to the ancient forms, praying that he whose body was the heavens, whose
eyes were lightning, and whose voice was thunder, the spirit whom they
worshipped, might increase and multiply to them during the coming year
all those fruits and elements that were present in the cup, and that
every virtue which they contained might comfort the body of the king.

His prayer finished, it was the turn of Hafela to play his part as the
eldest born of the king. Kneeling over the cup which stood upon the
ground, a spear was handed to him that had been made red hot in the
fire. Taking the spear, he stabbed with it towards the four quarters
of the horizon; then, muttering some invocation, he plunged it into the
bowl, stirring its contents till the iron grew black. Now he threw aside
the spear, and lifting the bowl in both hands, he carried it to his
father and offered it to him.

Although he had been unable to see him drop the poison into the cup,
a glance at Hafela told Owen that it was there; for though he kept his
face under control, he could not prevent his hands from twitching or the
sweat from starting upon his brow and breast.

The king rose, and taking the bowl, held it on high, saying:--

"In this cup, which I drink on behalf of the nation, I pledge you, my
people."

It was the signal for the royal salute, for which each regiment had been
prepared. As the last word left the king's lips, every one of the thirty
thousand men present in that great place began to rattle his kerry
against the surface of his ox-hide shield. At first the sound produced
resembled that of the murmur of the sea; but by slow and just degrees