with a whip, so how can
that noble accept the challenge of the dwarf Bes?"

"Quite well," answered Bes, "seeing that I am no slave but a free
citizen of Egypt. Moreover, in my own country of Ethiopia I am of
royal blood. Lastly, tell the man this, that if he does not come and
afterwards falls into my hands or into those of the lord Shabaka, he who
talks of whips shall be scourged with them till his life creeps out from
between his bare bones."

Thus spoke Bes, rolling his great eyes and looking so terrible that the
herald and the officer fell back a step or two. Then I told them that
if my offer did not please them, I myself would fight, first Idernes and
then the noble. So they returned.

The end of it was that we saw Idernes and his captain advancing,
followed by a guard of ten men. Then after I had explained all things to
my officers, I also advanced with Bes, followed by a guard of ten picked
men. We met between the armies on a little sandy plain at the foot of
the rise and there followed talk between the captains of our guards as
to arms and so forth, but we four said nothing to each other, since the
time for words was past. Only Bes and I sat down upon the sand and spoke
a little together of Amada and Karema and of how they would receive the
news of our victory or deaths.

"It does not much matter, Master," said Bes at last, "seeing that if we
die we shall never know, and if we live we shall learn for ourselves."

At length all was arranged and we stood up to face each other, the four
of us being armed in the same way. For as did Idernes and the hawk-eyed
lord, Bes and I wore shirts of mail and helms, those that we had brought
with us from the East. For weapons we had short and heavy swords, small
shields and knives at our girdles.

"Look your last upon the sun, Thieves," mocked Idernes, "for when you
see it again, it shall be with blind eyes from the points of spears
fastened to the gateway pillars of the Great King's palace."

"Liars you have lived and liars you shall die," shouted Bes, but I said
nothing.

Now the agreement was that when the word had been given Idernes and I,
and the noble and Bes, should fight together, but if they killed one of
us, or we killed one of them, the two who survived might fall together
on the remaining man. Remembering this, as he told me afterwards, at the
signal Bes leapt forward like a flash with working face and foam upon
his lips, and before ever I could come to Ider