What he will not say is that he had bargained it away with someone who in return, cut his cords, since for that crime he must die by worse tortures than those of the boat.

Lastly we shall ride so fast that with six hours' start none will catch us.

Or if they do I can throw away the chain and swallow the seal." As Bes said, so it happened.

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..