neck beneath my mail and we went
on.

Descending the steep bank of the canal we came to the ford where the
sand that had silted in was covered by not more than a foot of water. As
we entered it, on the top of the further bank appeared a body of about
thirty armed and mounted men, one of whom carried the Great King's
banner, on which I noted was blazoned the very figures that were cut
upon the cylinder. Now it was too late to retreat, so we rode through
the water and met the soldiers. Their officer advanced, crying,

"In the name of the Great King, greeting, my lord Shabaka!

"In the name of the Great King, greeting!" I answered. "What would you
with Shabaka, Officer of the King?"

"Only to do him honour. The word of the King has reached us and we
come to escort you to the Court of Idernes, the Satrap of the King and
Governor of Egypt who sits at Sais."

"That is not my road, Officer. I travel to Memphis to deliver the
commands of the King to my cousin, Peroa, the ruler of Egypt under the
King. Afterwards, perchance, I shall visit the high Idernes."

"To whom our commands are to take you now, my lord Shabaka, not
afterwards," said the officer sternly, glancing round at his armed
escort.

"I come to give commands, not to receive them, Captain of the King."

"Seize Shabaka and his servants," said the officer briefly, whereon the
soldiers rode forward to surround us.

I waited till they were near at hand. Then suddenly I plunged my hand
beneath my robe and drew out the small, white seal which I held before
the eyes of the officer, saying,

"Who is it that dares to lay a finger upon the holder of the King's
White Seal? Surely that man is ready for death."

The officer stared at it, then leapt from his horse and flung himself
face downwards on the ground, crying,

"It is the ancient signet of the Kings of the East, given to their first
forefather by Samas the Sungod, on which hangs the fortunes of the Great
House! Pardon, my lord Shabaka."

"It is granted," I answered, "because what you did you did in ignorance.
Now go to the Satrap Idernes and say to him that if he would have speech
with the bearer of the King's seal which all must obey, he will find him
at Memphis. Farewell," and with Bes and the six hunters I rode through
the guards, none striving to hinder me.

"That was well done, Master," said Bes.

"Yes," I said. "Those two messengers who went ahead of us brought orders
to the frontier guard of Ider