at river. Then I, who desired to see
new countries, said, 'Here am I. Send me.' So I came and for three moons
have dwelt in the royal city, but till this hour have scarcely so much
as seen the face of the great King, although by many messengers I have
announced my presence, showing them the letters of Idernes giving me
safe-conduct. Therefore I propose to-morrow or the next day to return to
Egypt."

The King said a word and a scribe appeared whom he commanded to take
note of my words and let the matter be inquired of, since some should
suffer for this neglect, a saying at which I saw Houman and certain of
the nobles turn pale and whisper to each other.

"Now I remember," he exclaimed, "that I did desire Idernes to send me an
Egyptian hunter. Well, you are here and we are about to hunt the lion
of which there are many in yonder reeds, hungry and fierce beasts, since
for three days they have been herded in so that they can kill no food.
How many lions have you slain, Shabaka?"

"Fifty and three in all, O King, not counting the cubs."

He stared at me, answering with a sneer,

"You Egyptians have large mouths. I have always heard it of you. Well,
to-day we will see whether you can kill a fifty-fourth. In an hour when
the sun begins to sink, the hounds will be loosed in yonder reeds and
since the water is behind them, the lions will come out, and then we
shall see."

Now I saw that the King thought me to be a liar and the blood rose to my
head.

"Why wait till the sun begins to sink, O King of kings?" I said. "Why
not enter the reeds, as is our fashion in the Land of Kush, and rouse
the lions from sleep in their own lair?"

Now the King laughed outright and called in a loud voice to his
courtiers,

"Do ye hear this boasting Egyptian, who talks of entering the reeds and
facing the lions in their lair, a thing that no man dare do where none
can see to shoot? What say ye now? Shall we ask him to prove his words?"

Some great lord stepped forward, one who was a hunter though he looked
little like it, for the scent on his hair reached me from four paces
away and there was paint upon his face.

"Yes, O King," he said in a mincing voice, "let him enter and kill a
lion. But if he fail, then let a lion kill him. There are some hungry in
the palace den and it is not fit that the King's ears should be filled
with empty words by foreigners from Egypt."

"So be it," said the King. "Egyptian, you have brought it on your ow