Presently
the wind passed, and the people looking seaward saw that there were no
ships there, but the foam of the surf was black with wreckage, and
tossing in it were the forms of dead men. The Rover and his followers
had all perished. But the joy of the King and his people was savage,
and their thoughts were black, for the princess was with them that were
destroyed. Then the people made haste to spread themselves along the
coast to watch if perchance the gods might cast her ashore alive, but
no living thing appeared, neither was her body seen.
Now
while these things were being done, great clouds, very thick and black,
gathered, and rolling together, poured themselves in torrents into the
sea. So thickly did the rain fall that the waves were beaten down and
the sea became as a threshing-floor on which the rain fell white and
hissing. The Brahman watching, said "Behold! the Heavens weep," and
turning, he went straightway to the temple.
For
many hours thereafter did the torrents fall and all Travancore mourned,
the lamentations of the people being very loud, for the King and his
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