Chapter 6. The Starting Point

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_ CHAPTER SIX. THE STARTING POINT

What with the excitement and the change, as it were, into another life such as he had only read of in books, Frank Frere's was a very poor night's rest, so that after dozing off and waking again and again, hot, feverish, and uncomfortable, he was not sorry to see the first signs of dawn peering through his blinds.

Getting from beneath the mosquito curtain, he opened the window wider, and then stayed for a few minutes to wonder that the morning air should be so cool to his heated brows.

Returning to bed, he lay thinking for a few minutes, and then all at once thought ceased and he slept soundly for an hour, to start up in horror, full of the impression that he had overslept himself.

But a glance at his watch showed that it was still early, as he began to dress, meaning to have a look round the place before breakfast. Matters, however, shaped themselves differently, for on going to the window and looking out, there to the left lay the hotel garden with its clumps of palms and orange trees, where beneath the former he saw an early visitor in the shape of the tall, dignified-looking Sheikh in his clean white robes and turban, walking slowly to and fro, as if in expectation of seeing the professor.

Frank hurried down, too eager to reach the garden to pause and look about at the Eastern aspect of everything around; but he found that he was not first, for there before him were the professor and the doctor just passing out, and he joined them just as they reached the Sheikh, who greeted them all with solemn dignity.

"I have slept on the matter, O Excellencies," he said.

"And now you think better of it?" said the doctor sharply.

The Sheikh smiled.

"I have thought much of it, Excellency," he said gravely, "but the matter was agreed upon last night. All that remained was to find out the best way and the safest. I feel that it must be as I said; we--my people and I--must journey through the desert to avoid the windings of the great river, taking with us such merchandise as the Mahdi's people will be glad to buy, and once at Khartoum or Omdurman we must trust to our good fortune about finding the prisoner. Once we do find him the merchandise must go, and we shall trust to our fleet camels and knowledge of the desert to escape. What do your Excellencies say?"

The professor turned to Frank.

"Will you tell him?" he said. "It was your idea."

Frank shrank for the moment, but mastering his hesitancy he turned to the old Sheikh, and rapidly growing earnest and warm, he vividly described his plans, while the old man stood stern and frowning, apparently receiving everything with the greatest disfavour, merely glancing once or twice at the doctor and then at the speaker, as allusions were made to the parts they were to play. When the professor was mentioned the listener remained unmoved, but he frowned more markedly when the servant's name was mentioned.

Frank worked himself up till in his eagerness his words came fast, as he strove hard to impress the Sheikh with the plausibility of his plans. But the old man remained unmoved, and when at last the speaker had said all that he could say there was a dead and chilling silence, the young man turning from his listener to look despairingly from the doctor to the professor, and back again, "The Sheikh cannot see it," said the young man despairingly; "but it seems easier to me now than ever."

"Yes," said the doctor; "I feel that it might be done. The idea grows upon me."

"But you do not like it, Ibrahim," said the professor, looking hard in the solemn, impenetrable face before him.

"There is the servant--the doctor's man," said the Sheikh gravely. "I have not seen him."

"You soon shall," said the professor.

"Tell me," continued the Sheikh; "this young man--can he make cures--can he bind up wounds and attend to an injured or dying man?"

"He has been my servant and has helped me for years," said the doctor.

"Hah!"

Then there was silence again, and Frank gazed at the deeply-lined, calm and impassive face before him with a feeling of resentment.

"He will not do," thought the young man; "he is too slow and plodding. We want a brisk, dashing fellow, full of spirit and recklessness."

He turned to the professor, and spoke a few words in Latin.

The professor smiled.

"You do not know Ibrahim yet," he said quietly. "A young Englishman dashes at a thing without consideration; an Arab looks before he leaps, and examines the starting and the landing place. Hush!"

"Yes," said the Sheikh at last, and he bowed his head again and again as he spoke, evidently calculating every move in the great game of chess with live pieces in which he was about to engage. "Yes; his Excellency here will be the learned Hakim--he _is_ a learned Hakim, and the people will crowd to his tent. I could take him and his Excellency the professor, who speaks our tongue like I speak it myself, anywhere, and they would be welcome. The idea is grand and cannot fail, but my heart grows faint when I think of his young Excellency here. Could he bear to act like a slave for all the many weary months in that disguise?"

"Yes," said Frank firmly.

"And hold your peace, no matter what may befall?"

"Yes. I _will_" said Frank, through his set teeth.

"We may come suddenly upon the prisoner in chains; we may see him beaten by his taskmaster. Brothers love brothers," said the Sheikh gravely. "Could the young Excellency hold his peace and stand by looking on at such a time?"

"Yes," said Frank, in a low, harsh voice: "it is to save my brother's life. I would not speak to save my own."

The old Sheikh's face was stern and rugged as ever; not a muscle twitched; but there was a new light in his eyes as they rested upon Frank's, and he uttered a low sigh of satisfaction.

"The English are a great, brave nation," he said gravely. "No wonder they make themselves masters of the world."

"Then you are satisfied, Ibrahim?"

"No, Excellency, not yet," replied the Sheikh. "Take off those clothes and put on those that I will get, and you are the interpreter of the great Frankish Hakim. That is enough. The people will rush to you and call you brother. His Excellency here, clothed as I will clothe him, that great, grand head white from the barber's razor, with that magnificent beard hanging down over his robe in front, and with the wisdom of the physician to cure the sufferers who will come--even the Khalifa and his greatest officers would come and bend to him. Yes, all this is grand."

"Well done," said the professor, with a sigh of relief.

"His Excellency here _is_ a great doctor--one who can cure bad wounds?" asked the Sheikh.

"One of the best in London," said the professor enthusiastically. "He can almost perform miracles."

"It is good," said the Sheikh gravely. "He will find much work to do, for the Mahdi's followers die like flocks and herds in time of plague for want of help. Now about his young Excellency here. He will be the Hakim's slave?"

"Yes; his learned slave, Ibrahim. He is skilled in chemistry and science."

"I do not know what chemistry and science mean, Excellency."

"The power to perform natural miracles," said the professor.

"It is enough; but he must do as he said. As he is now he would be watched by suspicious eyes; I could not answer for his life. As the Hakim's black slave who helps his master and is mute, yes, he will be safe too. But this man--this servant? What can he do? Will he be black and mute?"

"H'm, no," said the professor, hesitating.

"Has he a brother in chains and misery whom he would die to save?"

"H'm, no," said the professor again. "Frank, lad," he said, in Latin, "I'm afraid Sam will not pass."

"What will he do, then?" asked the Sheikh.

"Attend on his master, the Hakim."

"One of my young men can do that."

"Hold the wounded when the Hakim bandages their cuts."

"One of my young men would be safer far."

"He knows the Hakim's ways, and will sponge the bullet-wounds and fetch the water bowl."

"The Hakim's black slave should do all that, Excellency."

"I'm afraid you are right," said the professor; "but I want to take him if we can. Come, he is a capital cook."

"A learned Hakim like his Excellency here would live on simple food, such as one of my young men could prepare."

"Well, I don't know what to say, Ibrahim. He is a very useful fellow."

"But his being with us might mean making the Mahdi's followers doubt, and once they doubted it means death to us all."

The professor's face was a study as he turned to Frank.

"He's right, my lad; he's right."

"It may mean ruin to our journey, even as men perish when they make for a water-hole, to find it dry. Can he do anything else?"

"Heaps of things," cried the professor.

"But they are as nothing if they are not suited to our task, Excellency. Does he look to be an Englishman?"

"A thorough-paced Cockney, Ibrahim, I am sorry to say."

"Cockney, Excellency?"

"Well, very English indeed."

"Would he be painted black, Excellency?" said Ibrahim.

"He'd only look like an imitation Christy Minstrel if he were, eh, Frank?" said the professor.

"Would he have his head shaved like his Excellency the Hakim?" said the Sheikh.

"Got him!" cried the professor excitedly. "Here, Ibrahim, you wanted to know what he can do. He's the Hakim's barber, and can shave a head."

"Ah-h-h-h!" said the Sheikh, drawing out the ejaculation to an inordinate length. "He can shave--and well?"

"Splendidly! Can't he, Morris?"

"Oh, yes, excellently well," said the doctor, smiling.

The Sheikh took off his turban and softly passed one hand over a head which was like a very old, deeply-stained billiard ball at the top, but was stubbly at the back and sides, as if it had not been touched by a barber for a week.

"May he shave me, Excellency?" said the old man. "I should like to see the man and whether he is skilful enough to deceive those who will watch him with jealous eyes."

"Of course you can see him," said the doctor. "He will be in my room."

"Let's go, then, at once," said the professor. "I say, Ibrahim, there need be no disguise about him. He is a Frank, and the Hakim's slave."

"Yes, that will do, Excellency," said the Sheikh. "The Hakim's skill as a learned man and curer of the people's ills will cover all. If this man is clever, too, as a barber every Moslem will look upon him as a friend. Barber, surgeon, and the Hakim's slave. Yes, that will do."

Five minutes after the party were in the doctor's room, and upon the bell being answered by a native servant, Sam was fetched from his breakfast, to come up wondering, half expecting that something was wrong.

"Sam," said the doctor gravely, "I wish you to shave this gentleman's head."

"Certainly, sir. I'll ring for some hot water."

"No," said the professor; "we're going where hot water will be scarce--I mean that sort of hot water. Do it with cold."

"Right, sir," said the man, in the most unruffled way, and slipping off his coat he turned up his sleeves, placed a chair for the Sheikh, opened the doctor's dressing-case, brought out shaving-box, strop, and razors, and then made the old chief look a little askance as one of the latter was opened, examined, and laid down, while the brush and shaving-box were brought so vigorously into action, that in a very short time the Arab's head was thoroughly lathered, and left to soak.

"I always prefer hot water, gentlemen," said Sam, confidentially; "it's better for the patient, and better for the razor, for it improves the edge. But these are splendid tools, as I know."

Whipping open one of the choice razors, and drawing the strop as if it were a short Roman sword, Sam made the Sheikh wince a little as the sharp blade was made to play to and fro and from end to end, changing from side to side, and with all the dash and light touch of a clever barbel, being finished off by sharp applications to the palm of the operator's hand.

"There we are, sir," said Sam, who seemed to be quite in his element. "Don't squirm, sir; I won't cut you, nor hurt you either. I was taught shaving by a first-class hand."

"Don't talk so much, Sam," said Frank impatiently. "We want you to shave this Arab gentleman carefully and well."

"Well, ain't I trying my best, Master Frank? Look at that, and look at that, and that. Razor cuts beautifully."

As he spoke he scraped off with long sweeps the white, soapy foam, which came away darkened with tiny swathes of blackish-grey stubble.

"I call this a regular big shave. Don't hurt, do I, sir?"

The Arab uttered a grunt which might have meant yes or no.

Sam took it to mean the latter.

"Thought not, sir. That's fine shaving-soap, sir; he--mollient; softens the stubble and the skin at the same time. My word! this is a prime razor. Only fancy, Mr Frank, being out here, shaving a native!"

"Will you keep your tongue quiet!" whispered Frank angrily. "This is a serious matter. Mind what you're doing, and don't talk."

"Don't ask a man to do impossibilities, sir," said the man appealingly; "did you ever know anyone shaved without the operator talking all the time? It's natural, sir, and seems to make you shave cleaner. I'm a-doing the very best I can. I must talk, or I should get nicking his skin and spoil the job."

"Then for goodness' sake talk," cried Frank petulantly.

"Thankye, sir; now I can get on," and with wonderful celerity Sam scraped away with light hand till the last line of lather was taken off, a touch or two here and there given with the brush, and this fresh soap removed, after which the razor was closed, sponge and water applied, and a clean towel handed to the Sheikh, who received it with a grave smile and nod of the head.

"Good," he said softly. "Clever barber. It is good."

"Then you are satisfied?" said the professor eagerly.

"Quite, Excellency. Now I have no fear."

Sam smiled too with satisfaction as he carefully wiped and re-stropped the razor before placing it in its case. At the same time, though, there was a peculiar, inquisitive look in his eyes. For the whole business seemed to be strange, and he looked longingly at Frank as if hoping that he would follow and explain, when the doctor said--

"That will do, Samuel. Go and have your breakfast."

But Frank did not follow, for he was eager to hear what the Sheikh would say as soon as they were alone.

Little was said, though, the old Arab being anxious to go and rejoin his followers staying in the village half a mile outside the town, promising to be back during the morning to talk over the arrangements for the venturesome journey.

"Will he come back and hold to the promise?" said Frank to the professor.

"For certain," was the reply.

"But do you think he will prove business-like and go to work heart and soul in our service?"

"I can only speak from past experience," replied the professor. "I have always found him thoroughly trustworthy, and I feel sure he will be so now."

"And about the preparations, the dress, provisions, and the many odds and ends we shall require?"

"All that I shall leave to Ibrahim. What you have to get ready is a couple of portmanteaus that can be swung one on either side of a strong camel by means of straps. These must contain all your chemical and electrical apparatus in one, the doctor's instruments and medicines in the other, with an ample supply of lint, bandages, antiseptics, plaisters, and the like. Chloroform, of course. But there must be no superfluities. As to dress, we must place ourselves in Ibrahim's hands."

"What about weapons?" said Frank. "Swords and revolvers, of course. What about rifles?"

"I have brought two or three antiquated weapons for show; that is all. We are not going to fight. Give up all thoughts of that."

Frank stared at the speaker anxiously.

"Surely we ought to carry revolvers," he said.

"Surely we ought not. If we go as men of war we shall fail. If we go as men of peace we may succeed. Leave all that to Ibrahim, and we shall know what is to be done when he comes back this morning. Now then, the first thing to be done is to eat and drink."

Frank sighed.

"Without this we shall do no work."

Frank knew the wisdom there was in these words, and he resigned himself to his fate, accompanying his companions to the hotel coffee-room to take their places at the table set apart for them, to become for the time being a mere group of the many, for the place was full of visitors staying, and others making a temporary sojourn before continuing their steamer's route, these to India or China, those back to Europe; while other tables were occupied by officers awaiting their orders to go up country, or go on making preparations for the advance of the troops already there, and further arrangements for those coming out by the great transports expected; for it was the common talk now that before long a large force was to march against the Mahdi's successor, and Gordon was to be at last avenged. _

Read next: Chapter 7. By Moonlight

Read previous: Chapter 5. Sheikh Ibrahim

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