"
Then she sank back upon her cushions, and once more fell into swoon or
sleep.
Tua woke again, and lo! the sun was shining brightly, and at her side
sat Asti watching her. Moreover, in front of them was set a table spread
with delicate food.
"Tell me what has chanced, Nurse," she said faintly, "for I am
bewildered, and know not in what world we wander."
"Our own, Queen, I think," answered Asti, "but in charge of those who
are not of it, for surely this is no mortal boat, nor do mortals guide
her to her port. Come, we need food. Let us eat while we may."
So they ate and drank heartily enough, and when they had finished even
dared to go out of the pavilion. Looking around them they saw that they
stood upon a high deck in the midst of a great ship, but that this ship
was enclosed with a net of silver cords in which they could find no
opening. Looking through its meshes they noted that the oars were
inboard, and the great purple sails set upon the mast, also that the
rowers were gone, perchance to rest beneath the deck, while on the
forecastle of the ship stood the captain, white-robed and masked, and
aft the steersman, also still masked, so that they could see nothing of
their faces.
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