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In the Mahdi's Grasp, a fiction by George Manville Fenn |
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Chapter 34. Fresh Gifts |
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_ CHAPTER THIRTY FOUR. FRESH GIFTS Fortunately for Frank's plans the Emirs who led the late arrivals of forces took up their residence right at the other end of the city, outside which their savage followers were for the most part encamped, and in the various rides about the place which the young man had with his companion none of them were encountered, though men of another tribe were. For it was evident that forces were being mustered largely with Omdurman as a centre--a fact which gave strength to the rumours the Sheikh brought in daily that the combined English and Egyptian forces were steadily coming up the Nile. But to Frank these rumours regarding the army were as if they did not exist. His whole being was concentrated upon the one aim--to obtain an interview with his brother; and a week had passed with this apparently as far off as ever. The friends obtained a little information through Ibrahim, and, briefly condensed, it amounted to this: That Harry Frere--no longer kept in irons--was rather a favoured slave of the Emir he was with, but he was always jealously guarded, and constantly in close attendance upon his owner, having in charge the Emir's horses and camels. But though Frank had seen him once more during a call which the Emir's son had made upon the chief who had protected him on that special day, he had not been able to get half so near as before, and, to add to his misery, his brother had not once turned towards where Frank with throbbing breast strove for a glance. Accident, however, often does more than the most carefully devised plans, and it was so here. Pending the arrival of more savage troops, the Emir and his son spent a good deal of time in a kind of rough drilling of the powerful body of men who followed their standard, and it became quite a matter of course for Frank to accompany the young chief, who made him more and more a companion; but there were days when they rode about together, and as Frank grew more familiar with the city his Baggara companion willingly enough allowed him to select the way they went, and naturally enough Frank arranged that either in going or coming they should pass the friendly chiefs house. It was easily managed, for Frank, who had naturally enough been pleased with the beautiful Arabian horse he rode, made this the excuse in a dumb way of displaying a deep interest in horses and camels, taking the young Emir about among their own, examining the Emir's stud in his company, and finally contriving to make him understand that he wanted to see those belonging to his friend. All happened more favourably than he could have anticipated, and as Frank's companion readily joined in anything that seemed to please his friend, it came about that one day Frank found himself in the Emir's place, inspecting the beautiful horses and camels which formed the chiefs principal wealth. They were shown readily enough, the chief looking proud and pleased with the eager examination and satisfaction expressed by his visitors, having first one and then another saddled for the friends to try, though, while showing a smiling face and making much of the various noble-looking brutes, there was a weary sickness about the young man's heart as he sought in vain for an opportunity to make himself known to the Emir's slave. Meanwhile Harry led up horse after horse, saddled and unsaddled, even holding his brother's stirrup, but never displaying the slightest emotion, when Frank was thrilling in every fibre as he made use of Harry's hand and shoulder unnecessarily while mounting the kneeling camel which he had been holding when they first met. It was something, that touch, and to be so near to his brother. A word would have been sufficient to make his presence known, but Frank dared not utter that word, for the Emir was there giving orders to his slave, and his companion was always close by, so that it was impossible to slip that tightly folded scrap of paper into the young officer's hand. It only contained a few words, but they would have been enough if he could have given them with a word of warning to Harry not to look at the paper till they were gone. "_Cheer up! Friends are near.--Frank_." That was all; and those words lay all through the visit ready to Frank's hand, while with patient endurance his brother toiled away, coming and going with horse and camel, till the young Emir began to grow impatient and Frank dared not express a desire to see more, nor yet turn to look after the slave leading away the last horse. But Frank felt that the visit was not in vain. He had gained something, and he said to himself if he could get to the Emir's place some day alone and under some pretence about the horses, he might manage to have a word or two with the prisoner. But what was the excuse to be?--Could he contrive to get there alone some day when the young Emir was away with his followers? That seemed very doubtful, for twice of late when he had taken his men out upon the sandy plain away from the river he had invited and taken Frank with him, and the rides had been startling, for the young chief's manner suggested that since their encounter with the dervishes he had some thought of making him one of his followers, a member of a wild troop of desert warriors. Still Frank thought that there must be some way of compassing a meeting with his brother, one that would excite no suspicion, and one evening when he had been talking the matter over with his friends, and a score of ideas had been proposed, each of which possessed some failing spot and caused it to be thrown aside, the right thought came. They were sitting together feeling rather despondent, and the Hakim as a last resource began to talk of the possibility of an appeal to the Emir to gain the liberty of the young English slave, but only to make Frank shake his head sadly. "He would not do it," said the young man, "and he will never part with us. See how the sufferers have been coming in these last three days." "Yes," said the Hakim, with a droll look of perplexity in his countenance; "no sooner is one cured than another appears." "Yes, two," said the professor; "we did not think you were coming out into the Soudan to find a tremendous practice waiting, and no pay." "But board and lodging, my dear Fred," replied the doctor, smiling. "Exactly, and certainly that is of the best. But by the way, have you quite done with Emir Rontgen?" "Quite," said the doctor. "Ibrahim told him that he was well off my hands this morning, and he scowled at me--well, I'll be fair--he looked at me as seriously as he could, made me a stately bow, and went away." "These noble cut-throats pay their doctors' bills very cheaply," said the professor. "Hullo, Ibrahim, what is it?" "The Emir, Excellency, to see the Hakim." "Advice gratis only in the morning," said the professor gruffly. "Can't send him back, I suppose. What's the matter with him now?" The explanation soon came, for their friend entered at once, followed by three of his men laden with something, and the next minute Ibrahim was busy at work interpreting the great chief's speech, which was to the effect that his brother Emir thanked the Hakim for saving him from death by his skill, and begged that the great and wise doctor would accept the trifles that he sent by the hand of his friend. In addition, he said that if at any time the Hakim would change his home, there was one for him in his patient's tribe, where all his people would live longer and be happier if they had so wise and learned a man in their midst. "But tell the great Hakim," continued the Emir, "that he must not think of leaving me and mine. That I look upon him as a young man might look upon his noble, learned brother, for he has saved my life and my son's life, and given health and strength to hundreds who have come to ask his help." The fierce, rugged face of the Emir grew softer as he spoke these last words, and then drawing back he signed to two of the men to lay their loads at the Hakim's feet, which they did, and then left the room. "Tell the Hakim that this is from me for all that he has done for me and my son." At a sign the third man laid his burden upon the rug in front of the doctor, and passed out in turn, while bending down to take the latter's hand the great chief held it for a few moments in silence, and then moved toward the door. "Stop!" cried the doctor quickly. "Tell the Emir to stay that I may thank him, Ibrahim." The chief turned and shook his head. "It is enough that the great Hakim will take my little gifts," he said, and he gravely passed out of the room. "Then they are grateful," said the professor, "and I beg their pardon, both of them. What have they sent for you? Rich rugs and silk and muslins, I suppose, and--" "Never mind them," cried Frank in an excited whisper. "I have it now!" "What?" said the doctor earnestly. "The idea for getting near poor Hal." "Ah!" cried the professor, as excited as the speaker, for Frank's manner carried conviction. "What is it?" "A present to the young Emir's friend for saving our lives." "But how's that going to bring you into contact with poor Harry?" "Like this," whispered Frank eagerly. "He is proud of his horses and camels--this chief. I will give him the finest and most costly bit and bridle Ibrahim can buy in the bazaar." "But are such things to be bought in the city?" "Oh, _yes_, plenty of them. Fine red or brown morocco, ornamented with silver or gold. You could get such a one, Ibrahim?" "Oh, yes, Excellency, or a saddle either." "Yes," said the professor, after a few moments' thought. "Such a present would appeal to a man like that. Yes, Frank, I like that idea. You could stop and watch while the bridle was put on. Ibrahim must see about the gift at once." "Yes, Excellencies," said the old man; "the words are good. To-morrow, then, I shall bring plenty for them to choose. But will not your Excellencies see now what the great Emir has brought?" "No--yes," said the Hakim. "We must not slight his gifts. Open them out." Sam was summoned, and costly rugs, pieces of richly woven stuffs, the finest cotton haiks and burnooses, were spread out before the friends, and they noticed that their Emir's gift was far more costly than his friend's. But one and all had another present in their vision, one that seemed to stand out real before Frank Frere all the time--a rich, well-stitched, red morocco head-stall and reins, ornamented with thick bosses and buckles of gold, and fitted with a silver bit; and that night when he slept the present was the main feature of one long-continued dream. _ |
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