“I shall want nothing more. Go and rest yourself, and go to your bed in good time, so as to get a long night’s rest.”
“Thankye, sir; I’m much obliged, sir. I think that is about what I want to set me right.”
Sam went back to the little tent set apart for him, and lost no time in throwing himself down upon a rug, to lie listening to the bleating of the sheep and goats, mingled with which came at times the moaning and complaining of the camels.
As soon as his back was turned the doctor had laughed softly.
“I meant to have set him to work to-night,” he said, “over my head; but I don’t think his touch would have been very light after his last night’s work.”
“Oh, no,” said the professor; “besides, you ought to have daylight for that job. Between ourselves, I shall not be sorry to take to the native dress again. It is much more suitable for the climate than ours. I have used it in a modified form ever since I first came out. The sooner we begin the better.”
The conversation then turned upon the doctor’s patients.
“So you found them patient patients,” said the professor, smiling.
“Poor creatures, yes. They seem to have the most unbounded faith in me.”
“Of course,” said the professor; “and a fine thing for them that they have, Robert my son.”