Teja.
Quiet, friends, quiet! Thy name is Haribalt.
Watcher.
Yea, Sire!
Teja.
How long hast thou stood at thy post?
Watcher.
Since early yesterday, Sire.
Teja.
Where are thy two companions?
Watcher.
They remain above, as thou hast commanded, Sire.
Teja.
Good, then what saw ye?
Watcher.
The smoke of Vesuvius, Sire, descended upon the sea, beyond the
promontory of Misenum. Thus we saw nothing until to-day about the sixth
hour of the evening. Then suddenly the ships appeared five in number
quite near the shore, there where it is said a city of the Romans lies
buried in ruins.... One of us determined to hasten away, since----
Teja.
Stay! What signal bare the ships?
Watcher.