fastened to the gateway pillars of the Great King's palace."

"Liars you have lived and liars you shall die," shouted Bes, but I
said nothing.

Now the agreement was that when the word had been given Idernes and I,
and the noble and Bes, should fight together, but if they killed one
of us, or we killed one of them, the two who survived might fall
together on the remaining man. Remembering this, as he told me
afterwards, at the signal Bes leapt forward like a flash with working
face and foam upon his lips, and before ever I could come to Idernes,
how I know not, had received the blow of the Eastern lord upon his
shield and without striking back, had gripped him in his long arms and
wrapped him round with his bowed legs. In an instant they were on the
ground, Bes uppermost, and I heard the sound of blow upon blow struck
with knife or sword, I knew not which, upon the Eastern's mail,
followed by a shout of victory from the Egyptians which told me that
Bes had slain him.

Now Idernes and I were smiting at each other. He was a taller and a
bigger man than myself, but older and one who had lived too well.
Therefore I thought it wise to keep him at a distance and tire him,
which I did by retreating and catching his sword-cuts on my shield,
only smiting back now and again.

"He runs! He runs!" shouted the Easterns. "O Idernes, beware the
dwarf!"

"Stand away, Bes," I called; "this is my game," and he obeyed, as
often he had done when we were hunting together.