There was the poor old king , too , leaning on his son 's arm , and looking as if his single heart held all the grief of Athens . Just as Prince Theseus was going on board , his father bethought himself of one last word to say . `` My beloved son , '' said he , grasping the Prince 's hand , `` you observe that the sails of this vessel are black ; as indeed they ought to be , since it goes upon a voyage of sorrow and despair . Now , being weighed down with infirmities , I know not whether I can survive till the vessel shall return . But , as long as I do live , I shall creep daily to the top of yonder cliff , to watch if there be a sail upon the sea . And , dearest Theseus , if by some happy chance , you should escape the jaws of the Minotaur , then tear down those dismal sails , and hoist others that shall be bright as the sunshine . Beholding them on the horizon , myself and all the people will know that you are coming back victorious , and will welcome you with such a festal uproar as Athens never heard before . '' Theseus promised that he would do so . Then going on board , the mariners trimmed the vessel 's black sails to the wind , which blew faintly off the shore , being pretty much made up of the sighs that everybody kept pouring forth on this melancholy occasion . But by and by , when they had got fairly out to sea , there came a stiff breeze from the north-west , and drove them along as merrily over the white-capped waves as if they had been going on the most delightful errand imaginable . And though it was a sad business enough , I rather question whether fourteen young people , without any old persons to keep them in order , could continue to spend the whole time of the voyage in being miserable . There had been some few dances upon the undulating deck , I suspect , and some hearty bursts of laughter , and other such unseasonable merriment among the victims , before the high blue mountains of Crete began to show themselves among the far-off clouds . That sight , to be sure , made them all very grave again . Theseus stood among the sailors , gazing eagerly towards the land ; although , as yet , it seemed hardly more substantial than the clouds , amidst which the mountains were looming up . Once or twice , he fancied that he saw a glare of some bright object , a long way off , flinging a gleam across the waves . `` Did you see that flash of light ? '' he inquired of the master of the vessel . `` No , prince ; but I have seen it before , '' answered the master . `` It came from Talus , I suppose . '' As the breeze came fresher just then , the master was busy with trimming his sails , and had no more time to answer questions .
But while the vessel flew faster and faster towards Crete , Theseus was astonished XXXXX behold a human figure , gigantic in size , which appeared to be striding , with a measured movement , along the margin of the island .
across although amidst as in of though to towards whether