And the sun went down in the west, and the first stats of the
twilight began to glimmer, when Morven started front his seat,
and a trembling appeared to seize his limbs. His lips foamed; an
agony and a fear possessed him; he writhed as a man whom the
spear of a foeman has pierced with a mortal wound, and suddenly
fell upon his face on the stony earth.


The elders approached him; wondering, they lifted him up. He
slowly recovered as from a swoon; his eyes rolled wildly.

"Heard ye not the voice of the star?" he said.

And the chief of the elders answered, "Nay, we heard no sound."

Then Morven sighed heavily.

"To me only the word was given. Summon instantly, O councilors
of the king! summon the armed men, and all the youth of the
tribe, and let them take the sword and the spear, and follow thy
servant. For lo! the star hath announced to him that the foe
shall fall into our hands as the wild beast of the forests."

The son of Osslah spoke with the voice of command, and the
elders were amazed.

"Why, pause ye?" he cried. "Do the gods of the night lie? On my
head rest the peril if I deceive ye."

Then the elders communed together; and they went forth and