“We’re on a ship,” whispered Diana, excitedly.
And then, for the first time, Rachel realised that she was standing on the deck of a vessel, and that all around her, sailors were moving, busy with ropes and sails as they shouted to one another in a language she did not understand.
The flames darting from the top of the wonderful column lighted up a great track of water between the ship and the coast, which was plainly visible in the red glare of the fire. So also was the ship that sailed over the illuminated sea, and the figures of the sailors on board. They were like no sailors she had ever seen, for they were clothed in a strange fashion, and wore curiously shaped caps.
“There is the first lighthouse,” said a well-known voice, and turning together, the children saw standing behind them—Mr. Sheston. Rachel, at any rate, knew it was Mr. Sheston, even though he looked quite different, and wore a tunic with a cloak thrown over his shoulders, for she was accustomed by this time to seeing him in various guises.
“Oh, do tell us where we are,” she begged. “We’re on the sea, of course—but what sea is it? And how far are we back into the Past? And what is your name this time?”
The tall dark man laughed.
“Let me take the questions singly. This is the Mediterranean Sea. We are about two thousand five hundred years back into the Past. The land there is the coast of Egypt. And my name you already know, for I am Dinocrates.”
“Oh, then it was you who built the Temple of Diana?” asked Rachel.
“And you were the little boy with the leopard skin? And afterwards—hundreds of years afterwards—you built the first temple—and the second and third ones too,” cried Diana. “Mr. Sheston told us all about you, and——”
But here Diana paused, for she suddenly realised that Dinocrates and Mr. Sheston were one and the same.