The boat on which the freedman had come was at the disposal of his master and himself.  Before Hermon entered it, he took leave, with an agitated heart and open hand, of his Amalekite friends and, in spite of the mist which still obscured everything he beheld, he perceived how reluctantly the simple dwellers in the wilderness saw him depart.

When the master and servant entered the boat, in spite of the sturdy sailors who manned it, it proved even more difficult than they had feared to make any progress; for the whole narrow end of the arm of the sea, which here extended between Egypt and Arabia Petrea, was covered with war galleys and transports, boats and skiffs.  The two most magnificent state galleys from Heroopolis were coming here, bearing the ambassadors who, in the King’s name, were to receive the fleet and its commander.  Other large and small, richly equipped, or unpretending ships and boats were filled with curious spectators.

What a gay, animated scene!  What brilliant, varied, strange, hitherto unseen objects were gathered here:  vessels of every form and size, sails white, brown, and black, and on the state galleys and boats purple, blue, and every colour, adorned with more or less costly embroidery!  What rising and falling of swiftly or slowly moving oars!

“From Alexandria!” cried Bias, pointing to a state galley which the King was sending to the commander of the southern fleet.

“And there,” remarked Hermon, proud of his regained power of distinguishing one thing from another, and letting his eyes rest on one of the returning transports, on whose deck stood six huge African elephants, whose trumpeting mingled with the roaring of the lions and tigers on the huge freight vessels, and the exulting shouts of the men and women in the ships and boats.

“After the King’s heart!” exclaimed Bias.  “He probably never received at one time before so large an accession to his collection of rare animals.  What is the transport with the huge lotus flower on the prow probably bringing?”

“Oh, and the monkeys and parrots over yonder!” joyously exclaimed the Amalekite boy who had been Hermon’s guide, and had accompanied him into the boat.  Then he suddenly lowered his voice and, fearing that his delight might give pain to the less keen-sighted man whom he loved, he asked, “You can see them, my lord, can’t you?”

“Certainly, my boy, though less plainly than you do,” replied Hermon, stroking the lad’s dark hair.

Meanwhile the admiral’s ship had approached the shore.

Bias pointed to the poop, where the commander Eumedes was standing directing the course of the fleet.

As if moulded in bronze, a man thoroughly equal to his office, he seemed, in spite of the shouts, greetings, and acclamations thundering around him, to close his eyes and ears to the vessels thronging about his ship and devote himself body and soul to the fulfilment of his duty.  He had just embraced his father and mother, who had come here to meet him.