"Ah, you mean that would have been your course."
Belesys smiled.
"The hand that cannot be cut off must be caressed," he said.
I took good care that before he left he should see the scorpions filled with missiles and put ready for action, and then I dismissed him with the most punctilious observance of outward respect.
Before quitting the ship he made another attempt to induce Bichri to join his service, an honour which was coolly and firmly declined.
CHAPTER XXIII.
WE SETTLE OUR ACCOUNTS WITH BODMILCAR.
It was quite late in the evening before we reached the bar of the river, and as I was fearful of crossing it in the dark, I gave orders to lay to for the night. A small Chaldean camp was within sight, but I took every precaution to guard against any act of treachery on the part of Belesys.