“Well, just as you like, sir; I don’t mind. I’ll be touched up like you are if you think it will be safer for a man. It’s wonderful, sir. And no fear of its showing the dirt. But pst! here’s some one coming. The doctor and Mr Landon, sir. I thought you were sitting along with them. Have they seen you like this?”
“No, Sam; I was just getting ready for them.”
“Did they know it, sir?”
“No.”
“Then I’ll go in yonder. You stop and let ’em catch you sudden like. Just to try if they’ll know you.”
Frank nodded, and Sam darted into the inner tent, just having disappeared as the professor sauntered in with the doctor, and both drew up short.
“Hullo, you, sir!” said the professor gruffly, in Arabic; “what business have you here?”
Frank made no reply, but edged a little to one side, while at the same moment the doctor caught sight of the clothes lying on the floor, and uttered an exclamation.
“Yes, see!” cried the professor. “Robbers, eh? Help me, and we’ll tie this fellow up.”
“Quick, then,” said the doctor. “Look out for his knife. Bah! how absurd!” he added the next moment, calming down from the excitability he had displayed.