Think you that my cousin, the Prince Peroa, loves to be the servant of this distant, Eastern king, he who by right is Pharaoh of Egypt?
Peroa must strike or lose his niece and perchance his life.

Forward, that we may warn him." "And if he will not strike, Master, knowing the King's might and being somewhat slow to move ?" "Then, Bes, I think that you and I had best go hunting far away in those lands you know, where even the Great King cannot follow us." "And where, if only I can find a woman who does not make me ill to look on, and whom I do not make ill, I too can once more be a king, Master, and the lord of many thousand brave armed men.

I must speak of that matter to the holy Tanofir." "Who doubtless will know what to advise you, Bes; or, if he dies not, I shall." For a while we rode on in silence, each thinking his own thoughts.

Then Bes said, "Master, before so very long we shall reach the Nile, and having with us gold in plenty can buy boats and hire crews.

It comes into my mind that we should do well for our own safety and comfort to start at once on a hunting journey far from Egypt; in the land of the Ethiopians, Master.
There perchance I could gather together some of the wise men in whose hands I left the rule of my kingdom, and submit to them this question of a woman to marry me.