"I must be truthful with those who have trusted me, Excellency. I fear that these sons of evil will not let us go." "I'm afraid you are right, Ibrahim. No, I promised you, Frank, that I would not be afraid of anything now. I feel, then, that you are right. But look here, so long as they treat us well nothing could have happened better for us." "Nothing, Excellency, for at some time or another we shall be brought to the heads of the invading tribes." "And sooner or later if we tried we might escape." "Yes, Excellency." "Then where is the cause for fear?" "I feared that their Excellencies would not look upon it like this," said the Sheikh humbly. "I knew that they must find out before many hours that we were prisoners, and then I felt that they would turn and reproach me for what I had done." "When you know us better, Ibrahim," said the doctor quietly, "you will find that we are not unreasonable. Then as I see it now, _if_--I say _if_ these ruffians treat us well we are on the high road to the place we seek to reach." "Yes, O Hakim." "But on the other hand, as we have found out this morning, everything depends upon my treatment of my patients." "Yes, O Hakim, it is so," replied the Sheikh sadly. "Pleasant for a weak man," said the doctor drily. "If I cure I am a prophet; if I fail--" "You'll be a Hakim without a head, old fellow," said the professor. "Ergo, as Shakespeare says, you must not fail. It was rather a close shave, too, this morning--there, I wasn't alluding to you, Sam," he continued, turning to the man, who was looking ghastly, as he stood close by hearing every word. "There, pluck up, my lad; your master did cure this time. Well, Frank, you are silent. How do matters strike you?" "It seems to me that we have thoroughly fallen upon our feet, and have nothing to mind." "So long as these people use us well," said the doctor. "Well, if they do not we have still our old plan to fall back upon. We must take to the camels and flee for our lives, even if we leave everything else behind." "And with our task undone, Landon," said Frank bitterly. "Who said anything about leaving our task undone? Nothing of the kind. It will only mean starting afresh, and from right up the country instead of from Cairo." "Well," said the doctor, "as everything depends upon their treating us well, and I occupy so critical a position, I must do my best." "Which we know you will," said the professor, "of course. But they are not likely to keep us long, are they, Ibrahim--only while their chiefs wound is bad?" "It is impossible to say, Excellency. It is a dangerous position." "Then if we get a chance of leaving it we must seize it. They don't seem very grateful or friendly even now." "Your Excellency is not quite right," said the Sheikh gravely. "Behold!"