“It is my will that these people should go with us in a sleep as of death; do thou with this as is usual.”
Effendi took the vial, and pouring some of the contents on two pieces of linen, he returned to the Arab girl and Max and placed the linen over their mouths. When the fumes of the chloroform had done their work effectually he called some of the attendants, and ordered them to place Max and Girzilla on the backs of camels.
“It is done,” he said to Sherif el Habib, making a low salaam.
“It is well,” was the chief’s answer.
Effendi moved away, leaving his master and Ibrahim alone.
“What new fancy has taken possession of you, uncle?”
“The glory of the great Mahomet surrounds me,” was the reply.
“If I were not the most loving of nephews,” said the youth, “I should declare that you were mad.”
“My dear boy, for years I have hoped for a vision of the celestial, and now mine eyes have been directed to the approach of the great mahdi. In my dreams I heard a voice saying: ‘Go thou, and thou shalt be directed. The guides even are sleeping, but they shall awake and direct thee.’ Now did not this mean this youth and maiden? this brother and sister who were asleep and awaiting me?”
“As you like, uncle. I will go with thee, for I love adventure; but I hope we shall return alive.”