elling
us to submit by force of arms, you can only bring great damage on
yourselves. The moment your army nears the Araxes, we shall depart
with our wives and children and seek another home, for we have no fixed
dwellings like yours, but are accustomed to rove at will on our swift
horses, and to rest in tents. Our gold we shall take with us, and shall
fill up, destroy, and conceal the pits in which you could find new
treasures. We know every spot where gold is to be found, and can give
it in abundance, if you grant us peace and leave us our liberty; but, if
you venture to invade our territory, you win nothing but an empty
desert and an enemy always beyond your reach,--an enemy who may become
formidable, when he has had time to recover from the heavy losses which
have thinned his ranks. Leave us in peace and freedom and we are ready
to give every year five thousand swift horses of the desert, besides
the yearly tribute of gold; we will also come to the help of the Persian
nation when threatened by any serious danger."

The envoy ceased speaking. Cambyses did not answer at once; his eyes
were fixed on the ground in deep thought. At last he said, rising at the
same time from his throne: "We will take counsel on this matter over the
wine to-night, and to-morrow you shall hear what answer you can bring
to your people. Gobryas, see that these men are well cared for, and send
the Massagetan, who wounded me in battle, a portion of the best dishes
from my own table."

CHAPTER XV.

During these events Nitetis had been sitting alone in her house on the
hanging-gardens, absorbed in the saddest thoughts. To-day, for the first
time, she had taken part in the general sacrifice made by the king's
wives, and had tried to pray to her new gods in the open air, before the
fire-altars and amidst the sound of religious songs strange to her ears.

Most of the inhabitants of the harem saw her to-day for the first time,
and instead of raising their eyes to heaven, had fixed them on her
during the ceremony. The inquisitive, malevolent gaze of her rivals, and
the loud music resounding from the city, disquieted and distracted her
mind. Her thoughts reverted painfully to the solemn, sultry stillness
of the gigantic temples in her native land where she had worshipped the
gods of her childhood so earnestly at the side of her mother and sister;
and much as she longed, just on this day, to pray for blessings on
her beloved king, all her effor