ant of
our crime."

And he answered, "Go down to the king's palace and wait before it, and
surely I will follow ye, and ye shall learn wherefore ye have incurred
this punishment from the gods." Then the crowd rolled murmuring back, as
a receding sea; and when it was gone from the place, Morven went alone
to the house of Darvan, which was next his own. And Darvan was greatly
terrified; for he was of a great age, and had no children, neither
friends, and he feared that he could not of himself escape the waters.

And Morven said to him soothingly, "Lo, the people love me, and I will
see that thou art saved; for verily thou hast been friendly to me, and
done me much service with the king."

And as he thus spake, Morven opened the door of the house and looked
forth, and saw that they were quite alone. Then he seized the old man by
the throat and ceased not his gripe till he was quite dead; and leaving
the body of the elder on the floor, Morven stole from the house and shut
the gate. And as he was going to his cave he mused a little while, when,
hearing the mighty roar of the waves advancing, and far off the shrieks
of women, he lifted up his head and said proudly, "No, in this hour
terror alone shall be my slave; I will use no art save the power of my
soul." So, leaning on his pine-staff, he strode down to the palace. And
it was now evening, and many of the men held torches, that they might
see each other's faces in the universal fear. Red flashed the quivering
flames on the dark robes and pale front of Morven; and he seemed
mightier than the rest, because his face alone was calm amidst the
tumult. And louder and hoarser became the roar of the waters; and swift
rushed the shades of night over the hastening tide.

And Morven said in a stern voice, "Where is the king; and wherefore is
he absent from his people in the hour of dread?" Then the gate of the
palace opened, and, behold, Siror was sitting in the hall by the vast
pine-fire, and his brother by his side, and his chiefs around him: for
they would not deign to come amongst the crowd at the bidding of the
herdsman's son.

Then Morven, standing upon a rock above the heads of the people (the
same rock whereon he had proclaimed the king), thus spake:--

"Ye desired to know, O sons of Oestrich! wherefore the river hath burst
its bounds, and the peril hath come upon you. Learn, then, that the
stars resent as the foulest of human crimes an insult to their servants
and del