he had so wished, but that as he was suffering in his head from the
effects of the sun, he could not. He bade me, however, remember all
that he had said to me and to be sure that the beauteous lady Amada,
of whom I had spoken, was sent to him without delay. In that case my
reward should be great; but if I failed to fulfil his commands, then
his wrath would be greater and I should perish miserably as he had
promised.

I bowed and made no answer, after which he and his companions opened
the bags of gold to show me that it was there, offering to weigh it
again against my servant, the dwarf, so that I could see that nothing
had been taken away.

I replied that the King's word was truer than any scale, whereon the
bags were tied up again and sealed. Then I produced the bow, or rather
its counterfeit, and having shown it to the princes, wrapped it and
six of my own arrows in a linen cloth, to be taken to the King, with a
message that though hard to draw it was the deadliest weapon in the
world. The elder of them took it, bowed and bade me farewell, saying
that perhaps we should meet again ere long in Egypt, if my gods gave
me a safe journey. So we parted and I was glad to see the last of
them.

Scarcely had they gone when the six hunters whom I had won in the
wager and thereby saved from death, entered the chamber and fell upon
their knees before me, asking for orders as to making ready my gear
for the journey. I inquired of them if they were coming also, to which
their spokesman replied that they were my slaves to do what I
commanded.