"The Emir Prince bade me say to his Excellency that he could not allow the great Hakim to go about among the people, for his life would be made a burden to him--he could not go a step without having a crowd of sufferers following him and throwing themselves beneath his camel's feet." The doctor frowned. "He said that the great Hakim's health and comfort were dear to him, and he felt that it would be better that so great a man should live as retired a life as the Khalifa himself." "Then I am to be kept regularly as a prisoner?" said the doctor, in dismay. "But if sometimes the noble Hakim desires greatly to ride through the city and out into the country, if he will send word by the guard, the Emir will summon the horsemen and attend upon his friend and preserver as a guard of honour, and protect him from the crowds that would stop his way." "Oh, who wants to be paraded in a show?" said the doctor petulantly. "I would rather stop in prison than be led out like that, eh, Fred?" "Certainly," said the professor. "Well, never mind," said the doctor cheerfully, the next minute. "I will not complain. I have my part to play, and I mean to go on playing it contentedly while you and Frank play yours, and find out where poor old Hal is kept a prisoner. That done, we must begin to make our plans to escape either back to Cairo or to the nearest post of the Anglo-Egyptian army." "Or the river," said Frank. "But I don't like this, for us to be free and you a prisoner." "It is the penalty for being so great a man," said the doctor merrily. "And really there is a large amount of common-sense in what our friend says. I should be regularly hunted through the streets, and I could not go in Eastern fashion and turn a deaf ear to the poor wretches who cast themselves at my feet." "But it seems so hard for you," said Frank. "And it takes all the satisfaction out of our perfect freedom," said the professor. "But your Excellencies are not to have perfect freedom," said Ibrahim slowly. "What do you mean?" cried Frank. "When you go out I and three or four of my young men are to attend you with the camels." "So much the better, Ibrahim. You will be invaluable to us." "Your Excellency is very good to say so," replied the old man sadly; "but that is not all." "Not all?" cried the professor. "No, Excellency. The Emir Prince says that he feels answerable to the great Hakim for your safety; that you are well known to be the Hakim's followers, and that there are wise men, Hakims of the people here in Omdurman and Khartoum, who are dogs, he said--fools and pretenders who can do nothing but work ill. These people, he says, hate the great Hakim with a jealous hate, and would gladly injure his servants. Therefore he gives the head of his bodyguard, the Baggara who has charge of us here, orders to attend you everywhere you go." "Alone?" said Frank, after a few moments' display of blank surprise and annoyance.