Be discreet, Malchus; when you have lit the fire, and see that it is well on its way, withdraw quietly." Malchus hurried off, and in half an hour was down by the port.

Through the densely packed district which lay behind the lofty warehouses crammed with goods brought by sea from all parts of the world, he made his way until he reached the abode of a fisherman, in whose boat he often put to sea.
The old man, with three or four grownup sons, was reclining on a pile of rushes.
"Welcome back, my lord Malchus," he said; "glad am I to see you safely returned.

We have often talked of you, me and my sons, and wondered when you would again go out for a night's fishing with us.

You have come back at the right time.

The tunny are just entering the bay, and in another week we shall have rare sport." "I shall be glad, indeed, of another sail with you," Malchus said; "but at present I have other matters in hand.