yrus to Egypt, for Gyges must accompany the ambassador to Samos, as
interpreter. This is the king's command; he has been in better spirits
the last few days; the inspection of the masses of troops coming up to
Babylon diverts him, besides which, the Chaldaeans have assured him that
the planet Adar, which belongs to their war-god Chanon, promises a great
victory to the Persian arms. When do you think you shall be able to
travel, Bartja?"

"To-morrow, if you like," was the answer. "The doctors say the sea-voyage
will do me good, and the journey by land to Smyrna is very short."

"And I can assure you," added Zopyrus, "that Sappho will cure you sooner
than all the doctors in the world."

"Then we will start in three days;" said Darius after some consideration,
"we have plenty to do before starting. Remember we are going into what
may almost be called an enemy's country. I have been thinking the matter
over, and it seems to me that Bartja must pass for a Babylonian
carpet-merchant, I for his brother, and Zopyrus for a dealer in Sardian
red."

"Couldn't we be soldiers?" asked Zopyrus. "It's such an ignominious thing
to be taken for cheating peddlers. How would it be, for instance, if we
passed ourselves off for Lydian soldiers, escaped from punishment, and
seeking service in the Egyptian army?"

"That's not a bad idea," said Bartja, "and I think too that we look more
like soldiers than traders."

"Looks and manner are no guide," said Gyges. "Those great Greek merchants
and ship-owners go about as proudly as if the world belonged to them. But
I don't find Zopyrus' proposal a bad one."

"Then so let it be," said Darius, yielding. "In that case Oroetes must
provide us with the uniform of Lydian Taxiarchs."

"You'd better take the splendid dress of the Chiliarchs at once, I
think," cried Gyges.

"Why, on such young men, that would excite suspicion directly."

"But we can't appear as common soldiers."

"No, but as Hekatontarchs."

"All right," said Zopyrus laughing. "Anything you like except a
shop-keeper.--So in three days we are off. I am glad I shall just have
time to make sure of the satrap's little daughter, and to visit the grove
of Cybele at last. Now, goodnight, Bartja; don't get up too early. What
will Sappho say, if you come to her with pale cheeks?"

CHAPTER X.

The sun of a hot midsummer-day had risen on Naukratis. The Nile had
already begun to overflow its banks, and the fields and gardens of t