Then, apparently without orders, the little knot of horsemen, led by the Baggara who had had charge of the prisoners, drew up short and faced round, when taking them as the extreme limit the rest of the train formed themselves up into a well ordered group as they came on, till, with the Sheikh's party and their guards as a kind of centre, and the camels with their loads behind, the horsemen closed them in as if for strategic reasons, and for the next half hour there was a busy scene, the camels being relieved of their loads as if the stay were to be of some hours' length. This was evidently intended, for fires were lit and food was prepared, many of the horsemen after picketing their horses settling down at once to coffee and pipes. It was while Frank and his friends were partaking of an _al fresco_ lunch, hastily prepared by Sam, that they had their first intimation of the Baggara chief being with the horsemen, for he cantered up to their temporary camp in company with his fierce-looking companion, leaped from his horse, and walked up to the Hakim at once, to give him a smile of recognition and hold out his left arm, which he tapped vigorously as if saying: "Look! Quite well again." Then turning round to the Sheikh he signed to him to approach, and said a few words hastily, before nodding to the Hakim again, returning to his horse, mounting, and cantering away. "Well, Ibrahim," said the professor; "what does it mean?" "That the chief's arm will soon be well; that the young chief his son will soon be well; and that the great Hakim and his slaves are to have no fear, for the Baggara are their friends." "Yes, and mean to keep the Hakim and his slaves as prisoners as long as there are any cripples to cure," said the professor merrily. "I suppose that is what it means," said the doctor quietly. "That's it, sure enough," said the professor; "and we shall reach Khartoum, Frank, in half the time we should have managed it in if we had been left to ourselves." Frank shook his head sadly. "What! you doubt?" cried the professor. "Here, Ibrahim, what do you say to that?" "His Excellency is quite right," replied the Sheikh. "We should have had to wander here and there, and have met with many hindrances by having to stay to perform cures of the sick people. Yes, it would have been a journey of many weary months." "It will take much time now," said the professor, "but it looks as if we were really bound due south." "I suppose there is a party of wounded men on the way?" said the doctor. "Yes, they follow the chief's visits," said the professor. "My word! learned one, your post is going to be no sinecure. Hah! here comes the first instalment." For a roughly contrived litter was seen approaching, and directly after the chief's son was borne up to them by four of his followers and set down in front of the doctor, who attended to his patient, finding him no worse for his journey.