And so it happened, and this was the manner of it.

Immediately after Narses had left his tent, a fisherman was led before
him, who had just sailed round the promontory of Surrentum in a small
and swift vessel, and who announced that an immense fleet of the Goths
was in full sail for the coast. Narses laughed; for he knew that not a
Gothic sail was to be found on all the seas.

More narrowly questioned, the man was obliged to confess that he had
not seen the fleet himself; but merchants had told him of it, and had
related that a great naval combat had taken place, in which the Goths
had destroyed the Emperor's fleet, at Brundusium.

That was impossible, as Narses well knew. And when the fisherman
described the appearance of the pretended Gothic ships, according to
what his informers had told him, the commander-in-chief cried out:

"At last they are coming! Triremes and galleys! They are our ships
which are approaching, not Gothic vessels."

No one thought of the Viking's fleet, which had not been heard of for
four moons, and which, it was believed, had sailed to the north.

A few hours later, as the battle was raging round the pass, engrossing
the attention of all, the coastguards announced to Narses the fact of
the approach of a very large imperial fleet. The ship of the admiral,
the Sophia, had been distinctly recognised. But the number of sails was
far greater than had been expected. The ships which Narses had sent to
urge the coming of the fleet were also among them, sailing first. The
strong south-eastern breeze would shortly bring them within sight of
the camp.

And presently Narses himself could enjoy from the hill the magnificent
spectacle of the approach of the fleet, propelled not only by their
spreading sails, but also by their long oars.

Much relieved, he again turned his attention to the combat upon
Vesuvius--when, suddenly, messengers reached him from the camp,
affirming the first reports in an alarming manner, or rather, they
brought much worse news. They had hurried on in advance of an embassy
which reached the litter of Narses just as Cethegus was advancing for
the last time against Teja.

This embassy consisted of the admiral and captains of the Ionian fleet,
who came forward with their hands in chains, and guarded by four
Northmen, whose message they had been brought to interpret. They
briefly related that they had been attacked by the fleet of the Viking
one stormy night, and had lost almo