Two men lived in close friendship. War separated them. One day one of them went to his friend's town. The king, believing him to be a spy coming from the enemy’s country, ordered him to be killed. He begged to be allowed to return home to settle his affairs after which he would return. Asked who would stand surety for him, his friend offered himself to be killed if the other did not return within the fixed time. The king granted a month. On the last day the man had not returned and his friend was brought out from prison and was on the point of being killed when the other man returned. The king, greatly astounded, begged of them to allow him to become a third in their friendship.