"The Dark Form came up, a black shadow across the sunny beach. Your father encountered it boldly, and said, 'Where is my child?'
"There was no sound in reply. For a moment there seemed to be a struggle. I rushed towards them, but the terrible touch was on your father's hand. There seemed no violence, no chain was on his arm—only that paralysing touch. He went from me silent and helpless as the babe.
"'Whither, whither?' I cried. 'Only tell me where!'
"He looked back once, but he spoke to me no more. I rushed madly into the sea, but the ship was gone in a minute, and your voices, your baby voices, called me back, and I came."
"Is there no help, mother?" said Hope, at last. "Has no one ever tried? If I were but a man! Oh, surely some help could be found?"
"So thousands have thought, tried, and asked in vain. Fleets have scoured the seas, but none ever came on the Black Ship's track. Have you seen that line of surge far out on the sea?"
"The reef, mother? Yes; we have often wondered what it was."
"It is the great sea-wall which our people built ages since. The whole nation combined once to encircle the island with a gigantic sea-wall which no ship might pass. On the day of its completion, there was a great national festival on the sea-shore. But at noon-day, as they danced and feasted, one who was watching saw a black speck on the horizon.
"The festivities were suspended, and every one gathered on the beach to look. It grew larger and darker—it came to the sea-wall—without a moment's pause it glided through, and the multitude could gaze no longer. They scattered in all directions to their homes; and before morning, from hundreds of families, one was gone—princes, nobles, peasants—one sweeping yet terribly discriminating desolation. But in the sea-wall not the smallest breach could be found. Since then it has never been repaired, and the waves have worn it down to a broken reef, over which our boats pass freely."
Hope was silenced, and the little family sat up together that night. They did not dare to separate, even to their beds, yet before long, the children were asleep.