I was on the point of returning to relate what I had seen, when the boatman Sebek swam up once more and told as follows: The Egyptians had caused a leak to be made in Phanes' boat, and at a short distance from land it had filled and began to sink.

On the boatmen crying for help, the royal bark, which was following, had come up and taken the supposed Phanes on board, but had prevented the rowers from leaving their benches.

They all went down with the leaking boat, the daring Sebek alone excepted.

Gyges is on board the royal boat; Phanes has escaped, for that whistle must have been intended for the soldiers in ambush at the garden-gate.

I searched the bushes, the soldiers were gone, and I could hear the sound of their voices and weapons on their way back to Sais." The guests listened with eager attention to this tale.