Meanwhile that the King of kings would do well to let us alone, since we were brave men and meant to die hard, and it would be better for him to leave us to march back to Ethiopia, rather than lose an army in trying to kill us.
With these words which were spoken by Bes himself, the messengers departed.

One of them however, who seemed to be a great lord, called in a loud voice to his companions, saying it was hard that nobles should have to do the errands, not of a man but of an ape who would look better hanging to a pole.

Bes made no answer, only rolled his yellow eyes and said when the lord was out of hearing, "Now by the Grasshopper and all the gods of Egypt I swear that in payment for this insult I will choke the Nile with the army of the Great King, and hang that knave to a pole from the prow of the royal ship." Which last thing I hope he did.
When the embassy had gone Bes gave orders that the whole army should eat and lie down to sleep.
"I am sure," said he, "that the Great King will not attack us at once, since he will hope that we shall flee away during the night, having seen his strength." So the Ethiopians filled themselves and then lay down to sleep, which these people can do at any time, even if not tired as they were.

But while they rested Bes and I and Karema, with some of the generals consulted together long and earnestly.

For in truth we knew not what to do.