"If we might indeed land here again," said Wulf the Skater, doubtfully. "At all events we have no more upon our hands this night than to take the keel which is prepared for us and to put to sea."
So said they all, and again they pushed forward, but after a while the road by which they traveled was no longer so rugged and so hilly.
"We shall kill the horses," they said, "but we may reach the sea before the dawn."
So did it prove, for more than one horse gave out and his rider mounted another from those which were led without any heavy burden. It was yet dark, at the last, when Tostig exclaimed:
"O Greek, I hear the sound of waves upon a beach. Are we now near Joppa?"
"Too near," replied Lysias, "for into the town itself we may not safely go. We will turn here by this road at the right. If we encounter guards or a patrol, let there be no report made of our passing."
"Halt!" rang out in the road a little ahead of them. "The password! Who are ye?"
It was a legionary at his post, a sentry on guard, and to him rode Knud the Bear.
"I am this," he said. "Take thou my token!"
Down fell the soldier, speared through the face, so that he spoke not again, and on rode the Saxons toward the sea.