"Hieyas is just dismissing the messengers," said Raiden.
As they raised the drapery which enclosed the tent, a red glow lighted up the woods.
"What is that?" asked Hieyas.
Several officers left the tent to inquire. A vast flame arose in the direction of the sea; the wind fanned it, and brought the sound of crackling, snapping wood.
"What can be burning on that shore?" was the cry. "There are no villages that way."
"It is some boats," said a man, who came running in.
"Our boats!" sighed Raiden; "well, that's nice!"
"No one knows where they came from; all at once they were seen stranded on the beach."
"Are there many of them?"
"Some fifty. We went up to them; they were empty. Those large boats, well equipped, struck us as suspicious."