"I want the day of escape for us to have come, Hal," said the doctor, reaching over to lay his hand upon his old school-fellow's arm. "Our work is done when we have got you away. Let's leave the punishment of the dervishes to--Ah, here's Landon back. Well, have they any news for us?" "None of Ibrahim, and the men want to know what they are to do." "Nothing," said the doctor sadly. "We are prisoners, and resistance to the Emir's guard would be madness." "So I have told them, but they don't want to go in search of him." "What, then?" said Frank impatiently. "You mean something else?" "Yes," said the professor sadly; "we are to shift our quarters. Our guard has given them orders to load up their camels with fodder, provisions, and water, in case we have to take to the desert, and to fill the water-skins so as to have an ample supply. They are to be ready to start at a moment's notice, and asked me if they are to obey." "And you told them yes, of course?" said Frank eagerly. "I told them yes, of course," said the professor sadly; "but I don't like going. It is leaving poor old Ibrahim in the lurch." "But I suppose we have no option?" said the doctor. "None unless we make up our minds to resist." "And that would be throwing away our lives," said Harry gloomily. "This chief of the guard has his orders, and he is evidently a man who will serve his master faithfully and well. I suppose he will be taking the Emir's household with us?" "Yes; the other part of the palace is in a busy state of preparation, and the court next to the garden here is full of horses and camels." "It is our opportunity," said Frank, "and if we start before daylight we may be able to separate from the rest of the party. What are we going to take with us?" "I should go away as we came. The Hakim's cures have helped us well, and they may do so again, for who knows how far we may have to travel through the desert, or what tribes we may encounter? So let's be prepared." Their baggage was so light and so well arranged that there was little to do beyond strapping up a few cases, and at the end of a busy hour they were quite prepared, while they had hardly finished before the officer came in, cast an eye over the leathern cases lying ready, and then gave a nod of satisfaction. "Tell the Hakim," he said, turning to Harry and speaking sharply, "that there are no tidings of his Arab servant and guide. He must have been cut down by some robber for the sake of his camel. Tell him, too, that he has done wisely in being prepared. I cannot say how soon we start; it may be in an hour, it may be after sunrise, or not at all. But when I give the order, what he wishes to take must be placed upon the camels directly. You will stay here." "No," said Harry coldly; "the Hakim has not done with me yet."