to Rome in boxes,"
muttered the gardener, as he went to call Rufinus. "Poor souls, their
saints may save them from suffocation; and as for me, on my faith, if it
were not that Dame Joanna was the very best creature on two legs, and
if I had not promised her to stick to the master, I would jump into the
water and try the hospitality of the flamingoes and storks in the reeds!
We must learn to condescend!"

While he was fulfilling his errand, the captain was exchanging a few
words with his brother at the helm. There was no bridge near, and that
was well. If the horsemen were indeed in pursuit of them, they must ride
through the water to reach them; and scarcely three stadia lower down,
the river grew wider and ran through a marshy tract of country; the only
channel was near the western bank, and horsemen attempting to get to it
ran the risk of foundering in the mud. If the boat could but get as far
as that reach, much would be gained.

The captain urged the men to put forth all their strength, and very soon
the boat was flying along under the western shore, and divided by an
oozy flat from the eastern bank. Day was breaking, and the sky was
tinged red as with blood--a sinister omen that this morning was destined
to witness bitter strife and gaping wounds.

The seed sown by Katharina was beginning to grow. At the bishop's
request the Vekeel had despatched a troop of horse in pursuit of the
nuns, with orders to bring the fugitives back to Memphis and take their
escort prisoners. As the boat had slipped by the toll watch unperceived,
the Arabs had been obliged to divide, so as to follow down each arm
of the Nile. Twelve horsemen had been told off to pursue the Phasmetic
branch; for by every calculation these must suffice for the capture of
a score or so of nuns, and a handful of sailors would scarcely dare
to attempt to defend themselves. The Vekeel had heard nothing of the
addition to the party of the ship-master and his sons.

The pursuers had set out at noon of the previous day, and had overtaken
the vessel about two hours before daylight. But their leader thought
it well to postpone the attack till after sunrise, lest any of the
fugitives should escape. He and his men were all Arabs, and though well
acquainted with the course of that branch of the river which they were
to follow, they were not familiar with its peculiarities.

As soon as the morning star was invisible, the Moslems performed their
devotions, and then