"Yet you should do so," said Owen, "seeing that you also must ere long
be conquered by death, and then how can you expect mercy who have shown
none?"

"Let him be killed!" said the king.

"King!" cried Owen once more, "do this deed, and I tell you that before
the sun is down great evil will overtake you."

"Do you threaten me, Messenger? Well, we will see. Let him be killed, I
say."

Then the man was led away; but, before he went he found time to thank
Owen and Nodwengo the prince, and to call down good fortune upon them.



CHAPTER VI

THE DRINKING OF THE CUP

Now the king's word was done, the anger went out of his eyes, and once
more his countenance grew weary. A command was issued, and, with the
most perfect order, moving like one man, the regiments changed their
array, forming up battalion upon battalion in face of the king, that
they might give him the royal salute so soon as he had drunk the cup of
the first-fruits.

A herald stood forward and cried:--