There was no outburst of anger upon the interpretation of these words, the Baggara hearing them to the end and then walking away, frowning and stern, without once looking back.
About an hour later some half-dozen men came up leading a couple of camels laden with a larger tent and other gear. This was set up a short distance from the small one in which the young chief lay, and soon after it was done the chief rode up once more to see his son, looking anxious and careworn upon seeing the young man lying apparently unchanged.
The Baggara went away without a word to the Hakim, but signed to the Sheikh to follow him.
Meanwhile the rest of the sufferers came or were carried to take their turn before their surgeon, who was busy with his two aides, easing bandages, and where necessary redressing the wounds; while to the professor’s surprise two of them, instead of being carried or supported away by their comrades were helped into the large tent.
In all seven were placed there, and just as the long line of sufferers had been gone through, the Sheikh returned and said that the chief’s orders were that the worst sufferers were to stay at the tent so as to be under the Hakim’s eye.
The doctor’s was evidently to be no sinecure appointment, but he took it quite complacently, giving a few orders for the comfort of his staying patients, and without further incident the night fell, when a small hand-lamp was placed in the little tent, and the doctor announced that he was going to watch beside the young chief for the night.
Accordingly a rug was placed for him, as well as such requisites as might be needed for his patient, and saying good-night, and refusing all offers to share his vigil, the doctor glanced inside the larger tent to see that all was going on right there, and then stood in the open for a few minutes to breathe the cool night air and listen to the low murmur going on in the camp, before entering the smaller tent and starting slightly.
“You here, Frank?” he said quickly.
“Yes, I am going to share your watch.”
“There is no need, my dear boy,” said the doctor warmly. “Go and get a good night’s rest. You must be tired.”