In the Mahdi's Grasp Part 9

"Look here, Sam, you can shave, I know," said Frank, "for you've shaved me several times."

"Well, sir," said the man, with a queer c.o.c.k of the eye, "I've soaped and lathered your chin, and I've run a razor over your face, but I don't think I found anything to sc.r.a.pe off."

"I call that mean," cried Frank; "just when I was putting in a word for you. I'm sure there was a little down on my upper lip and chin."

"Oh, yes, sir, just as if you had had a touch with a sooty finger; but down don't count with me in shaving; it's what comes up bristly and strong."

"Well, leave my beard alone," said Frank. "Look here, could you shave a man's head?"

"Ask master, sir," said the butler with a grin, and Frank turned to his brother's old companion.

"Oh, yes, he has shaved the heads of patients for me several times,"

said the doctor. "He's very clever at that."

"I say, Professor Landon," said Frank, turning to him, "do you hear this? The Hakim ought to have his barber, and you know what important folk they are in the East."

"Humph! Yes," said the professor thoughtfully; "there is something in that. Barbers have become grand viziers, and in such shaving countries a barber is held in high respect. He would be all right there. But no, no, I cannot be weak over so vital a thing as this. Just think, you two, of the consequences if through some inept act on his part he should ruin all our prospects."

"Me, sir?" cried Sam excitedly; "me ruin your prospects by committing that there act as you said! I wouldn't do it for any money. Take a oath before a magistrate or a judge that I wouldn't I don't even know what it is."

"Oh, you'd do your best, I believe, Sam," said the professor.

"I'm glad you do, sir," said the man, who was almost whimpering. "It sounds hard on an old servant to be thought likely to do what you said."

"But look here, my lad; we ought to do all that is wanted for ourselves, excepting such little jobs as we could set the Arabs to do."

"Arabs, sir? The Arabs!" cried Sam. "Oh, I don't think much of them.

I've seen 'em. That lot as come over to London seven years ago.

Bed-ridden Arabs they call theirselves. They could tumble head over heels, and fire off guns when they were in the air; but you gentlemen want a good honest English servant, not a street tumbler and accryback."

"Tut, tut, tut! listen to me," said the professor. "Do you know what the desert is like?"

"Can't say I know much about it, sir, only what I read in Mungo Park's travels. Deal o' sand, ain't there?"

"Yes," said the professor, "there is a deal of sand there, and no houses, no butlers' pantries, no kitchens."

"Well, sir, if I made up a box with half a knifeboard for a lid, and my bottle o' blacking, my brushes, and a leather or two and the rouge for my plate, I daresay I could get on."

"Bah-h-h-h!" snarled the professor. "Why didn't you add a big stone filter, a plate-rack, and a kitchen boiler? My good man, you're impossible."

"I ain't, sir, 'pon my word. You mean I should have to make more of a shift. Well, of course I would."

"Look here, then, I grant that you can shave. You can make a fire, boil water, and cook?"

"Can I, sir?" cried the man scornfully. "I should think I can!"

"Can you cook kabobs?"

"What's them, sir--Egyptian vegetables?"

"Vegetables! Hark at him! Did you ever hear of Kous-kous?"

"Can't say I ever did, sir; but look here, I'll buy 'Cookery for the Million,' and I'll soon learn."

"Oh, you're improving!" said the professor sarcastically. "Here, I'll try you on something else. Could you ride and drive a camel?"

"What, one of them wobbly, humpy things at the Zoo? I never tried, sir, but I've seen the children have rides on them. I could soon manage one o' them, sir. I'd try an elephant if it came to that."

The professor shook his head disparagingly, and Sam gave Frank and his master an imploring look, which made the former take his part. "Look here, professor," he said quietly; "really I think it might be managed,"

and Sam's long face shortened.

"Managed! Do you think we shall do what we propose if you and Morris take your valets?"

"There is going to be a black slave in the party," said Frank, "and I do not see why the Hakim should not have a barber who is a white slave."

"Humph!" e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.ed the professor, in a regular camel-like grunt, and he set up his back after the manner of that animal.

"Would you mind going as a slave, Sam?" asked Frank--"the Hakim's slave?"

"Not a bit, sir, so long as Mr Hakim's going to be one of the party.

Me mind being a slave? Not I. Ain't Mr Harry one pro tempenny? I'm willing, sir, willing for anything. I don't want no wages. I want to go."

"And you shall go, Samuel," said the doctor firmly. "I'll talk the matter over with Mr Landon."

"Thankye, sir, thankye," cried the man joyfully. "And I beg your pardon, Mr Landon, sir; don't you take against me because it's going against you. I'm willing to do any manner of things to make you gentlemen comfortable all the time."

"I believe you, Sam," said the professor. "There, I give way."

"Thankye kindly, sir!" cried the man excitedly.

"But look here. It is only due to him that he should be told that we are going upon a very dangerous expedition. We shall have to travel amongst people who would think it a meritorious action to cut our throats if they had the merest suspicion that we were going to try and rescue Mr Harry Frere. Then we shall have the risks of fever, dying from thirst, perhaps from hunger, and as likely as not being taken prisoners ourselves and made slaves--are you listening, Sam?"

"Hearing every word, sir. But I say, sir, is it as bad as that?"

"Honestly, my man," said the professor solemnly; "it is all that and worse, because we shall have to cut ourselves adrift from all Government protection and trust to our own wits. Now then, my man, do not hesitate for an instant--if you feel that you cannot cheerfully put up with peril and danger, and dare every risk, say so at once, for you will be doing your master a good turn as well as us."

"Are you gentlemen going to chance it all?" said Sam quietly.

"Certainly."

"All right, gentlemen, then so am I, and as soon as ever you like."

"Hah!" e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.ed Frank, who had been watching the play of the man's countenance anxiously, and he crossed to Sam and shook his hand, making the butler's face glow with pride and pleasure combined.

"Now then," said the professor, "one more word, Sam. It is of vital importance that you keep all this a profound secret. From this hour you know nothing except that you are the Hakim's servant till we have left Cairo. After that you are the Hakim's slave, and you hold him in awe."

"Of course, sir," said Sam, with his face wrinkling with perplexity.

"I'll hold him in anything you like. I won't say a word to a soul. I won't know anything, and I hope Mr Hakim will be as satisfied with me as master has always been."