“Yes, Excellency, for it will mean punishment for their oppressors, and then peace. Everyone now who is not a fighting man and follower of the new Mahdi is a slave at the mercy of the invader. Ah, it is horrible what one has to see!”
“But have you no news for me, Ibrahim?” said Frank, looking at him appealingly.
“None, Ben Eddin, though I have not ceased to search and question where I can. Will your Excellencies get permission for me to go to Khartoum to search?”
“No,” said the Hakim quietly. “We may want you at any hour to help us with the camels.”
The Sheikh shook his head, with a look which suggested that any attempt to escape would be hopeless, and Frank was quick to read his thoughts.
“You think we should be stopped?” he said.
“Yes, Ben Eddin, perhaps before we had gone a quarter of a day’s journey. We should certainly be pursued and brought back, or perhaps,” he added solemnly, “not brought back—only the Hakim.”
There was a few minutes’ silence, and then the old man turned to Frank.
“I hurried back, Ben Eddin,” he said, “because I feared that you would go out.”
“Yes, I am going,” said Frank quietly.