As she leapt I shot at her in the air and pierced her through the loins, paralysing her, so that although she fell down near the King, she could not come at him to kill him.
I sprang from my chariot, but before I could reach the lioness hunters had run up with spears and stabbed her, which was easy as she could not move.
The King rose from the ground, for he was unharmed, and said in a loud voice, "Had not that shaft of mine gone home, I think that the East would have bowed to another lord to-night." Now, forgetting that I was speaking to the King of the earth, forgetting the wager and all besides, I exclaimed, "Nay, your shaft missed; mine went home," whereon one of the courtiers cried, "This Egyptian is a liar, and calls the King one!" "A liar ?" I said astonished.

"Look at the arrow and see from whose quiver it came," and I drew one from my own of the Egyptian make and marked with my mark.
Then a tumult broke out, all the courtiers and eunuchs talking at once, yet all bowing to the mud-stained person of the King, like ears of wheat to a tree in a storm.

Not wishing to urge my claims further, for my part I returned to the chariot and the hunting being done, as I supposed, unstrung my bow which I prized above all things, and set it in its case.
While I was thus employed the eunuch Houman approached me with a sickly smile, saying, "The King commands your presence, Egyptian, that you may receive your reward." I nodded, saying that I would come, and he returned.
"Bes," I said when he was out of hearing, "my heart sinks.

I do not trust that King who I think means mischief." "So do I, Master.

Oh! we have been great fools.