Moreover, in front of them was set a table spread with delicate food.
"Tell me what has chanced, Nurse," she said faintly, "for I am bewildered, and know not in what world we wander." "Our own, Queen, I think," answered Asti, "but in charge of those who are not of it, for surely this is no mortal boat, nor do mortals guide her to her port.

Come, we need food.

Let us eat while we may." So they ate and drank heartily enough, and when they had finished even dared to go out of the pavilion.

Looking around them they saw that they stood upon a high deck in the midst of a great ship, but that this ship was enclosed with a net of silver cords in which they could find no opening.

Looking through its meshes they noted that the oars were inboard, and the great purple sails set upon the mast, also that the rowers were gone, perchance to rest beneath the deck, while on the forecastle of the ship stood the captain, white-robed and masked, and aft the steersman, also still masked, so that they could see nothing of their faces.