“Ye know not what ye ask; I cannot save ye from this peril: ye have brought it on yourselves.”
And they cried: “How? O son of Osslah—we are ignorant 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 grip 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 afar off the shrieks of women, he lifted up his head, and said proudly: