At least they made no
answer, only prostrated themselves humbly, and pointed towards the shore
where now Tua saw a fire burning on a rock, though who had lit it she
did not know.
"They mean us to leave the ship," said Asti. "Come, Queen, let us follow
our fortunes, for doubtless these are high."
"As you will," answered Tua, "seeing that we should scarcely have been
brought here to no end."
So they accompanied the men to the side of that splendid vessel, for now
the netting that confined them had been removed, to find that a gangway
had been laid from its bulwark to the shore. As they stepped on to
this gangway their masked companions handed to each of them one of the
baskets, then again bowed humbly and were gone. Soon they gained the
bank, and scarcely had their feet touched it when the gangway was
withdrawn, and the great oars began to beat the muddy water.
Round swung the ship, and for a minute hung in midstream. There stood
the captain on the foredeck, and there was the steersman at the helm,
and the red light of the sinking sun turned them into figures of flame.
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