"Is he also an envoy from
Zimboe?"
"Nay, King," answered the prince laughing, "but my grandsire, the mighty
ruler of Israel, charged me always to take note of the ways of savages
in peace and war, that I might learn how to deal with them. Therefore, I
sought leave to accompany Sakon upon this embassy."
"Peace, peace!" broke in Sakon. "This is no time for gibes. King
Ithobal, since you did not dare to venture yourself again within the
walls of our city, we have come to answer the demands you made upon us
in the Hall of Audience. You demanded that our fortifications should be
thrown down, and this we refuse, since we do not court destruction. You
demanded that we should cease to enslave men to labour in the mines, and
to this we answer that for every man we take we will pay a tax to his
lawful chief, or to you as king. You demanded that the ancient tribute
should be doubled. To this, out of love and friendship, and not from
fear, we assent, if you will enter into a bond of lasting peace, since
it is peace we seek, and not war. King, you have our answer."
"Not all of it, Sakon. How of that first condition--that Lady Elissa the
fair, your daughter, should be given me to wife?"
"King, it cannot be, for the gods of heaven have taken this matter from
our hands, anointing the lady Elissa their high-priestess."
"Then as I live," answered Ithobal with fury, "I will take her from the
hands of the gods and anoint her my dancing-woman.
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