"We hear you, Father," cried the councillors in encouragement, as for
the second time he paused. While they still spoke, the veins in the
king's neck were seen to swell suddenly, foam flecked with blood burst
from his lips, and he fell headlong to the ground.



CHAPTER VII

THE RECOVERY OF THE KING

For a moment there was silence, then a great cry arose--a cry of "Our
father is dead!" Presently with it were mingled other and angrier shouts
of "The king is murdered!" and "He is bewitched, the white wizard
has bewitched the king! He prophesied evil upon him, and now he has
bewitched him!"

Meanwhile the captains and councillors formed a ring about Umsuka, and
Hokosa bending over him examined him.

"Princes and Councillors," he said presently, "your father yet lives,
but his life is like the life of a dying fire and soon he must be dead.
This is sure, that one of two things has befallen him: either the heat
has caused the blood to boil in his veins and he is smitten with a
stroke from heaven, such as men who are fat and heavy sometimes die of;
or he has been bewitched by a wicked wizard. Yonder stands one," and he
pointed to Owen, "who not an hour ago prophesied that before the sun was
down great evil should overtake the king. The sun is not yet down, and
great evil has overtaken him. Perchance, Princes and Councillors, this
white prophet can tell us of the matter."