e glanced at his soldiers, a
thousand strong, upon the hillside. "Nor are the citizens of Zimboe the
servants of any man unless he be the king of Tyre."

"That we shall put to proof, Sakon," said Ithobal; "but say, what does
the Jew with you?" and he pointed to Aziel. "Is he also an envoy from
Zimboe?"

"Nay, King," answered the prince laughing, "but my grandsire, the mighty
ruler of Israel, charged me always to take note of the ways of savages
in peace and war, that I might learn how to deal with them. Therefore, I
sought leave to accompany Sakon upon this embassy."

"Peace, peace!" broke in Sakon. "This is no time for gibes. King
Ithobal, since you did not dare to venture yourself again within the
walls of our city, we have come to answer the demands you made upon us
in the Hall of Audience. You demanded that our fortifications should be
thrown down, and this we refuse, since we do not court destruction. You
demanded that we should cease to enslave men to labour in the mines, and
to this we answer that for every man we take we will pay a tax to his
lawful chief, or to you as king. You demanded that the ancient tribute
should be doubled. To this, out of love and friendship, and not from
fear, we assent, if you will enter into a bond of lasting peace, since
it is peace we seek, and not war. King, you have our answer."

"Not all of it, Sakon. How of that first condition--that Lady Elissa the
fair, your daughter, should be given me to wife?"

"King, it cannot be, for the gods of heaven have taken this matter from
our hands, anointing the lady Elissa their high-priestess."

"Then as I live," answered Ithobal with fury, "I will take her from the
hands of the gods and anoint her my dancing-woman. Do you think to make
a mock of me, you people of Zimboe, whom I have honoured by desiring one
of your daughters in marriage? You seek to trick me with your priests'
juggling that you may keep her to be the toy of yonder princeling? So
be it, but I tell you that I will tear your city stone from stone, and
anoint its ruins with your blood. Yes, your young men shall labour in
the mines for me, and your high-born maidens shall wait upon my queens.
Listen you,"--and he turned to his generals--"let the messengers who
are ready start east and west, and north and south, to the chiefs whose
names you have, bidding them to meet me with their tribesmen, at the
time and place appointed. When next I speak with you, Elders of Zimboe,
it sha