The king and the crown-prince themselves went into the woods, with an equerry. Herman and his younger brother Olaf went into the village, to the left; Othomar and Christofel along the sea, to the right. The queen remained behind with the princesses, in palpitating uncertainty. For all their efforts to bear up and to eat their breakfasts, a sort of rumour had already spread through the castle.
Othomar had gone with Christofel along the rocky shore; the rain began to come down, in hard, thick drops.
"What are we really looking for here?" asked Othomar, helplessly.
"Perhaps she has thrown herself into the sea!" answered the young prince.
And for the first time of his life, he felt afraid of those depths, which meant death. Unconsciously they went on, on, on....
"Let's go back," said Othomar.
Nevertheless they continued to go on; they could not give in....
Then a scream sounded over the water: they started, but at first saw nothing.
"Did you hear?" asked Christofel, turning pale, thinking of ghostly legends of the sea.
"A sea-mew, I expect," said Othomar, listening, however.