Part 33 (2/2)

”Bes, or King,” he said, ”doubtless you will do your wife's will

Therefore let the host be aroused and stand to its arms As it chances I have four uide the five thousand to the ford and across it; also down upon the shi+ps The other till guide Shabaka and the archers along the road which Karema remembers so well; perhaps she trod it as a child For my part I return to Aht tiht Amada will fall to-morrow, a certain priestess will die, and you, Bes, and your soldiers will never look on Ethiopia again Is it agreed?”

I nodded who did not wish to waste time in words, and Bes rolled his eyes and answered,

”When one can think of nothing, it is best to follow the counsel of those who can think of so; also to hunt rather than to be hunted

Especially is this so if that so comes from the holy Tanofir or his broken Cup Generals, you have heard Rouse the host and bid theenerals leapt away into the darkness like arrows fro uides of yours, holy Tanofir?” asked Bes

Tanofir beckoned over his shoulder, and out of the glooe, quiet men, but I can say no more of them since their faces were veiled, nor as it chances, did I ever see any of them after the battle, in which I suppose that they were killed Or perhaps they appeared after--well, never mind!

”You have heard,” said Tanofir, whereupon all four of them bowed their mysterious veiled heads

”Now, my Brother,” whispered Bes into my ear, ”tell me, I pray you, how did four men ere not in the tent, hear as said in this tent, and how did they couards who have orders to kill anyone who does not know the countersign, especially men whose faces are wrapped in napkins?”

”I do not know,” I answered, whereon Bes groaned, only Kare heard, obey,” said the holy Tanofir, whereon the four veiled ones bowed again

”Will you not give them their orders, O most Venerable?” inquired Bes doubtfully

”I think it is needless,” said Tanofir in a dry voice ”Why try to teach those who know?”

”Will you not offer thery?” I asked of Kare on me with contempt ”Do the--friends--of Tanofir need to eat?”

”I should have thought so after being beleaguered for atown If the master wants to eat, why should not his ht struck eneral returned and reported that the orders had been executed and that all the army was afoot

”Good,” said Bes ”Then start forthith five thousandto the plan laid down by the Queen Karema, which you heard her speak but now,” and he naieneral's own co: ”Save some of the shi+ps if you can, and afterwards cross the Nile in them with your men, and join yourself either toto what you see May the Grasshopper give you victory and wisdouides us to and across the ford of the great river?”

Two of the veiled eneral muttered into my ear,

”I like not the look of theuide us across the River of Death”

”Have no fear, General,” said the holy Tanofir from the other end of the tent ”If you and your uides will play theirs, the shi+ps are already burned together with their companies

Only take fire with you”