usual hum which arises from the movements of people.  On looking closer he noticed, too, that there were few persons on the merchant vessels, and not one gang at work loading or unloading.  Except the warder stalking to and fro on the wall, and the crew of the war-ship, there was no one visible.  As the warder paced to and fro the blade of his partisan gleamed in the sunshine.  He must have seen Felix, but with military indifference did not pay the slightest heed to the latter’s efforts to attract his attention.

He now passed the war-ship, and shouted to the men at work, who were, he could see, carrying sheaves of arrows and bundles of javelins from the vessel and placing them on carts; but they did not trouble to reply.  His common dress and ordinary appearance did not inspire them with any hope of payment from him if they obliged him with a boat.  The utter indifference with which his approach was seen showed him the contempt in which he was held.

Looking round to see if there were no bridge or ferry, he caught sight of the grey church tower which he had observed from afar while sailing.  It was quite a mile from the city, and isolated outside the walls.  It stood on the slope of the hill, over whose summit the tower was visible.  He wandered up towards it, as there were usually people in or about the churches, which were always open day and night.  If no one else, the porter in the lodge at the church door would be there, for he or his representative never left it, being always on the watch lest some thief should attempt to enter the treasury, or steal the sacred vessels.

But as he ascended the hill he met a shepherd, whose dogs prepared to fly at him, recognising a stranger.  For a moment the man seemed inclined to let them wreak their will, if they could, for he also felt inclined to challenge a stranger, but, seeing Felix lower his spear, it probably occurred to him that some of his dogs would be killed.  He therefore ordered them down, and stayed to listen.  Felix learnt that there was no bridge across the creek, and only one over the river; but there was a ferry for anybody who was known.  No strangers were allowed to cross the ferry; they must enter by the main road over the bridge.

“But how am I to get into the place then?” said Felix.  The shepherd shook his head, and said he could not tell him, and walked away about his business.

Discouraged at these trifling vexations, which seemed to cross his path at every step, Felix found his way to the ferry, but, as the shepherd had said, the boatman refused to carry him, being a stranger.  No persuasion could move him; nor the offer of a small silver coin, worth about ten times his fare.

“I must then swim across,” said Felix, preparing to take off his clothes.

“Swim, if you like,” said the boatman, with a grim smile; “but you will never land.”

“Why not?”

“Because the warder will let drive at you with an arrow.”