swimming across the river, he will hide for his life's sake and never
be seen again, and if by chance he is caught, he will say that the
seal fell into the water when he was taken to the boat, or that one of
the guards had stolen it. What he will not say is that he had
bargained it away with someone who in return, cut his cords, since for
that crime he must die by worse tortures than those of the boat.
Lastly we shall ride so fast that with six hours' start none will
catch us. Or if they do I can throw away the chain and swallow the
seal."

As Bes said, so it happened. The fate of Houman I never learned, and
of the theft of the seal I heard no more until a proclamation was
issued to all the kingdoms that a new one was in use. But this was not
until long afterwards when it had served my turn and that of Egypt.



CHAPTER VIII

THE LADY AMADA

Now day by day, hour by hour and minute by minute every detail of that
journey appeared before me, but to set it all down is needless. As I,
Allan Quatermain, write the record of my vision, still I seem to hear
the thunder of our horses' hoofs while we rushed forward at full
gallop over the plains, over the mountain passes and by the banks of
rivers. The speed at which we travelled was wonderful, for at
intervals of about forty miles were post-houses and at these, whatever
might be the hour of day or night, we found fresh horses from the
King's stud awaiting us. Moreover, the postmasters knew that we were