“Is this the ring?” he asked, lifting it and holding it towards them.

“It is, and we thank you,” they answered, advancing to take the ornament.

The next moment, before Aziel even guessed their purpose, the captains had gripped him by either arm and were dragging him at full speed towards their camp.  Understanding their treachery and the greatness of his danger, he cried aloud for help.  Then throwing himself swiftly to the ground, he set his feet against a stone that chanced to lie in their path in such fashion that the sudden weight tore his right arm from the group of the man that held him.  Now, quick as thought, Aziel drew the dagger from his girdle, and, still lying upon his back, plunged it into the shoulder of the second man so that he loosed him in his pain.  Next he sprang to his feet, and, leaping to one side to escape the rush of his captors, ran like a deer towards the party of Sakon, who had wheeled round at the sound of his cry.

Ithobal and his men had turned also and sped towards them, but at a little distance they halted, the king shouting aloud:—­

“I desired to hold this foreigner, who is the cause of war between us, hostage for your daughter’s sake, Sakon, but this time he has escaped me.  Well, it matters nothing, for soon my turn will come.  Therefore, if you and he are wise, you will send him back to the sea, for thither alone I promise him safe conduct.”

Then without more words he walked to his camp, the gates of which were closed behind him.

*****

“Prince Aziel,” said Sakon, as they went towards the city, “it is ill to speak such words to an honoured guest, but it cannot be denied that you bring much trouble on my head.  Twice now you have nearly perished at the hands of Ithobal, and should that chance, doubtless I must earn the wrath of Israel.  On your behalf, also, the city of Zimboe is this day plunged into a war that well may be her last, since it is because you have grown suddenly dear to her that my daughter has continued to refuse the suit of Ithobal, and because of his outraged pride at this refusal that he has raised up the nations against us.  Prince, while you remain in this city there is no hope of peace.  Do not, therefore, hate me, your servant, if I pray of you to leave us while there is yet time.”

“Sakon,” answered Aziel, “I thank you for your open speech, and will pay you back in words as honest as your own.  Gladly would I go, for here nothing but sorrow has befallen me, were it not for one thing which to you may seem little, but to me, and perhaps to another, is all in all.  I love your daughter as I have never loved a woman before, and as my mind is to hers, so is hers to mine.  How, then, can I go hence when the going means that I must part from her for ever?”

“How can you stay here, Prince, when the staying means that you must bring her to shame and death, and yourself with her?  Say now, are you prepared, for the sake of this maiden, to abandon the worship of your fathers and to become the servant of El and Baaltis?”