“Yea, he is lost upon her. The fear is great, at times, that she may have passed beyond.”
“The gods are kind, Hellen. Ye will see her.”
Meanwhile, Sensel was giving his account to Æole.
“Æole, we staid to see the island beset by high pillars of water, pressed upon by bolts of flame, and as if on fire from the burning mountain. The seething waves were leaping higher and higher upon it: and it was plain it was sinking. Later, another mountain began to send forth fire. Imagine, if thou canst, those fiery streams rising high above the island to fall in rivers of flame, that rushed in fury onward to the cliffs—from there to leap to the mad waters that answered in tempests of boiling, hissing spray! And through all was the noise deafening. Ever were the pent airs[[24]] bursting from the mountain with noise as of thunder, the pillars of water breaking, the bolts of flame crashing—whilst the rain fell in sheets, the ashes in showers!”
“Did the rain and ashes fall upon you?”
“They touched us not to our wonder.”
Æole sighed, relieved; then shivered.
“It is too much for thee, Æole.”
“Say on, Sensel. I would hearken to all.”
“The island was sinking fast, whilst toward us speeded dense vapors that we feared would hide the end. Thus we moved from point to point that we might still behold. Though not for long: as, in the early morning came the end. There was a long and severe trembling—as if heaven and earth were rending apart! We closed our eyes knowing the worst had come. We opened them to behold the island vanishing!