The Sheikh stood silently there beneath the palms, and for some minutes no words came.
At last he repeated his former stereotyped expression.
“It is good. Yes,” he said, “it is good, and God will go before you on such an errand as this, my son. I am growing old now.”
“And you—”
Frank began to utter his thoughts impulsively, but the professor laid a hand sharply upon his arm.
“Silence,” he said, and the Arab paused for a few moments as if to give way, but as Frank checked himself he went on—
”—And old men grow to love money and greater flocks and herds, and more and better camels, as they come nearer to the time when all these things will be as naught. I have been much with the wise men from Europe, and it has been pleasant to my soul to take their piastres to make my tribe richer every year. His Excellency here has paid me much gold in the past times, and I and my people have worked justly for him, so that he has come to us again and again, till his coming has been that of a friend, and my heart was sore when I heard that he was not to be with us this season of the year. And now he has come for this as to a friend to ask the help of me and mine. He has come to me as a brother in suffering, and it is good. Yes, Excellency, you are welcome to the tents of your brethren, and we will do all we can to bring the lost one back. And what I bid my people do they will do, till I am gathered to my fathers and my son takes my place. But when I go to my people to-night and tell them of your words, they will say ‘O my father, this is not work for money. Our master must not give us payment for such a thing as this. Of a truth we will go and bring the young man back to those who mourn for him. If we redden the sand with our blood instead, well, we have died as men, and we shall sleep with the just.’”
The professor caught the old Arab’s hand, and Frank snatched impulsively at the other, the thin, nervous fingers closing tightly upon the English grip, and they stood in silence for some minutes.
“Tell him what I feel,” said Frank at last. “I can’t find words.”
“Neither can I,” said the professor, “but I must try.”