A rude hand caught his cloak.

It was torn from his back.

A sword whisked past his head--he never learned how closely.

He was in the air, saw that the barge was getting away, and next he was chilled by a sudden dash of water and Caelius was dragging him aboard; he had landed under the very stern of the barge.

Struggling in the water, weighed down by their armour, were several soldiers who had leaped after him and had missed their distance completely.
The young man clambered on to the rude vessel.