If at any time thou dost want help, call me, and I will protect thee against twenty enemies.

Thou hast saved my child--good! Life for life.

I sign myself thy blood-ally--there." With these words he drew his poniard out of his girdle.

He scratched his arm, and let a few drops of his blood run down on a stone at the feet of Nebsecht--"Look," he said.

"There is my bond, Kaschta has signed himself thine, and thou canst dispose of my life as of thine own.