The captain who had put back from the Middle Sea stepped out, getting the start of the only captain yet to be heard from. But the latter was willing to bide his time. At beck of the chamberlain, the former declared:
“O most gracious of kings, Atlano, then was it the vessels of this people that so troubled us. Nothing like them have I seen for size and strength.”
The king turned to left, to right, demanding fiercely, “Hear ye this? Hear ye this?”
Senil, the most venerable of the rulers, arose.
“Senil, what wilt thou?”
“King Atlano, we hear; and it seemeth evil.”
“What is the thing we shall do?”
“O most gracious King, that will we do which seemeth good to thee.”
The king’s face testified to his emotions. His anger had given way to wild triumph. He ejaculated:
“Senil, Rulers, Nobles, we will bring them to naught! It shall not be said that any power holdeth the sea with Atlantis!”