For Fortune and Glory | Page 6

to work, and suspect that his failure was due very
much to impatience and wrong-headedness, and the mixing up of
political questions with his personal claims. He wrote a book, which
made some noise, and caused him to lose his appointment. Then he
came to me in Egypt, and was very useful.
"I should have liked him for a partner, but he went off to discover the
source of the Nile. He thought he had succeeded, and after a
disappearance of some years came back triumphant. But he had
followed the Blue Nile instead of the real branch, and the discoveries of
Speke, Grant, Livingstone, and Stanley were terribly bitter to
him--drove him quite mad, I think. Since then he has identified himself
with the Arab race, and seems to hate all Europeans, except his sister
and her family. With me he has never quarrelled, and I think
remembers that I offered him a home and employment when his career
was cut short. What he is in England for now I do not know. Perhaps
only to see your mother once more, but I suspect there is something
else.
"He writes many letters, and makes a point of posting them himself. I
fear that he takes opium, or some drug of that kind, and altogether,
though it is inhospitable perhaps to say so, it will be a relief when he is
gone, and that will not be many days now."
After leaving his uncle in such a rapt state, it was curious to Harry to
see him walk into the drawing-room before dinner in correct evening
costume, and not wearing his fez. He was somewhat taciturn, ate very
little, and drank nothing but water, but his manners were those of a
perfect gentleman. After dinner he retired, and they saw no more of
him that evening.
Harry Forsyth had several other interviews with his uncle, who showed
more fondness for his company than he had for that of any other

member of the family, but who kept a greater guard over himself, and
was more reticent than he had been on the occasion of his first
interview. He spoke of Eastern climes, war, sport, and scenery, with
enthusiasm indeed, but rationally, and Harry grew interested, and liked
to hear him, though he never got over the feeling that there was
something uncanny about him.
One night, after dinner, when a fortnight of Harry's holidays had
elapsed, the uncle, on retiring, asked his nephew to come and see him
in the study at eleven on the following morning, and Harry, punctually
complying, found him seated on a chair before the large table with
three packets before him.
"Sit down, my lad," he said, and the deep musical tones of his voice
had an affectionate sadness in them.
"I am going back to my own land to-morrow, and shall never leave it
again. But we shall meet, for such is the will of the All-Powerful,
unless the inward voice deceives me, as it has never hitherto done. You
will, or let us say you may, need my aid. You will learn where and how
to find the Sheikh Burrachee--which is my real name--from Yusuff, the
sword dealer, in the armourers' bazaar, at Cairo. But you will more
certainly do so by applying to the head Dervish at the mosques of
Suakim, Berber, or Khartoum. At the last town, indeed, you will have
no difficulty in learning where I am, and being conducted to me; and,
indeed, in any considerable place above the second cataract of the Nile,
you will probably learn at the mosque how and where to obtain the
required direction, even if they cannot give it you themselves. If there
is hesitation, show the holy man this ring, and it will be removed at
once. Should you meet with hindrance in your journey from any desert
tribe, ask to be led to the chief, and give him this parchment. He may
not be an ally to help you, but he may, and if not, he will probably not
hinder you. Lastly, take these three stones, and see that you keep them
securely in a safe place, and that no one knows that you possess them.
They are sapphires of some value I exact no promise, but I bid you not
to part with these for any purpose but that of coming to me. For that,
sell them. Should you hear of my death, or should ten years elapse

without your coming to me, they are yours to do what you like with.
Lest you should forget any part of my directions, I have written them
on a paper which is at the bottom of the box containing the sapphires.
Come."
Harry rose and stood by his side. His uncle fitted the ring