He asked:

"Woman, who art thou?"

"I am the maiden Orberosia."

At this reply Mael raised his trembling arms to heaven.

"Do you speak truth, woman? It is a certain fact that Orberosia was
devoured by the dragon. And yet I see Orberosia and hear her. Did you
not, O my daughter, while within the dragon's bowels arm yourself with
the sign of the cross and come uninjured out of his throat? That is what
seems to me the most credible explanation."

"You are not deceived, father," answered Orberosia. "That is precisely
what happened to me. Immediately I came out of the creature's bowels
I took refuge in a hermitage on the Coast of Shadows. I lived there
in solitude, giving myself up to prayer and meditation, and performing
unheard of austerities, until I learnt by a revelation from heaven that
a maid alone could overcome the dragon, and that I was that maid."

"Show me a sign of your mission," said the old man.

"I myself am the sign," answered Orberosia.

"I am not ignorant of the power of those who have placed a seal upon
their flesh," replied the apostle of the Penguins. "But are you indeed
such as you say?"