Before long, therefore, poor Florimell heard this monster crashing through the forest.

Terrified at the thought of falling into its power, she urged her steed toward the sea-shore, in hopes of finding a boat and getting away.

On reaching the water, she sprang off her steed, and, seeing a little skiff near by, stepped into it and pushed off, without securing the permission of the fisherman, who was sleeping at the bottom of the boat while his nets were drying on the sand.
Barely were they out of reach when the beast rushed down to the shore, pounced upon Florimell's horse and devoured it.

The monster was still occupied thus when Sir Satyrane came riding along.

He rashly concluded the beast had devoured the rider too, a fear confirmed by the sight of Florimell's girdle on the sand.