But, familiar though the story was, Calder could not dismiss it from his thoughts.

The immobility of the sick man upon the native bedstead in a way fascinated him, and when towards sunset a strong wind sprang up and blew against the stream, he felt an actual comfort in the knowledge that the sick man would gain some relief from it.

And when his neighbour that evening at the dinner table spoke to him with a German accent, he suddenly asked upon an impulse:-- "You are not a doctor by any chance ?" "Not a doctor," said the German, "but a student of medicine at Bonn.

I came from Cairo to see the Second Cataract, but was not allowed to go farther than Wadi Halfa." Calder interrupted him at once.

"Then I will trespass upon your holiday and claim your professional assistance." "For yourself?
With pleasure, though I should never have guessed you were ill," said the student, smiling good-naturedly behind his eyeglasses.
"Nor am I.It is an Arab for whom I ask your help." "The man on the bedstead ?" "Yes, if you will be so good.