"Yes, Excellency; he has taken a fancy to you. Did he not make you another present yesterday?" "Yes," said Frank; "a handsome sword and knife. Of course, I did not want them, but you know his disposition." "Yes," said the professor; "he would have looked black as thunder and flown in a passion if you had refused them." "He did because I hesitated. But we must try if the Emir will consent." "We might propose going for a time," said the doctor, "and promise to come back, as there is so little to do here for the people." The Sheikh shook his head. "I daresay you are right, Ibrahim," said Frank; "but we are doing no good at all here, and you must try." "I am your Excellencies' servant," said the old man quietly, "and I will do my best; but I would rather we stayed here for a while longer." "Hah!" exclaimed Frank excitedly; "then you have some clue!" "No, no; not yet, Ben Eddin," said the old man, who looked startled by the speaker's manner; "but I have hopes. I have been trying so hard, making friends with several of the better people, and as your English Excellencies would say, feeling my way. When we find your Excellency's brother it will be through my meeting some one who knows what slaves have been kept. But it is very hard. I dare not say much, for fear of making the people doubt that I am a friend." "Yes, that is true, Ibrahim," said the doctor gravely; "and I like your caution. But make one appeal to the Emir to let us go to Khartoum for a few weeks. Ask him to send us with an escort--say with our present guard." The old Sheikh shook his head. "The great Hakim does not understand," he said. "The Khalifa has many followers, Emirs and chiefs of tribes who are banded with him to conquer and hold the Soudan. But they are all chiefs in their own right who have brought their followers, and the jealousy and hate among them is great. The Emir, our friend, is one of the greatest, but he has enemies here." "Ah, you know that?" said Frank eagerly. "Yes, Excellency, chiefs who hate him, but his son more, for he is rude and scornful to them." "I can understand that," said the professor. "Go on." "These other chiefs hate our Emir for his power and strength, and would be glad to drive him back into his own country, and he knows it. But at Khartoum I hear that he has greater enemies. The Khalifa and one of his generals both dislike him and fear that he is trying to become a greater ruler than they; and knowing this he would not send you with a part of his own guard, neither would the Khalifa let him do this; but I will see him to-morrow, Excellencies, and tell him your wishes. If he gives you his leave to go he will send messengers to the Khalifa, asking him to receive the great Hakim and send guards to fetch you. But I fear. He will think that you will never return. Shall I go to him now?"