somewhat from my kick, grew curious and asked him why he behaved thus.

"O noble Eunuch," he answered, "once I was free and that man made me a
slave, so that for many years I have been obliged to toil for him whom
I hate. Moreover, often he has beaten me and starved me, which was why
you saw me eat so much not long ago, and threatened to kill me, and
now at last I have my revenge upon him who is about to die miserably.
That is why I laugh and sing and dance and clap my hands, O most noble
Eunuch, I who shall become the follower and servant of the glorious
King of all the earth, and perhaps your friend, too, O Eunuch of
eunuchs, whose sacred person my brutal master dared to kick."

"I understand," said Houman smiling, though with a twisted face, "and
will make report of all you say to the King, and ask him to grant that
you shall sometimes prick this Egyptian in the eye. Now go spit in his
face and tell him what you think of him."

So Bes waded into the water which was quite shallow here, and spat
into my face, or pretended to, while amid a torrent of vile language,
he interpolated certain words in the Libyan tongue, which meant,

"O my most beloved father, mother, and other relatives, have no fear.
Though things look very black, remember the vision of the holy
Tanofir, who doubtless allows these things to happen to you to try
your faith by direct order of the gods. Be sure that I will not leave
you to perish, or if there should be no escape, that I will find a way
to put you out of your misery and to avenge you. Yes, yes, I will yet
see that accursed swine, Houman, take your place in this boat. Now I
go to the Court to which it seems that this gold chain gives me a
right of entry, or so the eunuch says, but soon I will be back again."