who talks of whips shall be scourged with them till his life creeps
out from between his bare bones."

Thus spoke Bes, rolling his great eyes and looking so terrible that
the herald and the officer fell back a step or two. Then I told them
that if my offer did not please them, I myself would fight, first
Idernes and then the noble. So they returned.

The end of it was that we saw Idernes and his captain advancing,
followed by a guard of ten men. Then after I had explained all things
to my officers, I also advanced with Bes, followed by a guard of ten
picked men. We met between the armies on a little sandy plain at the
foot of the rise and there followed talk between the captains of our
guards as to arms and so forth, but we four said nothing to each
other, since the time for words was past. Only Bes and I sat down upon
the sand and spoke a little together of Amada and Karema and of how
they would receive the news of our victory or deaths.

"It does not much matter, Master," said Bes at last, "seeing that if
we die we shall never know, and if we live we shall learn for
ourselves."

At length all was arranged and we stood up to face each other, the
four of us being armed in the same way. For as did Idernes and the
hawk-eyed lord, Bes and I wore shirts of mail and helms, those that we
had brought with us from the East. For weapons we had short and heavy
swords, small shields and knives at our girdles.

"Look your last upon the sun, Thieves," mocked Idernes, "for when you
see it again, it shall be with blind eyes from the points of spears