He swung himself up, avoiding the great snake which looked at him warily. "Do not go any higher," cried the Princess; "the branch will break, and you will be killed." But he laughed at her, and climbing higher seized the apple, then the branch did break. She screamed a little. "You are bruised instead of the apple," she said, as he picked himself up. He laughed. "I have done wonderful things to-day," he said. "At dawn I killed a lion; and at eve I got an apple for a Princess." "But are you not one of the court-pages? I thought you were. Who are you to kill lions, which are preserved for the King?" "I am Adamaharon, the son of Na'amah, the cousin of the King." She offered him the apple, and he bit a large piece out of it. "Come and look at the lion's skin," he said, and led her into Adam's cabin. She felt a curious pleasure in being with him, and listened with delight to the story of how he killed the lion. But they did not talk much, they seemed to understand each other so well that they had nothing to say; and at last they kissed each other. It was at that precise moment, when their souls seemed to meet with their lips that Merodach entered. For a moment he paused, anger falling about him like darkness in which all things writhed, confused. Then he drew his sword. The Princess Candace fell before him and embraced his knees; he was lifting the sword to strike her when Bagoas seized his arm. "It is the son of Na'amah," he said quickly. The King paused, and then lowered his sword slowly. He stared at the young man in silence, and the young man met his gaze quietly. Then the King let his eyes wander over the other's form, and he saw that the young man was well-thewed, spare, and muscular, with a beauty to make him desired of the maidens; and his heart softened toward his cousin's son. "You are Adamaharon," he said slowly, as he sheathed his sword. "I had intended to send for you to come unto Uruk, that I might wed you to my daughter. This is the will of the gods, and it is mine, also." The young man came to him, and bowed down before, touching his feet; and Merodach let his hand rest upon the bowed head, caressing the thick curls. "A young lion of our race," said Merodach exultingly; "look at the yellow mane rippling over the firm neck. A child of my cousin Na'amah. A child of the race of the gods." And he embraced Adamaharon kindly, and he raised up Candace and kissed her fondly, bidding her go to her mother, and tell her how she had found a husband in the cabin of Adam. And Candace left them; and as she went she wept, for her fear had given place to joy. Then Adamaharon rose up, and stood before the King. "I have done wonderful things to-day," he said proudly. "At dawn I slew a lion; and at eve I kissed the desire of my heart. My mouth is filled with honey." "It is the will of the gods," said Merodach.