In the Mahdi's Grasp Part 37

"But, on the other hand," said the doctor quietly, "none of these things may happen, and we may sleep in peace and trust that all will be well."

"Yes, Excellency; that is what we must do always."

"Then let us sleep while we can," said the doctor. "I am very weary, and there is sure to be plenty more hard work to-morrow."

The Hakim's words were taken as law, and as there were very few preparations to make, a short time only elapsed before all were sleeping soundly, it being deemed superfluous to attempt to watch, since they were utterly helpless in the enemy's hands.

At such a time restless wakefulness might have been expected, but sleep came, deep and refres.h.i.+ng, out in the desert whenever they were in the neighbourhood of water. Frank lay thinking of the day's work with its risks and chances, and then of his brother far away to the south; but in about a quarter of an hour he was sleeping soundly as the rest, till hours had pa.s.sed, when, as if conscious of something being near, he awoke suddenly, to find that all was dark and so still that, setting down his feelings to imagination, he sank back, with a sigh, and was dropping off to sleep again when from far away out in the desert there was the shrill neigh of a horse, and he started up again, to hear the challenge answered from where the Baggara horses and camels were picketed or lying about.

This was startling, suggesting as it did the approach of other hors.e.m.e.n, who might be inimical and about to attack. On the other hand, though, he reasoned that a single horse might have broken away from where it was tethered. He recalled, too, what the Sheikh had said about sentries being scattered about so that no danger could approach without an alarm being given, and he was settling down once more when, plainly enough and increasing in loudness, there came through the darkness of the night the dull, rustling trampling of horses coming at a sharp canter over the sand.

But for a minute or so there was no warning uttered--no cry of alarm.

Then all at once there was a shout and a reply. Silence again, and Frank lay wondering whether this was a good or evil sign, since a sentry might have been cut down at once.

Then voices were plainly heard as of people talking loudly, and it seemed to be impossible that this could mean danger. So he lay still, making out by degrees that a large body of hors.e.m.e.n had ridden up, and from the talking that went on there seemed to be no doubt that earlier in the night this party must have gone out upon a reconnaissance while the Sheikh's party slept, and that this was their return.

Certainly there was no danger, for by degrees the various sounds died out, and all was still.

Frank's eyes closed once more, and his next awakening was at broad day, to find that a fire was burning and that Sam and his help from the camel-drivers were busy preparing for the morning meal, while the Sheikh and his men were as busy seeing to the camels, after being in doubt as to whether they would be there.

But there had been no interference with anything belonging to the Hakim's party, and the old man was evidently fairly contented in mind as he made his report about what he knew of the night's proceedings.

His first and most important announcement was that the Baggara chiefs force had been nearly doubled during the night, it seeming probable that the water-holes had been made the place of meeting for a divided force.

The question that troubled the party now was whether the newcomers would prove well disposed; but they were not long left in doubt, for quite early in the morning the Baggara chief made his appearance for his wound to be dressed, and smiled with satisfaction at the change in its state.

"Tell the Hakim," he said, "that he is great, and that he can stay here to rest his camels till to-morrow, and then he shall come with us."

This was as he was about to leave the Hakim's presence, with his injured arm resting comfortably in its sling, and he turned away at once.

"_Nolens volens_, Frank," said the professor; "but so far nothing could be better for us. Look here, another present."

For three men were approaching with a kid, dates, and bananas, and in addition one of them bore a handsome large rug, evidently intended for the Hakim's use.

The men approached with the same deference that they had displayed on the previous day, and then departed; but before they were half over the s.p.a.ce which divided the two camps, a party of five men were seen approaching, one of whom was mounted upon a cream-coloured horse, two others supporting him as he swayed to and fro, apparently quite unable to retain his seat.

It was the _avant-garde_ of the patients the Hakim was to treat that day, and coming as it did on the Baggara chiefs announcement that they were to accompany him the next morning, quite settled what, for at all events the present, was to be their position in connection with the force.

"You are to be surgeon in chief to the tribe, Robert," said the professor merrily, "so you had better make the best of it."

The doctor did not pause to reply, but gravely prepared to receive the fresh patient, shaking his head solemnly at Frank the while.

"It looks bad," he said. "The poor fellow seems to be beyond help."

The Baggara appeared to be a finely built, manly young fellow as he was allowed to subside into his followers' arms, and then borne to where the Hakim waited. There they laid him upon a rug which Frank dragged ready for his reception, to leave their burden lying flat upon his back, while the bearers drew back, but the horse advanced, to lower its soft muzzle and sniff at its rider's face, before raising its head and uttering a shrill neigh.

The four men stood looking at the Hakim, as much as to say, "He is dead, but you must bring him to life."

The doctor's broad white brow was as a rule wonderfully free from lines, but as Frank glanced at him it was to see them gather now as straight and regular almost as if they had been ruled, from his eyebrows high up to where the hair had been shorn away.

But no time was wasted, and no search was needed. The young chief--for such he seemed to be--had received a terrible thrust from a spear just below the collar-bone, and to all appearance he had bled to death.

But as the doctor busily did what was necessary to the frightful wound, a slight quivering about the eyelids announced that life still lingered, and as the busy hands checked all further effusion and administered a restorative, the failing spirit's flight was for the time being stayed, though whether this would be permanent was more than the Hakim dared to say.

"He must have been bleeding all the night," the doctor said, "and jolting about on a horse. The man's const.i.tution is wonderful, or he would have died long before now."

"Can you save him?" asked the professor.

"I fear not, but I'll do all I can. Ask the men how this happened, Ibrahim."

The information was soon obtained.

"It was in a skirmish, Hakim, a day's journey from here. The men who joined us last night came in contact with a body of mounted men armed with spears, and from their description they seem to have been English troops. Many of the Baggara were killed, others wounded, and this man, their leader, was as you see. He will die, Excellency, will he not?"

"It all depends on the way in which he is treated," replied the doctor.

"He is in a dying state, but no dangerous part is touched. I may save his life."

"It would be a miracle, Excellency," said the Sheikh slowly. "Look: there is a dark cloud coming over his face."

"No," said the doctor gravely; "that is because the spirit in him is so low. He is falling into a sleep that is almost death, but he still lives. Tell these men that he is not to be moved, and that their chief must send a tent here to place over him. Let two of your men come now to spread a cloth above him to keep off the sun until the tent is set up."

The message was given, and the men hurried away to rejoin their people, while in a very few minutes the Baggara chief and his companion appeared, walking hurriedly, and made their way to the side of the wounded man, to look at him anxiously and as if his condition was a great trouble to them, the elder going down on one knee to lay a hand upon the sufferer's brow.

The next minute he was up again, and the two chiefs were chatting hurriedly together, before the elder turned to Ibrahim and spoke earnestly, his voice sounding hoa.r.s.e and changed.

"O Hakim," said the Sheikh, "he says that this is his son, whom he loves, and it will be like robbing him of his own life if the boy dies.

He says that you must not let him sink. Sooner let all the wounded men who are coming to you die than this one. You must make him live, and all that the chief has is thine."

"How can I make the man live?" said the Hakim sternly, and frowning at the chief as he spoke to the interpreter. "Has not all his life-blood been spilled upon the sand as they brought him here? Tell him at once that I am not a prophet, only a simple surgeon; that I have done all that is possible, and that the rest is with G.o.d."

The Sheikh reverently translated the Hakim's words to the Baggara chief, and those who heard him fully expected to hear some angry outburst; but the chief bent humbly before the Hakim and touched his hand.

In a short time, under the Baggara chief's supervision, a tent was set up over the wounded man, and by then two large groups of patients were waiting patiently for the Hakim's ministrations--those whom he had tended on the previous day, and about a dozen wounded men who had come in during the night.

It was a new cla.s.s of practice for the London pract.i.tioner, however familiar it might have been to the surgeon of a regiment on active service; but wounds are wounds, whether received in the everyday life of a mechanic who has injured himself with his tools or been crushed by machinery, or caused by shot, sword, and spear. So the Hakim toiled away hour after hour till his last patient had left the s.p.a.ce in front of his tent and he had leisure to re-examine the chief's son, the father looking anxiously on in spite of an a.s.sumed sternness, and waiting till the keen-eyed surgeon rose from one knee.

"Tell him," said the Hakim gravely, "that it will be days before the young chief can be moved."

The words were interpreted, and the chief seemed to forget his own injury as he said in an angry tone that the little force must start at daybreak the next morning.

"Then the young man will die," said the Hakim coldly.

Ibrahim again interpreted, and the chief suggested that a camel litter should be prepared.

But the Hakim shook his head.

"Can't you give way?" said the professor softly. "A fairly easy couch could be made."

"The man will certainly die if he is moved to-morrow," replied Morris sternly, "and if I lose a patient now a great deal of my prestige goes with him."