“Then by and by they will rejoin their leader far away yonder at Omdurman or Khartoum?”
“It is most likely, Excellency.”
“Then so long as they treat us decently it seems to me that nothing could have happened better,” continued the professor; “they will lead us exactly where we want to go, and see that no other party takes a fancy to our heads.”
“That is exactly what I thought, Excellency,” said the Sheikh; “but I was afraid to speak.”
“Why?” said the doctor sharply.
The old man shrugged his shoulders.
“Their Excellencies took me to be their guide, and placed themselves in my hands. They said, ‘We have faith in you and your young men, who will protect us.’”
“Yes,” said the doctor. “Go on.”
“Well, Excellency, I have failed.”
“How failed?” said the professor sharply.