Lives of Alcyone

demand for tribute having brought a long smouldering disaffection to
the point of open revolt. Owing to the greatly superior discipline and
fighting power of the armies of the suzerain, it was difficult for these
men of the hills to meet them in open fight. The local King, however,
knew his country very well, and his son Ursa contrived to destroy a
large Toltec army by inveigling it into a valley which he was then
able to flood from a concealed reservoir. In honour of this victory
there were great public rejoicings and a sort of national festival was
held. Somehow, in the course of this, strange rumours began to fly
about with regard to the young lover, Sirius, and he was one day
suddenly arrested and carried before old King Alsator. In the course
of the enquiries then made the whole of the strange life-story of
Sirius came out, and proved to be romantic though distinctly
unconventional.
This old Alastor was a precise but incredibly stupid man, and
in consequence of his character the affairs of his family had gone
seriously wrong. His son Ursa was a wild young fellow, accustomed
to do what he liked, without any consideration for others. He had a
younger sister, Orion, who in their childhood was entirely devoted to
him. They were always together, and he made her fetch and carry
for him in the usual manner of elder brothers with devoted little
sisters. As they grew up, the affection between them remained as
strong as ever, and in process of time his relations with her became
more than fraternal. This was discovered, and caused some
scandal, for even in those more easy-going times such relationship
was considered highly improper. When it came to Alastor’ s
knowledge he behaved in the most foolish manner, making a great
parade of Spartan justice, and, instead of treating the young people
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