When he told the eagles what he had found, they burst into a shrill clamor devising schemes of war. As before, Chief of All the Eagles in the Sky was the last to speak:
‘Comrades, since you demand war, there shall be war. But I believe you underestimate the power and resource of the enemy. Before we use violence, let us discover whether there is another entrance to this castle through which the Sorcerer might escape. Although a journey below the sea is not possible for eagles, to Raphael, who has power over the sea, it should not be difficult.
‘My boy’—he turned to Raphael—‘I charge you with this mission. Go to the King or President of the Atlantic, for I think that he will help us.’
In this way the conference ended.
CHAPTER IV
DOWN TO THE SEA
Calling upon the power of a dolphin, Raphael walked down into the sea. When the green water closed over his head, he realized that he had entered a new world, as strange as the earth which he had left. He took a breath cautiously and found that he could breathe. I wonder, he thought, whether the fish know that there is another world on top of the water, and that there are other worlds even beyond that.
Raphael climbed slowly down a great cinder cliff to which clung odd mosses and seaweed. He was looking for some sign of life in the silent depths when he stumbled carelessly over a rock and started to fall. It was then he noticed for the first time the peculiar nature of the land he was in. Instead of falling, he tipped forward and settled gently through the water face down. Why, thought Raphael, this is like flying. And he swam a few strokes.
At the bottom of the cliff, he sat down to rest in a large bush of seaweed which floated soft green branches toward him. He was out of breath.
‘Be careful,’ said a voice at his elbow as he was about to settle back comfortably. ‘There is a sea urchin almost underneath you.’