"Our tents are to be struck, Excellency, and everything loaded upon our camels before daylight." "Ah!" said Frank eagerly; "to march to the south?" "Yes, Excellency. His orders from the chief were that if he did not return in the number of days now passed we were to be taken south." "Whereto?" "Omdurman, Excellency. He has been waiting for the young chiefs speaking to say that he was strong enough to go. The time was past the day before yesterday. The young man told him an hour ago that he could bear it now." "Then the suspense is over!" cried Frank eagerly. "Mind, Excellency!" said the Sheikh, laying his hand upon the young man's arm; "the young man is trying to look round this way. He must not see your lips moving, nor hear you speak." It was a slip on Frank's part, but the young chief did not seem to have noticed anything, and mentally resolving to be more careful the speaker drew back a little as if waiting for orders. "Yes," said the professor; "the suspense is over, and we are once more about to start. This time it will be direct to our goal." "But how is it the Baggara chief has not returned, Ibrahim?" said the doctor gravely. "Who can say, Excellency?" replied the old Sheikh, with a shrug of the shoulders. "He took his young men on what you English people call a raid--to kill and plunder, and perhaps, as his son did, he has met with a stronger force. Instead of sweeping away he has perhaps been with his people swept from the face of the earth. He may have been only driven aside from his path, but there must have been some serious encounter, or he would have returned, for he showed us that he loved his son." "Going?" said the professor, for the Sheikh drew back. "Yes, Excellency; I must see that our preparations are made. My young men must be ready. You will give orders for your baggage to be packed, and before the time for starting my people shall bring up the camels and load them. The tent can stand till an hour before the time, and you will all doubtless lie down and rest." "No," said the professor; "it would be driving things too close. Send your young men to strike the tent, and we will have everything ready for the camels. We should none of us sleep, and if we have any time to spare it will be pleasant enough to lie down on the sand. One minute: have you any idea which way we shall go?" "I do not quite know," said the old Arab. "I asked the men, but they shook their heads. It will not be by the regular caravan track." "How do you know that?" asked the doctor. "Because, Excellency, there is water nearly as good as this at the end of the day's journey." "Well? What of that?" "These men must know the tracks as well as I do, Excellencies--perhaps better. If they were going by the regular road they would know that we should reach the wells." "I see," said the professor, nodding his head; "and they are filling water-skins?" "Yes, Excellency, and I am told to do the same."