At length, one evening as the sun sank, they perceived that the violent
motion of the vessel had ceased with the roaring of the gale above,
which for all this while had driven them onward at such fearful speed.
Venturing from their cedar house, they saw that they had entered the
mouth of a great river upon the banks of which grew enormous trees that
sent out long crooked roots into the water, and that among these roots
crouched crocodiles and other noisome reptiles. Also the white-robed
oarsmen had appeared again, and, as there was no wind, rowed the ship up
the river, till at length they came to a spit of sand which jutted out
into the stream, and here cast anchor.
Now Tua's and Asti's desire for food returned to them, and they ate.
Just as they had finished their meal, and the sun was sinking suddenly,
there appeared before them two masked men, each of whom bore a basket
in his hand. Asti began to question them, but like the captain and
the steersman, they seemed to be deaf and dumb.
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