During this conversation Zopyrus had been begging his friends not to take any trouble about him. "By Mithras," he cried, when Bartja offered to declare himself to the Egyptians as a means of procuring his freedom, "I vow I'll stab myself without a second thought, if you give yourselves up to those dogs of Egyptians. Why the whole town is talking about the war already, and do you think that if Psamtik knew he'd got such splendid game in his net, he would let you loose? He would keep you as hostages, of course. No, no, my friends. Good-bye; may Auramazda send you his best blessings! and don't quite forget the jovial Zopyrus, who lived and died for love and war." The captain of the band placed himself at the head of his men, gave the order to march, and in a few minutes Zopyrus was out of sight. ETEXT EDITOR'S BOOKMARKS: Corpse to be torn in pieces by dogs and vultures He is the best host, who allows his guests the most freedom The past belongs to the dead; only fools count upon the future They praise their butchers more than their benefactors We've talked a good deal of love with our eyes already Wise men hold fast by the ever young present