Butbadnewscame。ThecommandantofthePiræuscameinhisboat，andsaidwemusteitherdepartorelsegetoutsidetheharborandremainimprisonedinourship，underrigidquarantine，forelevendays！Sowetookuptheanchorandmovedoutside，tolieadozenhoursorso，takinginsupplies，andthensailforConstantinople。Itwasthebitterestdisappointmentwehadyetexperienced。TolieawholedayinsightoftheAcropolis，andyetbeobligedtogoawaywithoutvisitingAthens！Disappointmentwashardlyastrongenoughwordtodescribethecircumstances。
Allhandswereondeck，alltheafternoon，withbooksandmapsandglasses，tryingtodeterminewhich\"narrowrockyridge\"wastheAreopagus，whichslopinghillthePnyx，whichelevationtheMuseumHill，andsoon。Andwegotthingsconfused。Discussionbecameheated，andpartyspiritranhigh。ChurchmembersweregazingwithemotionuponahillwhichtheysaidwastheoneSt。Paulpreachedfrom，andanotherfactionclaimedthatthathillwasHymettus，andanotherthatitwasPentelicon！Afterallthetrouble，wecouldbecertainofonlyonething——thesquare—toppedhillwastheAcropolis，andthegrandruinthatcrowneditwastheParthenon，whosepictureweknewininfancyintheschoolbooks。
Weinquiredofeverybodywhocameneartheship，whethertherewereguardsinthePiræus，whethertheywerestrict，whatthechanceswereofcaptureshouldanyofusslipashore，andincaseanyofusmadetheventureandwerecaught，whatwouldbeprobablydonetous？Theanswerswerediscouraging:Therewasastrongguardorpoliceforce;thePiræuswasasmalltown，andanystrangerseeninitwouldsurelyattractattention——capturewouldbecertain。Thecommandantsaidthepunishmentwouldbe\"heavy;\"
whenasked\"howheavy？\"hesaiditwouldbe\"verysevere\"——thatwasallwecouldgetoutofhim。
Ateleveno\'clockatnight，whenmostoftheship\'scompanywereabed，fourofusstolesoftlyashoreinasmallboat，acloudedmoonfavoringtheenterprise，andstartedtwoandtwo，andfarapart，overalowhill，intendingtogocleararoundthePiræus，outoftherangeofitspolice。Pickingourwaysostealthilyoverthatrocky，nettle—growneminence，mademefeelagooddealasifIwereonmywaysomewheretostealsomething。