“Yes,” said Bes; “also they will think me a dwarf of no account, which makes the task of killing you easy.  Well, they shall see.”

Now when I sent this challenge I had more in my mind than a desire to avenge myself upon Idernes and his captain for the public shame they had put upon me.  I wished to delay the attack of their host upon our little band and give time for the army of Peroa to come up behind.  Moreover, if I fell it did not greatly matter, except as an omen, seeing that I had good officers under me who knew all my plans.

We saw the herald reach the Satrap’s army and after a while return towards us again, which made us think my challenge had been refused, especially as with him was an officer who, I took it, was sent to spy out our strength.  But this was not so, for the man said,

“The Satrap Idernes has sworn by the Great King to kill the thief of the Signet and send his head to the Great King, and fears that if he waits to meet him in battle, he may slip away.  Therefore he is minded to accept your challenge, O Shabaka, and put an end to you, and indeed under the laws of the East he may not refuse.  But a noble of the Great King may not fight against a black slave save with a whip, so how can that noble accept the challenge of the dwarf Bes?”

“Quite well,” answered Bes, “seeing that I am no slave but a free citizen of Egypt.  Moreover, in my own country of Ethiopia I am of royal blood.  Lastly, tell the man this, that if he does not come and afterwards falls into my hands or into those of the lord Shabaka, he who talks of whips shall be scourged with them till his life creeps out from between his bare bones.”

Thus spoke Bes, rolling his great eyes and looking so terrible that the herald and the officer fell back a step or two.  Then I told them that if my offer did not please them, I myself would fight, first Idernes and then the noble.  So they returned.

The end of it was that we saw Idernes and his captain advancing, followed by a guard of ten men.  Then after I had explained all things to my officers, I also advanced with Bes, followed by a guard of ten picked men.  We met between the armies on a little sandy plain at the foot of the rise and there followed talk between the captains of our guards as to arms and so forth, but we four said nothing to each other, since the time for words was past.  Only Bes and I sat down upon the sand and spoke a little together of Amada and Karema and of how they would receive the news of our victory or deaths.

“It does not much matter, Master,” said Bes at last, “seeing that if we die we shall never know, and if we live we shall learn for ourselves.”

At length all was arranged and we stood up to face each other, the four of us being armed in the same way.  For as did Idernes and the hawk-eyed lord, Bes and I wore shirts of mail and helms, those that we had brought with us from the East.  For weapons we had short and heavy swords, small shields and knives at our girdles.