<h2><SPAN name="chap12"></SPAN>CHAPTER XII.<br/>THE SLAYING OF IDERNES</h2>
<p>Whilst I was still talking to my mother I received an urgent summons to the
palace. I went and in a little ante-chamber met Amada alone, who, I could see,
was waiting there for me. She was arrayed in her secular dress and wore the
insignia of royalty, looking exceedingly beautiful. Moreover, her whole aspect
had changed, for now she was no longer a priestess sworn to mysteries, but just
a lovely and a loving woman.</p>
<p>“It is done, Shabaka,” she whispered, “and thou art mine and
I am thine.”</p>
<p>Then I opened my arms and she sank upon my breast and for the first time I
kissed her on the lips, kissed her many times and oh! my heart almost burst
with joy. But all too fleeting was that sweet moment of love’s first
fruits, whereon I had sown the seed so many years ago, for while we yet clung
together, whispering sweet things into each other’s ears, I heard a voice
calling me and was forced to go away before I had even time to ask when we
might be wed.</p>
<p>Within the Council was gathered. The news before it was that the Satrap Idernes
lay camped upon the Nile with some ten thousand men, not far from the great
pyramids, that is, within striking distance of Memphis. Moreover his messengers
announced that he purposed to visit the Prince Peroa that day with a small
guard only, to inquire into this matter of the Signet, for which visit he
demanded a safe-conduct sworn in the name of the Great King and in those of the
gods of Egypt and the East. Failing this he would at once attack Memphis
notwithstanding any commands that might be given him under the Signet, which,
until he beheld it with his own eyes, he believed to be a forgery.</p>
<p>The question was—what answer should be sent to him? The debate that
followed proved long and earnest. Some were in favour of attacking Idernes at
once although his camp was reported to be strongly entrenched and flanked on
one side by the Nile and on the other by the rising ground whereon stood the
great sphinx and the pyramids. Others, among whom I was numbered, thought
otherwise, for I hold that some evil god led me to give counsel that day which,
if it were good for Egypt was most ill for my own fortunes. Perchance this god
was Isis, angry at the loss of her votary.</p>
<p>I pointed out that by receiving Idernes Peroa would gain time which would
enable a body of three thousand men, if not more, who were advancing down the
Nile, to join us before they were perhaps cut off from the city, and thus give
us a force as large as his, or larger. Also I showed that having summoned
Idernes under the Signet, we should put ourselves in the wrong if we refused to
receive him and instead attacked him at once.</p>
<p>A third party was in favour of allowing him to enter Memphis with his guard and
then making him prisoner or killing him. As to this I pointed out again that
not only would it involve the breaking of a solemn oath, which might bring the
curse of the gods upon our cause and proclaim us traitors to the world, but it
would also be foolish since Idernes was not the only general of the Easterns
and if we cut off him and his escort, it would avail us little for then the
rest of the Easterns would fight in a just cause.</p>
<p>So in the end it was agreed that the safe-conduct should be sent and that Peroa
should receive Idernes that very day at a great feast given in his honour.
Accordingly it was sent in the ancient form, the oaths being taken before the
messengers that neither he nor those with him who must not number more than
twenty men, would be harmed in Memphis and that he would be guarded on the road
back until he reached the outposts of his own camp.</p>
<p>This done, I was despatched up the Nile bank in a chariot accompanied only by
Bes, to hurry on the march of those troops of which I have spoken, so that they
might reach Memphis by sundown. Before I went, however, I had some words alone
with Peroa. He told me that my immediate marriage with the lady Amada would be
announced at the feast that night. Thereon I prayed him to deliver to Amada the
rope of priceless rose-hued pearls which was in his keeping, as my betrothal
gift, with the prayer that she would wear them at the feast for my sake. There
was no time for more.</p>
<p>The journey up Nile proved long for the road was bad being covered with drifted
sand in some places and deep in mud from the inundation waters in others. At
length I found the troops just starting forward after their rest, and rejoiced
to see that there were more of them than I had thought. I told the case to
their captains, who promised to make a forced march and to be in Memphis two
hours before midnight.</p>
<p>As we drove back Bes said to me suddenly,</p>
<p>“Do you know why you could not find me this morning?”</p>
<p>I answered that I did not.</p>
<p>“Because a good slave should always run a pace ahead of his master, to
clear the road and tell him of its pitfalls. I was being married. The Cup of
the holy Tanofir is now by law and right Queen of the Ethiopians. So when you
meet her again you must treat her with great respect, as I do already.”</p>
<p>“Indeed, Bes,” I said laughing, “and how did you manage that
business? You must have wooed her well during these days which have been so
full for both of us.”</p>
<p>“I did not woo her over much, Master; indeed, the time was lacking. I
wooed the holy Tanofir, which was more important.”</p>
<p>“The holy Tanofir, Bes?” I exclaimed.</p>
<p>“Yes, Master. You see this beautiful Cup of his is after all—his
beautiful Cup. Her mind is the shadow of his mind and from her he pours out his
wisdom. So I told him all the case. At first he was angry, for, notwithstanding
the words he spoke to you and me, when it came to a point the holy Tanofir,
being after all much like other men, did not wish to lose his Cup. Indeed had
he been a few score of years younger I am not sure but that he would have
forgotten some of his holiness because of her. Still he came to see matters in
the true light at last—for your sake, Master, not for mine, since his
wisdom told him it was needful that I should become King of the Ethiopians
again, to do which I must be married. At any rate he worked upon the mind of
that Cup of his—having first settled that she should procure a younger
sister of her own to fill her place—in such fashion that when at length I
spoke to her on the matter, she did not say no.”</p>
<p>“No doubt because she was fond of you for yourself, Bes. A woman would
not marry even to please the holy Tanofir.”</p>
<p>“Oh! Master,” he replied in a new voice, a very sad voice, “I
would that I could think so. But look at me, a misshapen dwarf, accursed from
birth. Could a fair lady like this Karema wed such a one for his own
sake?”</p>
<p>“Well, Bes, there might be other reasons besides the holy Tanofir,”
I said hurriedly.</p>
<p>“Master, there were no other reasons, unless the Cup, when it is awake,
remembers what it has held in trance, which I do not believe. I wooed her as I
was, not telling her that I am also King of the Ethiopians, or any more than I
seem to be. Moreover the holy Tanofir told her nothing, for he swore as much to
me and he does not lie.”</p>
<p>“And what did she say to you, Bes?” I asked, for I was curious.</p>
<p>“She lied fast enough, Master. She said—well, what she said when
first we met her, that there was more in me than the eye saw and that she who
had lived so much with spirits looked to the spirit rather than to the flesh,
and that dwarf or no she loved me and desired nothing better than to marry me
and be my true and faithful wife and helpmeet. She lied so well that once or
twice almost I believed her. At any rate I took her at her word, not altogether
for myself, believe me, Master, but because without doubt what the holy Tanofir
has shown us will come to pass, and it is necessary to you that I should be
married.”</p>
<p>“You married her to help me, Bes?”</p>
<p>“That is so, Master—after all, but a little thing, seeing that she
is beautiful, well born and very pleasant, and I am fond of her. Also I do her
no wrong for she has bought more than she bargained for, and if she has any
that are not dwarfs, her children may be kings. I do not think,” he added
reflectively, “that even the faithful Ethiopians could accept a second
dwarf as their king. One is very well for a change, but not two or three. The
stomach of a tall people would turn against them.”</p>
<p>I took Bes’s hand and pressed it, understanding the depth of his love and
sacrifice. Also some spirit—doubtless it came from the holy
Tanofir—moved me to say,</p>
<p>“Be comforted, Bes, for I am sure of this. Your children will be strong
and straight and tall, more so than any of their forefathers that went before
them.”</p>
<p>This indeed proved to be the case, for their father’s deformity was but
an accident, not born in his blood.</p>
<p>“Those are good-omened words, Master, for which I thank you, though the
holy Tanofir said the like when he wed us with the sacred words this morning
and gave us his blessing, endowing my wife with certain gifts of secret wisdom
which he said would be of use to her and me.”</p>
<p>“Where is she now, Bes?”</p>
<p>“With the holy Tanofir, Master, until I fetch her, training her younger
sister to be a diviner’s worthy Cup. Only perhaps I shall never send,
seeing that I think there will be fighting soon.”</p>
<p>“Yes, Bes, but being newly married you will do well to leave it to
others.”</p>
<p>“No, no, Master. Battle is better than wives. Moreover, could you think
that I would leave you to stand alone in the fray? Why if I did and harm came
to you I should die of shame or hang myself and then Karema would never be a
queen. So both her trades would be gone, since after marriage she cannot be a
Cup, and her heart would break. But here are the gates of Memphis, so we will
forget love and think of war.”</p>
<p class="p2">
An hour later I and my mother, the lady Tiu, stood in the banqueting hall of
the palace with many others, and learned that the Satrap Idernes and his escort
had reached Memphis and would be present at the feast. A while later trumpets
blew and a glittering procession entered the hall. At the head of it was Peroa
who led Idernes by the hand. This Eastern was a big, strong man with tired and
anxious eyes, such as I had noted were common among the servants of the Great
King who from day to day never knew whether they would fill a Satrapy or a
grave. He was clad in gorgeous silks and wore a cap upon his head in which
shone a jewel, but beneath his robes I caught the glint of mail.</p>
<p>As he came into the hall and noted the number and quality of the guests and the
stir and the expectant look upon their faces, he started as though he were
afraid, but recovering himself, murmured some courteous words to his host and
advanced towards the seat of honour which was pointed out to him upon the
Prince’s right. After these two followed the wife of Peroa with her son
and daughters. Then, walking alone in token of her high rank, appeared Amada,
the Royal Lady of Egypt, wonderfully arrayed. Now, however, she wore no emblems
of royalty, either because it was not thought wise that these should be shown
in the presence of the Satrap, or because she was about to be given in marriage
to one who was not royal. Indeed, as I noted with joy, her only ornament was
the rope of rose-hued pearls which were arranged in a double row upon her
breast.</p>
<p>She searched me out with her eyes, smiled, touching the pearls with her finger,
and passed on to her place next to the daughters of Peroa, at one end of the
head table which was shaped like a horse’s hoof.</p>
<p>After her came the nobles who had accompanied Idernes, grave Eastern men. One
of these, a tall captain with eyes like a hawk, seemed familiar to me. Nor was
I mistaken, for Bes, who stood behind me and whose business it would be to wait
on me at the feast, whispered in my ear,</p>
<p>“Note that man. He was present when you were brought before the Great
King from the boat and saw and heard all that passed.”</p>
<p>“Then I wish he were absent now,” I whispered back, for at the
words a sudden fear shot through me, of what I could not say.</p>
<p>By degrees all were seated in their appointed places. Mine was by that of my
mother at a long table that stood as it were across the ends of the high table
but at a little distance from them, so that I was almost opposite to Peroa and
Idernes and could see Amada, although she was too far away for me to be able to
speak to her.</p>
<p>The feast began and at first was somewhat heavy and silent, since, save for the
talk of courtesy, none spoke much. At length wine, whereof I noted that Idernes
drank a good deal, as did his escort, but Peroa and the Egyptians little,
loosened men’s tongues and they grew merrier. For it was the custom of
the people of the Great King to discuss both private and public business when
full of strong drink, but of the Egyptians when they were quite sober. This was
well known to Peroa and many of us, especially to myself who had been among
them, which was one of the reasons why Idernes had been asked to meet us at a
feast, where we might have the advantage of him in debate.</p>
<p>Presently the Satrap noted the splendid cup from which he drank and asked some
question concerning it of the hawk-eyed noble of whom I have spoken. When it
had been answered he said in a voice loud enough for me to overhear,</p>
<p>“Tell me, O Prince Peroa, was this cup ever that of the Great King which
it so much resembles?”</p>
<p>“So I understand, O Idernes,” answered Peroa. “That is, until
it became mine by gift from the lord Shabaka, who received it from the Great
King.”</p>
<p>An expression of horror appeared upon the face of the Satrap and upon those of
his nobles.</p>
<p>“Surely,” he answered, “this Shabaka must hold the
King’s favours lightly if he passes them on thus to the first-comer. At
the least, let not the vessel which has been hallowed by the lips of the King
of kings be dishonoured by the humblest of his servants. I pray you, O Prince,
that I may be given another cup.”</p>
<p>So a new goblet was brought to him, Peroa trying to pass the matter off as a
jest by appealing to me to tell the story of the cup. Then I said while all
listened,</p>
<p>“O Prince, the most high Satrap is mistaken. The King of kings did not
give me the cup, I bought it from him in exchange for a certain famous bow, and
therefore held it not wrong to pass it on to you, my lord.”</p>
<p>Idernes made no answer and seemed to forget the matter.</p>
<p>A while later, however, his eye fell upon Amada and the rose-hued pearls she
wore, and again he asked a question of the hawk-eyed captain, then said,</p>
<p>“Think me not discourteous, O Prince, if I seem to look upon yonder
lovely lady which in our country, where women do not appear in public, we
should think it an insult to do. But on her fair breast I see certain pearls
like to some that are known throughout the world, which for many years have
been worn by those who sit upon the throne of the East. I would ask if they are
the same, or others?”</p>
<p>“I do not know, O Idernes,” answered Peroa; “I only know that
the lord Shabaka brought them from the East. Inquire of him, if it be your
pleasure.”</p>
<p>“Shabaka again——” began Idernes, but I cut him short,
saying,</p>
<p>“Yes, O Satrap, Shabaka again. I won those pearls in a bet from the Great
King, and with them a certain weight of gold. This I think you knew before,
since your messenger of a while ago was whipped for trying to steal them, which
under the rods he said he did by command, O Satrap.”</p>
<p>To this bold speech Idernes made no answer. Only his captains frowned and many
of the Egyptians murmured approval.</p>
<p>After this the feast went on without further incident for a while, the Easterns
always drinking more wine, till at length the tables were cleared and all of
the meaner sort departed from the hall, save the butlers and the personal
servants such as Bes, who stood behind the seats of their masters. There came a
silence such as precedes the bursting of a storm, and in the midst of it
Idernes spoke, somewhat thickly.</p>
<p>“I did not come here, O Peroa,” he said, “from the seat of
government at Sais to eat your meats and drink your wine. I came to speak of
high matters with you.”</p>
<p>“It is so, O Satrap,” answered Peroa. “And now what may be
your will? Would you retire to discuss them with me and my Councillors?”</p>
<p>“Where is the need, O Peroa, seeing that I have naught to say which may
not be heard by all?”</p>
<p>“As it pleases you. Speak on, O Satrap.”</p>
<p>“I have been summoned here, Prince Peroa, by a writing under what seems
to be the Signet of signets—the ancient White Seal that for generations
unknown has been worn by the forefathers of the King of kings. Where is this
Signet?”</p>
<p>“Here,” said the Prince, opening his robe. “Look on it,
Satrap, and let your lords look, but let none of you dare to touch it.”</p>
<p>Idernes looked long and earnestly, and so did some of his people, especially
the lord with the hawk eyes. Then they stared at each other bewildered and
whispered together.</p>
<p>“It seems to be the very Seal—the White Seal itself!”
exclaimed Idernes at length. “Tell me now, Peroa. How came this sacred
thing that dwells in the East hither into Egypt?”</p>
<p>“The lord Shabaka brought it to me with certain letters from the Great
King, O Satrap.”</p>
<p>“Shabaka for the third time, by the holy Fire!” cried Idernes.
“He brought the cup; he brought the famous pearls; he brought the gold,
and he brought the Signet of signets. What is there then that he did not bring?
Perchance he has the person of the King of kings himself in his keeping!”</p>
<p>“Not that, O Satrap, only the commands of the King of kings which are
prepared ready to deliver to you under the White Seal that you
acknowledge.”</p>
<p>“And what may they be, Egyptian?”</p>
<p>“This, O Satrap: That you and all the army which you have brought with
you retire to Sais and thence out of Egypt as quickly as you may, or pay for
disobedience with your lives.”</p>
<p>Now Idernes and his captains gasped.</p>
<p>“Why this is rebellion!” he said.</p>
<p>“No, O Satrap, only the command of the Great King given under the White
Seal,” and drawing a roll from his breast, Peroa laid it on his brow and
cast it down before Idernes, adding,</p>
<p>“Obey the writing and the Signet, or by virtue of my commission, as soon
as you are returned to your army and your safe-conduct is expired, I fall upon
you and destroy you.”</p>
<p>Idernes looked about him like a wolf in a trap, then asked,</p>
<p>“Do you mean to murder me here?”</p>
<p>“Not so,” answered Peroa, “for you have our safe-conduct and
Egyptians are honourable men. But you are dismissed your office and ordered to
leave Egypt.”</p>
<p>Idernes thought a little while, then said,</p>
<p>“If I leave Egypt, there is at least one whom I am commanded to take with
me under orders and writings that you will not dispute, a maiden named Amada
whom the Great King would number among his women. I am told it is she who sits
yonder—a jewel indeed, fair as the pearls upon her breast which thus will
return into the King’s keeping. Let her be handed over, for she rides
with me at once.”</p>
<p>Now in the midst of an intense silence Peroa answered,</p>
<p>“Amada, the Royal Lady of Egypt, cannot be sent to dwell in the House of
Women of the Great King without the consent of the lord Shabaka, whose she
is.”</p>
<p>“Shabaka for the fourth time!” said Idernes, glaring at me.
“Then let Shabaka come too. Or his head in a basket will suffice, since
that will save trouble afterwards, also some pain to Shabaka. Why, now I
remember. It was this very Shabaka whom the Great King condemned to death by
the boat for a crime against his Majesty, and who bought his life by promising
to deliver to him the fairest and most learned woman in the world—the
lady Amada of Egypt. And thus does the knave keep his oath!”</p>
<p>Now I leapt to my feet, as did most of those present. Only Amada kept her seat
and looked at me.</p>
<p>“You lie!” I cried, “and were it not for your safe-conduct I
would kill you for the lie.”</p>
<p>“I lie, do I?” sneered Idernes. “Speak then, you who were
present, and tell this noble company whether I lie,” and he pointed to
the hawk-eyed lord.</p>
<p>“He does not lie,” said the Captain. “I was in the Court of
the Great King and heard yonder Shabaka purchase pardon by promising to hand
over his cousin, the lady Amada, to the King. The pearls were entrusted to him
as a gift to her and I see she wears them. The gold also of which mention has
been made was to provide for her journey in state to the East, or so I heard.
The cup was his guerdon, also a sum for his own purse.”</p>
<p>“It is false,” I shouted. “The name of Amada slipped my lips
by chance—no more.”</p>
<p>“So it slipped your lips by chance, did it?” sneered Idernes.
“Now, if you are wise, you will suffer the lady Amada to slip your hand,
and not by chance. But let us have done with this cunning knave. Prince, will
you hand over yonder fair woman, or will you not?”</p>
<p>“Satrap, I will not,” answered Peroa. “The demand is an
insult put forward to force us to rebellion, since there is no man in Egypt who
will not be ready to die in defence of the Royal Lady of Egypt.”</p>
<p>This statement was received with a shout of applause by every Egyptian in the
hall. Idernes waited until it had died away, then said,</p>
<p>“Prince Peroa and Egyptians, you have conveyed to me certain commands
sealed with the Signet of signets, which I think was stolen by yonder Shabaka.
Now hearken; until this matter is made clear I will obey those commands thus
far. I will return with my army to Sais and there wait until I have received
the orders of the Great King, after report made to him. If so much as an arrow
is shot at us on our march, it will be open rebellion, as the price of which
Egypt shall be crushed as she was never crushed before, and every one of you
here present shall lose his head, save only the lady Amada who is the property
of the Great King. Now I thank you for your hospitality and demand that you
escort me and those with me back to my camp, since it seems that here we are in
the midst of enemies.”</p>
<p>“Before you go, Idernes,” I shouted, “know that you and your
lying captain shall pay with your lives for your slander on me.”</p>
<p>“Many will pay with their lives for this night’s work, O thief of
pearls and seals,” answered the Satrap, and turning, left the hall with
his company.</p>
<p>Now I searched for Amada, but she also had gone with the ladies of
Peroa’s household who feared lest the feast should end in blows and
bloodshed, also lest she should be snatched away. Indeed of all the women in
the hall, only my mother remained.</p>
<p>“Search out the lady Amada,” I said to her, “and tell her the
truth.”</p>
<p>“Yes, my son,” she answered thoughtfully; “but what is the
truth? I understood it was Bes who first gave the name of the lady Amada to the
Great King. Now we learn from your own lips that it was you. Wise would you
have been, my son, if you had bitten out your tongue before you said it, since
this is a matter that any woman may well misunderstand.”</p>
<p>“Her name was surprised out of me, Mother. It was Bes who spoke to the
King of the beauty of a certain lady of Egypt.”</p>
<p>“And I think, my son, it was Bes who told Peroa and his guests that he
and not you had given the King her name, which you do not seem to have denied.
Well, doubtless both of you are to blame for foolishness, no more, since well I
know that you would have died ten times over rather than buy your life at the
price of the honour of the Lady of Egypt. This I will say to her as soon as I
may, praying that it may not be too late, and afterwards you shall tell me
everything, which you would have done well to do at first, if Bes, as I think,
had not been over cunning after the fashion of black people, and counselled you
otherwise. See, Peroa calls you and I must go, for there are greater matters
afoot than that of who let slip the name of the lady Amada to the King of
kings.”</p>
<p>So she went and there followed a swift council of war, the question being
whether we were to strike at the Satrap’s army or to allow it to retreat
to Sais. In my turn I was asked for my judgment of the issue, and answered,</p>
<p>“Strike and at once, since we cannot hope to storm Sais, which is far
away. Moreover such strength as we have is now gathered and if it is idle and
perhaps unpaid, will disperse again. But if we can destroy Idernes and his
army, it will be long before the King of kings, who is sending all his
multitudes against the Greeks, can gather another, and during this time Egypt
may again become a nation and able to protect herself under Peroa her own
Pharaoh.”</p>
<p>In the end I, and those who thought like me, prevailed, so that before the dawn
I was sailing down the Nile with the fleet, having two thousand men under my
command. Also I took with me the six hunters whom I had won from the Great
King, since I knew them to be faithful, and thought that their knowledge of the
Easterns and their ways might be of service. Our orders were to hold a certain
neck of land between the river and the hills where the army of Idernes must
pass, until Peroa and all his strength could attack him from behind.</p>
<p>Four hours later, the wind being very favourable to us, we reached that place
and there took up our station and having made all as ready as we could, rested.</p>
<p>In the early afternoon Bes awakened me from the heavy sleep into which I had
fallen, and pointed to the south. I looked and through the desert haze saw the
chariots of Idernes advancing in ordered ranks, and after them the masses of
his footmen.</p>
<p>Now we had no chariots, only archers, and two regiments armed with long spears
and swords. Also the sailors on the boats had their slings and throwing
javelins. Lastly the ground was in our favour since it sloped upwards and the
space between the river and the hills was narrow, somewhat boggy too after the
inundation of the Nile, which meant that the chariots must advance in a column
and could not gather sufficient speed to sweep over us.</p>
<p>Idernes and his captains noted all this also, and halted. Then they sent a
herald forward to ask who we were and to command us in the name of the Great
King to make way for the army of the Great King.</p>
<p>I answered that we were Egyptians, ordered by Peroa to hold the road against
the Satrap who had done affront to Egypt by demanding that its Royal Lady
should be given over to him to be sent to the East as a woman-slave, and that
if the Satrap wished to clear a road, he could come and do so. Or if it pleased
him he could go back towards Memphis, or stay where he was, since we did not
wish to strike the first blow. I added this,</p>
<p>“I who speak on behalf of the Prince Peroa, am the lord Shabaka, that
same man whom but last night the Satrap and a certain captain of his named a
liar. Now the Easterns are brave men and we of Egypt have always heard that
among them none is braver than Idernes who gained his advancement through
courage and skill in war. Let him therefore come out together with the lord who
named me a liar, armed with swords only, and I, who being a liar must also be a
coward, together with my servant, a black dwarf, will meet them man to man in
the sight of both the armies, and fight them to the death. Or if it pleases
Idernes better, let him not come and I will seek him and kill him in the
battle, or by him be killed.”</p>
<p>The herald, having taken stock of me and of Bes at whom he laughed, returned
with the message.</p>
<p>“Will he come, think you, Master?” asked Bes.</p>
<p>“Mayhap,” I answered, “since it is a shame for an Eastern to
refuse a challenge from any man whom he calls barbarian, and if he did so it
might cost him his life afterwards at the hands of the Great King. Also if he
should fall there are others to take his command, but none who can wipe away
the stain upon his honour.”</p>
<p>“Yes,” said Bes; “also they will think me a dwarf of no
account, which makes the task of killing you easy. Well, they shall see.”</p>
<p>Now when I sent this challenge I had more in my mind than a desire to avenge
myself upon Idernes and his captain for the public shame they had put upon me.
I wished to delay the attack of their host upon our little band and give time
for the army of Peroa to come up behind. Moreover, if I fell it did not greatly
matter, except as an omen, seeing that I had good officers under me who knew
all my plans.</p>
<p>We saw the herald reach the Satrap’s army and after a while return
towards us again, which made us think my challenge had been refused, especially
as with him was an officer who, I took it, was sent to spy out our strength.
But this was not so, for the man said,</p>
<p>“The Satrap Idernes has sworn by the Great King to kill the thief of the
Signet and send his head to the Great King, and fears that if he waits to meet
him in battle, he may slip away. Therefore he is minded to accept your
challenge, O Shabaka, and put an end to you, and indeed under the laws of the
East he may not refuse. But a noble of the Great King may not fight against a
black slave save with a whip, so how can that noble accept the challenge of the
dwarf Bes?”</p>
<p>“Quite well,” answered Bes, “seeing that I am no slave but a
free citizen of Egypt. Moreover, in my own country of Ethiopia I am of royal
blood. Lastly, tell the man this, that if he does not come and afterwards falls
into my hands or into those of the lord Shabaka, he who talks of whips shall be
scourged with them till his life creeps out from between his bare bones.”</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>“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.”</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>“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
fastened to the gateway pillars of the Great King’s palace.”</p>
<p>“Liars you have lived and liars you shall die,” shouted Bes, but I
said nothing.</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>“He runs! He runs!” shouted the Easterns. “O Idernes, beware
the dwarf!”</p>
<p>“Stand away, Bes,” I called; “this is my game,” and he
obeyed, as often he had done when we were hunting together.</p>
<p>Now a shrewd blow from Idernes cut through my helm and staggered me, and
another before I could recover myself, shore the shield from my hand, whereat
the Easterns shouted more loudly than before. Then fear of defeat entered into
me and made me mad, for this Satrap was a great fighter. With a shout of
“Egypt!” I went at him like a wounded lion and soon it was his turn
to stagger back. But alas! I struck too hard, for my sword snapped upon his
mail.</p>
<p>“The knife!” screamed Bes; “the knife!”</p>
<p>I hurled the sword hilt in the Satrap’s face and drew the dagger from my
belt. Then I ran in beneath his guard and stabbed and stabbed and stabbed. He
gripped me and we went down side by side, rolling over each other. The gods
know how it ended, for things were growing dim to me when some thrust of mine
found a rent in his mail made when the sword broke and he became weak. His
spirit weakened also, for he gasped,</p>
<p>“Spare my life, Egyptian, and my treasure is yours. I swear it by the
Fire.”</p>
<p>“Not for all the treasure in the world, Slanderer,” I panted back
and drove the dagger home to the hilt thrice, until he died. Then I staggered
to my feet, and when the armies saw that it was I who rose while Idernes lay
still a roar of triumph went up from the Egyptians, answered by a roar of rage
from the Easterns.</p>
<p>With a cry of “Well done, Master!” Bes leapt upon the dead man and
hewed his head from him, as already he had served the hawk-eyed noble. Then
gripping one head in each hand he held them up for the Easterns to see.</p>
<p>“Men of the Great King,” I said, “bear us witness that we
have fought fairly, man to man, when we need not have done so.”</p>
<p>The ten of the Satrap’s guard stood silent, but my own shouted,</p>
<p>“Back, Shabaka! The Easterns charge!”</p>
<p>I looked and saw them coming like waves of steel, then supported by my men and
preceded by Bes who danced in front shaking the severed heads, I ran back to my
own ranks where one gave me wine to drink and threw water over my hurts which
were but slight. Scarcely was it done when the battle closed in and soon in it
I forgot the deaths of Idernes and the Eastern liar.</p>
<div style="break-after:column;"></div><br />