no _voluntary_ delusion; they trembled too much at the mysteries,
which had created their faith, to seek to belie them. They
counselled as they believed, and the bold dream had never dared
to cross men thus worn and grey with age, of governing their
warriors and their kings by the wisdom of deceit.

The son of Osslah entered the vast pile with a fearless step,
and approached the place at the upper end of the hall, where the
old men sat in conclave.

"How, base-torn and craven limbed!" cried the eldest, who had
been a noted warrior in his day; "darest thou enter unsummoned
amidst the secret councils of the wise men? Knowest thou not,
scatterling! that the penalty is death?"

"Slay me, if thou wilt," answered Morven "but hear!

"As I sat last night in the ruined palace of our ancient kings,
tending, as my father bade me, the sheep that grazed around,
lest the fierce tribe of Alrich should descend unseen from the
mountains upon the herd, a storm came darkly on; and when the
storm, had ceased and I looked above on the sky, I saw a star
descend from its height towards me, and a voice from the star
said, 'Son of Osslah, leave thy herd and seek the council of the
wise men, and say unto them, that they take thee as one of their
number, or that sudden will be the destruction of them, and
theirs.'

"But I had courage to answer the voice, and I said, 'Mock not
the poor son of the herdsman. Behold they will kill me if I