For, saith the star of night, the birds are the children of the winds, they pass to and fro along the ocean of the air, and visit the clouds that are the war-ships of the gods; and their music is but broken melodies which they glean from the harps above.

Are they not the messengers of the storm?
Ere the stream chafes against the bank, and the rain descends, know ye not, by the wail of birds and their low circle over the earth, that the tempest is at hand?
Wherefore, wisely do ye deem that the children of the air are the fit interpreters between the sons of men and the lords of the world above.

Say then to the people and the chiefs that they shall take, from among the doves that build their nests in the roof of the palace, a white dove, and they shall let it loose in the air, and verily the gods of the night shall deem the dove as a prayer coming from the people, and they shall send a messenger to grant the prayer and give to the tribes of Oestrich a king worthy of themselves.' "With that the star spoke no more." Then the friends of Voltoch murmured among themselves, and they said, "Shall this man dictate to us who shall be king ?" But the people and the warriors shouted, "Listen to the star; do we not give or deny battle according as the bird flies,--shall we not by the same token choose him by whom the battle should be led ?" And the thing seemed natural to them, for it was after the custom of the tribe.

Then they took one of the doves that built in the roof of the palace, and they brought it to the spot where Morven stood, and he, looking up to the stars and muttering to himself, released the bird.
There was a copse of trees at a little distance from the spot, and as the dove ascended, a hawk suddenly rose from the copse and pursued the dove; and the dove was terrified, and soared circling high above the crowd, when lo, the hawk, poising itself one moment on its wings, swooped with a sudden swoop, and, abandoning its prey, alighted on the plumed head of Siror.
"Behold," cried Morven in a loud voice, "behold your king!" "Hail, all hail the king!" shouted the people.

"All hail the chosen of the stars!" Then Morven lifted his right hand and the hawk left the prince and alighted on Morven's shoulder.