“Certainly she is very angry,” I said, “or at least was so when I left her last night.  Oh!  Bes, why did you let your people tell her that she was ugly?”

“How can I help it, Master?  Have you not always heard that the Ethiopians are chiefly famous for one thing, namely that they speak nothing but the truth.  To them she, being different, seems to be ugly.  Therefore when they say that she is ugly, they speak the truth.”

“If so, it is a truth that she does not like, Bes, as I have no doubt she will tell you by and by.  Do they think me ugly also?”

“Yes, they do, Master; but they think also that you look like a man who can draw a bow and use a sword, and that goes far with the Ethiopians.  Of your mother they say nothing because she is old and they venerate the aged whom the Grasshopper is waiting to carry away.”

Now I began to laugh again and went with Bes to gather the lilies.  These grew at the end of a mass of reeds woven together by the pressure of the current and floating on the water.  Bes lay down upon his stomach while his people watched from a distance on the bank amazed into silence, and stretched out his long arms to reach the blue lotus flowers.  Suddenly the reeds gave way beneath him just as he had grasped two of the flowers and was dragging at them, so that he fell into the river.

Next instant I saw a swirl in the brown water and perceived a huge crocodile.  It rushed at Bes open-mouthed.  Being a good swimmer he twisted his body in order to avoid it, but I heard the great teeth close with a snap on the short leathern garment which he wore about his middle.

“The devil has me!  Farewell!” he cried and vanished beneath the water.

Now, as I have said, I was almost stripped for bathing, but had not yet taken off my short sword which was girded round me by a belt.  In an instant I drew it and amidst the yells of horror of the Ethiopians who had seen all from the bank, I plunged into the river.  There are few able to swim as I could and I had the art of diving with my eyes open and remaining long beneath the surface without drawing breath, for this I had practised from a child.

Immediately I saw the great reptile sinking to the mud and dragging Bes with him to drown him there.  But here the river was very deep and with a few swift strokes I was able to get under the crocodile.  Then with all my strength I stabbed upwards, driving the sword far into the soft part of the throat.  Feeling the pain of the sharp iron the beast let go of Bes and turned on me.  How it happened I do not know but presently I found myself upon its back and was striking at its eyes.  One thrust at least went home, for the blinded brute rose to the surface, bearing me with him, and oh! the sweetness of the air as I breathed again.

Thus we appeared, I riding the crocodile like a horse and stabbing furiously, while close by was Bes rolling his yellow eyes but helpless, for he had no weapon.  Still the devil was not dead although blood streamed from him, only mad with pain and rage.  Nor could the shouting Ethiopians help me since they had only bows and dared not shoot lest their shafts should pierce me.  The crocodile began to sink again, snapping furiously at my legs.  Then I bethought me of a trick I had seen practised by natives on the Nile.