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In the Mahdi's Grasp, a fiction by George Manville Fenn |
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Chapter 26. A Fight Among Friends |
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_ CHAPTER TWENTY SIX. A FIGHT AMONG FRIENDS As is generally the case when one's heart feels most sick, a good rest brings light and hope back from behind the clouds, and Frank Frere awoke the next morning feeling ready for any amount more effort, as he carefully applied more of the water to his skin, after dissolving a few crystals, with the result that when the solution was dry he was ready to compare with the blackest slave in the city, while after breakfast he was in the best of spirits as he helped the Hakim over his patients-- poor creatures half blind from the horrible ophthalmia produced by the desert dust and sand; wounded men, sufferers from the terrible fevers of the country; and as he saw them go away relieved a pleasant sensation of what French people call _bien etre_ stole over him. Then the Emir's son came in his litter and was attended to, the Hakim saying, when his task was done and Ibrahim had been summoned, that the patient need come no more, at which he frowned and looked displeased, and the next day he came again, contenting himself with seeing Frank only, and on leaving presenting him with a new white robe. The following morning he was back again to see Frank, and when he left, the professor laughingly made the remark that the Emir's son was evidently a young man of very low tastes, he being a prince among his people and taking to the society of a slave. Another excursion was made through the city, with the guard following patiently, and evidently feeling something like contempt for these strange people who preferred wearying themselves in wandering through the filthy lanes of the city to sitting comfortably in the Emir's grounds, smoking a long pipe in the shade of the trees. But they were silent and watchful all the same saving the travellers more than once from insult and attack. Then days followed days with always the same result: weary hopelessness; and a long conversation ensued, the result of which was that as the number of important cases had diminished and the complaints of the poor patients were for the most part of a kind that their own Hakims could very well attend, a petition should be taken to the Emir, asking him to send the Hakim on to Khartoum with his people to do good there. This was announced to Ibrahim, who shook his head. "Why do you do that?" said Frank quickly. "For reasons, Excellency. I have been much about the city lately." "I know," said Frank, "and supposed that you were still searching now." "I was, Excellency." "So have we been, as you know, but without result. You have found out nothing?" "Not yet, Excellency, but I am still hopeful." "We are still hopeful," said Frank, "but we feel that it is time to journey on to Khartoum and search there. We can come back here if we fail." "But the Emir will not let you go, Excellency." "How do you know that?" "I feel sure, Excellency, and then there is the young Emir; he spoke to me yesterday about having you in his household." "Having me?" said Frank, aghast. "Yes, Excellency; he has taken a fancy to you. Did he not make you another present yesterday?" "Yes," said Frank; "a handsome sword and knife. Of course, I did not want them, but you know his disposition." "Yes," said the professor; "he would have looked black as thunder and flown in a passion if you had refused them." "He did because I hesitated. But we must try if the Emir will consent." "We might propose going for a time," said the doctor, "and promise to come back, as there is so little to do here for the people." The Sheikh shook his head. "I daresay you are right, Ibrahim," said Frank; "but we are doing no good at all here, and you must try." "I am your Excellencies' servant," said the old man quietly, "and I will do my best; but I would rather we stayed here for a while longer." "Hah!" exclaimed Frank excitedly; "then you have some clue!" "No, no; not yet, Ben Eddin," said the old man, who looked startled by the speaker's manner; "but I have hopes. I have been trying so hard, making friends with several of the better people, and as your English Excellencies would say, feeling my way. When we find your Excellency's brother it will be through my meeting some one who knows what slaves have been kept. But it is very hard. I dare not say much, for fear of making the people doubt that I am a friend." "Yes, that is true, Ibrahim," said the doctor gravely; "and I like your caution. But make one appeal to the Emir to let us go to Khartoum for a few weeks. Ask him to send us with an escort--say with our present guard." The old Sheikh shook his head. "The great Hakim does not understand," he said. "The Khalifa has many followers, Emirs and chiefs of tribes who are banded with him to conquer and hold the Soudan. But they are all chiefs in their own right who have brought their followers, and the jealousy and hate among them is great. The Emir, our friend, is one of the greatest, but he has enemies here." "Ah, you know that?" said Frank eagerly. "Yes, Excellency, chiefs who hate him, but his son more, for he is rude and scornful to them." "I can understand that," said the professor. "Go on." "These other chiefs hate our Emir for his power and strength, and would be glad to drive him back into his own country, and he knows it. But at Khartoum I hear that he has greater enemies. The Khalifa and one of his generals both dislike him and fear that he is trying to become a greater ruler than they; and knowing this he would not send you with a part of his own guard, neither would the Khalifa let him do this; but I will see him to-morrow, Excellencies, and tell him your wishes. If he gives you his leave to go he will send messengers to the Khalifa, asking him to receive the great Hakim and send guards to fetch you. But I fear. He will think that you will never return. Shall I go to him now?" "No," said the doctor; "wait till the morning, and do your best, for I feel that we may do more good at Khartoum. We will return if we find no better fortune than here." "It is good, great Hakim," said the old man; "thy servant is always ready to obey." That day passed quietly on, with the friends eagerly discussing their plans of action regarding the proposed change, Frank being the most hopeful and displaying intense eagerness. "Ibrahim is a fatalist," he said. "He has taken it into his head that we shall find Harry here, but I feel convinced now that he is a prisoner in Khartoum or the neighbourhood, and I do not think, after all we have done, that the Emir will refuse us." "I don't know," said the professor dubiously. "Oh, don't, don't you take old Ibrahim's views, Landon," cried Frank. "I doubt whether there is so much jealousy amongst men who are bound together for one special object. There is a little, no doubt. Look here, let's ask the Emir and his son--or his son alone--to take us there himself. They may be glad to go, as they seem so proud of Morris and all his cures. For my part, I think he will." "And I believe Ibrahim," said the doctor gravely. "If it is as he thinks, our Emir would not trust himself in Khartoum without all his following, and--" "What's the matter?" cried the professor sharply, for just then their head guard rushed to the door, sword in hand, followed by three of his men armed with spears, while for the moment it struck Frank that the present he had received was about to prove useful, and he took a step towards his room where it was hanging in its sheath against the wall. The officer said something excitedly as he waved his sword, and the man's manner suggested that he had come with his followers to massacre the party. But at that moment Ibrahim entered, looking wild and strange, and a few words passed between him and the guard, while from outside the walls there was shouting, the trampling of horses, and hurried rush of feet. "For heaven's sake speak, Ibrahim!" cried the professor in Arabic. "What does this man mean?" "He has come to see that you are all safe, Excellency," said the old man. "The Emir sends orders that you are to bar yourselves in the room farthest from the wall, for the palace is about to be attacked. You are not to venture outside in the garden, for fear the enemy may be within throwing distance with their spears." The Emir's officer only stayed till he was satisfied that his prisoners fully understood the message, and then hurried out, followed by his men, for the noise and excitement outside were increasing fast. Trumpets were being blown, drums beaten, and there were all the sounds of a gathering force. "What does all this mean?" asked the doctor. "I hardly know, O Hakim," replied the Sheikh, who was gradually recovering his breath, "It is some jealous quarrel between the Emirs, and they will mount and ride out to the nearest part of the desert to gallop wildly here and there, firing guns, throwing spears, and shouting defiance at one another, till their horses and camels are tired out. Then they will ride back, blowing trumpets and beating drums again, with each chief riding by his standard, looking proud, and behaving as if he had gained a great victory." "Then it will be a kind of sham fight?" said Frank. "No, Ben Eddin; it will be quite real, but they will not do each other much mischief, because there is nothing to gain. There is no spoil, and besides, they are all bound to obey the new Mahdi, who has bidden them to be at peace till the Egyptian forces are driven into the Nile." "We are too late," said the Hakim grimly. "What! Do you think our Emir will be conquered?" said the professor eagerly. "No, but there will be work for us to-night or to-morrow morning with the wounded. Then how can we ask the Emir to let us go?" "The great Hakim is right," said the Sheikh. "Hark!" He held up his hand, and plainly enough the reports of guns and the shouting of combatants reached their ears, the fighting having already commenced, and evidently within the city, though as they waited the sounds grew more distant. But the dull trampling of unshod horses told of the passing of mounted men, and Ibrahim went out to join the guard at the gate, for he was in an intense state of excitement for fear there should be any demand made upon his camels, which were peaceably munching in the enclosure at the end of the house. Then came a couple of hours excited waiting for that which did not happen. For at every rush of horsemen along the road outside, the prisoners felt that the expected attack had come, and again and again the Sheikh came in to reassure them by announcing that it was only a party of the Emir's own men, for the chief had driven his enemies out of the city to the plain where the engagement was going on, but had left a strong troop of mounted men to ride to and fro to guard his house in support of the little party who had charge of the guests. "The men think it will not be much, Excellencies, for another Emir is fighting for their chief, and they are too strong. It is like a rising against those chosen by the Khalifa, but I cannot tell much as yet." But distant as the scene of the conflict was, the firing reached their ears till it was turning dusk, when it suddenly ceased, as if either one side was conquered or a mutually agreed cessation of hostilities had taken place. The first definite news of the state of affairs reached the Emir's palace just when a considerable lapse of time had occurred without news, the last being of a kind to create anxiety, the Sheikh coming in from the gate to announce that a messenger had arrived at a gallop to summon the troop of horse, who had gone off leaving their guard looking careworn and anxious, while he forbore to speak. And now the messenger who had suddenly galloped up to the entry, dashed in at once, flung his bridle to the Sheikh as he leapt down, and strode in to where the friends were anxiously waiting. All started and glanced at the open window, where a glimpse could be obtained of Ibrahim, to whom and his camels every thought was turned, as, without intercommunication, the same thought prevailed--flight, and would there be time to obtain their camels and make for the open desert before the victorious enemy arrived? For the messenger, who came looking wild and excited, his flowing white garment covered with blood and dust, was the Hakim's last patient--the Emir's son. _ |
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