rank waited on the King like slaves and even clipped his nails and
beard--craved pardon humbly, admitting his fault.

"It is a lie," whispered Bes. "The horses never stirred. How could
they with those grooms holding their heads? Nevertheless, Master, the
pearls are as good as round your neck."

"Silence," I answered. "As we have heard, in the East all men speak
the truth; it is only Egyptians who lie. Also in the East men's necks
are encircled with bowstrings as well as pearls, and ears are long."

The hounds continued to bay, drawing nearer to us. A lioness bounded
out of the reeds, ran towards the King's chariot and as though amazed,
sat down like a dog, so near that a man might have hit it with a
stone. The King shot short, striking it in the fore-paw only, whereon
it shook out the arrow and rushed back into the reeds, while the court
behind cried,

"May the King live for ever! The beast is dead."

"We shall see if it is dead presently," said Bes, and I nodded.

Another lion appeared to the right of the King. Again he shot and
missed it, whereon he began to curse and to swear in his own royal
oaths, and the charioteer trembled. Then came the end.

One of the hounds drew quite close and roused the lioness that had
been pricked in the foot. She turned and killed it with a blow of her
paw, then, being mad, charged straight at the King's chariot. The
horses reared, lifting the grooms off their feet. The King shot wildly