He pointed to four of the Baggara coming towards the tent, and all well laden. One bore a fine young kid, another half a dozen chickens in an open basket in one hand, while slung over his shoulder were a large bunch of bananas and a bunch of dates. The others bore each a large bag of meal. These they set down at once at the Hakim's feet, bowing solemnly and low the while, and went off without a word. "Come, doctor," said the professor merrily, as soon as the men were out of hearing, "you never had such a fee as that before!" "And look at its value as a token of friendliness on our captors' behalf!" cried Frank eagerly. "It's splendid!" said the professor. "All that payment in kind, far better than guineas out here, for medicine and attendance to one man." "If his Excellency looks yonder," said the old Sheikh drily, "he will find that it is not for curing one wounded man. The great Hakim's fame is spreading fast." "One, two, three, four--why, there must be over twenty patients coming, Bob!" cried the professor, looking quite aghast. "You've got to do your best now, old fellow, and no mistake. But they can't be all chiefs." The professor was well within bounds in saying twenty, for coming slowly on, for the most part walking, but several on horse or camel, and in more than one case supported by companions, came the whole of the sick and injured of the tribe, the Hakim's treatment of their chief having brought those who had suffered during their wandering raid in the desert; and the calmness for a few moments deserted the Hakim's countenance. But he was soon himself again, and ready for what he saw at a glance must be a long and heavy task--one that would call forth all his energies. "It is fortunate that I am a surgeon, and not a doctor pure and simple," he said quietly, "for these seem to be all injuries received in fight. Come, Frank, Landon, our work is waiting." "Yes," said the professor. "You, Sam, look after the commissariat department." "The which, sir?" said the man, staring. "Well, the provisions, and clear away--for action, eh, Frank?" "Yes, and it's fortunate that the Hakim has had his breakfast." CHAPTER EIGHTEEN. STOLEN FOOD. The Hakim, even if looked upon by the semi-savages of the desert as a prophet, was human enough to require a second meal before he had finished what to ordinary people would have been a loathsome task; but fortunately for suffering humanity the great profession of the surgeon becomes to him of such intense interest, and so full of grand problems in the fight against death, that he forgets the horrors and sees comparatively little of that which makes the unused turn half fainting away.