In a moment I had jumped up and knocked him down ;
but Ahmed, who was standing by, leaning on his crutch,
begged me not to take it in this way. ' It was not realty
meant for rudeness,' he said ; ' it is merely a part of the
cure, and will do you much good.' But the poor doctor,
whose confidence had been somewhat shaken, and who was
still standing at a distance, muttered: 'Headache is the work
of the devil, and I must drive it out ; several passages from
the Kuran and the sayings of holy men direct that it should
be chased away by spitting, and thus his evil work in your
head will cease I' In spite of my annoyance, I could not
help laughing. <So I am supposed to be possessed of a
devil,' I said ; ' I trust be was only a little one, and that you
have really driven him out.' I did not, however, let him
make a second experiment, and, giving him a dollar as com-
pensation, I bade him good-bye, and be left me, calling



«6 FIRB AND SWORD IN THE SUDAN

down the blessings of Heaven od my poor head, which was
still aching sadly.
