The shepherd shook his head, and said he could not tell him, and walked away about his business.
Discouraged at these trifling vexations, which seemed to cross his path at every step, Felix found his way to the ferry, but, as the shepherd had said, the boatman refused to carry him, being a stranger.

No persuasion could move him; nor the offer of a small silver coin, worth about ten times his fare.
"I must then swim across," said Felix, preparing to take off his clothes.
"Swim, if you like," said the boatman, with a grim smile; "but you will never land." "Why not ?" "Because the warder will let drive at you with an arrow." Felix looked, and saw that he was opposite the extreme angle of the city wall, a point usually guarded with care.

There was a warder stalking to and fro; he carried a partisan, but, of course, might have his bow within reach, or could probably call to the soldiers of the guard.
"This _is_ annoying," said Felix, ready to give up his enterprise.

"How ever can I get into the city ?" The old boatman grinned, but said nothing, and returned to a net which he was mending.

He made no answer to the further questions Felix put to him.