nes that I should be taken to him as a
prisoner. I do not know why, but I think because things are passing in
Egypt of which we know nothing and the King did not desire that I should
see the Prince Peroa and give him news that I might have gathered.
Mayhap we have been outwitted, Bes, and the business of the lady Amada
is but a pretext to pick a quarrel suddenly before Peroa can strike the
first blow."

"Perhaps, Master, for these Easterns are very crafty. But, Master, what
happens to those who make a false use of the King's ancient, sacred
signet? I think they have cut the ropes which tie them to earth," and he
looked upwards to the sky rolling his yellow eyes.

"They must find new ropes, Bes, and quickly, before they are caught.
Hearken. You have sat upon a throne and I can speak out to you. Think
you that my cousin, the Prince Peroa, loves to be the servant of this
distant, Eastern king, he who by right is Pharaoh of Egypt? Peroa must
strike or lose his niece and perchance his life. Forward, that we may
warn him."

"And if he will not strike, Master, knowing the King's might and being
somewhat slow to move?"

"Then, Bes, I think that you and I had best go hunting far away in those
lands you know, where even the Great King cannot follow us."

"And where, if only I can find a woman who does not make me ill to look
on, and whom I do not make ill, I too can once more be a king, Master,
and the lord of many thousand brave armed men. I must speak of that
matter to the holy Tanofir."

"Who doubtless will know what to advise you, Bes; or, if he dies not, I
shall."

For a while we rode on in silence, each thinking his own thoughts. Then
Bes said,

"Master, before so very long we shall reach the Nile, and having with us
gold in plenty can buy boats and hire crews. It comes into my mind that
we should do well for our own safety and comfort to start at once on a
hunting journey far from Egypt; in the land of the Ethiopians, Master.
There perchance I could gather together some of the wise men in whose
hands I left the rule of my kingdom, and submit to them this question of
a woman to marry me. The Ethiopians are a faithful people, Master, and
will not reject me because I have spent some years seeing the world
afar, that I might learn how to rule them better."

"I have remembered that it cannot be, Bes," I said.

"Why not, Master?"

"For this reason. You left your country because of a woman? I cannot
leave mine agai