midday
`` Very well , '' said the doctor coolly ; `` it shows that they approve of my treatment . I suppose we shall know at the first halt . '' This was many hours in coming , for a long , monotonous march was made right away to the south-west , with the pile of rocks they had left gradually sinking till quite out of sight , and then , with the sun growing hotter and hotter , there was nothing visible on any side but the long , level stretch of sand . The halt was not made till near midday , when the heat had become unbearable , and horses and camels were growing sluggish , and showed plenty of indications of the need of whip and spur . Then , apparently without orders , the little knot of horsemen , led by the Baggara who had had charge of the prisoners , drew up short and faced round , when taking them as the extreme limit the rest of the train formed themselves up into a well ordered group as they came on , till , with the Sheikh 's party and their guards as a kind of centre , and the camels with their loads behind , the horsemen closed them in as if for strategic reasons , and for the next half hour there was a busy scene , the camels being relieved of their loads as if the stay were to be of some hours ' length . This was evidently intended , for fires were lit and food was prepared , many of the horsemen after picketing their horses settling down at once to coffee and pipes . It was while Frank and his friends were partaking of an _ al fresco _ lunch , hastily prepared by Sam , that they had their first intimation of the Baggara chief being with the horsemen , for he cantered up to their temporary camp in company with his fierce-looking companion , leaped from his horse , and walked up to the Hakim at once , to give him a smile of recognition and hold out his left arm , which he tapped vigorously as if saying : `` Look !