One of these strangers immediately attracted the attention of Aziel, who was seated in the place of honour at the right of Sakon, between him and the lady Elissa.  This man was of large stature, and about forty years of age; the magnificence of his apparel and the great gold chain set with rough diamonds which hung about his neck showing him to be a person of importance.  His tawny complexion marked him of mixed race.  This conclusion his features did not belie, for the brow, nose, and cheek-bones were Semitic in outline, while the full, prominent eyes, and thick, sensuous lips could with equal certainty be attributed to the Negroid stock.  In fact, he was the son of a native African queen, or chieftainess, and a noble Phoenician, and his rank no less than that of absolute king and hereditary chief of a vast and undefined territory which lay around the trading cities of the white men, whereof Zimboe was the head and largest.  Aziel noticed that this king, who was named Ithobal, seemed angry and ill at ease, whether because he was not satisfied with the place which had been allotted to him at the table, or for other reasons, he could not at the time determine.

When the meats had been removed, and the goblets were filled with wine, men began to talk, till presently Sakon called for silence, and rising, addressed Aziel:—­

“Prince,” he said, “in the name of this great and free city—­for free it is, though we acknowledge the king of Tyre as our suzerain—­I give you welcome within our gates.  Here, far in the heart of Libya, we have heard of the glorious and wise king, your grandfather, and of the mighty Pharaoh of Egypt, whose blood runs also within your veins.  Prince, we are honoured in your coming, and for the asking, whatever this land of gold can boast is yours.  Long may you live; may the favour of those gods you worship attend you, and in the pursuit of wisdom, of wealth, of war, and of love, may the good grain of all be garnered in your bosom, and the wind of prosperity winnow out the chaff of them to fall beneath your feet.  Prince, I have greeted you as it behoves me to greet the blood of Solomon and Pharaoh; now I add a word.  Now I greet you as a father greets the man who has saved his only and beloved daughter from death, or shameful bondage.  Know you, friends, what this stranger did since to-night’s moonrise?  My daughter was at worship alone yonder without the walls, and a great savage set on her, purposing to bear her away captive.  Ay, and he would have done it had not the prince Aziel here given him battle, and, after a fierce fight, slain him.”

“No great deed to kill a single savage,” broke in the king Ithobal, who had been listening with impatience to Sakon’s praises of this high-born stranger.

“No great deed you say, King,” answered Sakon.  “Guards, being in the body of the man and set it before us.”

There was a pause, till presently six men staggered up the hall bearing between them the corpse of the barbarian, which, still covered with the leopard skin mantle, they threw down on the edge of the dais.