That evening the Hakim visited his one patient, and found him making excellent progress; but the young chief made no attempt to communicate the change that was to take place, contenting himself with bowing his head slowly by way of thanks, and then closing his eyes and turning away his head. He made signs to Frank, though, soon after, to bring him water, and the latter noted at once that the young man’s eyes looked pained and anxious, and that his brow was a good deal lined. And it was plain enough to read the meaning of the anxious glances northward which he kept on giving, as if hoping against hope that the delay was not serious.
But there was not a sign upon the distant horizon, though the air was cool and clear, so that the sky-line where the sandy sea joined the air was perfectly distinct, till night closed in over a busy scene, for the men of both parties were working hard packing and preparing. The two rows of camels crouched munching away contentedly after being watered, and as their loads were finished each was placed near the camel which was to be its bearer, and glanced at by the animals as if they quite understood.
This took the attention of Sam, who seized the instant when he was making the final arrangement with Frank over the Hakim’s leather cases, once more carefully packed, to whisper a few remarks.
“They seem rum things, don’t they, sir? Just look at that one how he keeps turning and rolling his eyes at these two long portmanteaus! Don’t you tell me that they don’t understand, because I feel sure that they do. That big, strong fellow’s saying as plainly as he can, ‘For two pins I’d bolt off into the desert and strike against that load, only it would be no good; they’d fetch me back; and I don’t like leaving my mates.’”
“Well, there is a peculiarly intelligent look about the beast certainly, Sam,” said Frank, smiling.
“’Telligent, sir? I should think there is! Look how he keeps on licking his lips and leering at us now and then. Beautiful and patient, too. Why, he’s quite smiling at us, and as soon as they begin to hang his load upon his beautiful humpy back he’ll begin moaning and groaning and sighing as if there never was such an ill-used animal before. Oh, they’re queer beasts, and no mistake. I’d like to drive that fellow; that’s what I should like to do. He’d taste the whip more than once.”
“Why?” asked Frank, for Sam stopped short and looked at him as much as to say, “Ask me.”
“Because, as the people say, I’ve got my knife into him, and I want to pay him.”
“Well, go on,” said Frank. “I am waiting to hear your reasons.”
“Because he’s an ugly, supercilious, contemptuous, sneering, ill-behaved brute, sir. Last time I went near him he called me names—a dog of a white nigger, or something of that kind. I can’t say exactly what.”