"Not quite all, but the rest is nearly as simple. You have but to
observe four rules. First, to tell no living soul of your resolve
during the month of initiation. Second, to keep your vigil always
between the two great beeches in the middle of the Ring. Third, to
issue forth at midnight and immerse your head in the Dewpond which
lies on the hilltop to the west, and having done so to return to
your watch between the trees. And fourth, to make no utterance on
any account whatever from sunset to sunrise."

"Suppose I should sneeze?" inquired the King anxiously.

"There's no supposing about it," said the Ringdove. "Sneezing,
seeing that your head will be extremely wet, is practically
inevitable. But the rule applies only to such utterance as lies
within human control. When the fourth vigil has been successfully
accomplished, return to us for a blessing and the gray robe of our
Order."

"But how," asked the King, "during my vigils shall I know when
midnight is due?"

"In the third quarter after eleven a bird sings. At the beginning of
its song go forth from the Ring, and at the ending plunge your head
into the Pond. For on these nights the bird sings ceaselessly for
fifteen minutes, but stops at the very moment of midnight."

"And is this really all?"

"This is all."