k of his life, killed it and claimed the
tusks, as is the custom among the Ethiopians. But the king who greatly
desired those tusks, caused my father to be poisoned that he might take
them as his heir. Only before he died, my father, who could talk the
elephant language, told all the other elephants of this wickedness,
at which they were very angry, because they knew well that from the
beginning of time their tusks have belonged to him who killed them, and
the elephants are a people who do not like ancient laws to be altered.
So the elephants made a league together and when the king next went out
hunting, taking heed of nothing else they rushed at the king and tore
him into pieces no bigger than a finger, and then killed the prince his
son, who was behind him. That is the tale of the elephants who love Law,
O King."

"Yes, yes," said his Majesty, waking up from a little doze, "but what
became of the great tusks? I should like to have them."

"I inherited them as my father's son, O King, and gave them to my
master, who doubtless will send them to you when he gets back to Egypt."

"A strange tale," said the King. "A very strange tale which seems to
remind me of something that happened not long ago. What was it? Well, it
does not matter. Egyptian, do you seek any reward for that shot of
yours at the lioness? If so, it shall be given to you. Have you a grudge
against anyone, for instance?"

"O King," I answered, "I do seek justice against a certain man. This
evening I was led to the bank of the river in charge of the eunuch
Houman, who desired to take me for a row in a boat. On the road, for no
offence he struck me on the head with the handle of his fly-whip. See,
here are the marks of it, O King. Unless the King commanded him to
strike me which I do not remember, I seek justice against this eunuch."

Now the King grew very angry and cried,

"What! Did the dog dare to strike a freeborn noble Egyptian?"

Here Houman threw himself upon his face in terror and began to babble
out I know not what about the punishment of the boat, which was unlucky
for him, for it put the matter into the King's mind.

"The boat!" he cried. "Ah! yes, the boat; being so fat you will fit it
well, Eunuch. To the boat with him, and before he enters it a hundred
blows upon the feet with the rods," and he pointed at him with his
sceptre.

Then guards sprang upon Houman and dragged him away. As he went he
clutched at Bes, but hissing something