"We have now only starlight," said Lysias, "but yonder at anchor floateth the galley of Herod, the tetrarch. This is according to the saying of the procurator. All is well, for he who cometh hath not arrived. There are boats; take them. But here do I leave you, for I have a further errand. Fare thee well."
"Success to thee, O Lysias," said Tostig. "We are thy friends henceforth. Haste thee about thy business. We can care for ourselves now that we see keels and waves."
Many voices bade him good speed, and the strong ass appeared but little wearied as he sprang away northward along the beach.
"Glad am I not to be in Joppa this day," said Lysias. "If I am heard from next at the house of Cornelius at Cæsarea, no man will accuse me of having too much acquaintance with the doings of the gladiators of Caius. I did but bring to them an order whereof I knew not the meaning. I am but a messenger, carrying letters to and fro."
Nevertheless, his heart was full of great anxiety and he remembered how dark had been the hard face of the procurator.
The fishing boats were many, but only two large ones were taken. Into these the Saxons put their baggage of all kinds, but they drove away their horses to a good distance down the beach. Then they took the oars and in a short rowing they were near the galley.
Over the bulwark leaned an armed man as the boats touched the side.
"Whence come ye?" he demanded, but he spoke as to friends, for he was at that hour expecting such an arrival and he saw the Roman helmets.
For a moment no voice replied to him, but the Saxons went quickly over the bulwark.