better than yours and I killed, whereas you missed or only wounded. In
the end a lioness sprang at you and I shot it lest it should kill you;
as could easily be proved by the arrow in its body. Now you say that I
must die because I have broken some laws of yours which men should be
ashamed to make, and to save your honour, pay me what I have won,
knowing that pearls and gold and slaves are of no value to a dying man
and can be taken back again. That is all the story.

"Yet I would add one word. You Easterns have two sayings which you
teach to your children; that they should learn to shoot with the bow,
and to tell the truth. O King, they are my last lessons to you. Learn
to shoot with the bow--which you cannot do, and to tell the truth
which you have not done. Now I have spoken and am ready to die and I
thank you for the patience with which you have heard my words, that,
as the King does /not/ live for ever, I hope one day to repeat to you
more fully beyond the grave."

Now at this bold speech of mine all those nobles and attendants
gasped, for never had they heard such words addressed to his Majesty.
The King turned red as though with shame, but made no answer, only he
asked of those about him.

"What fate for this man?"

"Death, O King!" they cried with one voice.

"What death?" he asked again.

Then his Councillors consulted together and one of them answered,