Every minute the alarm increased; no suspicion was uttered, but they all read it in one another's eyes. King Siegfried ordered that they should themselves set out and search quietly, so as to attract no attention among the household and the people of the village. There could be no question of her having lost her way: the pine-woods were not extensive and Valérie knew Altseeborgen well. And there was nothing besides the woods, the beach and the village. 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. The scream was repeated. "There, don't you see something?" asked Christofel, pointing. He pointed to a long streak that came surging over the water. Othomar shook his head: "No, that's impossible!" he said. "It's a fisher-lad." "No, no, it's a rowing-boat!" cried Christofel. They said nothing more, they ran along. The streak became plainer: a gig; the scream rang out again, piercingly. "My God!... Valérie!" shouted Othomar. She called back a few words; he only partly understood them. She was rowing not far from the shore towards the castle. Othomar took off his coat, his shoes, his socks, turned up his trousers, his shirt-sleeves. "Take those with you," he cried to Christofel, "and go back to the castle, tell them...." He ran on his bare feet over the rocks and into the sea, flung himself into the water, swam out to the boat. It was very difficult for him to climb into the little gig without capsizing it. It lurched madly to right and left; however, with a single, quick, light movement, Othomar managed to jump in. "I give up...." said Valérie, faintly. She let go the sculls; he seized them and rowed on. For an instant she fell against him, but then sat up straight, so as not to hamper him. 5