Presently Ani raised his wine-cup, and drank to the happy issue of his reconnoitring-expedition, and a victorious conclusion to every struggle in which the Mohar might engage.  The high-priest then pledged him, and thanked him emphatically in the name of the brethren of the temple, for the noble tract of arable land which he had that morning given them as a votive offering.  A murmur of approbation ran round the tables, and Paaker’s timidity began to diminish.

He had kept the wrappings that his mother had applied round his still aching hand.

“Are you wounded?” asked the Regent.

“Nothing of importance,” answered the pioneer.  “I was helping my mother into the boat, and it happened—­”

“It happened,” interrupted an old school-fellow of the Mohar’s, who himself held a high appointment as officer of the city-watch of Thebes—­ “It happened that an oar or a stake fell on his fingers.”

“Is it possible!” cried the Regent.

“And quite a youngster laid hands on him,” continued the officer.  “My people told me every detail.  First the boy killed his dog—­”

“That noble Descher?” asked the master of the hunt in a tone of regret.  “Your father was often by my side with that dog at a boar-hunt.”

Paaker bowed his head; but the officer of the watch, secure in his position and dignity, and taking no notice of the glow of anger which flushed Paaker’s face, began again: 

“When the hound lay on the ground, the foolhardy boy struck your dagger out of your hand.”

“And did this squabble lead to any disturbance?” asked Ameni earnestly.

“No,” replied the officer.  “The feast has passed off to-day with unusual quiet.  If the unlucky interruption to the procession by that crazy paraschites had not occurred, we should have nothing but praise for the populace.  Besides the fighting priest, whom we have handed over to you, only a few thieves have been apprehended, and they belong exclusively to the caste,

[According to Diodorous (I. 80) there was a cast of thieves in Thebes.  All citizens were obliged to enter their names in a register, and state where they lived, and the thieves did the same.  The names were enrolled by the “chief of the thieves,” and all stolen goods had to be given up to him.  The person robbed had to give a written description of the object he had lost, and a declaration as to when and where he had lost it.  The stolen property was then easily recovered, and restored to the owner on the payment of one fourth of its value, which was given to the thief.  A similar state of things existed at Cairo within a comparatively short time.]

so we simply take their booty from them, and let them go.  But say, Paaker, what devil of amiability took possession of you down by the river, that you let the rascal escape unpunished.”

“Did you do that?” exclaimed Gagabu.  “Revenge is usually your—­”