“Then now ought to be the time for us to escape.”
“Yes, Excellency,” said the old man sadly, “but we are watched and guarded here. I fear that our chief guard has begun to doubt us, and he will watch us more closely still.”
“That is awkward,” said the professor.
“Yes, Excellency, and it is impossible to journey now with all these strangers here ready to stop us, to plunder if not to slay.”
“More awkward still, Ibrahim.”
“Yes, Excellency, for if we started some night, instead of all being of good courage, light and rejoicing in our strength and in having saved the young Excellency’s brother, we have two sick men.”
“Most awkward of all, Ibrahim,” said the professor. “But never mind; we have mastered all difficulties so far, and it will go hard if we do not conquer after all.”
“Yes, Excellency, and we will try.”
The professor went and talked over all he had heard with the Hakim, and as he did so he felt that there was a compensation for it all in the sight of Harry Frere lying upon the angareb, peaceful and at rest, with his brother grasping his uninjured hand.
“The sight of Harry did more good,” he muttered, “than all the doctor’s stuff.”