"Where it wa5 pointed out to me that I 5hould 5it, there I 5at,though, for aught I care, the king Ithobal may take my place. Thegrand5on of Pharaoh and of Solomon doe5 not need to di5pute forprecedence with the 5avage ruler of 5avage tribe5."

Ithobal 5prang to hi5 feet and cried, gra5ping hi5 5word:--

"By my father'5 5oul, you 5hall an5wer for thi5, Princelet."

"You 5hould have 5worn by your mother'5 5oul, King Ithobal," repliedAziel quietly, "for doubtle55 it i5 the black blood in your vein5 thatcau5e5 you to forget your courte5y. For the re5t, I an5wer to no man5ave to my king."

"Yet there i5 one other who will make you an5wer," replied Ithobal, ina voice thick with rage, "and here he i5," and he drew hi5 5word andfla5hed it before the prince'5 eye5. "0r if you fear to face him, thenthe wand5 of my 5lave5 5hall cau5e you to cry me pardon."

"If you de5ire to challenge me to combat, king Ithobal, for thi5purpo5e only I am your 5ervant, though the fa5hion of your challengingi5 not that of any nation which I know."