"Thankye, sir; now I can get on," and with wonderful celerity Sam scraped away with light hand till the last line of lather was taken off, a touch or two here and there given with the brush, and this fresh soap removed, after which the razor was closed, sponge and water applied, and a clean towel handed to the Sheikh, who received it with a grave smile and nod of the head. "Good," he said softly. "Clever barber. It is good." "Then you are satisfied?" said the professor eagerly. "Quite, Excellency. Now I have no fear." Sam smiled too with satisfaction as he carefully wiped and re-stropped the razor before placing it in its case. At the same time, though, there was a peculiar, inquisitive look in his eyes. For the whole business seemed to be strange, and he looked longingly at Frank as if hoping that he would follow and explain, when the doctor said-- "That will do, Samuel. Go and have your breakfast." But Frank did not follow, for he was eager to hear what the Sheikh would say as soon as they were alone. Little was said, though, the old Arab being anxious to go and rejoin his followers staying in the village half a mile outside the town, promising to be back during the morning to talk over the arrangements for the venturesome journey. "Will he come back and hold to the promise?" said Frank to the professor. "For certain," was the reply. "But do you think he will prove business-like and go to work heart and soul in our service?" "I can only speak from past experience," replied the professor. "I have always found him thoroughly trustworthy, and I feel sure he will be so now." "And about the preparations, the dress, provisions, and the many odds and ends we shall require?" "All that I shall leave to Ibrahim. What you have to get ready is a couple of portmanteaus that can be swung one on either side of a strong camel by means of straps. These must contain all your chemical and electrical apparatus in one, the doctor's instruments and medicines in the other, with an ample supply of lint, bandages, antiseptics, plaisters, and the like. Chloroform, of course. But there must be no superfluities. As to dress, we must place ourselves in Ibrahim's hands." "What about weapons?" said Frank. "Swords and revolvers, of course. What about rifles?" "I have brought two or three antiquated weapons for show; that is all. We are not going to fight. Give up all thoughts of that." Frank stared at the speaker anxiously. "Surely we ought to carry revolvers," he said. "Surely we ought not. If we go as men of war we shall fail. If we go as men of peace we may succeed. Leave all that to Ibrahim, and we shall know what is to be done when he comes back this morning. Now then, the first thing to be done is to eat and drink." Frank sighed. "Without this we shall do no work."