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?"