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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.
So I told him that story of an elephant that my father killed to save a king it grew up in my mind like a toadstool in the night, Master, did this story of an ungrateful king and what befell him. Then the King became still more unquiet in his heart about you and asked the eunuch, Houman, where you were, to which he answered that by his order you were sleeping in a boat and might not be disturbed.
"You are a fool, Master," he said, "to think that I should wish to waste time in torturing that fat knave." "Then why did you torture him?" I asked. "Because my god, the Grasshopper, when he fashioned me a dwarf, gave me a big mouth and good teeth," he answered, whereon I stared at him, thinking that he had gone mad. "Listen, Master. I did not hurt Houman.
Next the other boat that lay over me was lifted off, the ropes that bound we were undone and I was set upon my feet, for already I was so stiff that I could scarcely stand. A voice which I recognised as that of the eunuch Houman, addressed me in respectful tones, which made me think I must be dreaming. "Noble Shabaka," said the voice, "the Great King commands your presence at his feast."
With him were four black men all dressed in the same way. These, he said, were the executioners. Lastly came Bes watched by three of the king's guards armed with spears, lest he should attempt to rescue me or to do anyone a mischief. Now my heart began to sink and I asked Houman what was to happen to me. "This, O Egyptian slayer of lions.
This seal Houman showed to the Treasurer whereon they produced the gold that was weighed in the scales against me, and to others when he ordered the boat to be prepared for you to lie in. Moreover he forgot to return it, for when he himself was dragged off to the boat by direct command of the King, I caught sight of the chain beneath his robe. Can you guess the rest?"
When we reached the Court doubtless Houman would have returned the seal, but seeing that the King was, or feigned to be drunk, waited for fear lest it should be lost, and with it his life. Then he was seized as you saw, and in his terror forgot all about the seal, as did the King and his officers." "But, surely, Bes, those who took Houman to the boat would have removed it."
The fate of Houman I never learned, and of the theft of the seal I heard no more until a proclamation was issued to all the kingdoms that a new one was in use. But this was not until long afterwards when it had served my turn and that of Egypt. Now day by day, hour by hour and minute by minute every detail of that journey appeared before me, but to set it all down is needless.
"As this dog who wears the robe of women said" here the King laughed, but the eunuch, Houman, turned green with rage and glowered at me "my name is Shabaka. I am a descendant of the Ethiopian king of Egypt of that same name." "It seems from all I hear that there are too many descendants of kings in Egypt.
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.
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