The King frowned as though the name displeased him, then answered,

"Am I not greater than this Peroa and cannot I therefore shoot
better?"

"Doubtless, O King of kings, and therefore how can I who shoot worse
than Peroa, match myself against you?"

"For which reason I will give you odds, Shabaka. Behold this rope of
rose-hued pearls I wear. They are unequalled in the whole world, for
twenty years the merchants sought them in the days of my father; half
of them would buy a satrapy. I wager them"--here the listening nobles
gasped and the fat eunuch, Houman, held up his hands in horror.

"Against what, O King?"

"Your slave Bes, to whom I have taken a fancy."

Now I trembled and Bes rolled his yellow eyes.

"Your pardon, O King of kings," I said, "but it is not enough. I am a
hunter and to such, priceless pearls are of little use. But to me that
dwarf is of much use in my hunting."

"So be it, Shabaka, then I will add to the wager. If you win, together
with the pearls I will give you the dwarf's weight in solid gold."

"The King is bountiful," I answered, "but it is not enough, for even
if I win against one who can shoot better than Peroa, which is