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Why； he set off； as swift as the wind； straight down to the seashore；
scampered across the sand； took an airy leap； and plunged right in among
the foaming billows。 The white spray rose in a shower over him and little
Europa； and fell spattering down upon the water。
Then what a scream of terror did the poor child send forth！ The three
brothers screamed manfully； likewise； and ran to the shore as fast as their
legs would carry them； with Cadmus at their head。 But it was too late。
When they reached the margin of the sand； the treacherous animal was
already far away in the wide blue sea； with only his snowy head and tail
emerging； and poor little Europa between them； stretching out one hand
towards her dear brothers； while she grasped the bull's ivory horn with the
other。 And there stood Cadmus； Phoenix； and Cilix； gazing at this sad
spectacle； through their tears； until they could no longer distinguish the
bull's snowy head from the white…capped billows that seemed to boil up
out of the sea's depths around him。 Nothing more was ever seen of the
white bullnothing more of the beautiful child。
This was a mournful story； as you may well think； for the three boys to
carry home to their parents。 King Agenor； their father； was the ruler of the
whole country； but he loved his little daughter Europa better than his
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kingdom； or than all his other children； or than anything else in the world。
Therefore； when Cadmus and his two brothers came crying home； and told
him how that a white bull had carried off their sister； and swam with her
over the sea； the king was quite beside himself with grief and rage。
Although it was now twilight； and fast growing dark； he bade them set out
instantly in search of her。
〃Never shall you see my face again；〃 he cried； 〃unless you bring me
back my little Europa； to gladden me with her smiles and her pretty ways。
Begone； and enter my presence no more； till you come leading her by the
hand。〃
As King Agenor said this； his eyes flashed fire （for he was a very
passionate king）； and he looked so terribly angry that the poor boys did not
even venture to ask for their suppers； but slunk away out of the palace； and
only paused on the steps a moment to consult whither they should go first。
While they were standing there； all in dismay； their mother； Queen
Telephassa （who happened not to be by when they told the story to the
king）； came hurrying after them； and said that she too would go in quest of
her daughter。
〃O； no； mother！〃 cried the boys。 〃The night is dark； and there is no
knowing what troubles and perils we may meet with。〃
〃Alas！ my dear children；〃 answered poor Queen Telephassa； weeping
bitterly； 〃that is only another reason why I should go with you。 If I should
lose you； too； as well as my little Europa； what would become of me！〃
〃And let me go likewise！〃 said their playfellow Thasus； who came
running to join them。
Thasus was the son of a seafaring person in the neighborhood； he had
been brought up with the young princes； and was their intimate friend； and
loved Europa very much； so they consented that he should accompany
them。 The whole party； therefore； set forth together。 Cadmus； Phoenix；
Cilix； and Thasus clustered round Queen Telephassa； grasping her skirts；
and begging her to lean upon their shoulders whenever she felt weary。 In
this manner they went down the palace steps； and began a journey； which
turned out to be a great deal longer than they dreamed of。 The last that
they saw of King Agenor； he came to the door； with a servant holding a
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torch beside him； and called after them into the gathering darkness：
〃Remember！ Never ascend these steps again without the child！〃
〃Never！〃 sobbed Queen Telephassa； and the three brothers and Thasus
answered； 〃Never！ Never！ Never！ Never！〃
And they kept their word。 Year after year； King Agenor sat in the
solitude of his beautiful palace； listening in vain for their returning
footsteps； hoping to hear the familiar voice of the queen； and the cheerful
talk of his sons and their playfellow Thasus； entering the door together；
and the sweet； childish accents of little Europa in the midst of them。 But so
long a time went by； that； at last； if they had really come； the king would
not have known that this was the voice of Telephassa； and these the
younger voices that used to make such joyful echoes； when the children
were playing about the palace。 We must now leave King Agenor to sit on
his throne； and must go along with Queen Telephassa； and her four
youthful companions。
They went on and on； and traveled a long way； and passed over
mountains and rivers； and sailed over seas。 Here； and there； and
everywhere； they made continual inquiry if any person could tell them
what had become of Europa。 The rustic people； of whom they asked this
question； paused a little while from their labors in the field； and looked
very much surprised。 They thought it strange to behold a woman in the
garb of a queen （for Telephassa in her haste had forgotten to take off her
crownand her royal robes）； roaming about the country； with four lads
around her； on such an errand as this seemed to be。 But nobody could give
them any tidings of Europa； nobody had seen a little girl dressed like a
princess； and mounted on a snow… white bull； which galloped as swiftly as
the wind。
I cannot tell you how long Queen Telephassa； and Cadmus； Phoenix；
and Cilix； her three sons； and Thasus； their playfellow； went wandering
along the highways and bypaths； or through the pathless wildernesses of
the earth； in this manner。 But certain it is； that； before they reached any
place of rest； their splendid garments were quite worn out。 They all looked
very much travel…stained； and would have had the dust of many countries
on their shoes； if the streams； through which they waded； had not washed
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