“My sister!” shouted William, as they came under the spot where Adela clung; “throw yourself into my arms!”
She did so; but, alas! at the same moment, fifty more, in the desperation of terror, jumped too, and the little boat, with all that were in her, turned over, and was seen no more.
Then the waters poured over the “White Ship,” and with a great plunge that gallant vessel went down.
With her went down all the souls she carried save three. One of these was the brave Fitz-Stephen. Rising to the surface, he saw the two others clinging to a spar. Eagerly he swam towards them.
“Is the prince saved?” he asked.
“We have seen nothing of him,” replied they.
“Then woe is me!” exclaimed he, as he turned in the water and sank beneath it.
Of the other two, one only, a butcher, survived to carry the dreadful news to England.
For many days, Henry, impatient for his son’s arrival, waited in ignorance of his sad fate.
Then went to him a little child, who, instructed what to say, told him in his own artless way the whole story; and King Henry the First, so they say, after he had heard it, was never seen to smile again.