me against the custom of peoples, and ten
others whom I shall name, I will spare the lives of all of you, though
Joshua and these ten I will hang, since they are not worthy to die by
the sword. Or resist, and by Harmac himself I swear that every man among
the Abati shall die save the white lords whom I honour because they are
brave, and that servant of yours who stood with them last night in the
den of lions, and that every woman shall be made a slave, save you, O
Walda Nagasta, because of your great heart. Your answer, O Lady of the
Abati!'"

Now Maqueda looked around the faces of her Council, and saw fear written
upon them all. Indeed, as we noted, many of them shook in their terror.

"My answer will be short, ambassadors of Barung," she replied, "still, I
am but one woman, and it is fitting that those who represent the people
should speak for the people. My uncle, Joshua, you are the first of my
Council, what have you to say? Are you willing to give up your life with
ten others whose names I do not know, that there may be peace between us
and the Fung?"

"What?" answered Joshua, with a splutter of rage, "do I live to hear a
Walda Nagasta suggest that the first prince of the land, her uncle and
affianced husband, should be surrendered to our hereditary foes to be
hanged like a worn-out hound, and do you, O unknown ten, who doubtless
stand in this chamber, live to hear it also?"

"My uncle, you do not. I asked if such was your wish, that is all."

"Then I answer that it is not my wish, nor the wish of the ten, nor the
wish of the Abati. Nay, we will fight the Fung and destroy them, and
of their beast-headed idol Harmac we will make blocks to build our
synagogues and stones to pave our roads. Do you hear, savages of Fung?"
and assisted by his two servants he hobbled towards them, grinning in
their faces.

The envoys looked him up and down with their quiet eyes. "We hear and we
are very glad to hear," their spokesman answered, "since we Fung love
to settle our quarrels with the sword and not by treaty. But to you,
Joshua, we say: Make haste to die before we enter Mur, since the rope is
not the only means of death whereof we know."

Very solemnly the three ambassadors saluted, first the Child of Kings
and next ourselves, then turned to go.

"Kill them!" shouted Joshua, "they have threatened and insulted me, the
Prince!"

But no one lifted a hand against the men, who passed safely out of the
palace to the squar