`` Good-bye , '' shouted Cadmus , Phoenix , and Cilix , all in one breath . But , together with her enjoyment of the sport , there was still a little remnant of fear in the child 's heart ; so that her last look at the three boys was a troubled one , and made them feel as if their dear sister were really leaving them forever . And what do you think the snowy bull did next ? 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 bull -- nothing 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 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 -LRB- for he was a very passionate king -RRB- , 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 -LRB- who happened not to be by when they told the story to the king -RRB- , came hurrying after them , and said that she too would go in quest of her daughter . `` O , no , mother ! ''
XXXXX the boys .
ask back bade bring consult cried grasped send standing stretching