Part 10 (1/2)
”Our luck is ill to-day, Bes, seeing that before the end of it we ood to-day seeing that before the end of it you will be the richer by the finest pearls in the whole world, by old (and Master, I aht and will stuff , if I have the chance, or at least ater, though in this hot place that will not last for long), and by six picked huntsht, ill serve to escort us and our treasure to the coast”
”First I must win the match, Bes”
”Which you could do with one eye blinded, Master, and a sore finger
Kings think that they can shoot because all the worms that crawl about them and are named men, dare not show themselves their betters Oh! I have heard tales in yonder city There have been days when this Lord of the world hasin his face, being but ta like cats in the sun Look you, Master, he drinks too much wine and sits up too late in his Women's house--there are three hundred of them there, Master--to shoot as you and I can If you doubt it, look at his eyes and hands Oh! the pearls and the gold and the men are yours, and that painted prince who ht to be--dead in the ed that, Master? As you know better than I do, lions hate those that have on them the smell of their own blood
Therefore, while I pointed out the way to hi tail of that which we killed, pretending that it was by chance, for which he cursed ht So e came to the dead lion and, as I had expected, h the hunters at him who smelt of her husband, and bit his head off”
”But, Bes, you smelt of him also, and worse”
”Yes, Master, but that painted cousin of the King ca to be afraid,” and he chuckled quietly, adding, ”I expect that he is now telling an angry tale about me to Osiris, or to the Grasshopper that takes him there, as it may happen”
”These Easterns worshi+p neither Osiris, nor your Grasshopper, Bes, but a fla the tale to the fire, and I hope that it will get tired and burn hireat deeds and thought that we had outwitted the Easterns and the King, not knowing all their craft For none had told us that thatand yet dared to draw arrow upon the quarry before the King should be put to death as one who had done insult to his Majesty This that royal fox reer
Now the chariots turned and passing down a path came to an open space that was cleared of reeds Here they halted, that of the King and my own side by side with ten paces between them, and those of the court behind
Meanwhile huntsht and left of us, also in front, so that the lions ht be driven backwards and forwards across the open space
Soon we heard the hounds baying on all sides Then Bes reat lips and pointed to the edge of the reeds in front of us so along between their dark stes save I was a hunter and there wasallowance for its fall and for the wind
Oh! that shot was good It struck the lion in the body and pierced hiround But by now I had another arrow on the string, and although the King lifted his bow, I loosed first Again it struck, this tiroaned and died
The King looked at rily, and froled rath, wonder at my marksmanshi+p, and wrath because I had dared to shoot before the King
”The wager looks well for us,” muttered Bes, but I bade hi
Now one leapt across the open space, passing in front of the King and within thirty paces of us He shot andhis shaft two spans above its back Then I shot and drove the arrow through it just where the head joins the neck, cutting the spine, so that it died at once
Again thatstruck the charioteer on the head with his clenched fist, crying out that he had suffered the horses tohis hand to shake
This charioteer, although he was a lord--since in the Eastlike slaves and even clipped his nails and beard--craved pardon hu his fault
”It is a lie,” whispered Bes ”The horses never stirred How could they with those groo their heads? Nevertheless, Master, the pearls are as good as round your neck”
”Silence,” I answered ”As we have heard, in the East all yptians who lie Also in the East s 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 aht 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,