“Yes,” said Frank; “a handsome sword and knife. Of course, I did not want them, but you know his disposition.”
“Yes,” said the professor; “he would have looked black as thunder and flown in a passion if you had refused them.”
“He did because I hesitated. But we must try if the Emir will consent.”
“We might propose going for a time,” said the doctor, “and promise to come back, as there is so little to do here for the people.”
The Sheikh shook his head.
“I daresay you are right, Ibrahim,” said Frank; “but we are doing no good at all here, and you must try.”
“I am your Excellencies’ servant,” said the old man quietly, “and I will do my best; but I would rather we stayed here for a while longer.”
“Hah!” exclaimed Frank excitedly; “then you have some clue!”
“No, no; not yet, Ben Eddin,” said the old man, who looked startled by the speaker’s manner; “but I have hopes. I have been trying so hard, making friends with several of the better people, and as your English Excellencies would say, feeling my way. When we find your Excellency’s brother it will be through my meeting some one who knows what slaves have been kept. But it is very hard. I dare not say much, for fear of making the people doubt that I am a friend.”
“Yes, that is true, Ibrahim,” said the doctor gravely; “and I like your caution. But make one appeal to the Emir to let us go to Khartoum for a few weeks. Ask him to send us with an escort—say with our present guard.”