It wanted nearly an hour to the time when the _Marburg_ would leave her moorings and move up the river. They divided the burdens among them, Margaret's share being the lantern, and with this she led the way. She shuddered when she passed the spot where those dead ones were lying, but she did not tarry, and she only spoke when she whispered back a warning where to stoop, and where the footing was treacherous. When they came into the open the moon was low down on the horizon, peeping between the heavy foliage of some trees, but making the shadow dense in which they sheltered themselves. Overhead were the glinting stars, Venus riding a few inches higher in the heavens than Jupiter, and close at hand was the dark and slowly moving river which reflected the sparkling sky dots and the dense bushes on the opposite bank. The waters were almost soundless but for the gurgle as they played with the plants and flowers which bent and nodded as the current moved. Waiting but alert, they saw a great mass moving in the middle of the stream. "'Tis a raft," said Herman, when he had peered beneath his hand. There were lights on it, and, as they flared, the watchers saw people moving to and fro, and when the moon uncovered her face there were ragged tents, and women sitting near them with their little ones about them. "So much the better for your journey, Master Tyndale," said Herman, as the moving mass went by. "The river will be clear for the next few days." The huge floating mass disappeared at a bend in the stream, and again the eyes of the watchers scanned the waters for some sign of the _Marburg_. "I would that William Roye had been less dilatory," Tyndale said presently. "He promised to meet me weeks ago, and said he would send word as to his coming." "Perhaps he heard that there was danger and dared not come," Herman suggested, without taking his eyes away from the river. "William Roye was ever afraid of his skin," said Tyndale half bitterly. "But he would have been useful to me as my amanuensis." "Ha!" exclaimed Herman, starting. "What was that?" A few yards away he saw a man crawl into view from the bank, and stand up at his full height. From the same spot a boat was pulling into the centre of the stream as if to overtake the raft, which was no more in sight. It might mean much. It might mean nothing. But whether friend or foe it was not desirable to have anyone so near when the ship they were awaiting might soon come into view. Yet nothing could be done. "Stand well back in the shadows," Herman whispered. "The man may move away." It was a difficulty for which they were not prepared. The bare idea of a little company, bent on furthering God's work in the world, resorting to violence was unthinkable; yet, to be cooped up like this, and suffer the ship to go by without her passenger, spelt disaster, for Cochlaeus was a veritable sleuth-hound, and might run Tyndale to earth.