noon in November
They were not happy , for they remembered days of old ; but they endured , they fought off hunger , they earned sleep ; and their King , as he watched from Cara Clowz their dark sails moving out against the sunset , could give thanks that the last misery had been spared his people . But there were dawns which discovered one or two missing from the tale of boats , home-comings with heavy news for freight , knots of women and children with blown wet hair awaiting it , white faces and the wails of widow and orphan . The days drew in and this began to happen often -- so often that a tale grew with it and spread , until it had reached all ears but those of King Graul and Queen Motte . One black noon in November a company of men crossed the sands at low-water and demanded to speak with the King . `` Speak , my children , '' said Graul . He knew that they loved him and might count on his sharing the last crust with them . `` We are come , '' said the spokesman , `` not for ourselves , but for our wives and children .