Part 9 (1/2)

”What! Do you live, Egyptian?” he asked. ”Of a surety I thought that by now you would be dead.”

”It was the lion that died, O King,” I answered, pointing to Bes who, having ceased from his song, was jumping about carrying the beast's tail in his mouth as a dog carries a bone.

”It seems that this Egyptian has killed a lion,” said the King to one of his lords, him of the painted face and scented hair.

”May be please the King,” he answered, bowing, ”a tail is not the whole beast and may have been taken thither, or cut from a lion lying dead already. The King knows that the Egyptians are great liars.”

So he spoke because he was jealous of the deed.

”These men look as though they had met a live one, not one that is dead,” said the King, scanning our blood-stained shapes. ”Still, as you doubt it, you will wish to put the matter to the proof. Therefore, Cousin, take six men with you, enter the reeds and search. In that soft ground it will be easy to follow their footmarks.”

”It is dangerous, O King,” began the prince, for such he was, no less.

”And therefore the task will be the more to your taste, Cousin. Go now, and be swift.”

So six hunters were called and the prince went, cursing me beneath his breath as he pa.s.sed us. For he was terribly afraid, and with reason.

Suddenly Bes ceased from his antics and prostrating himself, cried,

”A boon, O King. This n.o.ble lord throws doubt upon my master's word.

Suffer that I may lead him to where the lion lies dead, since otherwise wandering in those reeds the great King's cousin might come to harm and the great King be grieved.”

”I have many cousins,” said the King. ”Still go if you wish, Dwarf.”

So Bes ran after the prince and catching him up, tapped him on the shoulder with the lion's tail to point out the way. Then they vanished into the reeds and I went to the chariot to wash off the blood from my body and clothes. As I fastened my robe I heard a sound of roaring, then one scream, after which all grew still. Now I drew near to the reeds and stood between them and the King's camp.

Presently on their edge appeared Bes dancing and singing as before, but this time he held a lion's tail in either hand. After him came the six hunters dragging between them the body of the lion we had killed. They staggered with it towards the King, and I followed.

”I see the dwarf,” he said. ”I see the dead lion and I see the hunters.

But where is my cousin? Make report, O Bes.”

”O King of kings,” replied Bes, ”the mighty prince your cousin lies flat yonder beneath the body of that lion's wife. She sprang upon him and killed him, and I sprang upon her and killed her with my spear. Here is her tail, O King of kings.”

”Is this true?” he asked of the hunters.

”It is true, O King,” answered their captain. ”The lioness, which was wounded, leapt upon the prince, choosing him although he was behind us all. Then this dwarf leapt upon the lioness, being behind the prince and nearest to him, and drove his spear through her shoulders to her heart.

So we brought the first lion as the King commanded us, since we could carry no more.”

The face of the King grew red with rage.

”Seven of my people and one black dwarf!” he exclaimed. ”Yet the lioness kills my cousin and the dwarf kills the lioness. Such is the tale that will go to Egypt concerning the hunters of the King of the world. Seize those men, Guards, and let them be fed to the wild beasts in the palace dens.”

At once the unfortunates were seized and led away. Then the King called Bes to him, and taking the gold chain he wore about his neck, threw it over his head, thereby, though I knew nothing of it at the time, conferring upon him some n.o.ble rank. Next he called to me and said,

”It would seem that you are skilled in the use of the bow and in the hunting of lions, Egyptian. Therefore I will honour you, for this afternoon your chariot shall drive with my chariot, and we will hunt side by side. Moreover, I will lay you a wager as to which of us will kill the most lions, for know, Shabaka, that I also am skilled in the use of the bow, more skilled than any among the millions of my subjects.”

”Then, O King, it is of little use for me to match myself against you, seeing that I have met men who can shoot better than I do, or, since in the East all must speak nothing but the truth, not being liars as the dead prince said we Egyptians are, one man.”