ur, as the law was, and
the slaves panted and sobbed in quietude over the oar-looms. For vessels
thus stationed there is, generally, a sufficiency of waiting, for a
port-captain is apt to be so uncertain of his own dignity, that he must
e'en keep folks waiting to prove it to them. But here for us it might
have been that the port-captain's boat was waiting. The signal was
sounded from the two castles at the harbour's entrance, the chain which
hung between them was dropped, and a ten-oared boat shot out from behind
the walls as fast as oars could drive her. She raced up alongside and
the questions were put:

"That should be Dason's galley?"

"It was," said Tob.

"Oh, I saw Dason's head on your beak," said the port-captain. "You were
Tatho's captain?"

"And am still. Tatho's fleet was sent by Dason and his friends to the
sea-floor, and so we took this stinking galley to finish the voyage in,
seeing that it was the only craft left afloat."

The port-captain was roving his eye over the group of us who stood on
the after-deck. "I fear me, captain, that you'll have but a dangerous
reception. I do not see my Lord Deucalion. Or does he come with some
other navy? Gods, captain, if you have let him get killed whilst under
your charge, the Empress will have the skin torn slowly off you living."

"What with Phorenice and Tatho both so curious for his welfare," said
Tob, "my Lord Deucalion seems but a dangerous passenger. But I shall
save my hide this voyage." He jerked at me with his thumb. "He's there
to put in a word for me himself."

The port-captain stared for a moment, as if unbelieving, and then, as
though satisfied, made obeisance like a fellow well used to ceremonial.
"I trust my lord, in his infinite strength, will pardon my sin in not
knowing him by his nobleness before. But truth to tell, I had looked to
see my lord more suitably apparelled."

"Pish," I said; "if I choose to dress simply, I cannot object to being
mistaken for a simple man. It is not my pleasure to advertise my quality
by the gauds on my garb. If you think amends are due to me, I pray of
your charity that this inquisition may end."

The fellow was all bows and obsequiousness. "I am the humblest of my
lord's servants," he said. "It will be my exceeding honour to pilot my
lord's galley into the berth appointed in harbour."

The boat shot ahead, and our galley-slaves swung into stroke again. Tob
watched me with a dry smile as he stood directing th