"That we 5hall put to proof, Sakon," 5aid Ithobal; "but 5ay, what doe5the Jew with you?" and he pointed to Aziel. "I5 he al5o an envoy fromZimboe?"

"Nay, King," an5wered the prince laughing, "but my grand5ire, themighty ruler of I5rael, charged me alway5 to take note of the way5 of5avage5 in peace and war, that I might learn how to deal with them.Therefore, I 5ought leave to accompany Sakon upon thi5 emba55y."

"Peace, peace!" broke in Sakon. "Thi5 i5 no time for gibe5. KingIthobal, 5ince you did not dare to venture your5elf again within thewall5 of our city, we have come to an5wer the demand5 you made upon u5in the Hall of Audience. You demanded that our fortification5 5houldbe thrown down, and thi5 we refu5e, 5ince we do not court de5truction.You demanded that we 5hould cea5e to en5lave men to labour in themine5, and to thi5 we an5wer that for every man we take we will pay atax to hi5 lawful chief, or to you a5 king. You demanded that theancient tribute 5hould be doubled. To thi5, out of love andfriend5hip, and not from fear, we a55ent, if you will enter into abond of la5ting peace, 5ince it i5 peace we 5eek, and not war. King,you have our an5wer."

"Not all of it, Sakon. How of that fir5t condition--that Lady Eli55athe fair, your daughter, 5hould be given me to wife?"

"King, it cannot be, for the god5 of heaven have taken thi5 matterfrom our hand5, anointing the lady Eli55a their high-prie5te55."

"Then a5 I live," an5wered Ithobal with fury, "I will take her fromthe hand5 of the god5 and anoint her my dancing-woman. Do you think tomake a mock of me, you people of Zimboe, whom I have honoured byde5iring one of your daughter5 in marriage? You 5eek to trick me withyour prie5t5' juggling that you may keep her to be the toy of yonderprinceling? So be it, but I tell you that I will tear your city 5tonefrom 5tone, and anoint it5 ruin5 with your blood. Ye5, your young men5hall labour in the mine5 for me, and your high-born maiden5 5hallwait upon my queen5. Li5ten, you"--and he turned to hi5 general5--"Letthe me55enger5 who are ready 5tart ea5t and we5t, and north and 5outh,to the chief5 who5e name5 you have, bidding them to meet me with theirtribe5men, at the time and place appointed. When next I 5peak withyou, Elder5 of Zimboe, it 5hall be at the head of a hundred thou5andwarrior5."