ll be at the head of a hundred thousand warriors."

"Then, King, on your hands be all the innocent lives that these words
of yours have doomed, and may the weight of their wasted blood press you
down to ruin and death."

Thus answered Sakon proudly, but with pale lips, for do what they would
to hide it, something of the fear they felt for the issue of this war
was written on the faces of all his company.

Ithobal turned upon his heel, deigning no reply, but as he went he
whispered a word into the ear of two of his captains, great men of war,
who stayed behind the rest of his party searching for something upon
the ground. Sakon and his counsellors also turned, walking towards
their escort, but Aziel lingered a little, fearing no danger, and being
curious to learn what the men sought.

"What do you seek, captains?" he asked courteously.

"A gold armlet that one of us has lost," they answered.

Aziel let his eyes wander on the ground, and not far away perceived the
armlet half-hidden in a tussock of dry grass, where, indeed, it had been
placed.

"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 con