my hands shook."

"That I did not," said Frank warmly. "You seemed to me as firm as a rock."

"Appearances are very deceitful," said the doctor with a quaint look.

"Well, I did my best for him. He was in a terrible state."

At that moment the Sheikh, who had been giving orders to his young men not to let the camels stray, rejoined them, and he gave the doctor a look full of reverence.

"It was a great, a n.o.ble cure, O Hakim," he said. "That wound was dangerous, was it not?"

"He would have been delirious by this time to-morrow, Ibrahim," said the doctor.

"Delirious?" said the Sheikh, hesitating. "Oh, yes, I know--mad."

"And blood-poisoning would have set in. Without attention he would have been a dead man before a week had pa.s.sed."

"But now, O Hakim--now?"

"With care and attention to his wound he will soon recover."

"Hah! It is good. His people would have slain us if he had fallen."

"But what about now, Ibrahim?" said the professor. "He said it was peace, but will he keep his word and let us go?"

"Hah!" said the Sheikh quietly; "I think not yet. If their Excellencies look around without seeming to notice they will see that men have been placed in five places at a distance like sentries of the Khedival guard."

"To keep a look out for the approach of enemies," said Frank quickly.

"Well, it is soldierly."

"It might be to keep us from stealing away," said the Sheikh drily.

"Yes, of course," said the professor. "But look here, Ibrahim, who are these likely to be?"

"One of the wandering bands of the desert, Excellency, who rob and murder all they come across."

"Pleasant neighbours!" said the doctor quietly.

"But are they likely to be connected with the Khalifa--the Mahdi, or any of that party?" said the professor.

"I think so, Excellency," replied the Sheikh. "These people travel far and wide. Perhaps this is one of the Khalifa's chiefs."

"Well, then--listen, all of you," said the professor. "If these sentries are to keep us in bounds we are prisoners, Ibrahim?"

"Yes, Excellency."

"And we shall have to go where they go, for they will never stay here."