They are unequalled in the whole world, for twenty years the merchants sought them in the days of my father; half of them would buy a satrapy.

I wager them"-- here the listening nobles gasped and the fat eunuch, Houman, held up his hands in horror.
"Against what, O King ?" "Your slave Bes, to whom I have taken a fancy." Now I trembled and Bes rolled his yellow eyes.
"Your pardon, O King of kings," I said, "but it is not enough.

I am a hunter and to such, priceless pearls are of little use.

But to me that dwarf is of much use in my hunting." "So be it, Shabaka, then I will add to the wager.

If you win, together with the pearls I will give you the dwarf's weight in solid gold." "The King is bountiful," I answered, "but it is not enough, for even if I win against one who can shoot better than Peroa, which is impossible, what should I do with so much gold?
Surely for the sake of it I should be murdered or ever I saw the coasts of Egypt." "What shall I add then ?" asked the King.