Knowing that the preacher was preaching, they made greater haste; yet, as they were drawing near, suddenly there was a commotion in the mass, and it began to break up and disperse.
They were too late! "Let us stay here," said Ben-Hur to Balthasar, who was wringing his hands.

"The Nazarite may come this way." The people were too intent upon what they had heard, and too busy in discussion, to notice the new-comers.

When some hundreds were gone by, and it seemed the opportunity to so much as see the Nazarite was lost to the latter, up the river not far away they beheld a person coming towards them of such singular appearance they forgot all else.
Outwardly the man was rude and uncouth, even savage.

Over a thin, gaunt visage of the hue of brown parchment, over his shoulders and down his back below the middle, in witch-like locks, fell a covering of sun-scorched hair.

His eyes were burning-bright.