Better still for the young man’s mission, the Emir himself was standing there as if he had been looking on, and he raised his head at the young Englishman’s entrance and gave him a friendly smile.
It was very near. Frank almost betrayed himself by bursting out passionately with his news; but he recalled his position just in time, signed to the Hakim for his tablets, and in a few brief words wrote of the mutilated prisoners, and urged that the Hakim should ask for leave to try and save the sufferers’ lives.
Seeing that something terrible was wrong, Morris leaned over his young companion’s shoulder and read off the words he hastily wrote upon the china tablets he carried in a folding book.
Then, nodding gravely, he glanced at the Emir, who was gazing at him intently, and told the Sheikh to ask for permission to attend the prisoners.
The Emir’s countenance became very stern and hard as he listened to the Sheikh’s interpretation, and then replied—
“Tell the great Hakim that his mission is to heal the sick and wounded, and that I know his heart and that of his young black slave are as tender and compassionate as those of the angels of light. But I cannot do this thing. These men rose against the great Mahdi as well as against me and my friend whom you have saved. News of the revolt was sent to Khartoum in the night; the Mahdi’s chief officer rode over here this day and gave the orders himself that these prisoners should die. He was there to order each punishment himself. The great Hakim asks me to let him save these men. If I send him there the Mahdi’s officer will take back the news, and my head will fall. Does the great Hakim wish this, and can he give me back my life?”
The stern-looking chief smiled sadly as he spoke, and his eyes seemed to speak as the words were interpreted to the end.
“You hear, Ben Eddin?” said the Hakim gravely, and turning to the Emir he gravely bent his head in acceptance of his words, and the next minute those two had grasped hands.