In the Mahdi's Grasp Part 70

"So I have told them, but they don't want to go in search of him."

"What, then?" said Frank impatiently. "You mean something else?"

"Yes," said the professor sadly; "we are to shift our quarters. Our guard has given them orders to load up their camels with fodder, provisions, and water, in case we have to take to the desert, and to fill the water-skins so as to have an ample supply. They are to be ready to start at a moment's notice, and asked me if they are to obey."

"And you told them yes, of course?" said Frank eagerly.

"I told them yes, of course," said the professor sadly; "but I don't like going. It is leaving poor old Ibrahim in the lurch."

"But I suppose we have no option?" said the doctor.

"None unless we make up our minds to resist."

"And that would be throwing away our lives," said Harry gloomily. "This chief of the guard has his orders, and he is evidently a man who will serve his master faithfully and well. I suppose he will be taking the Emir's household with us?"

"Yes; the other part of the palace is in a busy state of preparation, and the court next to the garden here is full of horses and camels."

"It is our opportunity," said Frank, "and if we start before daylight we may be able to separate from the rest of the party. What are we going to take with us?"

"I should go away as we came. The Hakim's cures have helped us well, and they may do so again, for who knows how far we may have to travel through the desert, or what tribes we may encounter? So let's be prepared."

Their baggage was so light and so well arranged that there was little to do beyond strapping up a few cases, and at the end of a busy hour they were quite prepared, while they had hardly finished before the officer came in, cast an eye over the leathern cases lying ready, and then gave a nod of satisfaction.

"Tell the Hakim," he said, turning to Harry and speaking sharply, "that there are no tidings of his Arab servant and guide. He must have been cut down by some robber for the sake of his camel. Tell him, too, that he has done wisely in being prepared. I cannot say how soon we start; it may be in an hour, it may be after sunrise, or not at all. But when I give the order, what he wishes to take must be placed upon the camels directly. You will stay here."

"No," said Harry coldly; "the Hakim has not done with me yet."

"Well," said the guard, with a grim laugh, "it will be better for you than staying here. Your white skin may be an invitation to the sword if the Khalifa does not win the day."

The man turned sharply and left the room without another word.

"Poor old Ibrahim!" said the professor sadly. "I'd give something to see him walk in safe and sound."

"And I,"--"And I," said Frank and the doctor.

"And I say the same. Heaven help him!" said Harry, "for I owe it to him that I am with you, and I would say let us hold out here if I thought it was of any use. But it would be utter folly to resist, and I should not like to fight against a man who is doing his duty and has proved himself our friend."

Frank rose and went into the next room, where Sam had been in pretty good spirits so long as the packing up took his attention, for he was eager to get away; but now everything was done and he was left alone, waiting and watchful, his spirits had sunk below zero.

He jumped up from where he was seated upon a portmanteau as Frank entered.

"Orders to start, sir?" he said eagerly.

"No, Sam, not yet. We must wait."

"Oh dear!" groaned the man. "I did think we were going at last, sir.

Got Mr Harry, the camels all waiting, and the town empty of fighting men. I say, sir, hadn't we better start, and chance it? Mr Abrams has got a camel, and he'll find out which way we're gone. This waiting is the worst of all."

Frank explained to him the position, and the man shook his head dismally.

"Then we're only going to chop one prison for another, Ben Eddin? But you surely don't think Mr Abrams has been killed?"

"I only know he has not returned, Sam."

"Oh, but look at him. Such a fine, long-bearded old Arab as he is. Oh, they wouldn't kill him. He's gone a bit further, sir, to get some news.

There, I've been red-hot to start and get away from here, but I don't want to go now. I say, let's stop till he comes back. We can't go and leave him behind."

Frank sighed.

"We are under the Emir's guard," he said, "and when the order to start is given we shall have to obey."

"And about now, sir. It's of no use to pretend to lie down and sleep,"

said Sam; "I couldn't get a wink."

"No, nor anyone else," replied Frank; "there is nothing to be done but watch and wait."

CHAPTER FORTY ONE.

THE LAST STRUGGLE.

The night glided slowly on, seeming to be as long as several to the weary watchers, and during the latter part, when the bustle of preparation had long ceased in the women's part of the palace, even the horses and camels beyond the dividing wall had grown perfectly quiet.

From time to time, watchful and silent, the officer of the guard had been to visit them, looking sharply round and then leaving without a word; while after one of his visits Frank and the professor stepped out into the open to visit the Sheikh's men, who were seated smoking patiently by their crouching camels, waiting for their chief's return.

In this look round and another which followed, Frank found that the men of the bodyguard were fully on the alert, and that twice as many sentries as usual were about the place. But all was silent save a low murmur from the far-spreading city--a low, strange buzzing burr as if from some vast hive, suggesting that the whole place was awake and in expectation of something about to happen.

At last there were the faint indications of the coming day, but to the watchers even they seemed cold and strange, differing from the early dawns they were accustomed to in their journeys across the vast stretch of sand.

The light increased, and a strange restlessness, which they could not explain attacked the watchers. The drowsiness that had been felt from time to time had completely pa.s.sed away, and while the Hakim sat looking stern and anxious, Sam relieved his feelings by making coffee, feeling sure all the time that no one would touch it, and Frank and the professor fidgeted about in and out to look at the camel-drivers seated as calmly as the quaint animals they tended, and then to see if the guard were still at their posts.

But there was no further sign of preparation for a start, and the chief of the guard was nowhere to be seen.

Sunrise came, and with it the hurrying of feet, which proved to be a large body of men making for the vast expanse of mud-houses nearest to the river, where the rough forts, of which Frank had never obtained a glimpse, lay. When the men had pa.s.sed, the silence became oppressive once more, and Frank and his companion went in to find Harry nursing his arm, which had taken to throbbing violently.

Just then Sam was ready with the coffee, borne in a steaming bra.s.s pot in company with a bra.s.s tray and so many bra.s.s cups.

"You'll have some coffee, gentlemen?" he said respectfully; "it will be so refreshing," and setting down the tray he began, though no one answered, to fill the little cups.

At that moment there came from far away the dull, short report of a gun, and Sam nearly dropped the coffee pot.

"What's that?" he cried, with his eyes starting widely open.

"A heavy gun," said Harry, starting up. "Then this is what all this gathering meant."

He had hardly spoken before in rapid succession two more reports were heard, followed by crash after crash, distinct and peculiar, but unmistakable.