“Tell us of it, Hellen,” said Electra. “I, also, am drawn to him. He seemeth more than man.”
“Yea, Hellen—tell us—and hasten. The time doth fly.”
“It is a year since. One morning, while I was on the sands, I chanced to see far off on the water a moving speck. As it drew on, it proved to be a boat, and a boat of strange behavior—for long it hovered far, as if it feared to draw nigher. The islanders also noting this, watched with me. After two hours, it began to near us a little. Then it stopped.
“So we on the sands beckoned. Thus on it came again. And soon we saw that it was of odd shape, and held two persons, one being clothed in white. Slow, very slow was it in nearing us; but at length drew up on the sands, amid our loud greetings.
“Then stepped among us this grand man robed in shining white, and wearing about his head a circlet of silver studded with golden stars. His was the garb of the priests of Poseidon, save that he wore soft folds of white about his brow beneath the circlet. So we pressed about him to know whence he came. To our sorrow he answered not by speech; but, by signs, made the king, high priest, and all, to know that Amen had sent him to serve in the temple, and that he would speak at such time as the gods willed.”
“How chanced the king and high priest on the sands?” inquired Electra.
“When we had watched the strange behavior of the boat for a while, we sent for them.”
“But—the figure behind him?” asked Æole.
“He sat still until the ‘Silent Priest’ signed for him to come. It was Sensel.”
“Now I call it to mind, Hellen. I heard thee tell of it, but had forgotten.”