about an hour after midnight
`` Go and get a good night 's rest . You must be tired . '' `` I have not done half the work you have , '' was the reply , and after a little further argument the doctor gave way , and the watch was commenced , first one and then the other taking the lamp to bend over the insensible man , and make sure that he was breathing still . It was about an hour after midnight that Frank 's turn had come , and as he had done some three times before , he took the lamp from where it stood , shaded from the sufferer 's eyes , and went behind him , to kneel down and watch for the feeble pulsation , breathing deeply himself with satisfaction as he found that the respiration still went on , when as he rose , lamp in hand he nearly let it fall on finding himself face to face with a tall figure in white robes , who looked at him sternly , took the lamp from his hand , and bent over in turn . Frank neither spoke nor moved , but drew back a little , watching the face of the Baggara chief as the light struck full upon the swarthy , aquiline features for a few minutes , before the visitor rose and handed back the lamp , gazing full in the young man 's eyes . Then , thrusting his hand into his waist scarf , he freed the sheath of a handsome dagger from the folds , and without a word handed it to Frank , motioning him to place it in his own belt , after which he went silently out of the tent , vanishing like a shadow . Frank stood motionless for a few minutes before setting down the lamp , and he was about to return to his place when the doctor 's voice said softly -- `` Well , Frank , how is he ? ''