t forests and by the banks of the
mighty stream, the habits of the things which nature has submitted to
man; and looking now on the birds, he said to himself, "Thus is it ever;
by cunning or by strength each thing wishes to master its kind." While
thus moralizing, the larger bird had stricken down the hawk, and it fell
terrified and panting at his feet. Morven took the hawk in his hands,
and the vulture shrieked above him, wheeling nearer and nearer to its
protected prey; but Morven scared away the vulture, and placing the hawk
in his bosom he carried it home, and tended it carefully, and fed it
from his hand until it had regained its strength; and the hawk knew him,
and followed him as a dog. And Morven said, smiling to himself, "Behold,
the credulous fools around me put faith in the flight and motion of
birds. I will teach this poor hawk to minister to my ends." So he tamed
the bird, and tutored it according to its nature; but he concealed it
carefully from others, and cherished it in secret.

The king of the country was old, and like to die, and the eyes of the
tribe were turned to his two sons, nor knew they which was the worthier
to reign. And Morven, passing through the forest one evening, saw the
younger of the two, who was a great hunter, sitting mournfully under an
oak, and looking with musing eyes upon the ground.

"Wherefore musest thou, O swift-footed Siror?" said the son of Osslah;
"and wherefore art thou sad?"

"Thou canst not assist me," answered the prince, sternly; "take thy
way."

"Nay," answered Morven, "thou knowest not what thou sayest; am I not the
favourite of the stars?"

"Away, I am no graybeard whom the approach of death makes doting: talk
not to me of the stars; I know only the things that my eye sees and my
ear drinks in."

"Hush," said Morven, solemnly, and covering his face; "hush! lest the
heavens avenge thy rashness. But, behold, the stars have given unto me
to pierce the secret hearts of others; and I can tell thee the thoughts
of thine."

"Speak out, base-born!"

"Thou art the younger of two, and thy name is less known in war than the
name of thy brother: yet wouldst thou desire to be set over his head,
and to sit on the high seat of thy father?"

The young man turned pale. "Thou hast truth in thy lips," said he, with
a faltering voice.

"Not from me, but from the stars, descends the truth."

"Can the stars grant my wish?"

"They can: let us meet to-morrow." Thus saying,