Doubtless it is to meet these men of whose coming the other two who went by fifty hours ago, have warned the officers." "Now what does that mean ?" I asked of Bes.
"Neither more nor less than we have heard, Master.

The two King's messengers who have gone ahead of us all the way from the city, have told the officer of the frontier fort that we are coming, so he has advanced to the ford to meet us, for what purpose I do not know." "Nor do I," I said, "but I wish we could take another road, if there were one." "There is none, Master, for above and below the canal is full of water and the banks are too steep for horses to climb.

Also we must show no doubt or fear." He thought a while, then added, "Take the royal seal, Master.

It may be useful." He gave it to me, and I examined it more closely than I had done before.
It was a cylinder of plain white shell hung on a gold chain, that which Bes had bitten through, but now mended again by taking out the broken link.

On this cylinder were cut figures; as I think of a priest presenting a noble to a god, over whom was the crescent of the moon, while behind the god stood a man or demon with a tall spear.