“What sayest thou?”
“The king, with some of his mighty men, was tenting in a vale to the north of this place. There the sudden torrents came upon them, there broke upon them the spouts of water from the hills, there were they swept to death!”
“How knowest thou?”
“Two of the mighty men who were on the mountains above the vale hunting, and who had gone within a cave to rest, are the sole living ones. They are ill in yon cot. They beheld the waters rush upon the fleeing ones.”
“The queen?”
“The queen had been one week dead. They had but come from her burial in the country above.”
“They are together, then,” moaned the prince. “It is well. Ah, my father! I see thee—running—followed fast by the cruel waters!”
“Thy father! Thou art not the prince?”
The prince threw aside his mantle. “Sir Captain Pelio of Magnesia, thou canst but know me.”
The captain sank upon his knees, as did his officers and sailors. Of their quickness, the observing ones on the neighboring vessels did likewise. Indeed, others of the captains were familiar with the looks of the prince.