In an instant the savage turned with raised whip upon his aggressor, but the guard's keen, straight sword flashed out of the scabbard, and the sight of the rest of the party cowed him, while pointing forward, the guard sat watching him sternly till the party had passed the gang, when, with a quick sweep of his sharp blade he caught the whip close to the shaft, sheared it off, and then pressing his horse's sides he bounded on, leaving the brute scowling in his rear. "We are to be saved from all insult, Ben Eddin," said the Sheikh gravely; "but you must not resent anything you see, and this shows you how careful we must be." "Yes, but it makes my blood boil," said Frank to himself, as he gave the old Arab a meaning look full of promise as regards care. They rode on and on and in and out through what at times was a teeming hive of misery and degradation, where filth and disorder seemed to be rampant. At times there were houses of larger build, and here and there attempts had been made to enclose a garden, in which there was the refreshing sight of a few trees; but the monotony of the place was terrible, and the absence of all trace of a busy, thriving, industrious population was depressing in the extreme. "We must ride out from the city another time, Ben Eddin," said the Sheikh gravely, after they had gone on through the crowded ways for fully a couple of hours, their guard following patiently in the rear, and their presence ensuring a way being made through some of the well-armed, truculent-looking groups. "Yes," said the professor, who overheard his words; "and I am afraid that we shall do no good hunting among these narrow streets. Can't you take us amongst the houses of the better-class folk, Ibrahim?" "That is what I am trying to do, Excellency," said the old man; "but you see--wherever there is a big house it is shut in with walls, and there are so few--so few. It is like one of our worst villages near Cairo made big--so big, and so much more dirty and bad." "The place is a horror, Frank," said the professor. "I wonder the people do not die off like flies." "Doubtless they do, Excellency," said the old Sheikh gravely. "They must, Frank," continued the professor. "The dry sand saves the place from being one vast pest-house. Look at the foul dogs, and yonder at the filthy vultures seated on the top of that mud house." "There's lot's more coming, sir," said Sam, putting in a word, as he looked upward in a disgusted way. "I do hate those great, bald-headed crows." "Hideous brutes!" said the professor, watching the easy flight of about half a dozen that were sailing round as if waiting to swoop down upon some prey. "There is a dead body near," said the Sheikh calmly. "What, on in front?" said the professor quickly; "for goodness' sake, then, let's go another way!" The Sheikh looked at him half-protestingly, and shrugged his shoulders a little.