"No," said the doctor; "wait till the morning, and do your best, for I feel that we may do more good at Khartoum. We will return if we find no better fortune than here." "It is good, great Hakim," said the old man; "thy servant is always ready to obey." That day passed quietly on, with the friends eagerly discussing their plans of action regarding the proposed change, Frank being the most hopeful and displaying intense eagerness. "Ibrahim is a fatalist," he said. "He has taken it into his head that we shall find Harry here, but I feel convinced now that he is a prisoner in Khartoum or the neighbourhood, and I do not think, after all we have done, that the Emir will refuse us." "I don't know," said the professor dubiously. "Oh, don't, don't you take old Ibrahim's views, Landon," cried Frank. "I doubt whether there is so much jealousy amongst men who are bound together for one special object. There is a little, no doubt. Look here, let's ask the Emir and his son--or his son alone--to take us there himself. They may be glad to go, as they seem so proud of Morris and all his cures. For my part, I think he will." "And I believe Ibrahim," said the doctor gravely. "If it is as he thinks, our Emir would not trust himself in Khartoum without all his following, and--" "What's the matter?" cried the professor sharply, for just then their head guard rushed to the door, sword in hand, followed by three of his men armed with spears, while for the moment it struck Frank that the present he had received was about to prove useful, and he took a step towards his room where it was hanging in its sheath against the wall. The officer said something excitedly as he waved his sword, and the man's manner suggested that he had come with his followers to massacre the party. But at that moment Ibrahim entered, looking wild and strange, and a few words passed between him and the guard, while from outside the walls there was shouting, the trampling of horses, and hurried rush of feet. "For heaven's sake speak, Ibrahim!" cried the professor in Arabic. "What does this man mean?" "He has come to see that you are all safe, Excellency," said the old man. "The Emir sends orders that you are to bar yourselves in the room farthest from the wall, for the palace is about to be attacked. You are not to venture outside in the garden, for fear the enemy may be within throwing distance with their spears." The Emir's officer only stayed till he was satisfied that his prisoners fully understood the message, and then hurried out, followed by his men, for the noise and excitement outside were increasing fast. Trumpets were being blown, drums beaten, and there were all the sounds of a gathering force. "What does all this mean?" asked the doctor.