“Greeting, son of Israel and Pharaoh,” he said in a mocking voice; “truly you are wise thus to do homage to the king of the world.”

“A poor jest,” answered Aziel, glancing at those who held him down; “true homage is of the heart, king Ithobal.”

“I know it, Jew, and this also you shall give me when you are humbler.  Who taught you the use of the bow?  You shoot well,” and he pointed to his blood-stained helm, which was still transfixed by the arrow.

“Nay,” answered Aziel, “I shot but ill, for my arm was weary.  When next I draw a string against your breast, king Ithobal, I promise you a straighter shaft.”

“Well said,” answered the king with a laugh, “but know, dog of a Jew, that now it is my turn to draw the string—­how, I will show you afterwards.  Have they told you that the city has fallen, and that my captains hold the gates, while the cowards of Zimboe are penned like sheep within the temple and on the cliff-edged height above?  They have fled hither for safety, but I tell you that they would be more safe on yonder plain, for I have the key of their stronghold, a certain passage leading from the palace of the Baaltis to the temple; you know if it, I think.  Yes, and if I had not, very soon hunger and thirst would work for me.

“Well, Jew, I have won, and with less trouble than I thought, and now I hold the great city in hostage, to save or to destroy as it shall please me, though that arrow of yours went near to robbing me of my crown of victory.”

“So be it,” answered Aziel, indifferently; “I have played my part, now things must go as Fate may will.”

“Yes, Jew, you fought well till they deserted you, and the doom of cowards is little to a brave man.  But what of the lady Elissa?  Nay, I know all; she has taken refuge in the tomb of Baaltis, has she not, with poison in her bosom and bronze at her girdle to be used against her own life, should they lay hands on her or give her to me?  And all this she does for the love of you, prince Aziel; for the love of you she refuses to become my queen, ruling over that city which I have conquered, and all my unnumbered tribes.

“Do you guess now why I caused you to be taken living?  I will tell you; that you may be the bait to draw her to me.  To kill you would be easy; but how would that serve, seeing that then she herself would choose to die?  But, perchance, to save your life she will live also—­yes, and give herself to me.  At least, I will try it; should the plan fail—­then you can pay the price of her pride with your blood, prince Aziel.”

“That I would do gladly,” answered Aziel, “but oh! what a cross-bred hound you are who thus can seek to torture the heart of a helpless woman!  Have you then no manhood that you can stoop to such a coward’s plot?”