A HAKIM 291 white hakims at work, to save your life ! What is to be done now ? ’ he went on, turning to me.

‘ He should be raised very gently, and clothes put under his shoulder and head; then he should be carried on the angareb to the coolest place in the house. He may drink a little juice of fruit, but he had best eat nothing. The great thing is to prevent fever coming on. With your permission I will stay with him, for if one of the threads you saw me tie round these little white tubes in the arm should slip or give way, he would be dead in five minutes, unless this machine round the arm is tightened at once and the tube that carries the blood is tied up. It would be well that he should have a slave to fan him. I hope he will sleep. “ The Emir gave orders for the bed to be carried to the room adjoining his harem.

‘ His mother and his young wife will want to see him, he said to me, and when the danger that you speak of is past, the women will care for him. You will be master in the room, and will give such orders as you please.’

“ Then he turned off and walked hastily away. I could see that he had spoken with difficulty, and that, in spite of his efforts to appear composed and tranquil, his mouth was twitching and his eyes moist.

“ As soon as the bed had been placed by my directions near the open window, the four Dervishes left the room. The hakims were on the point of doing so, when I said: “ ‘ I will stay here for a few minutes, and will then come out and talk this matter over with you. I have been fortunate indeed in remembering so well what I saw. I heard a white hakim explain how he did each thing, and why, to the sheik of the wounded man’s party, and I will tell you what I remember of it, and you, with your wisdom in these matters, will be able to do it far better than I.’ “ When they had retired, the door leading into the harem opened, and a woman, slightly veiled, followed by a younger woman and two slave girls, came in. I stopped her as she was hurrying towards her son.