d on the carpet
before the throne, and saying things that made the King laugh and even
caused the grave officers behind to smile.

I came to the dais and at a little sign from Bes who yet did not seem to
see me, such a sign as he often made when he caught sight of game before
I did, I prostrated myself. The King looked at me, then asked,

"Who is this?" adding, "Oh, I remember, the Egyptian whose arrows do not
miss, the wonderful hunter whom Idernes sent to me from Memphis, which
I hope to visit ere long. We quarrelled, did we not, Egyptian, something
about a lion?"

"Not so, King," I answered. "The King was angry and with justice,
because I could not kill a lion before it frightened his horses."

This I said because my hours in the boat had made me humble, also
because the words came to my lips.

"Yes, yes, something like that, or at least you lie well. Whatever it
may have been, it is done with now, a mere hunters' difference," and
taking from his side his long sceptre that was headed with the great
emerald, he stretched it out for me to touch in token of pardon.

Then I knew that I was safe for he to whom the King has extended his
sceptre is forgiven all crimes, yes, even if he had attempted the royal
life. The Court knew it also, for every man who saw bowed towards me,
yes, even the officers behind the King. One of the cup-bearers too
brought me a goblet of the King's own wine, which I drank thankfully,
calling down health on the King.

"That was a wonderful shot of yours, Egyptian," he said, "when you sent
an arrow through the lioness that dared to attack my Majesty. Yes, the
King owes his life to you and he is grateful as you shall learn. This
slave of yours," and he pointed to Bes in his gaudy attire, "has brought
the whole matter to my mind whence it had fallen, and, Shabaka," here he
hiccupped, "you may have noted how differently things look to the naked
eye and when seen through a wine goblet. He has told me a wonderful
story--what was the story, Dwarf?"

"May it please the great King," answered Bes, rolling his big eyes,
"only a little tale of another king of my own country whom I used to
think great until I came to the East and learned what kings could be.
That king had a servant with whom he used to hunt, indeed he was my own
father. One day they were out together seeking a certain elephant whose
tusks were bigger than those of any other. Then the elephant charged the
king and my father, at the ris