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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/2893-0.txt b/2893-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..03da90f --- /dev/null +++ b/2893-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,6719 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Wizard, by H. Rider Haggard + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Wizard + +Author: H. Rider Haggard + +Release Date: April 3, 2006 [EBook #2893] +Last Updated: May 20, 2021 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: UTF-8 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE WIZARD *** + + + + +Produced by John Bickers; Dagny + + + + + +THE WIZARD + +by H. Rider Haggard + + + + +DEDICATION + +To the Memory of the Child + +Nada Burnham, + +who “bound all to her” and, while her father cut his way through the +hordes of the Ingobo Regiment, perished of the hardships of war +at Buluwayo on 19th May, 1896, I dedicate these tales--and more +particularly the last, that of a Faith which triumphed over savagery and +death. + +H. Rider Haggard. + +Ditchingham. + + + +AUTHOR’S NOTE + +Of the three stories that comprise this volume[*], one, “The Wizard,” a +tale of victorious faith, first appeared some years ago as a Christmas +Annual. Another, “Elissa,” is an attempt, difficult enough owing to the +scantiness of the material left to us by time, to recreate the life of +the ancient Phœnician Zimbabwe, whose ruins still stand in Rhodesia, +and, with the addition of the necessary love story, to suggest +circumstances such as might have brought about or accompanied its fall +at the hands of the surrounding savage tribes. The third, “Black Heart +and White Heart,” is a story of the courtship, trials and final union of +a pair of Zulu lovers in the time of King Cetywayo. + + [*] This text was prepared from a volume published in 1900 + titled “Black Heart and White Heart, and Other Stories.”-- + JB. + + + + + +THE WIZARD + + + +CHAPTER I + +THE DEPUTATION + +Has the age of miracle quite gone by, or is it still possible to the +Voice of Faith calling aloud upon the earth to wring from the dumb +heavens an audible answer to its prayer? Does the promise uttered by the +Master of mankind upon the eve of the end--“Whoso that believeth in Me, +the works that I do he shall do also . . . and whatsoever ye shall ask +in My name, that will I do;”--still hold good to such as do ask and do +believe? + +Let those who care to study the history of the Rev. Thomas Owen, and +of that strange man who carried on and completed his work, answer this +question according to their judgment. + +***** + +The time was a Sunday afternoon in summer, and the place a church in +the Midland counties. It was a beautiful church, ancient and spacious; +moreover, it had recently been restored at great cost. Seven or eight +hundred people could have found sittings in it, and doubtless they +had done so when Busscombe was a large manufacturing town, before the +failure of the coal supply and other causes drove away its trade. Now +it was much what it had been in the time of the Normans, a little +agricultural village with a population of 300 souls. Out of this +population, including the choir boys, exactly thirty-nine had elected to +attend church on this particular Sunday; and of these, three were fast +asleep and four were dozing. + +The Rev. Thomas Owen counted them from his seat in the chancel, for +another clergyman was preaching; and, as he counted, bitterness and +disappointment took hold of him. The preacher was a “Deputation,” sent +by one of the large missionary societies to arouse the indifferent to +a sense of duty towards their unconverted black brethren in Africa, and +incidentally to collect cash to be spent in the conversion of the +said brethren. The Rev. Thomas Owen himself suggested the visit of the +Deputation, and had laboured hard to secure him a good audience. But +the beauty of the weather, or terror of the inevitable subscription, +prevailed against him. Hence his disappointment. + +“Well,” he thought, with a sigh, “I have done my best, and I must make +it up out of my own pocket.” + +Then he settled himself to listen to the sermon. + +The preacher, a battered-looking individual of between fifty and sixty +years of age, was gaunt with recent sickness, patient and unimaginative +in aspect. He preached extemporarily, with the aid of notes; and it +cannot be said that his discourse was remarkable for interest, at any +rate in its beginning. Doubtless the sparse congregation, so prone to +slumber, discouraged him; for offering exhortations to empty benches is +but weary work. Indeed he was meditating the advisability of bringing +his argument to an abrupt conclusion when, chancing to glance round, he +became aware that he had at least one sympathetic listener, his host, +the Rev. Thomas Owen. + +From that moment the sermon improved by degrees, till at length it +reached a really high level of excellence. Ceasing from rhetoric, the +speaker began to tell of his own experience and sufferings in the Cause +amongst savage tribes; for he himself was a missionary of many years +standing. He told how once he and a companion had been sent to a +nation, who named themselves the Sons of Fire because their god was the +lightning, if indeed they could be said to boast any gods other than +the Spear and the King. In simple language he narrated his terrible +adventures among these savages, the murder of his companion by command +of the Council of Wizards, and his own flight for his life; a tale +so interesting and vivid that even the bucolic sleepers awakened and +listened open-mouthed. + +“But this is by the way,” he went on; “for my Society does not ask you +to subscribe towards the conversion of the Children of Fire. Until that +people is conquered--which very likely will not be for generations, +seeing that they live in Central Africa, occupying a territory that +white men do not desire--no missionary will dare again to visit them.” + +At this moment something caused him to look a second time at Thomas +Owen. He was leaning forward in his place listening eagerly, and a +strange light filled the large, dark eyes that shone in the pallor of +his delicate, nervous face. + +“There is a man who would dare, if he were put to it,” thought the +Deputation to himself. Then he ended his sermon. + +That evening the two men sat at dinner in the rectory. It was a very +fine rectory, beautifully furnished; for Owen was a man of taste which +he had the means to gratify. Also, although they were alone, the dinner +was good--so good that the poor broken-down missionary, sipping his +unaccustomed port, a vintage wine, sighed aloud in admiration and +involuntary envy. + +“What is the matter?” asked Owen. + +“Nothing, Mr. Owen;” then, of a sudden thawing into candour, he +added: “that is, everything. Heaven forgive me; but I, who enjoy your +hospitality, am envious of you. Don’t think too hardly of me; I have a +large family to support, and if only you knew what a struggle my life +is, and has been for the last twenty years, you would not, I am sure. +But you have never experienced it, and could not understand. ‘The +labourer is worthy of his hire.’ Well, my hire is under two hundred a +year, and eight of us must live--or starve--on it. And I have worked, +ay, until my health is broken. A labourer indeed! I am a very hodman, a +spiritual Sisyphus. And now I must go back to carry my load and roll +my stone again and again among those hopeless savages till I die of +it--till I die of it!” + +“At least it is a noble life and death!” exclaimed Owen, a sudden fire +of enthusiasm burning in his dark eyes. + +“Yes, viewed from a distance. Were you asked to leave this living of two +thousand a year--I see that is what they put it at in Crockford--with +its English comforts and easy work, that _you_ might lead that life and +attain that death, then you would think differently. But why should +I bore you with such talk? Thank Heaven that your lines are cast in +pleasant places. Yes, please, I will take one more glass; it does me +good.” + +“Tell me some more about that tribe you were speaking of in your sermon, +the ‘Sons of Fire’ I think you called them,” said Owen, as he passed him +the decanter. + +So, with an eloquence induced by the generous wine and a quickened +imagination, the Deputation told him--told him many strange things and +terrible. For this people was an awful people: vigorous in mind +and body, and warriors from generation to generation, but +superstition-ridden and cruel. They lived in the far interior, some +months’ journey by boat and ox-waggon from the coast, and of white men +and their ways they knew but little. + +“How many of them are there?” asked Owen. + +“Who can say?” he answered. “Nearly half-a-million, perhaps; at least +they pretend that they can put sixty thousand men under arms.” + +“And did they treat you badly when you first visited them?” + +“Not at first. They received us civilly enough; and on a given day we +were requested to explain to the king and the Council of Wizards the +religion which we came to teach. All that day we explained and all +the next--or rather my friend did, for I knew very little of the +language--and they listened with great interest. At last the chief of +the wizards and the first prophet to the king rose to question us. He +was named Hokosa, a tall, thin man, with a spiritual face and terrible +calm eyes. + +“‘You speak well, son of a White Man,’ he said, ‘but let us pass from +words to deeds. You tell us that this God of yours, whom you desire that +we should take as our God, so that you may become His chief prophets in +the land, was a wizard such as we are, though greater than we are; for +not only did He know the past and the future as we do, but also He could +cure those who were smitten with hopeless sickness, and raise those +who were dead, which we cannot do. You tell us, moreover, that by faith +those who believe on Him can do works as great as He did, and that you +do believe on Him. Therefore we will put you to the proof. Ho! there, +lead forth that evil one.’ + +“As he spoke a man was placed before us, one who had been convicted of +witchcraft or some other crime. + +“‘Kill him!’ said Hokosa. + +“There was a faint cry, a scuffle, a flashing of spears, and the man lay +still before us. + +“‘Now, followers of the new God,’ said Hokosa, ‘raise him from the dead +as your Master did!’ + +“In vain did we offer explanations. + +“‘Peace!’ said Hokosa at length, ‘your words weary us. Look now, either +you have preached to us a false god and are liars, or you are traitors +to the King you preach, since, lacking faith in Him, you cannot do such +works as He gives power to do to those who have faith in Him. Out of +your own mouths are you judged, White Men. Choose which horn of the bull +you will, you hang to one of them, and it shall pierce you. This is +the sentence of the king, I speak it who am the king’s mouth: That you, +White Man, who have spoken to us and cheated us these two weary days, +be put to death, and that you, his companion who have been silent, be +driven from the land.’ + +“I can hardly bear to tell the rest of it, Mr. Owen. They gave my poor +friend ten minutes to ‘talk to his Spirit,’ then they speared him before +my face. After it was over, Hokosa spoke to me, saying:-- + +“‘Go back, White Man, to those who sent you, and tell them the words of +the Sons of Fire: That they have listened to the message of peace, +and though they are a people of warriors, yet they thank them for that +message, for in itself it sounds good and beautiful in their ears, if it +be true. Tell them that having proved you liars, they dealt with you as +all honest men seek that liars should be dealt with. Tell them that they +desire to hear more of this matter, and if one can be sent to them who +has no false tongue; who in all things fulfills the promises of his +lips, that they will hearken to him and treat him well, but that for +such as you they keep a spear.’” + +“And who went after you got back?” asked Owen, who was listening with +the deepest interest. + +“Who went? Do you suppose that there are many mad clergymen in Africa, +Mr. Owen? Nobody went.” + +“And yet,” said Owen, speaking more to himself than to his guest, “the +man Hokosa was right, and the Christian who of a truth believes the +promises of our religion should trust to them and go.” + +“Then perhaps you would like to undertake the mission, Mr. Owen,” said +the Deputation briskly; for the reflection stung him, unintentional as +it was. + +Owen started. + +“That is a new idea,” he said. “And now perhaps you wish to go to bed; +it is past eleven o’clock.” + + + +CHAPTER II + +THOMAS OWEN + +Thomas Owen went to his room, but not to bed. Taking a Bible from the +table, he consulted reference after reference. + +“The promise is clear,” he said aloud presently, as he shut the +book; “clear and often repeated. There is no escape from it, and no +possibility of a double meaning. If it is not true, then it would seem +that nothing is true, and that every Christian in the world is tricked +and deluded. But if it _is_ true, why do we never hear of miracles? +The answer is easy: Because we have not faith enough to work them. The +Apostles worked miracles; for they had seen, therefore their faith was +perfect. Since their day nobody’s faith has been quite perfect; at least +I think not. The physical part of our nature prevents it. Or perhaps the +miracles still happen, but they are spiritual miracles.” + +Then he sat down by the open window, and gazing at the dreamy beauty of +the summer night, he thought, for his soul was troubled. Once before +it had been troubled thus; that was nine years ago, for now he was but +little over thirty. Then a call had come to him, a voice had seemed to +speak to his ears bidding him to lay down great possessions to follow +whither Heaven should lead him. Thomas Owen had obeyed the voice; +though, owing to circumstances which need not be detailed, to do so he +was obliged to renounce his succession to a very large estate, and to +content himself with a younger son’s portion of thirty thousand pounds +and the reversion to the living which he had now held for some five +years. + +Then and there, with singular unanimity and despatch, his relations came +to the conclusion that he was mad. To this hour, indeed, those who stand +in his place and enjoy the wealth and position that were his by right, +speak of him as “poor Thomas,” and mark their disapprobation of his +peculiar conduct by refusing with an unvarying steadiness to subscribe +even a single shilling to a missionary society. How “poor Thomas” speaks +of them in the place where he is we may wonder, but as yet we cannot +know--probably with the gentle love and charity that marked his every +action upon earth. But this is by the way. + +He had entered the Church, but what had he done in its shadow? This was +the question which Owen asked himself as he sat that night by the open +window, arraigning his past before the judgment-seat of conscience. For +three years he had worked hard somewhere in the slums; then this living +had fallen to him. He had taken it, and from that day forward his record +was very much of a blank. The parish was small and well ordered; there +was little to do in it, and the Salvation Army had seized upon and +reclaimed two of the three confirmed drunkards it could boast. + +His guest’s saying echoed in his brain like the catch of a tune--“that +_you_ might lead that life and attain that death.” Supposing that +he were bidden so to do now, this very night, would he indeed “think +differently”? He had become a priest to serve his Maker. How would it be +were that Maker to command that he should serve Him in this extreme and +heroic fashion? Would he flinch from the steel, or would he meet it as +the martyrs met it of old? + +Physically he was little suited to such an enterprise, for in appearance +he was slight and pale, and in constitution delicate. Also, there was +another reason against the thing. High Church and somewhat ascetic in +his principles, in the beginning he had admired celibacy, and in secret +dedicated himself to that state. But at heart Thomas was very much a +man, and of late he had come to see that that which is against nature is +presumably not right, though fanatics may not hesitate to pronounce +it wrong. Possibly this conversion to more genial views of life was +quickened by the presence in the neighbourhood of a young lady whom +he chanced to admire; at least it is certain that the mere thought of +seeing her no more for ever smote him like a sword of sudden pain. + +***** + +That very night--or so it seemed to him, and so he believed--the Angel +of the Lord stood before him as he was wont to stand before the men of +old, and spoke a summons in his ear. How or in what seeming that summons +came Thomas Owen never told, and we need not inquire. At the least he +heard it, and, like the Apostles, he arose and girded his loins to obey. +For now, in the hour of trial, it proved that this man’s faith partook +of the nature of their faith. It was utter and virgin; it was not +clogged with nineteenth-century qualifications; it had never dallied +with strange doctrines, or kissed the feet of pinchbeck substitutes for +God. In his heart he believed that the Almighty, without intermediary, +but face to face, had bidden him to go forth into the wilderness there +to perish. So he bowed his head and went. + +On the following morning at breakfast Owen had some talk with his friend +the Deputation. + +“You asked me last night,” he said quietly, “whether I would undertake +a mission to that people of whom you were telling me--the Sons of Fire. +Well, I have been thinking it over, and come to the conclusion that I +will do so----” + +At this point the Deputation, concluding that his host must be mad, +moved quietly but decidedly towards the door. + +“Wait a moment,” went on Owen, in a matter-of-fact voice, “the dog-cart +will not be round for another three-quarters of an hour. Tell me, if it +were offered to you, and on investigation you proved suitable, would you +care to take over this living?” + +“Would I care to take over this living?” gasped the astonished +Deputation. “Would I care to walk down that garden and find myself in +Heaven? But why are you making fun of me?” + +“I am not making fun of you. If I go to Africa I must give up the +living, of which I own the advowson, and it occurred to me that it might +suit you--that is all. You have done your share; your health is broken, +and you have many dependent upon you. It seems right, therefore, that +you should rest, and that I should work. If I do no good yonder, at the +least you and yours will be a little benefited.” + +***** + +That same day Owen chanced to meet the lady who has been spoken of as +having caught his heart. He had meant to go away without seeing her, but +fortune brought them together. Hitherto, whilst in reality leading him +on, she had seemed to keep him at a distance, with the result that he +did not know that it was her fixed intention to marry him. To her, +with some hesitation, he told his plans. Surprised and frightened into +candour, the lady reasoned with him warmly, and when reason failed to +move him she did more. By some subtle movement, with some sudden word, +she lifted the veil of her reserve and suffered him to see her heart. +“If you will not stay for aught else,” said her troubled eyes, “then, +love, stay for me.” + +For a moment he was shaken. Then he answered the look straight out, as +was his nature. + +“I never guessed,” he said. “I did not presume to hope--now it is too +late! Listen! I will tell you what I have told no living soul, though +thereafter you may think me mad. Weak and humble as I am, I believe +myself to have received a Divine mission. I believe that I shall execute +it, or bring about its execution, but at the ultimate cost of my own +life. Still, in such a service two are better than one. If you--can care +enough--if you----” + +But the lady had already turned away, and was murmuring her farewell in +accents that sounded like a sob. Love and faith after this sort were not +given to her. + +Of all Owen’s trials this was the sharpest. Of all his sacrifices this +was the most complete. + + + +CHAPTER III + +THE TEMPTATION + +Two years have gone by all but a few months, and from the rectory in a +quiet English village we pass to a scene in Central, or South Central, +Africa. + +On the brow of a grassy slope dotted over with mimosa thorns, and close +to a gushing stream of water, stands a house, or rather a hut, built +of green brick and thatched with grass. Behind this hut is a fence of +thorns, rough but strong, designed to protect all within it from the +attacks of lions and other beasts of prey. At present, save for a +solitary mule eating its provender by the wheel of a tented ox-waggon, +it is untenanted, for the cattle have not yet been kraaled for the +night. Presently Thomas Owen enters this enclosure by the back door of +the hut, and having attended to the mule, which whinnies at the sight +of him, goes to the gate and watches there till he sees his native boys +driving the cattle up the slope of the hill. At length they arrive, and +when he has counted them to make sure that none are missing, and in a +few kind words commended the herds for their watchfulness, he walks +to the front of the house and, seating himself upon a wooden stool set +under a mimosa tree that grows near the door, he looks earnestly towards +the west. + +The man has changed somewhat since last we saw him. To begin with, he +has grown a beard, and although the hot African sun has bronzed it +into an appearance of health, his face is even thinner than it was, and +therein the great spiritual eyes shine still more strangely. + +At the foot of the slope runs a wide river, just here broken into rapids +where the waters make an angry music. Beyond this river stretches a +vast plain bounded on the horizon by mountain ranges, each line of them +rising higher than the other till their topmost and more distant peaks +melt imperceptibly into the tender blue of the heavens. This is the land +of the Sons of Fire, and yonder amid the slopes of the nearest hills is +the great kraal of their king, Umsuka, whose name, being interpreted, +means The Thunderbolt. + +In the very midst of the foaming rapids, and about a thousand yards +from the house lies a space of rippling shallow water, where, unless it +chances to be in flood, the river can be forded. It is this ford that +Owen watches so intently. + +“John should have been back twelve hours ago,” he mutters to himself. “I +pray that no harm has befallen him at the Great Place yonder.” + +Just then a tiny speck appears far away on the plain. It is a man +travelling towards the water at a swinging trot. Going into the hut, +Owen returns with a pair of field-glasses, and through them scrutinises +the figure of the man. + +“Heaven be praised! It is John,” he mutters, with a sigh of relief. +“Now, I wonder what answer he brings?” + +Half an hour later John stands before him, a stalwart native of the +tribe of the Amasuka, the People of Fire, and with uplifted hand salutes +him, giving him titles of honour. + +“Praise me not, John,” said Owen; “praise God only, as I have taught you +to do. Tell me, have you seen the king, and what is his word?” + +“Father,” he answered, “I journeyed to the great town, as you bade me, +and I was admitted before the majesty of the king; yes, he received me +in the courtyard of the House of Women. With his guards, who stood at +a distance out of hearing, there were present three only; but oh! those +three were great, the greatest in all the land after the king. They were +Hafela, the king that is to come, the prince Nodwengo, his brother, and +Hokosa the terrible, the chief of the wizards; and I tell you, father, +that my blood dried up and my heart shrivelled when they turned their +eyes upon me, reading the thoughts of my heart.” + +“Have I not told you, John, to trust in God, and fear nothing at the +hands of man?” + +“You told me, father, but still I feared,” answered the messenger +humbly. “Yet, being bidden to it, I lifted my forehead from the dust +and stood upon my feet before the king, and delivered to him the message +which you set between my lips.” + +“Repeat the message, John.” + +“‘O King,’ I said, ‘beneath whose footfall the whole earth shakes, whose +arms stretch round the world and whose breath is the storm, I, whose +name is John, am sent by the white man whose name is Messenger’--for by +that title you bade me make you known--‘who for a year has dwelt in the +land that your spears have wasted beyond the banks of the river. These +are the words which he spoke to me, O King, that I pass on to you with +my tongue: “To the King Umsuka, lord of the Amasuka, the Sons of Fire, +I, Messenger, who am the servant and the ambassador of the King of +Heaven, give greeting. A year ago, King, I sent to you saying that the +message which was brought by that white man whom you drove from your +land had reached the ears of Him whom I serve, the High and Holy One, +and that, speaking in my heart, He had commanded me to take up the +challenge of your message. Here am I, therefore, ready to abide by the +law which you have laid down; for if guile or lies be found in me, then +let me travel from your land across the bridge of spears. Still, I would +dwell a little while here where I am before I pass into the shadow of +your rule and speak in the ears of your people as I have been bidden. +Know, King, that first I would learn your tongue, and therefore I demand +that one of your people may be sent to dwell with me and to teach me +that tongue. King, you heard my words and you sent me a man to dwell +with me, and that man has taught me your tongue, and I also have taught +him, converting him to my faith and giving him a new name, the name of +John. King, now I seek your leave to visit you, and to deliver into your +ears the words with which I, Messenger, am charged. I have spoken.”’ + +“Thus I, John, addressed the great ones, my father, and they listened +in silence. When I had done they spoke together, a word here and a word +there. Then Hokosa, the king’s mouth, answered me, telling the thought +of the king: ‘You are a bold man, you whose name is John, but who once +had another name--you, my servant, who dare to appear before me, and to +make it known to me that you have been turned to a new faith and serve +another king than I. Yet because you are bold, I forgive you. Go back +now to that white man who is named Messenger and who comes upon an +embassy to me from the Lord of Heaven, and bid him come in peace. Yet +warn him once again that here also we know something of the Powers that +are not seen, here also we have our wizards who draw wisdom from the +air, who tame the thunderbolt and compel the rain, and that he must +show himself greater than all of these if he would not pass hence by the +bridge of spears. Let him, therefore, take counsel with his heart and +with Him he serves, if such a One there is, and let him come or let him +stay away as it shall please him.’” + +“So be it,” said Owen; “the words of the king are good, and to-morrow we +will start for the Great Place.” + +John heard and assented, but without eagerness. + +“My father,” he said, in a doubtful and tentative voice, “would it not +perhaps be better to bide here awhile first?” + +“Why?” asked Owen. “We have sown, and now is the hour to reap.” + +“Quite so, my father, but as I ran hither, full of the king’s words, it +came into my mind that now is not the time to convert the Sons of Fire. +There is trouble brewing at the Great Place, father. Listen, and I will +tell you; as I have heard, so I will tell you. You know well that our +King Umsuka has two sons, Hafela and Nodwengo; and of these Hafela is +the heir-apparent, the fruit of the chief wife of the king, and Nodwengo +is sprung from another wife. Now Hafela is proud and cruel, a warrior of +warriors, a terrible man, and Nodwengo is gentle and mild, like to his +mother whom the king loves. Of late it has been discovered that Hafela, +weary of waiting for power, has made a plot to depose his father and to +kill Nodwengo, his brother, so that the land and those who dwell in it +may become his without question. This plot the king knows--I had it from +one of his women, who is my sister--and he is very wroth, yet he dare do +little, for he grows old and timid, and seeks rest, not war. Yet he is +minded, if he can find the heart, to go back upon the law and to +name Nodwengo as his heir before all the army at the feast of the +first-fruits, which shall be held on the third day from to-night. This +Hafela knows, and Nodwengo knows it also, and each of them has summoned +his following, numbering thousands and tens of thousands of spears, to +attend this feast of the first-fruits. That feast may well be a feast +of vultures, my father, and when the brothers and their regiments rush +together fighting for the throne, what will chance to the white man who +comes at such a moment to preach a faith of peace, and to his servant, +one John, who led him there?” + +“I do not know,” answered Owen, “and it troubles me not at all. I go to +carry out my mission, and in this way or in that it will be carried out. +John, if you are fearful or unbelieving leave me to go alone.” + +“Nay, father, I am not fearful; yet, father, I would have you +understand. Yonder there are men who can work wizardry. _Wow!_ I know, +for I have seen it, and they will demand from you magic greater than +their magic.” + +“What of it, John?” + +“Only this, my father, that if they ask and you fail to give, they will +kill you. You teach beautiful things, but say, are you a wizard? When +the child of a woman yonder lay dead, you could not raise it as did the +Christ; when the oxen were sick with the pest, you could not cure them; +or at least, my father, you did not, although you wept for the child and +were sorry at the loss of the oxen. Now, my father, if perchance +they ask you to do such things as these yonder, or die, say what will +happen?” + +“One of two things, John: either I shall die or I shall do the things.” + +“But”--hesitated John--“surely you do not believe that----” and he broke +off. + +Owen turned round and looked at his disciple with kindling eyes. “I do +believe, O you of little faith!” he said. “I do believe that yonder I +have a mission, and that He Whom I serve will give me power to carry +out that mission. You are right, I can work no miracles; but He can work +miracles Whom everything in heaven and earth obeys, and if there is need +He will work them through me, His instrument. Or perhaps He will +not work them, and I shall die, because thus His ends will best be +forwarded. At the least I go in faith, fearing nothing, for what has he +to fear who knows the will of God and does it? But to you who doubt, I +say--leave me!” + +The man spread out his hands in deprecation; his thick lips trembled a +little, and something like a tear appeared at the corners of his eyes. + +“Father,” he said, “am I a coward that you should talk to me thus? +I, who for twenty years have been a soldier of my king and for ten a +captain in my regiment? These scars show whether or no I am a coward,” + and he pointed to his breast, “but of them I will not speak. I am no +coward, else I had not gone upon that errand of yours. Why, then, should +you reproach me because my ears are not so open as yours, as my heart +has not understanding? I worship that God of Whom you have taught me, +but He never speaks to me as He does to you. I never meet Him as I walk +at night; He leaves me quite alone. Therefore it is that I fear that +when the hour of trial comes He may desert you; and unless He covers you +with His shield, of this I am sure, that the spear is forged which shall +blush red in your heart, my father. It is for you that I fear, who are +so gentle and tender; not for myself, who am well accustomed to look in +the eyes of Death, and who expect no more than death.” + +“Forgive me,” said Owen hastily, for he was moved; “and be sure that +the shield will be over us till the time comes for us to pass whither we +shall need none.” + +***** + +That night Owen rose from the task at which he was labouring slowly and +painfully--a translation of passages from the Gospel of St. John into +the language of the Amasuka--and going to the open window-place of the +hut, he rested his elbows upon it and thought, staring with empty eyes +into the blackness of the night. Now it was as he sat thus that a great +agony of doubt took possession of his soul. The strength which hitherto +had supported him seemed to be withdrawn, and he was left, as John +had said, “quite alone.” Strange voices seemed to whisper in his ears, +reproaching and reviling him; temptations long ago trampled under foot +rose again in might, alluring him. + +“Fool,” said the voices, “get you hence before it is too late. You have +been mad; you who dreamed that for your sake, to satisfy your pride, the +Almighty will break His silence and strain His law. Are you then better, +or greater, or purer than millions who have gone before you, that for +you and you alone this thing should be done? Why, were it not that you +are mad, you would be among the chief of sinners; you who dare to ask +that the Powers of Heaven should be set within your feeble hand, that +the Angels of Heaven should wait upon your mortal breath. Worm that you +are, has God need of such as you? If it is His will to turn the heart +of yonder people He will do it, but not by means of _you_. You and the +servant whom you are deluding to his death will perish miserably, and +this alone shall be the fruit of your presumptuous sin. Get you back out +of this wilderness before the madness takes you afresh. You are still +young, you have wealth; look where She stands yonder whom you desire. +Get you back, and forget your folly in her arms.” + +These thoughts, and many others of like nature, tore Owen’s soul in +that hour of strange and terrible temptation. He seemed to see himself +standing before the thousands of the savage nation he went to save, and +to hear the mocking voices of their witch-finders commanding him, if he +were a true man and the servant of that God of Whom he prated, to +give them a sign, only a little sign; perhaps to move a stone without +touching it with his hand, or to cause a dead bough to blossom. + +Then he would beseech Heaven with frantic prayers, and in vain, till at +length, amidst a roar of laughter, he, the false prophet and the liar, +was led out to his doom. He saw the piteous wondering look of the +believer whom he had betrayed to death; he saw the fierce faces and +the spears on high. Seeing all this his spirit broke, and, just as the +little clock in the room behind him struck the first stroke of midnight, +with a great and bitter cry to God to give him back the faith and +strength that he had lost, Owen’s head fell forward and he sank into a +swoon there upon the window-place. + + + +CHAPTER IV + +THE VISION + +Was it swoon or sleep? + +At least it seemed to Owen that presently once again he was gazing into +the dense intolerable blackness of the night. Then a marvel came to +pass, for the blackness opened, or rather on it, framed and surrounded +by it, there appeared a vision. It was the vision of a native town, +having a great bare space in the centre of it encircled by hundreds or +thousands of huts. But there was no one stirring about the huts, for +it was night--not this his night of trial indeed, since now the sky was +strewn with innumerable stars. Everything was silent about that town, +save that now and again a dog barked or a fretful child wailed within +a hut, or the sentries as they passed saluted each other in the name of +the king. + +Among all those hundreds of huts, to Owen it seemed that his attention +was directed to one which stood apart surrounded with a fence. Now the +interior of the hut opened itself to him. It was not lighted, yet with +his spirit sense he could see its every detail: the polished floor, the +skin rugs, the beer gourds, the shields and spears, the roof-tree of red +wood, and the dried lizard hanging from the thatch, a charm to ward off +evil. In this hut, seated face to face halfway between the centre-post +and the door-hole, were two men. The darkness was deep about them, and +they whispered to each other through it; but in his dream this was no +bar to Owen’s sight. He could discern their faces clearly. + +One of them was that of a man of about thirty-five years of age. In +stature he was almost a giant. He wore a kaross of leopard skins, and on +his wrists and ankles were rings of ivory, the royal ornaments. His face +was fierce and powerful; his eyes, which were set far apart, rolled +so much that at times they seemed all white; and his fingers played +nervously with the handle of a spear that he carried in his right hand. +His companion was of a different stamp; a person of more than fifty +years, he was tall and spare in figure, with delicately shaped hands +and feet. His hair and little beard were tinged with grey, his face was +strikingly handsome, nervous and expressive, and his forehead both broad +and high. But more remarkable still were his eyes, which shone with a +piercing brightness, almost grey in colour, steady as the flame of a +well-trimmed lamp, and so cold that they might have been precious stones +set in the head of a statue. + +“Must I then put your thoughts in words?” said this man in a clear +quick whisper. “Well, so be it; for I weary of sitting here in the dark +waiting for water that will not flow. Listen, Prince; you come to talk +to me of the death of a king--is it not so? Nay do not start. Why are +you affrighted when you hear upon the lips of another the plot that +these many months has been familiar to your breast?” + +“Truly, Hokosa, you are the best of wizards, or the worst,” answered +the great man huskily. “Yet this once you are mistaken,” he added with a +change of voice. “I came but to ask you for a charm to turn my father’s +heart----” + +“To dust? Prince, if I am mistaken, why am I the best of wizards, or the +worst, and why did your jaw drop and your face change at my words, and +why do you even now touch your dry lips with your tongue? Yes, I know +that it is dark here, yet some can see in it, and I am one of them. Ay, +Prince, and I can see your mind also. You would be rid of your father: +he has lived too long. Moreover his love turns to Nodwengo, the good and +gentle; and perhaps--who can say?--it is even in his thought, when all +his regiments are about him two days hence, to declare that you, Prince, +are deposed, and that your brother, Nodwengo, shall be king in your +stead. Now, Nodwengo you cannot kill; he is too well loved and too well +guarded. If he died suddenly, his dead lips would call out ‘Murder!’ in +the ears of all men; and, Prince, all eyes would turn to you, who alone +could profit by his end. But if the king should chance to die--why he is +old, is he not? and such things happen to the old. Also he grows feeble, +and will not suffer the regiments to be doctored for war, although day +by day they clamour to be led to battle; for he seeks to end his years +in peace.” + +“I say that you speak folly,” answered the prince with vehemence. + +“Then, Son of the Great One, why should you waste time in listening to +me? Farewell, Hafela the Prince, first-born of the king, who in a day to +come shall carry the shield of Nodwengo; for he is good and gentle, and +will spare your life--if I beg it of him.” + +Hafela stretched out his hand through the darkness, and caught Hokosa by +the wrist. + +“Stay,” he whispered, “it is true. The king must die; for if he does not +die within three days, I shall cease to be his heir. I know it through +my spies. He is angry with me; he hates me, and he loves Nodwengo +and the mother of Nodwengo. But if he dies before the last day of the +festival, then that decree will never pass his lips, and the regiments +will never roar out the name of Nodwengo as the name of the king to +come. He must die, I tell you, Hokosa, and--by your hand.” + +“By _my_ hand, Prince! Nay; what have you to offer me in return for such +a deed as this? Have I not grown up in Umsuka’s shadow, and shall I cut +down the tree that shades me?” + +“What have I to offer you? This: that next to myself you shall be the +greatest in the land, Hokosa.” + +“That I am already, and whoever rules it, that I must always be. I, who +am the chief of wizards; I, the reader of men’s hearts; I, the hearer +of men’s thoughts! I, the lord of the air and the lightning; I, the +invulnerable. If you would murder, Prince, then do the deed; do it +knowing that I have your secret, and that henceforth you who rule shall +be my servant. Nay, you forget that I can see in the dark; lay down that +assegai, or, by my spirit, prince as you are, I will blast you with a +spell, and your body shall be thrown to the kites, as that of one who +would murder his king and father!” + +The prince heard and shook, his cheeks sank in, the muscles of his great +form seemed to collapse, and he grovelled on the floor of the hut. + +“I know your magic,” he groaned; “use it for me, not against me! What +is there that I can offer you, who have everything except the throne, +whereon you cannot sit, seeing that you are not of the blood-royal?” + +“Think,” said Hokosa. + +For a while the prince thought, till presently his form straightened +itself, and with a quick movement he lifted up his head. + +“Is it, perchance, my affianced wife?” he whispered; “the lady Noma, +whom I love, and who, according to our custom, I shall wed as the queen +to be after the feast of first-fruits? Oh! say it not, Hokosa.” + +“I say it,” answered the wizard. “Listen, Prince. The lady Noma is the +only child of my blood-brother, my friend, with whom I was brought up, +he who was slain at my side in the great war with the tribes of the +north. She was my ward: she was more; for through her--ah! you know +not how--I held my converse with the things of earth and air, the very +spirits that watch us now in this darkness, Hafela. Thus it happened, +that before ever she was a woman, her mind grew greater than the mind +of any other woman, and her thought became my thought, and my thought +became her thought, for I and no other am her master. Still I waited +to wed her till she was fully grown; and while I waited I went upon an +embassy to the northern tribes. Then it was that you saw the maid in +visiting at my kraal, and her beauty and her wit took hold of you; and +in the council of the king, as you have a right to do, you named her as +your head wife, the queen to be. + +“The king heard and bowed his head; he sent and took her, and placed her +in the House of the Royal Women, there to abide till this feast of the +first-fruits, when she shall be given to you in marriage. Yes, he sent +her to that guarded house wherein not even I may set my foot. Although +I was afar, her spirit warned me, and I returned, but too late; for she +was sealed to you of the blood-royal, and that is a law which may not be +broken. + +“Hafela, I prayed you to return her to me, and you mocked me. I would +have brought you to your death, but it could not have availed me: for +then, by that same law, which may not be broken, she who was sealed to +you must die with you; and though thereafter her spirit would sit with +me till I died also, it was not enough, since I who have conquered all, +yet cannot conquer the fire that wastes my heart, nor cease to long by +night and day for a woman who is lost to me. Then it was, Hafela, that +I plotted vengeance against you. I threw my spell over the mind of the +king, till he learnt to hate you and your evil deeds; and I, even I, +have brought it about that your brother should be preferred before you, +and that you shall be the servant in his house. This is the price that +you must pay for her of whom you have robbed me; and by my spirit and +her spirit you shall pay! Yet listen. Hand back the girl, as you may +do--for she is not yet your wife--and choose another for your queen, and +I will undo all that I have done, and I will find you a means, Hafela, +to carry out your will. Ay, before six suns have set, the regiments +rushing past you shall hail you King of the Nation of the Amasuka, Lord +of the ancient House of Fire!” + +“I cannot,” groaned the prince; “death were better than this!” + +“Ay, death were better; but you shall not die, you shall live a servant, +and your name shall become a mockery, a name for women to make rhymes +on.” + +Now the prince sprang up. + +“Take her!” he hissed; “take her! you, who are an evil ghost; you, +beneath whose eyes children wail, and at whose passing the hairs on the +backs of hounds stand up! Take her, priest of death and ill; but take my +curse with her! Ah! I also can prophecy; and I tell you that this +woman whom you have taught, this witch of many spells, whose glance can +shrivel the hearts of men, shall give you to drink of your own medicine; +ay, she shall dog you to the death, and mock you while you perish by an +end of shame!” + +“What,” laughed the wizard, “have I a rival in my own arts? Nay, Hafela, +if you would learn the trade, pay me well and I will give you lessons. +Yet I counsel you not; for you are flesh, nothing but flesh, and he who +would rule the air must cultivate the spirit. Why, I tell you, Prince, +that even the love for her who is my heart, the lady whom we both would +wed, partaking of the flesh as, alas! it does, has cost me half my +powers. Now let us cease from empty scoldings, and strike our bargain. + +“Listen. On the last day of the feast, when all the regiments are +gathered to salute the king there in his Great Place according to +custom, you shall stand forth before the king and renounce Noma, and she +shall pass back to the care of my household. You yourself shall bring +her to where I stand, and as I take her from you I will put into your +hand a certain powder. Then you shall return to the side of the +king, and after our fashion shall give him to drink the bowl of the +first-fruits; but as you stir the beer, you will let fall into it that +powder which I have given you. The king will drink, and what he leaves +undrunk you will throw out upon the dust. + +“Now he will rise to give out to the people his royal decree, whereby, +Prince, you are to be deposed from your place as heir, and your brother, +Nodwengo, is to be set in your seat. But of that decree never a word +shall pass his lips; if it does, recall your saying and take back the +lady Noma from where she stands beside me. I tell you that never a word +will pass his lips; for even as he rises a stroke shall take him, such +a stroke as often falls upon the fat and aged, and he will sink to the +ground snoring through his nostrils. For a while thereafter--it may be +six hours, it may be twelve--he shall lie insensible, and then a cry +will arise that the king is dead!” + +“Ay,” said Hafela, “and that I have poisoned him!” + +“Why, Prince? Few know what is in your father’s mind, and with those, +being king, you will be able to deal. Also this is the virtue of the +poison which I choose, that it is swift, yet the symptoms of it are the +symptoms of a natural sickness. But that your safety and mine may be +assured, I have made yet another plan, though of this there will be +little need. You were present two days since when a runner came from the +white man who sojourns beyond our border, he who seeks to teach us, the +Children of Fire, a new faith, and gives out that he is the messenger of +the King of heaven. This runner asked leave for the white man to visit +the Great Place, and, speaking in the king’s name, I gave him leave. But +I warned his servant that if his master came, a sign should be required +of him to show that he was a true man, and had of the wisdom of the King +of Heaven; and that if he failed therein, then that he should die as +that white liar died who visited us in bygone years. + +“Now I have so ordered that this white man, passing through the Valley +of Death yonder, shall reach the Great Place not long before the king +drinks of the cup of the first-fruits. Then if any think that something +out of nature has happened to the king, they will surely think also that +this strange prayer-doctor has wrought the evil. Then also I will call +for a sign from the white man, praying of him to recover the king of his +sickness; and when he fails, he shall be slain as a worker of spells and +the false prophet of a false god, and so we shall be rid of him and +his new faith, and you shall be cleared of doubt. Is not the plan good, +Prince?” + +“It is very good, Hokosa--save for one thing only.” + +“For what thing?” + +“This: the white man who is named Messenger might chance to be a true +prophet of a true God, and to recover the king.” + +“Oho, let him do it, if he can; but to do it, first he must know the +poison and its antidote. There is but one, and it is known to me only +of all men in this land. When he has done that, then I, yes, even I, +Hokosa, will begin to inquire concerning this God of his, who shows +Himself so mighty in person of His messenger.” And he laughed low and +scornfully. + +“Prince, farewell! I go forth alone, whither you dare not follow at this +hour, to seek that which we shall need. One word--think not to play +me false, or to cheat me of my price; for whate’er betides, be sure of +this, that hour shall be the hour of your dooming. Hail to you, Son of +the King! Hail! and farewell.” Then, removing the door-board, the wizard +passed from the hut and was gone. + +***** + +The vision changed. Now there appeared a valley walled in on either side +with sloping cliffs of granite; a desolate place, sandy and, save for a +single spring, without water, strewn with boulders of rock, some of them +piled fantastically one upon the other. At a certain spot this valley +widened out, and in the mouth of the space thus formed, midway between +the curved lines of the receding cliffs, stood a little hill or koppie, +also built up of boulders. It was a place of death; for all around the +hill, and piled in hundreds between the crevices of its stones, lay the +white bones of men. + +Nor was this all. Its summit was flat, and in the midst of it stood +a huge tree. Even had it not been for the fruit which hung from its +branches, the aspect of that tree must have struck the beholder as +uncanny, even as horrible. The bark on its great bole was leprous white; +and from its gaunt and spreading rungs rose branches that subdivided +themselves again and again, till at last they terminated in round green +fingers, springing from grey, flat slabs of bark, in shape not unlike +that of a human palm. Indeed, from a little distance this tree, +especially if viewed by moonlight, had the appearance of bearing on +it hundreds or thousands of the arms and hands of men, all of them +stretched imploringly to Heaven. + +Well might they seem to do so, seeing that to its naked limbs hung the +bodies of at least twenty human beings who had suffered death by order +of the king or his captains, or by the decree of the company of wizards, +whereof Hokosa was the chief. There on the Hill of Death stood the Tree +of Death; and that in its dank shade, or piled upon the ground beneath +it, hung and lay the pitiful remnants of the multitudes who for +generations had been led thither to their doom. + +Now, in Owen’s vision a man was seen approaching by the little pathway +that ran up the side of the mount--the Road of Lost Footsteps it was +called. It was Hokosa the wizard. Outside the circle of the tree he +halted, and drawing a tanned skin from a bundle of medicines which he +carried, he tied it about his mouth; for the very smell of that tree is +poisonous and must not be suffered to reach the lungs. + +Presently he was under the branches, where once again he halted; this +time it was to gaze at the body of an old man which swung to and fro in +the night breeze. + +“Ah! friend,” he muttered, “we strove for many years, but it seems that +I have conquered at the last. Well, it is just; for if you could have +had your way, your end would have been my end.” + +Then very leisurely, as one who is sure that he will not be interrupted, +Hokosa began to climb the tree, till at length some of the green fingers +were within his reach. Resting his back against a bough, one by one he +broke off several of them, and averting his face so that the fumes of +it might not reach him, he caused the thick milk-white juice that they +contained to trickle into the mouth of a little gourd which was hung +about his neck by a string. When he had collected enough of the poison +and carefully corked the gourd with a plug of wood, he descended the +tree again. At the great fork where the main branches sprang from the +trunk, he stood a while contemplating a creeping plant which ran up +them. It was a plant of naked stem, like the tree it grew upon; and, +also like the tree, its leaves consisted of bunches of green spikes +having a milky juice. + +“Strange,” he said aloud, “that Nature should set the bane and the +antidote side by side, the one twined about the other. Well, so it is in +everything; yes, even in the heart of man. Shall I gather some of this +juice also? No; for then I might repent and save him, remembering that +he has loved me, and thus lose her I seek, her whom I must win back or +be withered. Let the messenger of the King of Heaven save him, if he +can. This tree lies on his path; perchance he may prevail upon its dead +to tell him of the bane and of the antidote.” And once more the wizard +laughed mockingly. + +***** + +The vision passed. At this moment Thomas Owen, recovering from his +swoon, lifted his head from the window-place. The night before him was +as black as it had been, and behind him the little American clock +was still striking the hour of midnight. Therefore he could not have +remained insensible for longer than a few seconds. + +A few seconds, yet how much he had seen in them. Truly his want of +faith had been reproved--truly he also had been “warned of God in a +dream,”--truly “his ears had been opened and his instruction sealed.” + His soul had been “kept back from the pit,” and his life from “perishing +by the sword;” and the way of the wicked had been made clear to him “in +a dream, in a vision of the night when deep sleep falleth upon men.” + +Not for nothing had he endured that agony, and not for nothing had he +struggled in the grip of doubt. + + + +CHAPTER V + +THE FEAST OF THE FIRST-FRUITS + +On the third morning from this night whereof the strange events have +been described, an ox-waggon might have been seen outspanned on the +hither side of those ranges of hills that were visible from the river. +These mountains, which although not high are very steep, form the outer +barrier and defence of the kingdom of the Amasuka. Within five hundred +yards of where the waggon stood, however, a sheer cliffed gorge, +fire-riven and water-hewn, pierced the range, and looking on it, Owen +knew it for the gorge of his dream. Night and day the mouth of it was +guarded by a company of armed soldiers, whose huts were built high on +outlook places in the mountains, whence their keen eyes could scan the +vast expanses of plain. A full day before it reached them, they had seen +the white-capped waggon crawling across the veldt, and swift runners had +reported its advent to the king at his Great Place. + +Back came the word of the king that the white man, with the waggon and +his servant, were to be led on towards the Great Place at such speed as +would bring him there in time for him to behold the last ceremony of the +feast of first-fruits; but, for the present, that the waggon itself +and the oxen were to be left at the mouth of the gorge, in charge of a +guard, who would be answerable for them. + +Now, on this morning the captain of the guard and his orderlies advanced +to the waggon and stood in front of it. They were splendid men, armed +with great spears and shields, and adorned with feather head-dresses and +all the wild finery of their regiment. Owen descended from the waggon +and came to meet them, and so for a few moments they remained, face to +face, in silence. A strange contrast they presented as they stood there; +the bare-headed white man frail, delicate, spiritual of countenance, and +the warriors great, grave, powerful, a very embodiment of the essence +of untamed humanity, an incarnate presentation of the spirit of savage +warfare. + +“How are you named, White Man?” asked the captain. + +“Chief, I am named Messenger.” + +“The peace of the king be with you, Messenger,” said the captain, +lifting his spear. + +“The peace of God be with you, Chief,” answered Owen, holding up his +hands in blessing. + +“Who is God?” asked the captain. + +“Chief, He is the King I serve, and His word is between my lips.” + +“Then pass on, Messenger of God, and deliver the word of God your King +into the ears of my king, at his Great Place yonder. Pass on riding the +beast you have brought with you, for the way is rough; but your waggon, +your oxen, and your servants, save this man only who is of the Children +of Fire, must stay here in my keeping. Fear not, Messenger, I will hold +them safe.” + +“I do not fear, Chief, there is honour in your eyes.” + +***** + +Some hours later, Owen, mounted on his mule, was riding through the +gorge, a guard in front of and behind him, and with them carriers who +had been sent to bear his baggage. At his side walked his disciple John, +and his face was sad. + +“Why are you still afraid?” asked Owen. + +“Ah! father, because this is a place of fear. Here in this valley men +are led to die; presently you will see.” + +“I have seen,” answered Owen. “Yonder where we shall halt is a mount, +and on that mount stands a tree; it is called the Tree of Death, and it +stretches a thousand hands to Heaven, praying for mercy that does not +come, and from its boughs there hangs fruit, a fruit of dead men--yes, +twenty of them hang there this day.” + +“How know you these things, my father,” asked the man amazed, “seeing +that I have never spoken to you of them?” + +“Nay,” he answered, “God has spoken to me. My God and your God.” + +Another hour passed, and they were resting by the spring of water, near +to the shadow of the dreadful tree, for in that gorge the sun burned +fiercely. John counted the bodies that swung upon it, and again looked +fearfully at Owen, for there were twenty of them. + +“I desire to go up to that tree,” Owen said to the guard. + +“As you will, Messenger,” answered their leader; “I have no orders to +prevent you from so doing. Still,” he added with a solemn smile, “it is +a place that few seek of their own will, and, because I like you well, +Messenger, I pray it may never be my duty to lead you there of the +king’s will.” + +Then Owen went up to the tree and John with him, only John would not +pass beneath the shadow of its branches; but stood by wondering, while +his master bound a handkerchief about his mouth. + +“How did he know that the breath of the tree is poisonous?” John +wondered. + +Owen walked to the bole of the tree, and breaking off some of the +finger-like leaves of the creeper that twined about it, he pressed +their milky juice into a little bottle that he had made ready. Then he +returned quickly, for the sights and odours of the place were not to be +borne. + +Outside the circle of the branches he halted, and removed the +handkerchief from his mouth. + +“Be of good cheer,” he said to John, “and if it should chance that I am +called away before my words come true, yet remember my words. I tell +you that this Tree of Death shall become the Tree of Life for all the +children of your people. Look! there above you is its sign and promise.” + +John lifted his eyes, following the line of Owen’s outstretched hand, +and saw this. High up upon the tree, and standing clear of all the other +branches, was one straight, dead limb, and from this dead limb two +arms projected at right angles, also dead and snapped off short. Had a +carpenter fashioned a cross of wood and set it there, its proportions +could not have been more proper and exact. It was very strange to find +this symbol of the Christian hope towering above that place of human +terror, and stranger still was the purpose which it must serve in a day +to come. + +Owen and John returned to the guard in silence, and presently they set +forward on their journey. At length, passing beneath a natural arch of +rock, they were out of the Valley of Death, and before them, not five +hundred paces away, appeared the fence of the Great Place. + +This Great Place stood upon a high plateau, in the lap of the +surrounding hills, all of which were strongly fortified with schanses, +pitfalls, and rough walls of stone. That plateau may have measured +fifteen miles in circumference, and the fence of the town itself was +about four miles in circumference. Within the fence and following its +curve, for it was round, stood thousands of dome-shaped huts carefully +set out in streets. Within these again was a stout stockade of timber, +enclosing a vast arena of trodden earth, large enough to contain all +the cattle of the People of Fire in times of danger, and to serve as a +review ground for their _impis_ in times of peace or festival. + +At the outer gate of the kraal there was a halt, while the keepers of +the gate despatched a messenger to their king to announce the advent of +the white man. Of this pause Owen took advantage to array himself in the +surplice and hood which he had brought with him in readiness for that +hour. Then he gave the mule to John to lead behind him. + +“What do you, Messenger?” asked the leader of the guard, astonished. + +“I clothe myself in my war-dress,” he answered. + +“Where then is your spear, Messenger?” + +“Here,” said Owen, presenting to his eyes a crucifix of ivory, most +beautifully carved. + +“I perceive that you are of the family of wizards,” said the man, and +fell back. + +Now they entered the kraal and passed for three hundred yards or more +through rows of huts, till they reached the gate of the stockade, which +was opened to them. Once within it, Owen saw a wonderful sight, such a +sight as few white men have seen. The ground of the enormous oval before +him was not flat. Either from natural accident or by design it sloped +gently upwards, so that the spectator, standing by the gate or at +the head of it before the house of the king, could take in its whole +expanse, and, if his sight were keen enough, could see every individual +gathered there. + +On the particular day of Owen’s arrival it was crowded with regiments, +twelve of them, all dressed in their different uniforms and bearing +shields to match, not one of which was less than 2500 strong. At this +moment the regiments were massed in deep lines, each battalion by +itself, on either side of the broad roadway that ran straight up the +kraal to where the king, his sons, his advisers and guards, together +with the company of wizards, were placed in front of the royal house. + +There they stood in absolute silence, like tens of thousands of bronze +statues, and Owen perceived that either they were resting or that they +were gathered thus to receive him. That the latter was the case soon +became evident, for as he appeared, a white spot at the foot of the +slope, countless heads turned and myriads of eyes fastened themselves +upon him. For an instant he was dismayed; there was something terrifying +in this numberless multitude of warriors, and the thought of the task +that he had undertaken crushed his spirit. Then he remembered, and +shaking off his fear and doubt, alone, save for his disciple John, +holding the crucifix aloft, he walked slowly up the wide road towards +the place where he guessed that the king must be. His arm was weary ere +ever he reached it, but at length he found himself standing before a +thickset old man, who was clad in leopard skins and seated upon a stool +of polished wood. + +“It is the king,” whispered John behind him. + +“Peace be to you,” said Owen, breaking the silence. + +“The wish is good, may it be fulfilled,” answered the king in a deep +voice, sighing as he said the words. “Yet yours is a strange greeting,” + he added. “Whence came you, White Man, how are you named, and what is +your mission to me and to my people?” + +“King, I come from beyond the sea; I am named Messenger, and my mission +is to deliver to you the saying of God, my King and--yours.” + +At these words a gasp of astonishment went up from those who stood +within hearing, expecting as they did to see them rewarded by instant +death. But Umsuka only said:-- + +“‘My King and yours’? Bold words, Messenger. Where then is this King to +whom I, Umsuka, should bow the knee?” + +“He is everywhere--in the heavens, on the earth, and below the earth.” + +“If He is everywhere, then He is here. Show me the likeness of this +King, Messenger.” + +“Behold it,” Owen answered, thrusting forward the crucifix. + +Now all the great ones about the king stared at this figure of a dying +man crowned with thorns and hanging on a cross, and then drew up their +lips to laugh. But that laugh never left them; a sudden impulse, a +mysterious wave of feeling choked it in their throats. A sense of the +strangeness of the contrast between themselves in their armed multitudes +and this one white-robed man in his loneliness took hold of them, and +with it another sense of something not far removed from fear. + +“A wizard indeed,” they thought in their hearts, and what they thought +the king uttered. + +“I perceive,” he said, “that you are either mad, White Man, or you are +a prince of wizards. Mad you do not seem to be, for your eyes are calm, +therefore a wizard you must be. Well, stand behind me: by-and-by I will +hear your message and ask of you to show me your powers; but before then +there are things which I must do. Are the lads ready? Ho, you, loose the +bull!” + +At the command a line of soldiers moved from the right, forming itself +up in front of the king and his attendants, revealing a number of +youths, of from sixteen to seventeen years of age, armed with sticks +only, who stood in companies outside a massive gate. Presently this gate +was opened, and through it, with a mad bellow, rushed a wild buffalo +bull. On seeing them the brute halted, and for a few moments stood +pawing the earth and tearing it with its great horns. Then it put down +its head and charged. Instead of making way for it, uttering a shrill +whistling sound, the youths rushed at the beast, striking with their +sticks. + +Another instant, and one of them appeared above the heads of his +companions, thrown high into the air, to be followed by a second and a +third. Now the animal was through the throng and carrying a poor boy on +its horn, whence presently he fell dead; through and through the ranks +of the regiments it charged furiously backward and forward. + +Watching it fascinated, Owen noted that it was a point of honour for +no man to stir before its rush; there they stood, and if the bull gored +them, there they fell. At length, exhausted and terrified, the brute +headed back straight up the lane where the main body of the youths were +waiting for it. Now it was among them, and, reckless of wounds or death, +they swarmed about it like bees, seizing it by legs, nose, horns and +tail, till with desperate efforts they dragged it to the ground and beat +the life out of it with their sticks. This done, they formed up before +the king and saluted him. + +“How many are killed?” he asked. + +“Eight in all,” was the answer, “and fifteen gored.” + +“A good bull,” he said with a smile; “that of last year killed but five. +Well, the lads fought him bravely. Let the dead be buried, the hurt +tended, or, if their harms are hopeless, slain, and to the rest give a +double ration of beer. Ho, now, fall back, men, and make a space for the +Bees and the Wasps to fight in.” + +Some orders were given and a great ring was formed, leaving an arena +clear that may have measured a hundred and fifty yards in diameter. Then +suddenly, from opposite sides, the two regiments, known as the Bees +and the Wasps respectively, rushed upon each other, uttering their +war-cries. + +“I put ten head of cattle on the Bees; who wagers on the Wasps?” cried +the king. + +“I, Lord,” answered the Prince Hafela, stepping forward. + +“You, Prince!” said the king with a quick frown. “Well, you are right to +back them, they are your own regiment. Ah! they are at it.” + +By this time the scene was that of a hell broken loose upon the earth. +The two regiments, numbering some 5000 men in all, had come together, +and the roar of their meeting shields was like the roar of thunder. They +were armed with kerries only, and not with spears, for the fight was +supposed to be a mimic one; but these weapons they used with such effect +that soon hundreds of them were down dead or with shattered skulls and +bruised limbs. Fiercely they fought, while the whole army watched, for +their rivalry was keen and for many months they had known that they were +to be pitted one against the other on this day. Fiercely they fought, +while the captains cried their orders, and the dust rose up in clouds +as they swung to and fro, breast thrusting against breast. At length the +end came; the Bees began to give, they fell back ever more quickly till +their retreat was a rout, and, leaving many stretched upon the ground, +amid the mocking cries of the army they were driven to the fence, by +touching which they obtained peace at the hands of their victors. + +The king saw, and his somewhat heavy, quiet face grew alive with rage. + +“Search and see,” he said, “if the captain of the Bees is alive and +unhurt.” + +Messengers went to do his bidding, and presently they returned, bringing +with them a man of magnificent appearance and middle age, whose left arm +had been broken by a blow from a kerry. With his right hand he saluted +first the king, then the Prince Nodwengo, a kindly-faced, mild-eyed man, +in whose command he was. + +“What have you to say?” asked the king, in a cold voice of anger. “Know +you that you have cost me ten head of the royal white cattle?” + +“King, I have nothing to say,” answered the captain calmly, “except that +my men are cowards.” + +“That is certainly so,” said the king. “Let all the wounded among +them be carried away; and for you, captain, who turn my soldiers into +cowards, you shall die a dog’s death, hanging to-morrow on the Tree of +Doom. As for your regiment, I banish it to the fever country, there to +hunt elephants for three years, since it is not fit to fight with men.” + +“It is well,” replied the captain, “since death is better than shame. +Only King, I have done you good service in the past; I ask that it may +be presently and by the spear.” + +“So be it,” said the king. + +“I crave his life, father,” said the Prince Nodwengo; “he is my friend.” + +“A prince should not choose cowards for his friends,” replied the king; +“let him be killed, I say.” + +Then Owen, who had been watching and listening, his heart sick with +horror, stood forward and said:-- + +“King, in the name of Him I serve, I conjure you to spare this man and +those others that are hurt, who have done no crime except to be driven +back by soldiers stronger than themselves.” + +“Messenger,” answered the king, “I bear with you because you are +ignorant. Know that, according to our customs, this crime is the +greatest of crimes, for here we show no mercy to the conquered.” + +“Yet you should do so,” said Owen, “seeing that you also must ere long +be conquered by death, and then how can you expect mercy who have shown +none?” + +“Let him be killed!” said the king. + +“King!” cried Owen once more, “do this deed, and I tell you that before +the sun is down great evil will overtake you.” + +“Do you threaten me, Messenger? Well, we will see. Let him be killed, I +say.” + +Then the man was led away; but, before he went he found time to thank +Owen and Nodwengo the prince, and to call down good fortune upon them. + + + +CHAPTER VI + +THE DRINKING OF THE CUP + +Now the king’s word was done, the anger went out of his eyes, and once +more his countenance grew weary. A command was issued, and, with the +most perfect order, moving like one man, the regiments changed their +array, forming up battalion upon battalion in face of the king, that +they might give him the royal salute so soon as he had drunk the cup of +the first-fruits. + +A herald stood forward and cried:-- + +“Hearken, you Sons of Fire! Hearken, you Children of Umsuka, Shaker of +the Earth! Have any of you a boon to ask of the king?” + +Men stood forward, and having saluted, one by one asked this thing or +that. The king heard their requests, and as he nodded or turned his head +away, so they were granted or refused. + +When all had done, the Prince Hafela came forward, lifted his spear, and +cried:-- + +“A boon, King!” + +“What is it?” asked his father, eyeing him curiously. + +“A small matter, King,” he replied. “A while ago I named a certain +woman, Noma, the ward of Hokosa the wizard, and she was sealed to me +to fill the place of my first wife, the queen that is to be. She passed +into the House of the Royal Women, and, by your command, King, it was +fixed that I should marry her according to our customs to-morrow, +after the feast of the first-fruits is ended. King, my heart is changed +towards that woman; I no longer desire to take her to wife, and I pray +that you will order that she shall now be handed back to Hokosa her +guardian.” + +“You blow hot and cold with the same mouth, Hafela,” said Umsuka, “and +in love or war I do not like such men. What have you to say to this +demand, Hokosa?” + +Now Hokosa stepped forward from where he stood at the head of the +company of wizards. His dress, like that of his companions, was simple, +but in its way striking. On his shoulders he wore a cloak of shining +snakeskin; about his loins was a short kilt of the same material; and +round his forehead, arms and knees were fillets of snakeskin. At his +side hung his pouch of medicines, and in his hand he held no spear, but +a wand of ivory, whereof the top was roughly carved so as to resemble +the head of a cobra reared up to strike. + +“King,” he said, “I have heard the words of the prince, and I do not +think that this insult should have been put upon the Lady Noma, my ward, +or upon me, her guardian. Still, let it be, for I would not that +one should pass from under the shadow of my house whither she is not +welcome. Without my leave the prince named this woman as his queen, as +he had the right to do; and without my leave he unnames her, as he has +the right to do. Were the prince a common man, according to custom he +should pay a fine of cattle to be held by me in trust for her whom he +discards; but this is a matter that I leave to you, King.” + +“You do well, Hokosa,” answered Umsuka, “to leave this to me. Prince, +you would not wish the fine that you should pay to be that of any common +man. With the girl shall be handed over two hundred head of cattle. +More, I will do justice: unless she herself consents, she shall not be +put away. Let the Lady Noma be summoned.” + +Now the face of Hafela grew sullen, and watching, Owen saw a swift +change pass over that of Hokosa. Evidently he was not certain of the +woman. Presently there was a stir, and from the gates of the royal house +the Lady Noma appeared, attended by women, and stood before the king. +She was a tall and lovely girl, and the sunlight flashed upon her +bronze-hued breast and her ornaments of ivory. Her black hair was +fastened in a knot upon her neck, her features were fine and small, her +gait was delicate and sure as that of an antelope, and her eyes were +beautiful and full of pride. There she stood before the king, looking +round her like a stag. Seeing her thus, Owen understood how it came +about that she held two men so strangely different in the hollow of her +hand, for her charm was of a nature to appeal to both of them--a charm +of the spirit as well as of the flesh. And yet the face was haughty, a +face that upon occasion might even become cruel. + +“You sent for me and I am here, O King,” she said, in a slow and quiet +voice. + +“Listen, girl,” answered the king. “A while ago the Prince Hafela, my +son, named you as her who should be his queen, whereon you were taken +and placed in the House of the Royal Women, to abide the day of your +marriage, which should be to-morrow.” + +“It is true that the prince has honoured me thus, and that you have been +pleased to approve of his choice,” she said, lifting her eyebrows. “What +of it, O King?” + +“This, girl: the prince who was pleased to honour you is now pleased to +dishonour you. Here, in the presence of the council and army, he prays +of me to annul his sealing to you, and to send you back to the house of +your guardian, Hokosa the wizard.” + +Noma started, and her face grew hard. + +“Is it so?” she said. “Then it would seem that I have lost favour in the +eyes of my lord the prince, or that some fairer woman has found it.” + +“Of these matters I know nothing,” replied the king; “but this I know, +that if you seek justice you shall have it. Say but the word, and he to +whom you were promised in marriage shall take you in marriage, whether +he wills or wills it not.” + +At this speech, the face of Hafela was suddenly lit up as with the fire +of hope, while over that of Hokosa there passed another subtle change. +The girl glanced at them both and was silent for a while. Her breast +heaved and her white teeth bit upon her lip. To Owen, who noted all, it +was clear that rival passions were struggling in her heart: the passion +of power and the passion of love, or of some emotion which he did not +understand. Hokosa fixed his calm eyes upon her with a strange intensity +of gaze, and while he gazed his form quivered with a suppressed +excitement, much as a snake quivers that is about to strike its prey. +To the careless eye there was nothing remarkable about his look +and attitude; to the observer it was evident that both were full of +extraordinary purpose. He was talking to the girl, not with words, but +in some secret language that he and she understood alone. She started as +one starts who catches the tone of a well-remembered voice in a crowd of +strangers, and lifting her eyes from the ground, whither she had turned +them in meditation, she looked up at Hokosa. + +Instantly her face began to change. The haughtiness and anger went out +of it, it grew troubled, the lips parted in a sigh. First she bent her +head and body towards him, then without more ado she walked to where he +stood and took him by the hand. Here, at some whispered word or sign, +she seemed to recover herself, and again resuming the character of a +proud offended beauty, she curtseyed to Umsuka, and spoke:-- + +“O King, as you see, I have made my choice. I will not force myself upon +a man who scorns me, no, not even to share his place and power, though +it is true that I love them both. Nay, I will return to Hokosa my +guardian, and to his wife, Zinti, who has been as my mother, and with +them be at peace.” + +“It is well,” said the king, “and perhaps, girl, your choice is wise; +perhaps your loss is not so great as you have thought. Hafela, take you +the hand of Hokosa and release the girl back to him according to the +law, promising in the ears of men before the first month of winter to +pay him two hundred head of cattle as forfeit, to be held by him in +trust for the girl.” + +In a sullen voice, his lips trembling with rage, Hafela did as the +king commanded; and when the hands of the conspirators unclasped, Owen +perceived that in that of the prince lay a tiny packet. + +“Mix me the cup of the first-fruits, and swiftly,” said the king again, +“for the sun grows low in the heavens, and ere it sinks I have words to +say.” + +Now a polished gourd filled with native beer was handed to Nodwengo, the +second son of the king, and one by one the great councillors approached, +and, with appropriate words, let fall into it offerings emblematic of +fertility and increase. The first cast in a grain of corn; the second, +a blade of grass; the third, a shaving from an ox’s horn; the fourth, +a drop of water; the fifth, a woman’s hair; the sixth, a particle +of earth; and so on, until every ingredient was added to it that was +necessary to the magic brew. + +Then Hokosa, as chief of the medicine men, blessed the cup according +to the ancient forms, praying that he whose body was the heavens, whose +eyes were lightning, and whose voice was thunder, the spirit whom they +worshipped, might increase and multiply to them during the coming year +all those fruits and elements that were present in the cup, and that +every virtue which they contained might comfort the body of the king. + +His prayer finished, it was the turn of Hafela to play his part as the +eldest born of the king. Kneeling over the cup which stood upon the +ground, a spear was handed to him that had been made red hot in the +fire. Taking the spear, he stabbed with it towards the four quarters +of the horizon; then, muttering some invocation, he plunged it into the +bowl, stirring its contents till the iron grew black. Now he threw aside +the spear, and lifting the bowl in both hands, he carried it to his +father and offered it to him. + +Although he had been unable to see him drop the poison into the cup, +a glance at Hafela told Owen that it was there; for though he kept his +face under control, he could not prevent his hands from twitching or the +sweat from starting upon his brow and breast. + +The king rose, and taking the bowl, held it on high, saying:-- + +“In this cup, which I drink on behalf of the nation, I pledge you, my +people.” + +It was the signal for the royal salute, for which each regiment had been +prepared. As the last word left the king’s lips, every one of the thirty +thousand men present in that great place began to rattle his kerry +against the surface of his ox-hide shield. At first the sound produced +resembled that of the murmur of the sea; but by slow and just degrees +it grew louder and ever louder, till the roar of it was like the deepest +voice of thunder, a sound awe-inspiring, terrible. + +Suddenly, when its volume was most, four spears were thrown into the +air, and at this signal every man ceased to beat upon his shield. In the +place itself there was silence, but from the mountains around the echoes +still crashed and volleyed. When the last of them had died away, the +king brought the cup to the level of his lips. Owen saw, and knowing its +contents, was almost moved to cry out in warning. Indeed, his arm was +lifted and his mouth was open, when by chance he noted Hokosa watching +him, and remembered. To act now would be madness, his time had not yet +come. + +The cup touched the king’s lips, and at the sign from every throat +in that countless multitude sprang the word “_King!_” and every foot +stamped upon the ground, shaking the solid earth. Thrice the monarch +drank, and thrice this tremendous salute, the salute of the whole nation +to its ruler, was repeated, each time more loudly than the last. Then +pouring the rest of the liquor on the ground, Umsuka set aside the cup, +and in the midst of a silence that seemed deep after the crash of the +great salute, he began to address the multitude:-- + +“Hearken, Councillors and Captains, and you, my people, hearken. As you +know, I have two sons, calves of the Black Bull, princes of the land--my +son Hafela, the eldest born, and my son Nodwengo, his half-brother----” + +At this point the king began to grow confused. He hesitated, passing his +hand over his eyes, then slowly and with difficulty repeated those words +which he had already said. + +“We hear you, Father,” cried the councillors in encouragement, as for +the second time he paused. While they still spoke, the veins in the +king’s neck were seen to swell suddenly, foam flecked with blood burst +from his lips, and he fell headlong to the ground. + + + +CHAPTER VII + +THE RECOVERY OF THE KING + +For a moment there was silence, then a great cry arose--a cry of “Our +father is dead!” Presently with it were mingled other and angrier shouts +of “The king is murdered!” and “He is bewitched, the white wizard +has bewitched the king! He prophesied evil upon him, and now he has +bewitched him!” + +Meanwhile the captains and councillors formed a ring about Umsuka, and +Hokosa bending over him examined him. + +“Princes and Councillors,” he said presently, “your father yet lives, +but his life is like the life of a dying fire and soon he must be dead. +This is sure, that one of two things has befallen him: either the heat +has caused the blood to boil in his veins and he is smitten with a +stroke from heaven, such as men who are fat and heavy sometimes die of; +or he has been bewitched by a wicked wizard. Yonder stands one,” and he +pointed to Owen, “who not an hour ago prophesied that before the sun was +down great evil should overtake the king. The sun is not yet down, and +great evil has overtaken him. Perchance, Princes and Councillors, this +white prophet can tell us of the matter.” + +“Perchance I can,” answered Owen calmly. + +“He admits it!” cried some. “Away with him!” + +“Peace!” said Owen, holding the crucifix towards those whose spears +threatened his life. + +They shrank back, for this symbol of a dying man terrified them who +could not guess its significance. + +“Peace,” went on Owen, “and listen. Be sure of this, Councillors, that +if I die, your king will die; whereas if I live, your king may live. You +ask me of this matter. Where shall I begin? Shall I begin with the tale +of two men seated together some nights ago in a hut so dark that no eyes +could see in it, save perchance the eyes of a wizard? What did they talk +of in that hut, and who were those men? They talked, I think, of the +death of a king and of the crowning of a king. They talked of a price +to be paid for a certain medicine; and one of them had a royal air, and +one----” + +“Will ye hearken to this wild babbler while your king lies dying before +your eyes?” broke in Hokosa, in a shrill, unnatural voice; for almost +palsied with fear as he was at Owen’s mysterious words, he still +retained his presence of mind. “Listen now: what is he, and what did he +say? He is one who comes hither to preach a new faith to us; he comes, +he says, on an embassy from the King of Heaven, who has power over +all things, and who, so these white men preach, can give power to His +servants. Well, let this one cease prating and show us his strength, +as he has been warned he would be called upon to do. Let him give us a +sign. There before you lies your king, and he is past the help of man; +even I cannot help him. Therefore, let this messenger cure him, or call +upon his God to cure him; that seeing, we may know him to be a true +messenger, and one sent by that King of whom he speaks. Let him do this +now before our eyes, or let him perish as a wizard who has bewitched the +king. Do you hear my words, Messenger, and can you draw this one back +from between the Gates of Death?” + +“I hear them,” answered Owen quietly; “and I can--or if I cannot, then +I am willing to pay the penalty with my life. You who are a doctor say +that your king is as one who is already dead, so that whatever I may do +I cannot hurt him further. Therefore I ask this of you, that you stand +round and watch, but molest me neither by word nor deed while I attempt +his cure. Do you consent?” + +“It is just; we consent,” said the councillors. “Let us see what the +white man can do, and by the issue let him be judged.” But Hokosa stared +at Owen wondering, and made no answer. + +“Bring some clean water to me in a gourd,” said Owen. + +It was brought and given to him. He looked round, searching the faces of +those about him. Presently his eye fell upon the Prince Nodwengo, and he +beckoned to him, saying:-- + +“Come hither, Prince, for you are honest, and I would have you to help +me, and no other man.” + +The prince stepped forward and Owen gave him the gourd of water. Then +he drew out the little bottle wherein he had stored the juice of the +creeper, and uncorking it, he bade Nodwengo fill it up with water. This +done, he clasped his hands, and lifting his eyes to heaven, he prayed +aloud in the language of the Amasuka. + +“O God,” he prayed, “upon whose business I am here, grant, I beseech +Thee, that by Thy Grace power may be given to me to work this miracle in +the face of these people, to the end that I may win them to cease from +their iniquities, to believe upon Thee, the only true God, and to save +their souls alive. Amen.” + +Having finished his prayer, he took the bottle and shook it; then he +commanded Nodwengo to sit upon the ground and hold his father’s head +upon his knee. Now, as all might see by many signs, the king was upon +the verge of death, for his lips were purple, his breathing was rare and +stertorous, and his heart stood well-nigh still. + +“Open his mouth and hold down the tongue,” said Owen. + +The prince obeyed, pressing down the tongue with a snuff spoon. Then +placing the neck of the bottle as far into the throat as it would reach, +Owen poured the fluid it contained into the body of the king, who made a +convulsive movement and instantly seemed to die. + +“He is dead,” said one; “away with the false prophet!” + +“It may be so, or it may not be so,” answered Owen. “Wait for the half +of an hour; then, if he shows no sign of life, do what you will with +me.” + +“It is well,” they said; “so be it.” + +Slowly the minutes slipped by, while the king lay like a corpse before +them, and outside of that silent ring the soldiers murmured as the wind. +The sun was sinking fast, and Hokosa watched it, counting the seconds. +At length he spoke:-- + +“The half of the hour that you demanded is dead, White Man, as dead +as the king; and now the time has come for you to die also,” and he +stretched out his hand to take him. + +Owen looked at his watch and replied:-- + +“There is still another minute; and you, Hokosa, who are skilled in +medicines, may know that this antidote does not work so swiftly as the +bane.” + +The shot was a random one, but it told, for Hokosa fell back and was +silent. + +The seconds passed on as the minute hand of the watch went round from +ten to twenty, from twenty to thirty, from thirty to forty. A few +more instants and the game was played. Had that dream of his been vain +imagining, and was all his faith nothing but a dream wondered Owen? +Well, if so, it would be best that he should die. But he did not believe +that it was so; he believed that the Power above him would intervene to +save--not him, indeed, but all this people. + +“Let us make an end,” said Hokosa, “the time is done.” + +“Yes,” said Owen, “the time is done--and _the king lives!_” + +Even as he spoke the pulses in the old man’s forehead were seen to +throb, and the veins in his neck to swell as they had swollen after he +had swallowed the poison; then once more they shrank to their natural +size. Umsuka stirred a hand, groaned, sat up, and spoke:-- + +“What has chanced to me?” he said. “I have descended into deep darkness, +now once again I see light.” + +No one answered, for all were staring, terrified and amazed, at the +Messenger--the white wizard to whom had been given power to bring men +back from the gate of death. At length Owen said:-- + +“This has chanced to you, King: that evil which I prophesied to you if +you refused to listen to the voice of mercy has fallen upon you. By now +you would have been dead, had it not pleased Him Whom I serve, working +through me, His messenger, to bring you back to look upon the sun. Thank +Him, therefore, and worship Him, for He alone is Master of the Earth,” + and he held the crucifix before his eyes. + +The humbled monarch lifted his hand--he who for many years had made +obeisance to none--and saluted the symbol, saying:-- + +“Messenger, I thank Him and I worship Him, though I know Him not. Say +now, how did His magic work upon me to make me sick to death and to +recover me?” + +“By the hand of man, King, and by the virtues that lie hid in Nature. +Did you not drink of a cup, and were not many things mixed in the +draught? Was it not but now in your mind to speak words that should +bring down the head of pride and evil, and lift up the head of truth and +goodness?” + +“O White Man, how know you these things?” gasped the king. + +“I know them, it is enough. Say, who was it that stirred the bowl, King, +and who gave you to drink?” + +Now Umsuka staggered to his feet, and cried aloud in a voice that was +thick with rage:-- + +“By my head and the heads of my fathers I smell the plot! My son, the +Prince Hafela, has learned my counsel, and would have slain me before I +said words that should set him beneath the feet of Nodwengo. Seize him, +captains, and let him be brought before me for judgment!” + +Men looked this way and that to carry out the command of the king, but +Hafela was gone. Already he was upon the hillside, running as a man has +rarely run before--his face set towards that fastness in the mountains +where he could find refuge among his mother’s tribesmen and the +regiments which he commanded. Of late they had been sent thither by the +king that they might be far from the Great Place when their prince was +disinherited. + +“He is fled,” said one; “I saw him go.” + +“Pursue him and bring him back, dead or alive!” thundered the king. +“A hundred head of cattle to the man who lays hand upon him before he +reaches the _impi_ of the North, for they will fight for him!” + +“Stay!” broke in Owen. “Once before this day I prayed of you, King, to +show mercy, and you refused it. Will you refuse me a second time? Leave +him his life who has lost all else.” + +“That he may rebel against me? Well, White Man, I owe you much, and for +this time your wisdom shall be my guide, though my heart speaks against +such gentleness. Hearken, councillors and people, this is my decree: +that Hafela, my son, who would have murdered me, be deposed from his +place as heir to my throne, and that Nodwengo, his brother, be set in +that place, to rule the People of Fire after me when I die.” + +“It is good, it is just!” said the council. “Let the king’s word be +done.” + +“Hearken again,” said Umsuka. “Let this white man, who is named +Messenger, be placed in the House of Guests and treated with all honour; +let oxen be given him from the royal herds and corn from the granaries, +and girls of noble blood for wives if he wills them. Hokosa, into your +hand I deliver him, and, great though you are, know this, that if but +a hair of his head is harmed, with your goods and your life you shall +answer for it, you and all your house.” + +“Let the king’s word be done,” said the councillors again. + +“Heralds,” went on Umsuka, “proclaim that the feast of the first-fruits +is ended, and my command is that every regiment should seek its +quarters, taking with it a double gift of cattle from the king, who has +been saved alive by the magic of this white man. And now, Messenger, +farewell, for my head grows weary. To-morrow I will speak with you.” + +Then the king was led away into the royal house, and save those who were +quartered in it, the regiments passed one by one through the gates of +the kraal, singing their war-songs as they went. Darkness fell upon the +Great Place, and through it parties of men might be seen dragging thence +the corpses of those who had fallen in the fight with sticks, or been +put to death thereafter by order of the king. + +“Messenger,” said Hokosa, bowing before Owen, “be pleased to follow +me.” Then he led him to a little kraal numbering five or six large and +beautifully made huts, which stood by itself, within its own fence, at +the north end of the Great Place, not far from the house of the king. +In front of the centre hut a fire was burning, and by its light women +appeared cleaning out the huts and bringing food and water. + +“Here you may rest in safety, Messenger,” said Hokosa, “seeing that +night and day a guard from the king’s own regiment will stand before +your doors.” + +“I do not need them,” answered Owen, “for none can harm me till my hour +comes. I am a stranger here and you are a great man; yet, Hokosa, which +of us is the safest this night?” + +“Your meaning?” said Hokosa sharply. + +“O man!” answered Owen, “when in a certain hour you crept up the valley +yonder, and climbing the Tree of Death gathered its poison, went I not +with you? When, before that hour, you sat in yonder hut bargaining with +the Prince Hafela--the death of a king for the price of a girl--was I +not with you? Nay, threaten me not--in your own words I say it--‘lay +down that assegai, or by my spirit your body shall be thrown to the +kites, as that of one who would murder the king’--and the king’s guest!” + +“White Man,” whispered Hokosa throwing down the spear, “how can these +things be? I was alone in the hut with the prince, I was alone beneath +the Tree of Doom, and you, as I know well, were beyond the river. Your +spies must be good, White Man.” + +“My spirit is my only spy, Hokosa. My spirit watched you, and from your +own lips he learned the secret of the bane and of the antidote. Hafela +mixed the poison as you taught him; I gave the remedy, and saved the +king alive.” + +Now the knees of Hokosa grew weak beneath him, and he leaned against the +fence of the kraal for support. + +“I have skill in the art,” he said hoarsely; “but, Messenger, your magic +is more than mine, and my life is forfeit to you. To-morrow morning, +you will tell the king all, and to-morrow night I shall hang upon the +dreadful Tree. Well, so be it; I am overmatched at my own trade, and it +is best that I should die. You have plotted well and you have conquered, +and to you belong my place and power.” + +“It was you who plotted, and not I, Hokosa. Did you not contrive that I +should reach the Great Place but a little before the poison was given to +the king, so that upon me might be laid the crime of his bewitching? Did +you not plan also that I should be called upon to cure him--a thing +you deemed impossible--and when I failed that I should be straightway +butchered?” + +“Seeing that it is useless to lie to you, I confess that it was so,” + answered Hokosa boldly. + +“It was so,” repeated Owen; “therefore, according to your law your life +is forfeit, seeing that you dug a pit to snare the innocent feet. But +I come to tell you of a new law, and that which I preach I practise. +Hokosa, I pardon you, and if you will put aside your evil-doing, I +promise you that no word of all your wickedness shall pass my lips.” + +“It has not been my fashion to take a boon at the hand of any man, save +of the king only,” said the wizard in a humble voice; “but now it seems +that I am come to this. Tell me, White Man, what is the payment that you +seek of me?” + +“None, Hokosa, except that you cease from evil and listen with an open +heart to that message which I am sworn to deliver to you and to all your +nation. Also you would do well to put away that fair woman whose price +was the murder of him that fed you.” + +“I cannot do it,” answered the wizard. “I will listen to your teaching, +but I will not rob my heart of her it craves alone. White Man, I am not +like the rest of my nation. I have not sought after women; I have but +one wife, and she is old and childless. Now, for the first time in my +days, I love this girl--ah, you know not how!--and I will take her, and +she shall be the mother of my children.” + +“Then, Hokosa, you will take her to your sorrow,” answered Owen +solemnly, “for she will learn to hate you who have robbed her of royalty +and rule, giving her wizardries and your grey hairs in place of them.” + +And thus for that night they parted. + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +THE FIRST TRIAL BY FIRE + +On the following day, while Owen sat eating his morning meal with a +thankful heart, a messenger arrived saying that the king would receive +him whenever it pleased him to come. He answered that he would be with +him before noon, for already he had learned that among natives one loses +little by delay. A great man, they think, is rich in time, and hurries +only to wait upon his superiors. + +At the appointed hour a guard came to lead him to the royal house, and +thither Owen went, followed by John bearing a Bible. Umsuka was seated +beneath a reed roof supported by poles and open on all sides; behind him +stood councillors and attendants, and by him were Nodwengo the prince, +and Hokosa, his mouth and prophet. Although the day was hot, he wore a +kaross or rug of wild catskins, and his face showed that the effects +of the poisoned draught were still upon him. At the approach of Owen he +rose with something of an effort, and, shaking him by the hand, thanked +him for his life, calling him “doctor of doctors.” + +“Tell me, Messenger,” he added, “how it was that you were able to cure +me, and who were in the plot to kill me? There must have been more than +one,” and he rolled his eyes round with angry suspicion. + +“King,” answered Owen, “if I knew anything of this matter, the Power +that wrote it on my mind has wiped it out again, or, at the least, has +forbidden me to speak of its secret. I saved you, it is enough; for the +rest, the past is the past, and I come to deal with the present and the +future.” + +“This white man keeps his word,” thought Hokosa to himself, and he +looked at him thanking him with his eyes. + +“So be it,” answered the king; “after all, it is wise not to stir a +dung-heap, for there we find little beside evil odours and the nests of +snakes. Now, what is your business with me, and why do you come from the +white man’s countries to visit me? I have heard of those countries, they +are great and far away. I have heard of the white men also--wonderful +men who have all knowledge; but I do not desire to have anything to do +with them, for whenever they meet black people they eat them up, taking +their lands and making them slaves. Once, some years ago, two of you +white people visited us here, but perhaps you know that story.” + +“I know it,” answered Owen; “one of those men you murdered, and the +other you sent back with a message which he delivered into my ears +across the waters, thousands of miles away.” + +“Nay,” answered the king, “we did not murder him; he came to us with the +story of a new God who could raise the dead and work other miracles, and +gave such powers to His servants. So a man was slain and we begged of +him to bring him back to life; and since he could not, we killed him +also because he was a liar.” + +“He was no liar,” said Owen; “since he never told you that he had power +to open the mouth of the grave. Still, Heaven is merciful, and although +you murdered him that was sent to you, his Master has chosen me to +follow in his footsteps. Me also you may murder if you will, and then +another and another; but still the messengers shall come, till at +last your ears are opened and you listen. Only, for such deeds your +punishment must be heavy.” + +“What is the message, White Man?” + +“A message of peace, of forgiveness, and of life beyond the grave, of +life everlasting. Listen, King. Yesterday you were near to death; say +now, had you stepped over the edge of it, where would you be this day?” + +Umsuka shrugged his shoulders. “With my fathers, White Man.” + +“And where are your fathers?” + +“Nay, I know not--nowhere, everywhere: the night is full of them; in the +night we hear the echo of their voices. When they are angry they haunt +the thunder-cloud, and when they are pleased they smile in the sunshine. +Sometimes also they appear in the shape of snakes, or visit us in +dreams, and then we offer them sacrifice. Yonder on the hillside is a +haunted wood; it is full of their spirits, White Man, but they cannot +talk, they only mutter, and their footfalls sound like the dropping of +heavy rain, for they are strengthless and unhappy, and in the end they +fade away.” + +“So you say,” answered Owen, “who are not altogether without +understanding, yet know little, never having been taught. Now listen to +me,” and very earnestly he preached to him and those about him of peace, +of forgiveness, and of life everlasting. + +“Why should a God die miserably upon a cross?” asked the king at length. + +“That through His sacrifice men might become as gods,” answered Owen. +“Believe in Him and He will save you.” + +“How can we do that,” asked the king again, “when already we have a god? +Can we desert one god and set up another?” + +“What god, King?” + +“I will show him to you, White Man. Let my litter be brought.” + +The litter was brought and the king entered it with labouring breath. +Passing through the north gate of the Great Place, the party ascended a +slope of the hill that lay beyond it till they reached a flat plain some +hundreds of yards in width. On this plain vegetation grew scantily, for +here the bed rock of ironstone, denuded with frequent and heavy rains, +was scarcely hidden by a thin crust of earth. On the further side of the +plain, however, and separated from it by a little stream, was a green +bank of deep soft soil, beyond which lay a gloomy valley full of great +trees, that for many generations had been the burying-place of the kings +of the Amasuka. + +“This is the house of the god,” said the king. + +“A strange house,” answered Owen, “and where is he that dwells in it?” + +“Follow me and I will show you, Messenger; but be swift, for already the +sky grows dark with coming tempest.” + +Now at the king’s command the bearers bore him across the sere plateau +towards a stone that lay almost in its centre. Presently they halted, +and, pointing to this mass, the king said:-- + +“Behold the god!” + +Owen advanced and examined the object. A glance told him that this god +of the Amasuka was a meteoric stone of unusual size. Most of such stones +are mere shapeless lumps, but this one bore a peculiar resemblance to +a seated human being holding up one arm towards the sky. So strange was +this likeness that, other reasons apart, it seemed not wonderful that +savages should regard the thing with awe and veneration. Rather would it +have been wonderful had they not done so. + +“Say now,” said Owen to the king when he had inspected the stone, “what +is the history of this dumb god of yours, and why do you worship him?” + +“Follow me across the stream and I will tell you, Messenger,” answered +the king, again glancing at the sky. “The storm gathers, and when it +breaks none are safe upon this plain except the heaven doctors such as +Hokosa and his companions who can bind the lightning.” + +So they went and when they reached the further side of the stream Umsuka +descended from his litter. + +“Messenger,” he said, “this is the story of the god as it has come down +to us. From the beginning our land has been scourged with lightning +above all other lands, and with the floods of rain that accompany the +lightning. In the old days the Great Place of the king was out yonder +among the mountains, but every year fire from heaven fell upon it, +destroying much people: and at length in a great tempest the house of +the king of that day was smitten and burned, and his wives and children +were turned to ashes. Then that king held a council of his wizards +and fire-doctors, and these having consulted the spirits of their +forefathers, retired into a place apart to fast and pray; yes, it was +in yonder valley, the burying ground of kings, that they hid themselves. +Now on the third night the God of Fire appeared to the chief of the +doctors in his sleep, and he was shaped like a burning brand and smoke +went up from him. Out of the smoke he spoke to the doctor, saying: ‘For +this reason it is that I torment your people, that they hate me and +curse at me and pay me little honour.’ + +“In his dream the doctor answered: ‘How can the people honour a god that +they do not see?’ Then the god said: ‘Rise up now in the night, all the +company of you, and go take your stand upon the banks of yonder stream, +and I will fall down in fire from heaven, and there on the plain you +shall find my image. Then let your king move his Great Place into the +valley beneath the plain, and henceforth my bolts shall spare it and +him. Only, month by month you shall make prayers and offerings to me; +moreover, the name of the people shall be changed, for it shall be +called the People of Fire.’ + +“Now the doctor rose, and having awakened his companions, he told them +of his vision. Then they all of them went down to the banks of this +stream where we now stand. And as they waited there a great tempest +burst over them, and in the midst of that tempest they saw the flaming +figure of a man descend from heaven, and when he touched the earth it +shook. The morning came and there upon the plain before them, where +there had been nothing, sat the likeness of the god as it sits to-day +and shall sit for ever. So the name of this people was changed, and the +king’s Great Place was built where it now is. + +“Since that day, Messenger, no hut has been burned and no man killed +in or about the Great Place by fire from heaven, which falls only here +where the god is, though away among the mountains and elsewhere men are +sometimes killed. But wait a while and you shall see with your eyes. +Hokosa, do you, whom the lightning will not touch, take that pole of +dead wood and set it up yonder in the crevice of the rock not far from +the figure of the god.” + +“I obey,” said Hokosa, “although I have brought no medicines with me. +Perhaps,” he added with a faint sneer, “the white man, who is so great a +wizard, will not be afraid to accompany me.” + +Now Owen saw that all those present were looking at him curiously. +It was evident they believed that he would not dare to accept the +challenge. Therefore he answered at once and without hesitation:-- + +“Certainly I will come; the pole is heavy for one man to carry, and +where Hokosa goes, there I can go also.” + +“Nay, nay, Messenger,” said the king, “the lightning knows Hokosa and +will turn from him, but you are a stranger to it and it will eat you +up.” + +“King,” answered Owen, “I do not believe that Hokosa has any power over +the lightning. It may strike him or it may strike me; but unless my God +so commands, it will strike neither of us.” + +“On your head be it, White Man,” said Hokosa, with cold anger. “Come, +aid me with the pole.” + +Then they lifted the dead tree, and between them carried it into the +middle of the plain, where they set it up in a crevice of the rock. By +this time the storm was almost over them, and watching it Owen perceived +that the lightnings struck always along the bank of the stream, +doubtless following a hidden line of the bed of ironstone. + +“It is but a very little storm,” said Hokosa contemptuously, “such as +visit us almost every afternoon at this period of the year. Ah! White +Man, I would that you could see one of our great tempests, for these are +worth beholding. This I fear, however, that you will never do, seeing it +is likely that within some few minutes you will have passed back to that +King who sent you here, with a hole in your head and a black mark down +your spine.” + +“That we shall learn presently, Hokosa,” answered Owen; “for my part, I +pray that no such fate may overtake you.” + +Now Hokosa moved himself away, muttering and pointing with his fingers, +but Owen remained standing within about thirty yards of the pole. +Suddenly there came a glare of light, and the pole was split into +fragments; but although the shock was perceptible, they remained unhurt. +Almost immediately a second flash leaped from the cloud, and Owen saw +Hokosa stagger and fall to his knees. “The man is struck,” he thought +to himself, but it was not so, for recovering his balance, the wizard +walked back to the stream. + +Owen never stirred. From boyhood courage had been one of his good +qualities, but it was a courage of the spirit rather than of the flesh. +For instance, at this very moment, so far as his body was concerned, +he was much afraid, and did not in the least enjoy standing upon an +ironstone plateau at the imminent risk of being destroyed by lightning. +But even if he had not had an end to gain, he would have scorned to give +way to his human frailties; also, now as always, his faith supported +him. As it happened the storm, which was slight, passed by, and no more +flashes fell. When it was over he walked back to where the king and his +court were standing. + +“Messenger,” said Umsuka, “you are not only a great doctor, you are also +a brave man, and such I honour. There is no one among us here, not being +a lord of the lightning, who would have dared to stand upon that place +with Hokosa while the flashes fell about him. Yet you have done it; it +was Hokosa who was driven away. You have passed the trial by fire, and +henceforth, whether we refuse your message or accept it, you are great +in this land.” + +“There is no need to praise me, King,” answered Owen. “The risk is +something; but I knew that I was protected from it, seeing that I shall +not die until my hour comes, and it is not yet. Listen now: your god +yonder is nothing but a stone such as I have often seen before, for +sometimes in great tempests they come to earth from the clouds. You are +not the first people that have worshipped such a stone, but now we know +better. Also this plain before you is full of iron, and iron draws +the lightning. That is why it never strikes your town below. The iron +attracts it more strongly than earth and huts of straw. Again, while the +pole stood I was in little danger, for the lightning strikes the highest +thing; but after the pole was shattered and Hokosa wisely went away, +then I was in some danger, only no flashes fell. I am not a magician, +King, but I know some things that you do not know, and I trust in One +whom I shall lead you to trust also.” + +“We will talk of this more hereafter,” said the king hurriedly, “for one +day, I have heard and seen enough. Also I do not believe your words, +for I have noted ever that those who are the greatest wizards of all say +continually that they have no magic power. Hokosa, you have been famous +in your day, but it seems that henceforth you who have led must follow.” + +“The battle is not yet fought, King,” answered Hokosa. “To-day I met the +lightnings without my medicines, and it was a little storm; when I +am prepared with my medicines and the tempest is great, then I will +challenge this white man to face me yonder, and then in that hour _my_ +god shall show his strength and _his_ God shall not be able to save +him.” + +“That we shall see when the time comes,” answered Owen, with a smile. + +That night as Owen sat in his hut working at the translation of St. +John, the door was opened and Hokosa entered. + +“White Man,” said the wizard, “you are too strong for me, though whence +you have your power I know not. Let us make a bargain. Show me your +magic and I will show you mine, and we will rule the land between us. +You and I are much akin--we are great; we have the spirit sight; we +know that there are things beyond the things we see and hear and feel; +whereas, for the rest, they are fools, following the flesh alone. I have +spoken.” + +“Very gladly will I show you my magic, Hokosa,” answered Owen +cheerfully, “since, to speak truth, though I know you to be wicked, and +guess that you would be glad to be rid of me by fair means or foul; yet +I have taken a liking for you, seeing in you one who from a sinner may +grow into a saint. + +“This then is my magic: To love God and serve man; to eschew wizardry, +wealth, and power; to seek after holiness, poverty and humility; to +deny your flesh, and to make yourself small in the sight of men, that so +perchance you may grow great in the sight of Heaven and save your soul +alive.” + +“I have no stomach for that lesson,” said Hokosa. + +“Yet you shall live to hunger for it,” answered Owen. And the wizard +went away angered but wondering. + + + +CHAPTER IX + +THE CRISIS + +Now, day by day for something over a month Owen preached the Gospel +before the king, his councillors, and hundreds of the head men of the +nation. They listened to him attentively, debating the new doctrine +point by point; for although they might be savages, these people were +very keen-witted and subtle. Very patiently did Owen sow, and at length +to his infinite joy he also gathered in his first-fruit. One night as he +sat in his hut labouring as usual at the work of translation, wherein +he was assisted by John whom he had taught to read and write, the Prince +Nodwengo entered and greeted him. For a while he sat silent watching the +white man at his task, then he said:-- + +“Messenger, I have a boon to ask of you. Can you teach me to understand +those signs which you set upon the paper, and to make them also as does +John your servant?” + +“Certainly,” answered Owen; “if you will come to me at noon to-morrow, +we will begin.” + +The prince thanked him, but he did not go away. Indeed, from his manner +Owen guessed that he had something more upon his mind. At length it came +out. + +“Messenger,” he said, “you have told us of baptism whereby we are +admitted into the army of your King; say, have you the power of this +rite?” + +“I have.” + +“And is your servant here baptised?” + +“He is.” + +“Then if he who is a common man can be baptised, why may not I who am a +prince?” + +“In baptism,” answered Owen, “there is no distinction between the +highest and the lowest; but if you believe, then the door is open and +through it you can join the company of Heaven.” + +“Messenger, I do believe,” answered the prince humbly. + +Then Owen was very joyful, and that same night, with John for a witness, +he baptised the prince, giving him the new name of Constantine, after +the first Christian emperor. + +On the following day Nodwengo, in the presence of Owen, who on this +point would suffer no concealment, announced to the king that he had +become a Christian. Umsuka heard, and for a while sat silent. Then he +said in a troubled voice:-- + +“Truly, Messenger, in the words of that Book from which you read to us, +I fear that you have come hither to bring, ‘not peace but a sword.’ Now +when the witch-doctors and the priests of fire learn this, that he whom +I have chosen to succeed me has become the servant of another faith, +they will stir up the soldiers and there will be civil war. I pray you, +therefore, keep the matter secret, at any rate for a while, seeing that +the lives of many are at stake.” + +“In this, my father,” answered the prince, “I must do as the Messenger +bids me; but if you desire it, take from me the right of succession and +call back my brother from the northern mountains.” + +“That by poison or the spear he may put all of us to death, Nodwengo! +Be not afraid; ere long when he learns all that is happening here, your +brother Hafela will come from the northern mountains, and the spears of +his _impis_ shall be countless as the stars of the sky. Messenger, you +desire to draw us to the arms of your God--and myself, I am at +times minded to follow the path of my son Nodwengo and seek a refuge +there--but say, will they be strong enough to protect us from Hafela and +the warriors of the north? Already he gathers his clans, and already +my captains desert to him. By-and-by, in the spring-time--may I be dead +before the day--he will roll down upon us like a flood of water----” + +“To fall back like waters from a wall of rock,” answered Owen. “‘Let not +your heart be troubled,’ for my Master can protect His servants, and He +will protect you. But first you must confess Him openly, as your son has +done.” + +“Nay, I am too old to hurry,” said the king with a sigh. “Your tale +seems full of promise to one who is near the grave; but how can I know +that it is more than a dream? And shall I abandon the worship of my +fathers and change, or strive to change, the customs of my people to +follow after dreams? Nodwengo has chosen his part, and I do not blame +him; yet, for the present I beseech you both to keep silence on this +matter, lest to save bloodshed I should be driven to side against you.” + +“So be it, King,” said Owen; “but I warn you that Truth has a loud +voice, and that it is hard to hide the shining of a light in a dark +place, nor does it please my Lord to be denied by those who confess +Him.” + +“I am weary,” replied the old king, and they saluted him and went. + +In obedience to the wish of Umsuka his father, the conversion of +Nodwengo was kept secret, and yet--none knew how--the thing leaked out. +Soon the women in their huts, and the soldiers by their watch-fires, +whispered it in each other’s ears that he who was appointed to be +their future ruler had become a servant of the unknown God. That he had +forsworn war and all the delights of men; that he would take but one +wife and appear before the army, not in the uniform of a general, but +clad in a white robe, and carry, not the broad spear, but a cross of +wood. Swiftly the strange story flew from mouth to mouth, yet it was not +altogether believed till it chanced that one day when he was reviewing a +regiment, a soldier who was drunk with beer openly insulted the prince, +calling him “a coward who worshipped a coward.” + +Now men held their breaths, waiting to see this fool led away to die by +torture of the ant-heap or some other dreadful doom. But the prince only +answered: + +“Soldier, you are drunk, therefore I forgive you your words. Whether He +Whom you blaspheme will forgive you, I know not. Get you gone!” + +The warriors stared and murmured, for by those words, wittingly or +unwittingly, their general had confessed his faith, and that day they +made ribald songs about him in the camp. But on the morrow when they +learned how that the man whom the prince spared had been seized by +a lion and taken away as he sat at night with his companions in the +bivouac, his mouth full of boasting of his own courage in offering +insult to the prince and the new faith, then they looked at each other +askance and said little more of the matter. Doubtless it was chance, and +yet this Spirit Whom the Messenger preached was one of Whom it seemed +wisest not to speak lightly. + +But still the trouble grew, for by now the witch-doctors, with Hokosa +at the head of them, were frightened for their place and power, and +fomented it both openly and in secret. Of the women they asked what +would become of them when men were allowed to take but one wife? Of the +heads of kraals, how they would grow wealthy when their daughters ceased +to be worth cattle? Of the councillors and generals, how the land could +be protected from its foes when they were commanded to lay down the +spear? Of the soldiers, whose only trade was war, how it would please +them to till the fields like girls? Dismay took hold of the nation, and +although they were much loved, there was open talk of killing or driving +away the king and Nodwengo who favoured the white man, and of setting up +Hafela in their place. + +At length the crisis came, and in this fashion. The Amasuka, like many +other African tribes, had a strange veneration for certain varieties +of snakes which they declared to be possessed by the spirits of their +ancestors. It was a law among them that if one of these snakes entered +a kraal it must not be killed, or even driven away, under pain of death, +but must be allowed to share with the human occupants any hut that +it might select. As a result of this enforced hospitality deaths from +snake-bite were numerous among the people; but when they happened in +a kraal its owners met with little sympathy, for the doctors explained +that the real cause of them was the anger of some ancestral spirit +towards his descendants. Now, before John was despatched to instruct +Owen in the language of the Amasuka a certain girl was sealed to him +as his future wife, and this girl, who during his absence had been +orphaned, he had married recently with the approval of Owen, who at +this time was preparing her for baptism. On the third morning after his +marriage John appeared before his master in the last extremity of grief +and terror. + +“Help me, Messenger!” he cried, “for my ancestral spirit has entered our +hut and bitten my wife as she lay asleep.” + +“Are you mad?” asked Owen. “What is an ancestral spirit, and how can it +have bitten your wife?” + +“A snake,” gasped John, “a green snake of the worst sort.” + +Then Owen remembered the superstition, and snatching blue-stone and +spirits of wine from his medicine chest, he rushed to John’s hut. As it +happened, he was fortunately in time with his remedies and succeeded +in saving the woman’s life, whereby his reputation as a doctor and a +magician, already great, was considerably enlarged. + +“Where is the snake?” he asked when at length she was out of danger. + +“Yonder, under the kaross,” answered John, pointing to a skin rug which +lay in the corner. + +“Have you killed it?” + +“No, Messenger,” answered the man, “I dare not. Alas! we must live with +the thing here in the hut till it chooses to go away.” + +“Truly,” said Owen, “I am ashamed to think that you who are a Christian +should still believe so horrible a superstition. Does your faith teach +you that the souls of men enter into snakes?” + +Now John hung his head; then snatching a kerry, he threw aside the +kaross, revealing a great green serpent seven or eight feet long. With +fury he fell upon the reptile, killed it by repeated blows, and hurled +it into the courtyard outside the house. + +“Behold, father,” he said, “and judge whether I am still superstitious.” + Then his countenance fell and he added: “Yet my life must pay for this +deed, for it is an ancient law among us that to harm one of these snakes +is death.” + +“Have no fear,” said Owen, “a way will be found out of this trouble.” + +That afternoon Owen heard a great hubbub outside his kraal, and going to +see what was the matter, he found a party of the witch-doctors dragging +John towards the place of judgment, which was by the king’s house. +Thither he followed to discover that the case was already in course of +being opened before the king, his council, and a vast audience of +the people. Hokosa was the accuser. In brief and pregnant sentences, +producing the dead snake in proof of his argument, he pointed out the +enormity of the offence against the laws of the Amasuka wherewith the +prisoner was charged, demanding that the man who had killed the house of +his ancestral spirit should instantly be put to death. + +“What have you to say?” asked the king of John. + +“This, O King,” replied John, “that I am a Christian, and to me that +snake is nothing but a noxious reptile. It bit my wife, and had it not +been for the medicine of the Messenger, she would have perished of the +poison. Therefore I killed it before it could harm others.” + +“It is a fair answer,” said the king. “Hokosa, I think that this man +should go free.” + +“The king’s will is the law,” replied Hokosa bitterly; “but if the law +were the king’s will, the decision would be otherwise. This man has +slain, not a snake, but that which held the spirit of an ancestor, and +for the deed he deserves to die. Hearken, O King, for the business is +larger than it seems. How are we to be governed henceforth? Are we to +follow our ancient rules and customs, or must we submit ourselves to a +new rule and a new custom? I tell you, O King, that the people murmur; +they are without light, they wander in the darkness, they cannot +understand. Play with us no more, but let us hear the truth that we may +judge of this matter.” + +Umsuka looked at Owen, but made no reply. + +“I will answer you, Hokosa,” said Owen, “for I am the spring of all this +trouble, and at my command that man, my disciple, killed yonder snake. +What is it? It is nothing but a reptile; no human spirit ever dwelt +within it as you imagine in your superstition. You ask to hear the +truth; day by day I have preached it in your ears and you have not +listened, though many among you have listened and understood. What is it +that you seek?” + +“We seek, Messenger, to be rid of you, your fantasies and your religion; +and we demand that our king should expel you and restore the ancient +laws, or failing this, that you should prove your power openly before us +all. Your word, O King!” + +Umsuka thought for a while and answered:-- + +“This is my word, Hokosa: I will not drive the Messenger from the land, +for he is a good man; he saved my life, and there is virtue in his +teaching, towards which I myself incline. Yet it is just that he should +be asked to prove his power, so that an end may be put to doubt and all +of us may learn what god we are to worship.” + +“How can I prove my power,” asked Owen, “further than I have proved it +already? Does Hokosa desire to set up his god against my God--the false +against the true?” + +“I do,” answered the wizard with passion, “and according to the issue +let the judgment be. Let us halt no longer between two opinions, let us +become wholly Christian or rest wholly heathen, for to be divided is to +be destroyed. The magic of the Messenger is great; once and for all let +us learn if it is more than our magic. Let us put him and his doctrines +to the trial by fire.” + +“What is the trial by fire?” asked Owen. + +“You have seen something of it, White Man, but not much. This is the +trial by fire: to stand yonder before the face of the god of thunder +when a great tempest rages--not such a storm as you saw, but a storm +that splits the heavens--and to come thence unscathed. Listen: I who +am a ‘heaven-herd,’ I who know the signs of the weather, tell you that +within two days such a tempest as this will break upon us. Then White +Man, I and my companions will be ready to meet you on the plain. Take +the cross by which you swear and set it up yonder and stand by it, and +with you your converts, Nodwengo the prince, and this man whom you have +named John, if they dare to go. Over against you, around the symbol of +the god by which we swear, will stand I and my company, and we will pray +our god and you shall pray your God. Then the storm will break upon us, +and when it is ended we shall learn which of us remain alive. If you and +your cross are shattered, to us will be the victory; if we are laid low, +take it for your own. Your judgment, King!” + +Again Umsuka thought and answered:-- + +“So be it. Messenger, hear me. There is no need for you to accept this +challenge; but if you will not accept it, then go from my country in +peace, taking with you those who cleave to you. If on the other hand +you do accept it, these shall be the stakes: that if you pass the trial +unharmed, and the fire-doctors are swept away, your creed shall be my +creed and the creed of the land; but if the fire-doctors prevail against +you, then it shall be death or banishment to any who profess that creed. +Now choose!” + +“I have chosen,” said Owen. “I will meet Hokosa and his company on the +Place of fire whenever he may appoint, but for the others I cannot say.” + +“We will come with you,” said Nodwengo and John, with one voice; “where +you go, Messenger, we will surely follow.” + + + +CHAPTER X + +THE SECOND TRIAL BY FIRE + +When this momentous discussion was finished, as usual Owen preached +before the king, expounding the Scriptures and taking for his subject +the duty of faith. As he went back to his hut he saw that the snake +which John had killed had been set upon a pole in that part of the +Great Place which served as a market, and that hundreds of natives were +gathered beneath it gesticulating and talking excitedly. + +“See the work of Hokosa,” he thought to himself. “Moses set up a serpent +to save the people; yonder wizard sets up one to destroy them.” + +That evening Owen had no heart for his labours, for his mind was heavy +at the prospect of the trial which lay before him. Not that he cared for +his own life, for of this he scarcely thought; it was the prospects of +his cause which troubled him. It seemed much to expect that Heaven again +should throw over him the mantle of its especial protection, and yet +if it did not do so there was an end of his mission among the People of +Fire. Well, he did not seek this trial--he would have avoided it if +he could, but it had been thrust upon him, and he was forced to choose +between it and the abandonment of the work which he had undertaken with +such high hopes and pushed so far toward success. He did not choose the +path, it had been pointed out to him to walk upon; and if it ended in a +precipice, at least he would have done his best. + +As he thought thus John entered the hut, panting. + +“What is the matter?” Owen asked. + +“Father, the people saw and pursued me because of the death of that +accursed snake. Had I not run fast and escaped them, I think they would +have killed me.” + +“At least you have escaped, John; so be comforted and return thanks.” + +“Father,” said the man presently, “I know that you are great, and can do +many wonderful things, but have you in truth power over lightning?” + +“Why do you ask?” + +“Because a great tempest is brewing, and if you have not we shall +certainly be killed when we stand yonder on the Place of Fire.” + +“John,” he said, “I cannot speak to the lightning in a voice which it +can hear. I cannot say to it ‘go yonder,’ or ‘come hither,’ but He Who +made it can do so. Why do you tempt me with your doubts? Have I not +told you the story of Elijah the prophet and the priests of Baal? Did +Elijah’s Master forsake him, and shall He forsake us? Also this is +certain, that all the medicine of Hokosa and his wizards will not turn a +lightning flash by the breadth of a single hair. God alone can turn it, +and for the sake of His cause among these people I believe that He will +do so.” + +Thus Owen spoke on till, in reproving the weakness of another, he felt +his own faith come back to him and, remembering the past and how he +had been preserved in it, the doubt and trouble went out of his mind to +return no more. + +The third day--the day of trial--came. For sixty hours or more the +heat of the weather had been intense; indeed, during all that time the +thermometer in Owen’s hut, notwithstanding the protection of a thick +hatch, had shown the temperature to vary between a maximum of 113 and a +minimum of 101 degrees. Now, in the early morning, it stood at 108. + +“Will the storm break to-day?” asked Owen of Nodwengo, who came to visit +him. + +“They say so, Messenger, and I think it by the feel of the air. If so, +it will be a very great storm, for the heaven is full of fire. Already +Hokosa and the doctors are at their rites upon the plain yonder, but +there will be no need to join them till two hours after midday.” + +“Is the cross ready?” asked Owen. + +“Yes, and set up. It is a heavy cross; six men could scarcely carry it. +Oh! Messenger, I am not afraid--and yet, have you no medicine? If not, +I fear that the lightning will fall upon the cross as it fell upon the +pole and then----” + +“Listen, Nodwengo,” said Owen, “I know a medicine, but I will not use +it. You see that waggon chain? Were one end of it buried in the ground +and the other with a spear blade made fast to it hung to the top of the +cross, we could live out the fiercest storm in safety. But I say that +I will not use it. Are we witch doctors that we should take refuge in +tricks? No, let faith be our shield, and if it fail us, then let us die. +Pray now with me that it may not fail us.” + +***** + +It was afternoon. All round the Field of Fire were gathered thousands +upon thousands of the people of the Amasuka. The news of this duel +between the God of the white man and their god had travelled far and +wide, and even the very aged who could scarcely crawl and the little +ones who must be carried were collected there to see the issue. Nor had +they need to fear disappointment, for already the sky was half hidden +by dense thunder-clouds piled ridge on ridge, and the hush of the coming +tempest lay upon the earth. Round about the meteor stone which they +called a god, each of them stirring a little gourd of medicine that was +placed upon the ground before him, but uttering no word, were gathered +Hokosa and his followers to the number of twenty. They were all of them +arrayed in their snakeskin dresses and other wizard finery. Also each +man held in his hand a wand fashioned from a human thigh-bone. In front +of the stone burned a little fire, which now and again Hokosa fed with +aromatic leaves, at the same time pouring medicine from his bowl upon +the holy stone. Opposite the symbol of the god, but at a good distance +from it, a great cross of white wood was set up in the rock by a spot +which the witch-doctors themselves had chosen. Upon the banks of the +stream, in the place apart, were the king, his councillors and the +regiment on guard, and with them Owen, the Prince Nodwengo and John. + +“The storm will be fierce,” said the king uneasily, glancing at the +western sky, upon whose bosom the blue lightnings played with an +incessant flicker. Then he bade those about him stand back, and calling +Owen and the prince to him, said: “Messenger, my son tells me that your +wisdom knows a plan whereby you may be preserved from the fury of the +tempest. Use it, I pray of you, Messenger, that your life may be saved, +and with it the life of the only son who is left to me.” + +“I cannot,” answered Owen, “for thus by doubting Him I should tempt my +Master. Still, it is not laid upon the prince to accompany through this +trial. Let him stay here, and I alone will stand beneath the cross.” + +“Stay, Nodwengo,” implored the old man. + +“I did not think to live to hear my father bid me, one of the royal +blood of the Amasuka, to desert my captain in the hour of battle and +hide myself in the grass like a woman,” answered the prince with a +bitter smile. “Nay, it may be that death awaits me yonder, but nothing +except death shall keep me back from the venture.” + +“It is well spoken,” said the king; “be it as you will.” + +Now the company of wizards, leaving their medicine-pots upon the ground, +formed themselves in a treble line, and marching to where the king +stood, they saluted him. Then they sang the praises of their god, and in +a song that had been prepared, heaped insult upon the God of the +white man and upon the messenger who preached Him. To all of this Owen +listened in silence. + +“He is a coward!” cried their spokesman; “he has not a word to say. He +skulks there in his white robes behind the majesty of the king. Let him +go forth and stand by his piece of wood. He dare not go! He thinks the +hillside safer. Come out, little White Man, and we will show you how +we manage the lightnings. Ah! they shall fly about you like spears in +battle. You shall throw yourself upon the ground and shriek in terror, +and then they will lick you up and you shall be no more, and there will +be an end of you and the symbol of your God.” + +“Cease your boastings,” said the king shortly, “and get you back to your +place, knowing that if it should chance that the white man conquers you +will be called upon to answer for these words.” + +“We shall be ready, O King,” they cried; and amidst the cheers of the +vast audience they marched back to their station, still singing the +blasphemous mocking song. + +Now to the west all the heavens were black as night, though the +eastern sky still showed blue and cloudless. Nature lay oppressed with +silence--silence intense and unnatural; and so great was the heat that +the air danced visibly above the ironstone as it dances about a glowing +stove. Suddenly the quietude was broken by a moaning sound of wind; +the grass stirred, the leaves of the trees began to shiver, and an icy +breath beat upon Owen’s brow. + +“Let us be going,” he said, and lifting the ivory crucifix above his +head, he passed the stream and walked towards the wooden cross. After +him came the Prince Nodwengo, wearing his royal dress of leopard skin, +and after him, John, arrayed in a linen robe. + +As the little procession appeared to their view some of the soldiers +began to mock, but almost instantly the laughter died away. Rude as +they were, these savages understood that here was no occasion for their +mirth, that the three men indeed seemed clothed with a curious dignity. +Perhaps it was their slow and quiet gait, perhaps a sense of the errand +upon which they were bound; or it may have been the strange unearthly +light that fell upon them from over the edge of the storm cloud; at the +least, as the multitude became aware, their appearance was impressive. +They reached the cross and took up their stations there, Owen in front +of it, Nodwengo to the right, and John to the left. + +Now a sharp squall of strong wind swept across the space, and with it +came a flaw of rain. It passed by, and the storm that had been muttering +and growling in the distance began to burst. The great clouds seemed to +grow and swell, and from the breast of them swift lightnings leapt, to +be met by other lightnings rushing upwards from the earth. The air was +filled with a tumult of uncertain wind and a hiss as of distant rain. +Then the batteries of thunder were opened, and the world shook with +their volume. Down from on high the flashes fell blinding and incessant, +and by the light of them the fire-doctors could be seen running to and +fro, pointing now here and now there with their wands of human bones, +and pouring the medicines from their gourds upon the ground and upon +each other. Owen and his two companions could be seen also, standing +quietly with clasped hands, while above them towered the tall white +cross. + +At length the storm was straight over head. Slowly it advanced in +its awe-inspiring might as flash after flash, each more fantastic and +horrible than the last, smote upon the floor of ironstone. It played +about the shapes of the doctors, who in the midst of it looked like +devils in an inferno. It crept onwards towards the station of the cross, +but--_it never reached the cross_. + +One flash struck indeed within fifty paces of where Owen stood. Then of +a sudden a marvel happened, or something which to this day the People of +Fire talk of as a marvel, for in an instant the rain began to pour like +a wall of water stretching from earth to heaven, and the wind changed. +It had been blowing from the west, now it blew from the east with the +force of a gale. + +It blew and rolled the tempest back upon itself, causing it to return +to the regions whence it had gathered. At the very foot of the cross +its march was stayed; there was the water-line, as straight as if it had +been drawn with a rule. The thunder-clouds that were pressed forward met +the clouds that were pressed back, and together they seemed to come +to earth, filling the air with a gloom so dense that the eye could not +pierce it. To the west was a wall of blackness towering to the heavens; +to the east, light, blue and unholy, gleamed upon the white cross and +the figures of its watchers. + +For some seconds--twenty or more--there was a lull, and then it +seemed as though all hell had broken loose upon the world. The wall of +blackness became a wall of flame, in which strange and ardent shapes +appeared ascending and descending; the thunder bellowed till the +mountains rocked, and in one last blaze, awful and indescribable, the +skies melted into a deluge of fire. In the flare of it Owen thought that +he saw the figures of men falling this way and that, then he staggered +against the cross for support and his senses failed him. + +***** + +When they returned again, he perceived the storm being drawn back from +the face of the pale earth like a pall from the face of the dead, and he +heard a murmur of fear and wonder rising from ten thousand throats. + +***** + +Well might they fear and wonder, for of the twenty and one wizards +eleven were dead, four were paralysed by shock, five were flying in +their terror, and one, Hokosa himself, stood staring at the fallen, a +very picture of despair. Nor was this all, for the meteor stone with a +human shape which for generations the People of Fire had worshipped as a +god, lay upon the plain in fused and shattered fragments. + +The people saw, and a sound as of a hollow groan of terror went up from +them. Then they were silent. For a while Owen and his companions were +silent also, since their hearts were too full for speech. Then he +said:-- + +“As the snake fell harmless from the hand of Paul, so has the lightning +turned back from me, who strive to follow in his footsteps, working +death and dismay among those who would have harmed us. May forgiveness +be theirs who were without understanding. Brethren, let us return and +make report to the king.” + +Now, as they had come, so they went back; first Owen with the crucifix, +next to him Nodwengo, and last of the three John. They drew near to the +king, when suddenly, moved by a common impulse, the thousands of the +people upon the banks of the stream with one accord threw themselves +upon their knees before Owen, calling him God and offering him worship. +Infected by the contagion, Umsuka, his guard and his councillors +followed their example, so that of all the multitude Hokosa alone +remained upon his feet, standing by his dishonoured and riven deity. + +“Rise!” cried Owen aghast. “Would you do sacrilege, and offer worship to +a man? Rise, I command you!” + +Then the king rose, saying:-- + +“You are no man, Messenger, you are a spirit.” + +“He is a spirit,” repeated the multitude after him. + +“I am _not_ a spirit, I am yet a man,” cried Owen again, “but the Spirit +Whom I serve has made His power manifest in me His servant, and your +idols are smitten with the sword of His power, O ye Sons of Fire! Hokosa +still lives, let him be brought hither.” + +They fetched Hokosa, and he stood before them. + +“You have seen, Wizard,” said the king. “What have you to say?” + +“Nothing,” answered Hokosa, “save that victory is to the Cross, and to +the white man who preaches it, for his magic is greater than our magic. +By his command the tempest was stayed, and the boasts we hurled fell +back upon our heads and the head of our god to destroy us.” + +“Yes,” said the king, “victory is to the Cross, and henceforth the Cross +shall be worshipped in this land, or at least no other god shall be +worshipped. Let us be going. Come with me, Messenger, Lord of the +Lightning.” + + + +CHAPTER XI + +THE WISDOM OF THE DEAD + +On the morrow Owen baptised the king, many of his councillors, and +some twenty others whom he considered fit to receive the rite. Also he +despatched his first convert John, with other messengers, on a three +months’ journey to the coast, giving them letters acquainting the bishop +and others with his marvellous success, and praying that missionaries +might be sent to assist him in his labours. + +Now day by day the Church grew till it numbered hundreds of souls, and +thousands more hovered on its threshold. From dawn to dark Owen toiled, +preaching, exhorting, confessing, gathering in his harvest; and from +dark to midnight he pored over his translation of the Scriptures, +teaching Nodwengo and a few others how to read and write them. But +although his efforts were crowned with so signal and extraordinary a +triumph, he was well aware of the dangers that threatened the life of +the infant Church. Many accepted it indeed, and still more tolerated +it; but there remained multitudes who regarded the new religion with +suspicion and veiled hatred. Nor was this strange, seeing that the +hearts of men are not changed in an hour or their ancient customs easily +overset. + +On one point, indeed, Owen had to give way. The Amasuka were a +polygamous people; all their law and traditions were interwoven with +polygamy, and to abolish that institution suddenly and with violence +would have brought their social fabric to the ground. Now, as he knew +well, the missionary Church declares in effect that no man can be both a +Christian and a polygamist; therefore among the followers of that custom +the missionary Church makes but little progress. Not without many qualms +and hesitations, Owen, having only the Scriptures to consult, came to a +compromise with his converts. If a man already married to more than one +wife wished to become a Christian, he permitted him to do so upon the +condition that he took no more wives; while a man unmarried at the time +of his conversion might take one wife only. This decree, liberal as it +was, caused great dissatisfaction among both men and women. But it was +as nothing compared to the feeling that was evoked by Owen’s preaching +against all war not undertaken in self-defence, and against the strict +laws which he prevailed upon the king to pass, suppressing the practice +of wizardry, and declaring the chief or doctor who caused a man to +be “smelt out” and killed upon charges of witchcraft to be guilty of +murder. + +At first whenever Owen went abroad he was surrounded by thousands of +people who followed him in the expectation that he would work miracles, +which, after his exploits with the lightning, they were well persuaded +that he could do if he chose. But he worked no more miracles; he only +preached to them a doctrine adverse to their customs and foreign to +their thoughts. + +So it came about that in time, when the novelty was gone off and the +story of his victory over the Fire-god had grown stale, although the +work of conversion went on steadily, many of the people grew weary of +the white man and his doctrines. Soon this weariness found expression in +various ways, and in none more markedly than by the constant desertions +from the ranks of the king’s regiments. At first, by Owen’s advice, +the king tolerated these desertions; but at length, having obtained +information that an entire regiment purposed absconding at dawn, +he caused it to be surrounded and seized by night. Next morning he +addressed that regiment, saying:-- + +“Soldiers, you think that because I have become a Christian and will not +permit unnecessary bloodshed, I am also become a fool. I will teach +you otherwise. One man in every twenty of you shall be killed, and +henceforth any soldier who attempts to desert will be killed also!” + +The order was carried out, for Owen could not find a word to say against +it, with the result that desertions almost ceased, though not before the +king had lost some eight or nine thousand of his best soldiers. Worst of +all, these soldiers had gone to join Hafela in his mountain fastnesses; +and the rumour grew that ere long they would appear again, to claim the +crown for him or to take it by force of arms. + +Now too a fresh complication arose. The old king sickened of his last +illness, and soon it became known that he must die. A month later die +he did, passing away peacefully in Owen’s arms, and with his last +breath exhorting his people to cling to the Christian religion; to take +Nodwengo for their king and to be faithful to him. + +The king died, and that same day was buried by Owen in the gloomy +resting-place of the blood-royal of the People of Fire, where a +Christian priest now set foot for the first time. + +On the morrow Nodwengo was proclaimed king with much ceremony in face of +the people and of all the army that remained to him. One captain raised +a cry for Hafela his brother. Nodwengo caused him to be seized and +brought before him. + +“Man,” he said, “on this my coronation day I will not stain my hand with +blood. Listen. You cry upon Hafela, and to Hafela you shall go, taking +him this message. Tell him that I, Nodwengo, have succeeded to the crown +of Umsuka, my father, by his will and the will of the people. Tell him +it is true that I have become a Christian, and that Christians follow +not after war but peace. Tell him, however, that though I am a Christian +I have not forgotten how to fight or how to rule. It has reached my +ears that it is his purpose to attack me with a great force which he is +gathering, and to possess himself of my throne. If he should choose to +come, I shall be ready to meet him; but I counsel him against coming, +for it will be to find his death. Let him stay where he is in peace, and +be my subject; or let him go afar with those that cleave to him, and set +up a kingdom of his own, for then I shall not follow him; but let him +not dare to lift a spear against me, his sovereign, since if he does so +he shall be treated as a rebel and find the doom of a rebel. Begone, and +show your face here no more!” + +The man crept away crestfallen; but all who heard that speech broke into +cheering, which, as its purport was repeated from rank to rank, spread +far and wide; for now the army learned that in becoming a Christian, +Nodwengo had not become a woman. Of this indeed he soon gave them ample +proof. The old king’s grip upon things had been lax, that of Nodwengo +was like iron. He practised no cruelties, and did injustice to none; +but his discipline was severe, and soon the regiments were brought to a +greater pitch of proficiency than they had ever reached before, although +they were now allowed to marry when they pleased, a boon that hitherto +had been denied to them. Moreover, by Owen’s help, he designed an +entirely new system of fortification of the kraal and surrounding hills, +which would, it was thought, make the place impregnable. These and many +other acts, equally vigorous and far-seeing, put new heart into the +nation. Also the report of them put fear into Hafela, who, it was +rumoured, had now given up all idea of attack. + +Some there were, however, who looked upon these changes with little +love, and Hokosa was one of them. After his defeat in the duel by fire, +for a while his spirit was crushed. Hitherto he had more or less been +a believer in the protecting influence of his own god or fetish, who +would, as he thought, hold his priests scatheless from the lightning. +Often and often had he stood in past days upon that plain while the +great tempests broke around his head, and returned thence unharmed, +attributing to sorcery a safety that was really due to chance. From time +to time indeed a priest was killed; but, so his companions held, the +misfortune resulted invariably from the man’s neglect of some rite, or +was a mark of the anger of the heavens. + +Now Hokosa had lived to see all these convictions shattered: he had seen +the lightning, which he pretended to be able to control, roll back +upon him from the foot of the Christian cross, reducing his god to +nothingness and his companions to corpses. + +At first Hokosa was dismayed, but as time went on hope came back to him. +Stripped of his offices and power, and from the greatest in the nation, +after the king, become one of small account, still no harm or violence +was attempted towards him. He was left wealthy and in peace, and living +thus he watched and listened with open eyes and ears, waiting till the +tide should turn. It seemed that he would not have long to wait, for +reasons that have been told. + +“Why do you sit here like a vulture on a rock,” asked the girl Noma, +whom he had taken to wife, “when you might be yonder with Hafela, +preparing him by your wisdom for the coming war?” + +“Because I am a king-vulture, and I wait for the sick bull to die,” he +answered, pointing to the Great Place beneath him. “Say, why should I +bring Hafela to prey upon a carcase I have marked down for my own?” + +“Now you speak well,” said Noma; “the bull suffers from a strange +disease, and when he is dead another must lead the herd.” + +“That is so,” answered her husband, “and, therefore, I am patient.” + +It was shortly after this conversation that the old king died, with +results very different from those which Hokosa had anticipated. Although +he was a Christian, to his surprise Nodwengo showed that he was also a +strong ruler, and that there was little chance of the sceptre slipping +from his hand--none indeed while the white teacher was there to guide +him. + +“What will you do now, Hokosa?” asked Noma his wife upon a certain day. +“Will you turn to Hafela after all?” + +“No,” answered Hokosa; “I will consult my ancient lore. Listen. Whatever +else is false, this is true: that magic exists, and I am its master. For +a while it seemed to me that the white man was greater at the art than I +am; but of late I have watched him and listened to his doctrines, and I +believe that this is not so. It is true that in the beginning he read my +plans in a dream, or otherwise; it is true that he hurled the lightning +back upon my head; but I hold that these things were accidents. Again +and again he has told us that he is not a wizard; and if this be so, he +can be overcome.” + +“How, husband?” + +“How? By wizardry. This very night, Noma, with your help I will consult +the dead, as I have done in bygone time, and learn the future from their +lips which cannot lie.” + +“So be it; though the task is hateful to me, and I hate you who force me +to it.” + +Noma answered thus with passion, but her eyes shone as she spoke: for +those who have once tasted the cup of magic are ever drawn to drink of +it again, even when they fear the draught. + +**** + +It was midnight, and Hokosa with his wife stood in the burying-ground of +the kings of the Amasuka. Before Owen came upon his mission it was death +to visit this spot except upon the occasion of the laying to rest of one +of the royal blood, or to offer the annual sacrifice to the spirits +of the dead. Even beneath the bright moon that shone upon it the place +seemed terrible. Here in the bosom of the hills was an amphitheatre, +surrounded by walls of rock varying from five hundred to a thousand feet +in height. In this amphitheatre grew great mimosa thorns, and above +them towered pillars of granite, set there not by the hand of man but by +nature. It would seem that the Amasuka, led by some fine instinct, had +chosen these columns as fitting memorials of their kings, at the least a +departed monarch lay at the foot of each of them. + +The smallest of these unhewn obelisks--it was about fifty feet +high--marked the resting-place of Umsuka; and deep into its granite +Owen with his own hand had cut the dead king’s name and date of death, +surmounting his inscription with a symbol of the cross. + +Towards this pillar Hokosa made his way through the wet grass, followed +by Noma his wife. Presently they were there, standing one upon each +side of a little mound of earth more like an ant-heap than a grave; for, +after the custom of his people, Umsuka had been buried sitting. At the +foot of each of the pillars rose a heap of similar shape, but many +times as large. The kings who slept there were accompanied to their +resting-places by numbers of their wives and servants, who had +been slain in solemn sacrifice that they might attend their Lord +whithersoever he should wander. + +“What is that you desire and would do?” asked Noma, in a hushed voice. +Bold as she was, the place and the occasion awed her. + +“I desire wisdom from the dead!” he answered. “Have I not already told +you, and can I not win it with your help?” + +“What dead, husband?” + +“Umsuka the king. Ah! I served him living, and at the last he drove me +away from his side. Now he shall serve me, and out of the nowhere I will +call him back to mine.” + +“Will not this symbol defeat you?” and Noma pointed at the cross hewn in +the granite. + +At her words a sudden gust of rage seemed to shake the wizard. His still +eyes flashed, his lips turned livid, and with them he spat upon the +cross. + +“It has no power,” he said. “May it be accursed, and may he who believes +therein hang thereon! It has no power; but even if it had, according to +the tale of that white liar, such things as I would do have been done +beneath its shadow. By it the dead have been raised--ay! dead kings have +been dragged from death and forced to tell the secrets of the grave. +Come, come, let us to the work.” + +“What must I do, husband?” + +“You shall sit you there, even as a corpse sits, and there for a little +while you shall die--yes, your spirit shall leave you--and I will fill +your body with the soul of him who sleeps beneath; and through your +lips I will learn his wisdom, to whom all things are known.” + +“It is terrible! I am afraid!” she said. “Cannot this be done +otherwise?” + +“It cannot,” he answered. “The spirits of the dead have no shape or +form; they are invisible, and can speak only in dreams or through the +lips of one in whose pulses life still lingers, though soul and body be +already parted. Have no fear. Ere his ghost leaves you it shall recall +your own, which till the corpse is cold stays ever close at hand. I did +not think to find a coward in you, Noma.” + +“I am not a coward, as you know well,” she answered passionately, “for +many a deed of magic have we dared together in past days. But this is +fearsome, to die that my body may become the home of the ghost of a +dead man, who perchance, having entered it, will abide there, leaving +my spirit houseless, or perchance will shut up the doors of my heart in +such fashion that they never can be opened. Can it not be done by trance +as aforetime? Tell me, Hokosa, how often have you thus talked with the +dead?” + +“Thrice, Noma.” + +“And what chanced to them through whom you talked?” + +“Two lived and took no harm; the third died, because the awakening +medicine lacked power. Yet fear nothing; that which I have with me is of +the best. Noma, you know my plight: I must win wisdom or fall for ever, +and you alone can help me; for under this new rule, I can no longer buy +a youth or maid for purposes of witchcraft, even if one could be found +fitted to the work. Choose then: shall we go back or forward? Here +trance will not help us; for those entranced cannot read the future, nor +can they hold communion with the dead, being but asleep. Choose, Noma.” + +“I have chosen,” she answered. “Never yet have I turned my back upon a +venture, nor will I do so now. Come life, come death, I will submit me +to your wish, though there are few women who would dare as much for any +man. Nor in truth do I do this for you, Hokosa; I do it because I seek +power, and thus only can we win it who are fallen. Also I love all +things strange, and desire to commune with the dead and to know that, +if for some few minutes only, at least my woman’s breast has held the +spirit of a king. Yet, I warn you, make no fault in your magic; for +should I die beneath it, then I, who desire to live on and to be great, +will haunt you and be avenged upon you!” + +“Oh! Noma,” he said, “if I believed that there was any danger for you, +should I ask you to suffer this thing?--I, who love you more even than +you love power, more than my life, more than anything that is or ever +can be.” + +“I know it, and it is to that I trust,” the woman answered. “Now begin, +before my courage leaves me.” + +“Good,” he said. “Seat yourself there upon the mound, resting your head +against the stone.” + +She obeyed; and taking thongs of hide which he had made ready, Hokosa +bound her wrists and ankles, as these people bind the wrists and ankles +of corpses. Then he knelt before her, staring into her face with his +solemn eyes and muttering: “Obey and sleep.” + +Presently her limbs relaxed, and her head fell forward. + +“Do you sleep?” he asked. + +“I sleep. Whither shall I go? It is the true sleep--test me.” + +“Pass to the house of the white man, my rival. Are you with him?” + +“I am with him.” + +“What does he?” + +“He lies in slumber on his bed, and in his slumber he mutters the name +of a woman, and tells her that he loves her, but that duty is more than +love. Oh! call me back I cannot stay; a Presence guards him, and thrusts +me thence.” + +“Return,” said Hokosa starting. “Pass through the earth beneath you and +tell me what you see.” + +“I see the body of the king; but were it not for his royal ornaments +none would know him now.” + +“Return,” said Hokosa, “and let the eyes of your spirit be open. Look +around you and tell me what you see.” + +“I see the shadows of the dead,” she answered; “they stand about you, +gazing at you with angry eyes; but when they come near you, something +drives them back, and I cannot understand what it is they say.” + +“Is the ghost of Umsuka among them?” + +“It is among them.” + +“Bid him prophesy the future to me.” + +“I have bidden him, but he does not answer. If you would hear him +speak, it must be through the lips of my body; and first my body must be +emptied of my ghost, that his may find a place therein.” + +“Say, can his spirit be compelled?” + +“It can be compelled, or that part of it which still hover near this +spot, if you dare to speak the words you know. But first its house +must be made ready. Then the words must be spoken, and all must be done +before a man can count three hundred; for should the blood begin to clot +about my heart, it will be still for ever.” + +“Hearken,” said Hokosa. “When the medicine that I shall give does its +work, and the spirit is loosened from your body, let it not go afar, no, +whatever tempts or threatens it, and suffer not that the death-cord be +severed, lest flesh and ghost be parted for ever.” + +“I hear, and I obey. Be swift, for I grow weary.” + +Then Hokosa took from his pouch two medicines: one a paste in a box, the +other a fluid in a gourd. Taking of the paste he knelt upon the grave +before the entranced woman and swiftly smeared it upon the mucous +membrane of the mouth and throat. Also he thrust pellets of it into the +ears, the nostrils, and the corners of the eyes. + +The effect was almost instantaneous. A change came over the girl’s +lovely face, the last awful change of death. Her cheeks fell in, her +chin dropped, her eyes opened, and her flesh quivered convulsively. The +wizard saw it all by the bright moonlight. Then he took up his part in +this unholy drama. + +All that he did cannot be described, because it is indescribable. The +Witch of Endor repeated no formula, but she raised the dead; and so did +Hokosa the wizard. But he buried his face in the grey dust of the grave, +he blew with his lips into the dust, he clutched at the dust with his +hands, and when he raised his face again, lo! it was grey like the +dust. Now began the marvel; for, though the woman before him remained a +corpse, from the lips of that corpse a voice issued, and its sound +was horrible, for the accent and tone of it were masculine, and the +instrument through which it spoke--Noma’s throat--was feminine. Yet it +could be recognised as the voice of Umsuka the dead king. + +“Why have you summoned me from my rest, Hokosa?” muttered the voice from +the lips of the huddled corpse. + +“Because I would learn the future, Spirit of the king,” answered the +wizard boldly, but saluting as he spoke. “You are dead, and to your +sight all the Gates are opened. By the power that I have, I command you +to show me what you see therein concerning myself, and to point out to +me the path that I should follow to attain my ends and the ends of her +in whose breast you dwell.” + +At once the answer came, always in the same horrible voice:-- + +“Hearken to your fate for this world, Hokosa the wizard. You shall +triumph over your rival, the white man, the messenger; and by your hand +he shall perish, passing to his appointed place where you must meet +again. By that to which you cling you shall be betrayed, ah! you shall +lose that which you love and follow after that which you do not desire. +In the grave of error you shall find truth, from the deeps of sin you +shall pluck righteousness. When these words fall upon your ears again, +then, Wizard, take them for a sign and let your heart be turned. That +which you deem accursed shall lift you up on high. High shall you be +set above the nation and its king, and from age to age the voice of the +people shall praise you. Yet in the end comes judgment; and there shall +the sin and the atonement strive together, and in that hour, Wizard, you +shall----” + +Thus the voice spoke, strongly at first, but growing ever more feeble as +the sparks of life departed from the body of the woman, till at length +it ceased altogether. + +“What shall chance to me in that hour?” Hokosa asked eagerly, placing +his ears against Noma’s lips. + +No answer came; and the wizard knew that if he would drag his wife back +from the door of death he must delay no longer. Dashing the sweat from +his eyes with one hand, with the other he seized the gourd of fluid +that he had placed ready, and thrusting back her head, he poured of its +contents down her throat and waited a while. She did not move. In an +extremity of terror he snatched a knife, and with a single cut severed +a vein in her arm, then taking some of the fluid that remained in the +gourd in his hand, he rubbed it roughly upon her brow and throat and +heart. Now Noma’s fingers stirred, and now, with horrible contortions +and every symptom of agony, life returned to her. The blood flowed from +her wounded arm, slowly at first, then more fast, and lifting her head +she spoke. + +“Take me hence,” she cried, “or I shall go mad; for I have seen and +heard things too terrible to be spoken!” + +“What have you seen and heard?” he asked, while he cut the thongs which +bound her wrists and feet. + +“I do not know,” Noma answered weeping; “the vision of them passes +from me; but all the distances of death were open to my sight; yes, I +travelled through the distances of death. In them I met him who was the +king, and he lay cold within me, speaking to my heart; and as he passed +from me he looked upon the child which I shall bear and cursed it, and +surely accursed it shall be. Take me hence, O you most evil man, for of +your magic I have had enough, and from this day forth I am haunted!” + +“Have no fear,” answered Hokosa; “you have made the journey whence but +few return; and yet, as I promised you, you have returned to wear the +greatness you desire and that I sent you forth to win; for henceforth +we shall be great. Look, the dawn is breaking--the dawn of life and the +dawn of power--and the mists of death and of disgrace roll back before +us. Now the path is clear, the dead have shown it to me, and of wizardry +I shall need no more.” + +“Ay!” answered Noma, “but night follows dawn as the dawn follows +night; and through the darkness and the daylight, I tell you, Wizard, +henceforth I am haunted! Also, be not so sure, for though I know not +what the dead have spoken to you, yet it lingers on my mind that their +words have many meanings. Nay, speak to me no more, but let us fly from +this dread home of ghosts, this habitation of the spirit-folk which we +have violated.” + +So the wizard and his wife crept from that solemn place, and as they +went they saw the dawn-beams lighting upon the white cross that was +reared in the Plain of Fire. + + + +CHAPTER XII + +THE MESSAGE OF HOKOSA + +The weeks passed by, and Hokosa sat in his kraal weaving a great plot. +None suspected him any more, for though he did not belong to it, he was +heard to speak well of the new faith, and to acknowledge that the god of +fire which he had worshipped was a false god. He was humble also towards +the king, but he craved to withdraw himself from all matters of the +State, saying that now he had but one desire--to tend his herds and +garden, and to grow old in peace with the new wife whom he had chosen +and whom he loved. Owen, too, he greeted courteously when he met him, +sending him gifts of corn and cattle for the service of his church. +Moreover, when a messenger came from Hafela, making proposals to him, he +drove him away and laid the matter before the council of the king. Yet +that messenger, who was hunted from the kraal, took back a secret word +for Hafela’s ear. + +“It is not always winter,” was the word, “and it may chance that in +the springtime you shall hear from me.” And again, “Say to the Prince +Hafela, that though my face towards him is like a storm, yet behind the +clouds the sun shines ever.” + +At length there came a day when Noma, his wife, was brought to bed. +Hokosa, her husband, tended her alone, and when the child was born +he groaned aloud and would not suffer her to look upon its face. Yet, +lifting herself, she saw. + +“Did I not tell you it was accursed?” she wailed. “Take it away!” and +she sank back in a swoon. So he took the child, and buried it deep in +the cattle-yard by night. + +After this it came about that Noma, who, though her mind owned the sway +of his, had never loved him over much, hated her husband Hokosa. Yet he +had this power over her that she could not leave him. But he loved her +more and more, and she had this power over him that she could always +draw him to her. Great as her beauty had ever been, after the birth of +the child it grew greater day by day, but it was an evil beauty, the +beauty of a witch; and this fate fell upon her, that she feared the dark +and would never be alone after the sun had set. + +When she was recovered from her illness, Noma sat one night in her hut, +and Hokosa sat there also watching her. The evening was warm, but a +bright fire burned in the hut, and she crouched upon a stool by the +fire, glancing continually over her shoulder. + +“Why do you bide by the fire, seeing that it is so hot, Noma?” he asked. + +“Because I fear to be away from the light,” she answered; adding, “Oh, +accursed man! for your own ends you have caused me to be bewitched, ah! +and that which was born of me also, and bewitched I am by those shadows +that you bade me seek, which now will never leave me. Nor, is this all. +You swore to me that if I would do your will I should become great, ay! +and you took me from one who would have made me great and whom I should +have pushed on to victory. But now it seems that for nothing I made that +awful voyage into the deeps of death; and for nothing, yet living, am +I become the sport of those that dwell there. How am I greater than I +was--I who am but the second wife of a fallen witch-doctor, who sits +in the sun, day by day, while age gathers on his head like frost upon a +bush? Where are all your high schemes now? Where is the fruit of wisdom +that I gathered for you? Answer, Wizard, whom I have learned to hate, +but from whom I cannot escape!” + +“Truly,” said Hokosa in a bitter voice, “for all my sins against them +the heavens have laid a heavy fate upon my head, that thus with flesh +and spirit I should worship a woman who loathes me. One comfort only is +left to me, that you dare not take my life lest another should be added +to those shadows who companion you, and what I bid you, that you must +still do. Ay, you fear the dark, Noma; yet did I command you to rise +and go stand alone through the long night yonder in the burying-place of +kings, why, you must obey. Come, I command you--go!” + +“Nay, nay!” she wailed in an extremity of terror. Yet she rose and +went towards the door sideways, for her hands were outstretched in +supplication to him. + +“Come back,” he said, “and listen: If a hunter has nurtured up a fierce +dog, wherewith alone he can gain his livelihood, he tries to tame that +dog by love, does he not? And if it will not become gentle, then, the +brute being necessary to him, he tames it by fear. I am the hunter and, +Noma, you are the hound; and since this curse is on me that I cannot +live without you, why I must master you as best I may. Yet, believe me, +I would not cause you fear or pain, and it saddens me that you should +be haunted by these sick fancies, for they are nothing more. I have seen +such cases before to-day, and I have noted that they can be cured by +mixing with fresh faces and travelling in new countries. Noma, I think +it would be well that, after your late sickness, according to the custom +of the women of our people, you should part from me a while, and go upon +a journey of purification.” + +“Whither shall I go and who will go with me?” she asked sullenly. + +“I will find you companions, women discreet and skilled. And as to +where you shall go, I will tell you. You shall go upon an embassy to the +Prince Hafela.” + +“Are you not afraid that I should stop there?” she asked again, with a +flash of her eyes. “It is true that I never learned all the story, yet +I thought that the prince was not so glad to hand me back to you as you +would have had me to believe. The price you paid for me must have been +good, Hokosa, and mayhap it had to do with the death of a king.” + +“I am not afraid,” he answered, setting his teeth, “because I know that +whatever your heart may desire, my will follows you, and while I live +that is a cord you cannot break unless I choose to loose it, Noma. I +command you to be faithful to me and to return to me, and these commands +you must obey. Hearken: you taunted me just now, saying that I sat like +a dotard in the sun and advanced you nothing. Well, I will advance you, +for both our sakes, but mostly for your own, since you desire it, and it +must be done through the Prince Hafela. I cannot leave this kraal, for +day and night I am watched, and before I had gone an hour’s journey +I should be seized; also here I have work to do. But the Place of +Purification is secret, and when you reach it you need not bide there, +you can travel on into the mountains till you come to the town of the +Prince Hafela. He will receive you gladly, and you shall whisper this +message in his ear:-- + +“‘These are the words of Hokosa, my husband, which he has set in my +mouth to deliver to you, O Prince. Be guided by them and grow great; +reject them and die a wanderer, a little man of no account. But first, +this is the price that you shall swear by the sacred oath to pay to +Hokosa, if his wisdom finds favour in your sight and through it you come +to victory: That after you, the king, he, Hokosa, shall be the first man +in our land, the general of the armies, the captain of the council, the +head of the doctors, and that to him shall be given half the cattle of +Nodwengo, who now is king. Also to him shall be given power to stamp out +the new faith which overruns the land like a foreign weed, and to deal +as he thinks fit with those who cling thereto.’ + +“Now, Noma, when he has sworn this oath in your ear, calling down ruin +upon his own head, should he break one word of it, and not before, you +shall continue the message thus: ‘These are the other words that Hokosa +set in my mouth: “Know, O Prince, that the king, your brother, grows +very strong, for he is a great soldier, who learned his art in bygone +wars; also the white man that is named Messenger has taught him many +things as to the building of forts and walls and the drilling and +discipline of men. So strong is he that you can scarcely hope to conquer +him in open war--yet snakes may crawl where men cannot walk. Therefore, +Prince, let your part be that of a snake. Do you send an embassy to the +king, your brother and say to him:-- + +“‘My brother, you have been preferred before me and set up to be king in +my place, and because of this my heart is bitter, so bitter that I have +gathered my strength to make war upon you. Yet, at the last, I have +taken another council, bethinking me that, if we fight, in the end it +may chance that neither of us will be left alive to rule, and that the +people also will be brought to nothing. To the north there lies a good +country and a wide, where but few men live, and thither I would go, +setting the mountains and the river between us; for there, far beyond +your borders, I also can be a king. Now, to reach this country, I must +travel by the pass that is not far from your Great Place, and I pray +you that you will not attack my _impis_ or the women and children that I +shall send, and a guard before them, to await me in the plain beyond the +mountains, seeing that these can only journey slowly. Let us pass by in +peace, my brother, for so shall our quarrel be ended; but if you do so +much as lift a single spear against me, then I will give you battle, +setting my fortune against your fortune and my god against your God!’ + +“Such are the words that the embassy shall deliver into the ears of +the king, Nodwengo, and it shall come about that when he hears them, +Nodwengo, whose heart is gentle and who seeks not war, shall answer +softly, saying:-- + +“‘Go in peace, my brother, and live in peace in that land which you +would win.’ + +“Then shall you, Hafela, send on the most of your cattle and the women +and the children through that pass in the mountains, bidding them to +await you in the plain, and after a while you shall follow them with +your _impis_. But these shall not travel in war array, for carriers must +bear their fighting shields in bundles and their stabbing spears shall +be rolled up in mats. Now, on the sixth day of your journey you shall +camp at the mouth of the pass which the cattle and the women have +already travelled, and his outposts and spies will bring it to the ears +of the king that your force is sleeping there, purposing to climb the +pass on the morrow. + +“But on that night, so soon as the darkness falls, you must rise up with +your captains and your regiments, leaving your fires burning and men +about your fires, and shall travel very swiftly across the valley, so +that an hour before the dawn you reach the second range of mountains, +and pass it by the gorge which is the burying-place of kings. Here you +shall light a fire, which those who watch will believe to be but the +fire of a herdsman who is acold. But I, Hokosa, also shall be watching, +and when I see that fire I will creep, with some whom I can trust, to +the little northern gate of the outer wall, and we will spear those +that guard it and open the gate, that your army may pass through. Then, +before the regiments can stand to their arms or those within it are +awakened, you must storm the inner walls and by the light of the burning +huts, put the dwellers in the Great Place to the spear, and the rays of +the rising sun shall crown you king. + +“Follow this counsel of mine, O Prince Hafela, and all will go well +with you. Neglect it and be lost. There is but one thing which you need +fear--it is the magic of the Messenger, to whom it is given to read the +secret thoughts of men. But of him take no account, for he is my charge, +and before ever you set a foot within the Great Place he shall have +taken his answer back to Him Who sent him.” + +Hokosa finished speaking. + +“Have you heard?” he said to Noma. + +“I have heard.” + +“Then speak the message.” + +She repeated it word for word, making no fault. “Have no fear,” she +added, “I shall forget nothing when I stand before the prince.” + +“You are a woman, but your counsel is good. What think you of the plan, +Noma?” + +“It is deep and well laid,” she answered, “and surely it would succeed +were it not for one thing. The white man, Messenger, will be too clever +for you, for as you say, he is a reader of the thoughts of men.” + +“Can the dead read men’s thoughts, or if they can, do they cry them on +the market-place or into the ears of kings?” asked Hokosa. “Have I not +told you that, before I see the signal-fire yonder, the Messenger shall +sleep sound? I have a medicine, Noma, a slow medicine that none can +trace.” + +“The Messenger may sleep sound, Hokosa, and yet perchance he may pass +on his message to another and, with it, his magic. Who can say? Still, +husband, strike on for power and greatness and revenge, letting the blow +fall where it will.” + + + +CHAPTER XIII + +THE BASKET OF FRUIT + +Three days later it was announced that according to the custom of the +women of the People of Fire, Noma having given birth to a still-born +child, was about to start upon a journey to the Mount of Purification. +Here she would abide awhile and make sacrifice to the spirits of her +ancestors, that they might cease to be angry with her and in future +protect her from such misfortunes. This not unusual domestic incident +excited little comment, although it was remarked that the four matrons +by whom she was to be accompanied, in accordance with the tribal +etiquette, were all of them the wives of soldiers who had deserted to +Hafela. Indeed, the king himself noticed as much when Hokosa made the +customary formal application to him to sanction the expedition. + +“So be it,” he said, “though myself I have lost faith in such rites. +Also, Hokosa, I think it likely that although your wife goes out with +company, she will return alone.” + +“Why, King?” asked Hokosa. + +“For this reason--that those who travel with her have husbands yonder at +the town of the Prince Hafela, and the Mount of Purification is on the +road thither. Having gone so far, they may go farther. Well, let +them go, for I desire to have none among my people whose hearts turn +otherwhere, and it would not be wonderful if they should choose to seek +their lords. But perchance, Hokosa, there are some in this town who may +use them as messengers to the prince”--and he looked at him keenly. + +“I think not, King,” said Hokosa. “None but a fool would make use of +women to carry secret words or tidings. Their tongues are too long and +their memories too bad, or too uncertain.” + +“Yet I have heard, Hokosa, that you have made use of women in many a +strange work. Say now, what were you doing upon a night a while ago +with that fair witch-wife of yours yonder in the burying-place of kings, +where it is not lawful that you should set your foot? Nay, deny it not. +You were seen to enter the valley after midnight and to return thence +at the dawn, and it was seen also that as she came homewards your wife +walked as one who is drunken, and she, whom it is not easy to frighten, +wore a face of fear. Man, I do not trust you, and were I wise I should +hunt you hence, or keep you so close that you could scarcely move +without my knowledge. + +“Why should I trust you?” Nodwengo went on vehemently. “Can a wizard +cease from wizardry, or a plotter from his plots? No, not until the +waters run upward and the sun shines at night; not until repentance +touches you and your heart is changed, which I should hold as much a +marvel. You were my father’s friend and he made you great; yet you could +plan with my brother to poison him, your king. Nay, be silent; I know +it, though I have said nothing of it because one that is dear to me has +interceded for you. You were the priest of the false god, and with that +god are fallen from your place, yet you have not renounced him. You sit +still in your kraal and pretend to be asleep, but your slumber is that +of the serpent which watches his time to strike. How do I know that +you will not poison me as you would have poisoned my father, or stir up +rebellion against me, or bring my brother’s _impis_ on my head?” + +“If the King thinks any of these things of his servant,” answered Hokosa +in a humble voice, but with dignity, “his path is plain: let him put me +to death and sleep in peace. Who am I that I should full the ears of +a king with my defence against these charges, or dare to wrangle with +him?” + +“Long ago I should have put you to death, Hokosa,” answered Nodwengo +sternly, “had it not been that one has pleaded for you, declaring that +in you there is good which will overcome the evil, and that you who now +are an axe to cut down my throne, in time to come shall be a roof-tree +for its support. Also, the law that I obey does not allow me to take +the blood of men save upon full proof, and against you as yet I have +no proof. Still, Hokosa, be warned in time and let your heart be turned +before the grave claims your body and the Wicked One your soul.” + +“I thank you, King, for your gentle words and your tender care for my +well-being both on earth and after I shall leave it. But I tell you, +King, that I had rather die as your father would have killed me in the +old days, or your brother would kill me now, did either of them hate or +fear me, than live on in safety, owing my life to a new law and a new +mercy that do not befit the great ones of the world. King, I am your +servant,” and giving him the royal salute, Hokosa rose and left his +presence. + +“At the least there goes a man,” said Nodwengo, as he watched him +depart. + +“Of whom do you speak, King?” asked Owen, who at that moment entered the +royal house. + +“Of him whom you must have touched in the door-way, Messenger, Hokosa +the wizard,” answered the king, and he told him of what had passed +between them. “I said,” he added, “that he was a man, and so he is; yet +I hold that I have done wrong to listen to your pleading and to spare +him, for I am certain that he will bring bloodshed upon me and trouble +on the Faith. Think now, Messenger, how full must be that man’s heart of +secret rage and hatred, he who was so great and is now so little! Will +he not certainly strive to grow great again? Will he not strive to be +avenged upon those who humbled him and the religion they have chosen?” + +“It may be,” answered Owen, “but if so, he will not conquer. I tell +you, King, that like water hidden in a rock there is good in this man’s +heart, and that I shall yet find a rod wherewith to cause it to gush out +and refresh the desert.” + +“It is more likely that he will find a spear wherewith to cause your +blood to gush out and refresh the jackals,” answered the king grimly; +“but be it as you will. And now, what of your business?” + +“This, King: John, my servant, has returned from the coast countries, +and he brings me a letter saying that before long three white teachers +will follow him to take up the work which I have begun. I pray that when +they come, for my sake and for the sake of the truth that I have taught +you, you will treat them kindly and protect them, remembering that at +first they can know little of your language or your customs.” + +“I will indeed,” said the king, with much concern. “But tell me, +Messenger, why do you speak of yourself as of one who soon will be but a +memory? Do you purpose to leave us?” + +“No, King, but I believe that ere long I shall be recalled. I have given +my message, my task is well-nigh ended and I must be turning home. Save +for your sakes I do not sorrow at this, for to speak truth I grow very +weary,” and he smiled sadly. + +***** + +Hokosa went home alarmed and full of bitterness, for he had never +guessed that the “servant of the Messenger,” as he called Nodwengo the +King, knew so much about him and his plans. His fall was hard to him, +but to be thus measured up, weighed, and contemptuously forgiven was +almost more than he could bear. It was the white prophet who had done +this thing; he had told Nodwengo of his, Hokosa’s, share in the plot to +murder the late King Umsuka, though how he came to know of that matter +was beyond guessing. He had watched him, or caused him to be watched, +when he went forth to consult spirits in the place of the dead; he had +warned Nodwengo against him. Worst of all, he had dared to treat him +with contempt; had pleaded for his life and safety, so that he was +spared as men spare a snake from which the charmer has drawn the fangs. +When they met in the gate of the king’s house yonder this white thief, +who had stolen his place and power, had even smiled upon him and greeted +him kindly, and doubtless while he smiled, by aid of the magic he +possessed, had read him through and gone on to tell the story to the +king. Well, of this there should be an end; he would kill the Messenger, +or himself be killed. + +When Hokosa reached his kraal he found Noma sitting beneath a fruit tree +that grew in it, idly employed in stringing beads, for the work of the +household she left to his other wife, Zinti, an old and homely woman who +thought more of the brewing of the beer and the boiling of the porridge +than of religions or politics or of the will of kings. Of late Noma had +haunted the shadow of this tree, for beneath it lay that child which had +been born to her. + +“Does it please the king to grant leave for my journey?” she asked, +looking up. + +“Yes, it pleases him.” + +“I am thankful,” she answered, “for I think that if I bide here much +longer, with ghosts and memories for company, I shall go mad,” and +she glanced at a spot near by, where the earth showed signs of recent +disturbance. + +“He gives leave,” Hokosa went on, taking no notice of her speech, “but +he suspects us. Listen----” and he told her of the talk that had passed +between himself and the king. + +“The white man has read you as he reads in his written books,” she +answered, with a little laugh. “Well, I said that he would be too clever +for you, did I not? It does not matter to me, for to-morrow I go upon my +journey, and you can settle it as you will.” + +“Ay!” answered Hokosa, grinding his teeth, “it is true that he has read +me; but this I promise you, that all books shall soon be closed to him. +Yet how is it to be done without suspicion or discovery? I know many +poisons, but all of them must be administered, and let him work never so +cunningly, he who gives a poison can be traced.” + +“Then cause some other to give it and let him bear the blame,” suggested +Noma languidly. + +Hokosa made no answer, but walking to the gate of the kraal, which was +open, he leaned against it lost in thought. As he stood thus he saw a +woman advancing towards him, who carried on her head a small basket of +fruit, and knew her for one of those whose business it was to wait upon +the Messenger in his huts, or rather in his house, for by now he had +built himself a small house, and near it a chapel. This woman saw Hokosa +also and looked at him sideways, as though she would like to stop and +speak to him, but feared to do so. + +“Good morrow to you, friend,” he said. “How goes it with your husband +and your house?” + +Now Hokosa knew well that this woman’s husband had taken a dislike to +her and driven her from his home, filling her place with one younger and +more attractive. At the question the woman’s lips began to tremble, and +her eyes swam with tears. + +“Ah! great doctor,” she said, “why do you ask me of my husband? Have you +not heard that he has driven me away and that another takes my place?” + +“Do I hear all the gossip of this town?” asked Hokosa, with a smile. +“But come in and tell me the story; perchance I may be able to help you, +for I have charms to compel the fancy of such faithless ones.” + +The woman looked round, and seeing that there was no one in sight, she +slipped swiftly through the gate of the kraal, which he closed behind +her. + +“Noma,” said Hokosa, “here is one who tells me that her husband has +deserted her, and who comes to seek my counsel. Bring her milk to +drink.” + +“There are some wives who would not find that so great an evil,” replied +Noma mockingly, as she rose to do his bidding. + +Hokosa winced at the sarcasm, and turning to his visitor, said:-- + +“Now tell me your tale; but say first, why are you so frightened?” + +“I am frightened, master,” she answered, “lest any should have seen +me enter here, for I have become a Christian, and the Christians are +forbidden to consult the witch-doctors, as we were wont to do. For my +case, it is----” + +“No need to set it out,” broke in Hokosa, waving his hand. “I see it +written on your face; your husband has put you away and loves another +woman, your own half-sister whom you brought up from a child.” + +“Ah! master, you have heard aright.” + +“I have not heard, I look upon you and I see. Fool, am I not a wizard? +Tell me----” and taking dust into his hand, he blew the grains this way +and that, regarding them curiously. “Yes, it is so. Last night you crept +to your husband’s hut--do you remember, a dog growled at you as you +passed the gate?--and there in front of the hut he sat with his new +wife. She saw you coming, but pretending not to see, she threw her arms +about his neck, kissing and fondling him before your eyes, till you +could bear it no longer, and revealed yourself, upbraiding them. Then +your rival taunted you and stirred up the man with bitter words, till at +length he took a stick and beat you from the door, and there is a mark +of it upon your shoulder.” + +“It is true, it is too true!” she groaned. + +“Yes, it is true. And now, what do you wish from me?” + +“Master, I wish a medicine to make my husband hate my rival and to draw +his heart back to me.” + +“That must be a strong medicine,” said Hokosa, “which will turn a man +from one who is young and beautiful to one who is past her youth and +ugly.” + +“I am as I am,” answered the poor woman, with a touch of natural +dignity, “but at least I have loved him and worked for him for fifteen +long years.” + +“And that is why he would now be rid of you, for who cumbers his kraal +with old cattle?” + +“And yet at times they are the best, Master. Wrinkles and smooth skin +seem strange upon one pillow,” she added, glancing at Noma, who came +from the hut carrying a bowl of milk in her hand. + +“If you seek counsel,” said Hokosa quickly, “why do you not go to the +white man, that Messenger in whom you believe, and ask him for a potion +to turn your husband’s heart?” + +“Master, I have been to him, and he is very good to me, for when I was +driven out he gave me work to do and food. But he told me that he had no +medicine for such cases, and that the Great Man in the sky alone could +soften the breast of my husband and cause my sister to cease from her +wickedness. Last night I went to see whether He would do it, and you +know what befell me there.” + +“That befell you which befalls all fools who put their trust in words +alone. What will you pay me, woman, if I give you the medicine which you +seek?” + +“Alas, master, I am poor. I have nothing to offer you, for when I would +not stay in my husband’s kraal to be a servant to his new wife, he took +the cow and the five goats that belonged to me, as, I being childless, +according to our ancient law he had the right to do.” + +“You are bold who come to ask a doctor to minister to you, bearing no +fee in your hand,” said Hokosa. “Yet, because I have pity on you, I will +be content with very little. Give me that basket of fruit, for my wife +has been sick and loves its taste.” + +“I cannot do that, Master,” answered the woman, “for it is sent by my +hand as a present to the Messenger, and he knows this and will eat of it +after he has made prayer to-day. Did I not give it to him, it would be +discovered that I had left it here with you.” + +“Then begone without your medicine,” said Hokosa, “for I need such +fruit.” + +The woman rose and said, looking at him wistfully:-- + +“Master, if you will be satisfied with other fruits of this same sort, I +know where I can get them for you.” + +“When will you get them?” + +“Now, within an hour. And till I return I will leave these in pledge +with you; but these and no other I must give to the Messenger, for he +has already seen them and might discover the difference; also I have +promised so to do.” + +“As you will,” said Hokosa. “If you are with the fruit within an hour, +the medicine will be ready for you, a medicine that shall not fail.” + + + +CHAPTER XIV + +THE EATING OF THE FRUIT + +The woman slipped away secretly. When she had gone Hokosa bade his wife +bring the basket of fruit into the hut. + +“It is best that the butcher should kill the ox himself,” she answered +meaningly. + +He carried in the basket and set it on the floor. + +“Why do you speak thus, Noma?” he asked. + +“Because I will have no hand in the matter, Hokosa. I have been the tool +of a wizard, and won little joy therefrom. The tool of a murderer I will +not be!” + +“If I kill, it is for the sake of both of us,” he said passionately. + +“It may be so, Hokosa, or for the sake of the people, or for the sake +of Heaven above--I do not know and do not care; but I say, do your own +killing, for I am sure that even less luck will hang to it than hangs to +your witchcraft.” + +“Of all women you are the most perverse!” he said, stamping his foot +upon the ground. + +“Thus you may say again before everything is done, husband; but if it +be so, why do you love me and tie me to you with your wizardry? Cut the +knot, and let me go my way while you go yours.” + +“Woman, I cannot; but still I bid you beware, for, strive as you will, +my path must be your path. Moreover, till I free you, you cannot lift +voice or hand against me.” + +Then, while she watched him curiously, Hokosa fetched his medicines and +took from them some powder fine as dust and two tiny crowquills. Placing +a fruit before him, he inserted one of these quills into its substance, +and filling the second with the powder, he shook its contents into it +and withdrew the tube. This process he repeated four times on each of +the fruits, replacing them one by one in the basket. So deftly did he +work upon them, that however closely they were scanned none could guess +that they had been tampered with. + +“Will it kill at once?” asked Noma. + +“No, indeed; but he who eats these fruits will be seized on the third +day with dysentery and fever, and these will cling to him till within +seven weeks--or if he is very strong, three months--he dies. This is the +best of poisons, for it works through nature and can be traced by none.” + +“Except, perchance, by that Spirit Whom the white man worships, and Who +also works through nature, as you learned, Hokosa, when He rolled the +lightning back upon your head, shattering your god and beating down your +company.” + +Then of a sudden terror seized the wizard, and springing to his feet, he +cursed his wife till she trembled before him. + +“Vile woman, and double-faced!” he said, “why do you push me forward +with one hand and with the other drag me back? Why do you whisper evil +counsel into one ear and into the other prophesy of misfortunes to come? +Had it not been for you, I should have let this business lie; I should +have taken my fate and been content. But day by day you have taunted me +with my fall and grieved over the greatness that you have lost, till +at length you have driven me to this. Why cannot you be all good or all +wicked, or at the least, through righteousness and sin, faithful to my +interest and your own?” + +“Because I hate you, Hokosa, and yet can strike you only through my +tongue and your mad love for me. I am fast in your power, but thus at +least I can make you feel something of my own pain. Hark! I hear that +woman at the gate. Will you give her back the basket, or will you not? +Whatever you may choose to do, do not say in after days that I urged you +to the deed.” + +“Truly you are great-hearted!” he answered, with cold contempt; “one for +whom I did well to enter into treachery and sin! So be it: having gone +so far upon it, come what may, I will not turn back from this journey. +Let in that fool!” + +Presently the woman stood before them, bearing with her another basket +of fruit. + +“These are what you seek, Master,” she said, “though I was forced to win +them by theft. Now give me my own and the medicine and let me go.” + +He gave her the basket, and with it, wrapped in a piece of kidskin, some +of the same powder with which he had doctored the fruits. + +“What shall I do with this?” she asked. + +“You must find means to sprinkle it upon your sister’s food, and +thereafter your husband shall come to hate even the sight of her.” + +“But will he come to love me again?” + +Hokosa shrugged his shoulders. + +“I know not,” he answered; “that is for you to see to. Yet this is sure, +that if a tree grows up before the house of a man, shutting it off from +the sunlight, when that tree is cut down the sun shines upon his house +again.” + +“It is nothing to the sun on what he shines,” said the woman. + +“If the saying does not please you, then forget it. I promise you this +and no more, that very soon the man shall cease to turn to your rival.” + +“The medicine will not harm her?” asked the woman doubtfully. “She has +worked me bitter wrong indeed, yet she is my sister, whom I nursed +when she was little, and I do not wish to do her hurt. If only he will +welcome me back and treat me kindly, I am willing even that she should +dwell on beneath my husband’s roof, bearing his children, for will they +not be of my own blood?” + +“Woman,” answered Hokosa impatiently, “you weary me with your talk. Did +I say that the charm would hurt her? I said that it would cause your +husband to hate the sight of her. Now begone, taking or leaving it, and +let me rest. If your mind is troubled, throw aside that medicine, and go +soothe it with such sights as you saw last night.” + +On hearing this the woman sprang up, hid away the poison in her hair, +and taking her basket of fruit, passed from the kraal as secretly as she +had entered it. + +“Why did you give her death-medicine?” asked Noma of Hokosa, as he stood +staring after her. “Have you a hate to satisfy against the husband or +the girl who is her rival?” + +“None,” he answered, “for they have never crossed my path. Oh, foolish +woman! cannot you read my plan?” + +“Not altogether, Husband.” + +“Listen then: this woman will give to her sister a medicine of which in +the end she must die. She may be discovered or she may not, but it is +certain that she will be suspected, seeing that the bitterness of the +quarrel between them is known. Also she will give to the Messenger +certain fruits, after eating of which he will be taken sick and in due +time die, of just such a disease as that which carries off the woman’s +rival. Now, if any think that he is poisoned, which I trust none will, +whom will they suppose to have poisoned him, though indeed they can +never prove the crime?” + +“The plan is clever,” said Noma with admiration, “but in it I see a +flaw. The woman will say that she had the drug from you, or, at the +least, will babble of her visit to you.” + +“Not so,” answered Hokosa, “for on this matter the greatest talker in +the world would keep silence. Firstly, she, being a Christian, dare not +own that she has visited a witch-doctor. Secondly, the fruit she brought +in payment was stolen, therefore she will say nothing of it. Thirdly, +to admit that she had medicine from me would be to admit her guilt, and +that she will scarcely do even under torture, which by the new law it is +not lawful to apply. Moreover, none saw her come here, and I should deny +her visit.” + +“The plan is very clever,” said Noma again. + +“It is very clever,” he repeated complacently; “never have I made a +better one. Now throw those fruits to the she goats that are in the +kraal, and burn the basket, while I go and talk to some in the Great +Place, telling them that I have returned from counting my cattle on the +mountain, whither I went after I had bowed the knee in the house of the +king.” + +***** + +Two hours later, Hokosa, having made a wide detour and talked to sundry +of his acquaintances about the condition of his cattle, might have been +seen walking slowly along the north side of the Great Place towards his +own kraal. His path lay past the chapel and the little house that Owen +had built to dwell in. This house was furnished with a broad verandah, +and upon it sat the Messenger himself, eating his evening meal. Hokosa +saw him, and a great desire entered his heart to learn whether or no +he had partaken of the poisoned fruit. Also it occurred to him that it +would be wise if, before the end came, he could contrive to divert all +possible suspicion from himself, by giving the impression that he was +now upon friendly terms with the great white teacher and not disinclined +even to become a convert to his doctrine. + +For a moment he hesitated, seeking an excuse. One soon suggested itself +to his ready mind. That very morning the king had told him not obscurely +that Owen had pleaded for his safety and saved him from being put upon +his trial on charges of witchcraft and murder. He would go to him, now +at once, playing the part of a grateful penitent, and the White Man’s +magic must be keen indeed if it availed to pierce the armour of his +practised craft. + +So Hokosa went up and squatted himself down native fashion among a +little group of converts who were waiting to see their teacher upon one +business or another. He was not more than ten paces from the verandah, +and sitting thus he saw a sight that interested him strangely. Having +eaten a little of a dish of roasted meat, Owen put out his hand and +took a fruit from a basket that the wizard knew well. At this moment he +looked up and recognised Hokosa. + +“Do you desire speech with me, Hokosa?” he asked in his gentle voice. +“If so, be pleased to come hither.” + +“Nay, Messenger,” answered Hokosa, “I desire speech with you indeed, but +it is ill to stand between a hungry man and his food.” + +“I care little for my food,” answered Owen; “at the least it can wait,” + and he put down the fruit. + +Then suddenly a feeling to which the wizard had been for many years a +stranger took possession of him--a feeling of compunction. That man was +about to partake of what would cause his death--of what he, Hokosa, had +prepared in order that it should cause his death. He was good, he was +kindly, none could allege a wrong deed against him; and, foolishness +though it might be, so was the doctrine that he taught. Why should he +kill him? It was true that never till that moment had he hesitated, by +fair means or foul, to remove an enemy or rival from his path. He +had been brought up in this teaching; it was part of the education of +wizards to be merciless, for they reigned by terror and evil craft. +Their magic lay chiefly in clairvoyance and powers of observation +developed to a pitch that was almost superhuman, and the best of +their weapons was poison in infinite variety, whereof the guild alone +understood the properties and preparation. Therefore there was nothing +strange, nothing unusual in this deed of devilish and cunning murder +that the sight of its doing should stir him thus, and yet it did stir +him. He was minded to stop the plot, to let things take their course. + +Some sense of the futility of all such strivings came home to him, and +as in a glass, for Hokosa was a man of imagination, he foresaw their +end. A little success, a little failure, it scarcely mattered which, and +then--that end. Within twenty years, or ten, or mayhap even one, what +would this present victory or defeat mean to him? Nothing so far as +he was concerned; that is, nothing so far as his life of to-day was +concerned. Yet, if he had another life, it might mean everything. There +was another life; he knew it, who had dragged back from its borders the +spirits of the dead, though what might be the state and occupations of +those dead he did not know. Yet he believed--why he could not tell--that +they were affected vitally by their acts and behaviour here; and his +intelligence warned him that good must always flow from good, and evil +from evil. To kill this man was evil, and of it only evil could come. + +What did he care whether Hafela ruled the nation or Nodwengo, and +whether it worshipped the God of the Christians or the god of Fire--who, +by the way, had proved himself so singularly inefficient in the hour of +trial. Now that he thought of it, he much preferred Nodwengo to Hafela, +for the one was a just man and the other a tyrant; and he himself was +more comfortable as a wealthy private person than he had been as a head +medicine-man and a chief of wizards. He would let things stand; he would +prevent the Messenger from eating of that fruit. A word could do it; he +had but to suggest that it was unripe or not wholesome at this season of +the year, and it would be cast aside. + +All these reflections, or their substance, passed through Hokosa’s +mind in a few instants of time, and already he was rising to go to +the verandah and translate their moral into acts, when another thought +occurred to him--How should he face Noma with this tale? He could give +up his own ambitions, but could he bear her mockery, as day by day +she taunted him with his faint-heartedness and reproached him with his +failure to regain greatness and to make her great? He forgot that he +might conceal the truth from her; or rather, he did not contemplate such +concealment, of which their relations were too peculiar and too intimate +to permit. She hated him, and he worshipped her with a half-inhuman +passion--a passion so unnatural, indeed, that it suggested the horrid +and insatiable longings of the damned--and yet their souls were naked +to each other. It was their fate that they could hide nothing each from +each--they were cursed with the awful necessity of candour. + +It would be impossible that he should keep from Noma anything that he +did or did not do; it would be still more impossible that she should +conceal from him even such imaginings and things as it is common for +women to hold secret. Her very bitterness, which it had been policy for +her to cloak or soften, would gush from her lips at the sight of him; +nor, in the depth of his rage and torment, could he, on the other hand, +control the ill-timed utterance of his continual and overmastering +passion. It came to this, then: he must go forward, and against his +better judgment, because he was afraid to go back, for the whip of +a woman’s tongue drove him on remorselessly. It was better that the +Messenger should die, and the land run red with blood, than that he +should be forced to endure this scourge. + +So with a sigh Hokosa sank back to the ground and watched while Owen ate +three of the poisoned fruits. After a pause, he took a fourth and bit +into it, but not seeming to find it to his taste, he threw it to a child +that was waiting by the verandah for any scraps which might be left over +from his meal. The child caught it, and devoured it eagerly. + +Then, smiling at the little boy’s delight, the Messenger called to +Hokosa to come up and speak with him. + + + +CHAPTER XV + +NOMA COMES TO HAFELA + +Hokosa advanced to the verandah and bowed to the white man with grave +dignity. + +“Be seated,” said Owen. “Will you not eat? though I have nothing to +offer you but these,” and he pushed the basket of fruits towards him, +adding, “The best of them, I fear, are already gone.” + +“I thank you, no, Messenger; such fruits are not always wholesome at +this season of the year. I have known them to breed dysentery.” + +“Indeed,” said Owen. “If so, I trust that I may escape. I have suffered +from that sickness, and I think that another bout of it would kill me. +In future I will avoid them. But what do you seek with me, Hokosa? Enter +and tell me,” and he led the way into a little sitting-room. + +“Messenger,” said the wizard, with deep humility, “I am a proud man; I +have been a great man, and it is no light thing to me to humble myself +before the face of my conqueror. Yet I am come to this. To-day when I +was in audience with the king, craving a small boon of his graciousness, +he spoke to me sharp and bitter words. He told me that he had been +minded to put me on trial for my life because of various misdoings which +are alleged against me in the past, but that you had pleaded for me +and that for this cause he spared me. I come to thank you for your +gentleness, Messenger, for I think that had I been in your place I +should have whispered otherwise in the ear of the king.” + +“Say no more of it, friend,” said Owen kindly, “We are all of us +sinners, and it is my place to push back your ancient sins, not to drag +them into the light of day and clamour for their punishment. It is true +I know that you plotted with the Prince Hafela to poison Umsuka the +King, for it was revealed to me. It chanced, however, that I was able +to recover Umsuka from his sickness, and Hafela is fled, so why should +I bring up the deed against you? It is true that you still practise +witchcraft, and that you hate and strive against the holy Faith which I +preach; but you were brought up to wizardry and have been the priest of +another creed, and these things plead for you. + +“Also, Hokosa, I can see the good and evil struggling in your soul, and +I pray and I believe that in the end the good will master the evil; +that you who have been pre-eminent in sin will come to be pre-eminent +in righteousness. Oh! be not stubborn, but listen with your ear, and +let your heart be softened. The gate stands open, and I am the guide +appointed to show you the way without reward or fee. Follow them ere it +be too late, that in time to come when my voice is stilled you also may +be able to direct the feet of wanderers into the paths of peace. It is +the hour of prayer; come with me, I beg of you, and listen to some few +words of the message of my lips, and let your spirit be nurtured with +them, and the Sun of Truth arise upon its darkness.” + +Hokosa heard, and before this simple eloquence his wisdom sank +confounded. More, his intelligence was stirred, and a desire came upon +him to investigate and examine the canons of a creed that could produce +such men as this. He made no answer, but waiting while Owen robed +himself, he followed him to the chapel. It was full of new-made +Christians who crowded even the doorways, but they gave place to him, +wondering. Then the service began--a short and simple service. First +Owen offered up some prayer for the welfare of the infant Church, for +the conversion of the unbelieving, for the safety of the king and the +happiness of the people. Then John, the Messenger’s first disciple, read +aloud from a manuscript a portion of the Scripture which his master had +translated. It was St. Paul’s exposition of the resurrection from the +dead, and the grandeur of its thoughts and language were by no means +lost upon Hokosa, who, savage and heathen though he might be, was also a +man of intellect. + +The reading over, Owen addressed the congregation, taking for his text, +“Thy sin shall find thee out.” Being now a master of the language, +he preached very well and earnestly, and indeed the subject was not +difficult to deal with in the presence of an audience many of whose +pasts had been steeped in iniquities of no common kind. As he talked of +judgment to come for the unrepentant, some of his hearers groaned and +even wept; and when, changing his note, he dwelt upon the blessed future +state of those who earned forgiveness, their faces were lighted up with +joy. + +But perhaps among all those gathered before him there were none more +deeply interested than Hokosa and one other, that woman to whom he +had sold the poison, and who, as it chanced, sat next to him. Hokosa, +watching her face as he was skilled to do, saw the thrusts of the +preacher go home, and grew sure that already in her jealous haste she +had found opportunity to sprinkle the medicine upon her rival’s food. +She believed it to be but a charm indeed, yet knowing that in using +such charms she had done wickedly, she trembled beneath the words of +denunciation, and rising at length, crept from the chapel. + +“Truly, her sin will find her out,” thought Hokosa to himself, and +then in a strange half-impersonal fashion he turned his thoughts to +the consideration of his own case. Would _his_ sin find him out? he +wondered. Before he could answer that question, it was necessary first +to determine whether or no he had committed a sin. The man before +him--that gentle and yet impassioned man--bore in his vitals the seed +of death which he, Hokosa, had planted there. Was it wrong to have done +this? It depended by which standard the deed was judged. According to +his own code, the code on which he had been educated and which hitherto +he had followed with exactness, it was not wrong. That code taught +the necessity of self-aggrandisement, or at least and at all costs the +necessity of self-preservation. This white preacher stood in his path; +he had humiliated him, Hokosa, and in the end, either of himself or +through his influences, it was probable that he would destroy him. +Therefore he must strike before in his own person he received a mortal +blow, and having no other means at his command, he struck through +treachery and poison. + +That was his law which for many generations had been followed and +respected by his class with the tacit assent of the nation. According to +this law, then, he had done no wrong. But now the victim by the altar, +who did not know that already he was bound upon the altar, preached a +new and a very different doctrine under which, were it to be believed, +he, Hokosa, was one of the worst of sinners. The matter, then, resolved +itself to this: which of these two rules of life was the right rule? +Which of them should a man follow to satisfy his conscience and to +secure his abiding welfare? Apart from the motives that swayed him, as a +mere matter of ethics, this problem interested Hokosa not a little, and +he went homewards determined to solve it if he might. That could be done +in one way only--by a close examination of both systems. The first he +knew well; he had practised it for nearly forty years. Of the second +he had but an inkling. Also, if he would learn more of it he must make +haste, seeing that its exponent in some short while would cease to be in +a position to set it out. + +“I trust that you will come again,” said Owen to Hokosa as they left the +chapel. + +“Yes, indeed, Messenger,” answered the wizard; “I will come every day, +and if you permit it, I will attend your private teachings also, for I +accept nothing without examination, and I greatly desire to study this +new doctrine of yours, root and flower and fruit.” + +***** + +On the morrow Noma started upon her journey. As the matrons who +accompanied her gave out with a somewhat suspicious persistency, its +ostensible object was to visit the Mount of Purification, and there by +fastings and solitude to purge herself of the sin of having given birth +to a stillborn child. For amongst savage peoples such an accident is +apt to be looked upon as little short of a crime, or, at the least, as +indicating that the woman concerned is the object of the indignation +of spirits who need to be appeased. To this Mount, Noma went, and there +performed the customary rites. + +“Little wonder,” she thought to herself, “that the spirits were angry +with her, seeing that yonder in the burying-ground of kings she had +dared to break in upon their rest.” + +From the Place of Purification she travelled on ten days’ journey with +her companions till they reached the mountain fastness where Hafela had +established himself. The town and its surroundings were of extraordinary +strength, and so well guarded that it was only after considerable +difficulty and delay that the women were admitted. Hearing of her +arrival and that she had words for him, Hafela sent for Noma at once, +receiving her by night and alone in his principal hut. She came and +stood before him, and he looked at her beauty with admiring eyes, for he +could not forget the woman whom the cunning of Hokosa had forced him to +put away. + +“Whence come you, pretty one?” he asked, “and wherefore come you? Are +you weary of your husband, that you fly back to me? If so, you are +welcome indeed; for know, Noma, that I still love you.” + +“Ay, Prince, I am weary of my husband sure enough; but I do not fly to +you, for he holds me fast to him with bonds that you cannot understand, +and fast to him while he lives I must remain.” + +“What hinders, Noma, that having got you here I should keep you here? +The cunning and magic of Hokosa may be great, but they will need to be +still greater to win you from my arms.” + +“This hinders, Prince, that you are playing for a higher stake than that +of a woman’s love, and if you deal thus by me and my husband, then of a +surety you will lose the game.” + +“What stake, Noma?” + +“The stake of the crown of the People of Fire.” + +“And why should I lose if I take you as a wife?” + +“Because Hokosa, seeing that I do not return and learning from his spies +why I do not return, will warn the king, and by many means bring all +your plans to nothing. Listen now to the words of Hokosa that he has +set between my lips to deliver to you”--and she repeated to him all the +message without fault or fail. + +“Say it again,” he said, and she obeyed. + +Then he answered:-- + +“Truly the skill of Hokosa is great, and well he knows how to set a +snare; but I think that if by his counsel I should springe the bird, he +will be too clever a man to keep upon the threshold of my throne. He +who sets one snare may set twain, and he who sits by the threshold may +desire to enter the house of kings wherein there is no space for two to +dwell.” + +“Is this the answer that I am to take back to Hokosa?” asked Noma. “It +will scarcely bind him to your cause, Prince, and I wonder that you dare +to speak it to me who am his wife.” + +“I dare to speak it to you, Noma, because, although you be his wife, all +wives do not love their lords; and I think that, perchance in days to +come, you would choose rather to hold the hand of a young king than that +of a witch-doctor sinking into eld. Thus shall you answer Hokosa: You +shall say to him that I have heard his words and that I find them very +good, and will walk along the path which he has made. Here before you I +swear by the oath that may not be broken--the sacred oath, calling down +ruin upon my head should I break one word of it--that if by his aid I +succeed in this great venture, I will pay him the price he asks. After +myself, the king, he shall be the greatest man among the people; he +shall be general of the armies; he shall be captain of the council +and head of the doctors, and to him shall be given half the cattle of +Nodwengo. Also, into his hand I will deliver all those who cling to this +faith of the Christians, and, if it pleases him, he shall offer them as +a sacrifice to his god. This I swear, and you, Noma, are witness to the +oath. Yet it may chance that after he, Hokosa, has gathered up all +this pomp and greatness, he himself shall be gathered up by Death, that +harvest-man whom soon or late will garner every ear;” and he looked at +her meaningly. + +“It may be so, Prince,” she answered. + +“It may be so,” he repeated, “and when----” + +“When it is so, then, Prince, we will talk together, but not till then. +Nay, touch me not, for were he to command me, Hokosa has this power over +me that I must show him all that you have done, keeping nothing back. +Let me go now to the place that is made ready for me, and afterwards you +shall tell me again and more fully the words that I must say to Hokosa +my husband.” + +***** + +On the morrow Hafela held a secret council of his great men, and the +next day an embassy departed to Nodwengo the king, taking to him that +message which Hokosa, through Noma his wife, had put into the lips +of the prince. Twenty days later the embassy returned saying that it +pleased the king to grant the prayer of his brother Hafela, and bringing +with it the tidings that the white man, Messenger, had fallen sick, and +it was thought that he would die. + +So in due course the women and children of the people of Hafela started +upon their journey towards the new land where it was given out that they +should live, and with them went Noma, purposing to leave them as they +drew near the gates of the Great Place of the king. A while after, +Hafela and his _impis_ followed with carriers bearing their fighting +shields in bundles, and having their stabbing spears rolled up in mats. + + + +CHAPTER XVI + +THE REPENTANCE OF HOKOSA + +Hokosa kept his promise. On the morrow of his first attendance there he +was again to be seen in the chapel, and after the service was over he +waited on Owen at his house and listened to his private teaching. Day +by day he appeared thus, till at length he became master of the whole +doctrine of Christianity, and discovered that that which at first had +struck him as childish and even monstrous, now presented itself to him +in a new and very different light. The conversion of Hokosa came upon +him through the gate of reason, not as is usual among savages--and some +who are not savage--by that of the emotions. Given the position of a +universe torn and groaning beneath the dual rule of Good and Evil, +two powers of well-nigh equal potency, he found no great difficulty in +accepting this tale of the self-sacrifice of the God of Good that He +might wring the race He loved out of the conquering grasp of the god of +Ill. There was a simple majesty about this scheme of redemption which +appealed to one side of his nature. Indeed, Hokosa felt that under +certain conditions and in a more limited fashion he would have been +capable of attempting as much himself. + +Once his reason was satisfied, the rest followed in a natural sequence. +Within three weeks from the hour of his first attendance at the chapel +Hokosa was at heart a Christian. + +He was a Christian, although as yet he did not confess it; but he was +also the most miserable man among the nation of the Sons of Fire. The +iniquities of his past life had become abominable to him; but he had +committed them in ignorance, and he understood that they were not beyond +forgiveness. Yet high above them all towered one colossal crime which, +as he believed, could never be pardoned to him in this world or the +next. He was the treacherous murderer of the Messenger of God; he was +in the very act of silencing the Voice that had proclaimed truth in the +dark places of his soul and the dull ears of his countrymen. + +The deed was done; no power on earth could save his victim. Within a +week from the day of eating that fatal fruit Owen began to sicken, then +the dysentery had seized him which slowly but surely was wasting out +his life. Yet he, the murderer, was helpless, for with this form of the +disease no medicine could cope. With agony in his heart, an agony that +was shared by thousands of the people, Hokosa watched the decrease of +the white man’s strength, and reckoned the days that would elapse before +the end. Having such sin as this upon his soul, though Owen entreated +him earnestly, he would not permit himself to be baptised. Twice he +went near to consenting, but on each occasion an ominous and terrible +incident drove him from the door of mercy. + +Once, when the words “I will” were almost on his lips, a woman broke in +upon their conference bearing a dying boy in her arms. + +“Save him,” she implored, “save him, Messenger, for he is my only son!” + +Owen looked at him and shook his head. + +“How came he like this?” he asked. + +“I know not, Messenger, but he has been sick ever since he ate of a +certain fruit which you gave to him;” and she recalled to his mind +the incident of the throwing of a fruit to the child, which she had +witnessed. + +“I remember,” said Owen. “It is strange, but I also have been sick from +the day that I ate of those fruits; yes, and you, Hokosa, warned me +against them.” + +Then he blessed the boy and prayed over him till he died; but when +afterwards he looked round for Hokosa, it was to find that he had gone. + +Some eight days later, having to a certain extent recovered from this +shock, Hokosa went one morning to Owen’s house and talked to him. + +“Messenger,” he said, “is it necessary to baptism that I should confess +all my sins to you? If so, I can never be baptised, for there is +wickedness upon my hands which I am unable to tell into the ear of +living man.” + +Owen thought and answered:-- + +“It is necessary that you should repent all of your sins, and that +you should confess them to heaven; it is not necessary that you should +confess them to me, who am but a man like yourself.” + +“Then I will be baptised,” said Hokosa with a sigh of relief. + +At this moment, as it chanced, their interview was again interrupted, +for runners came from the king requesting the immediate presence of the +Messenger, if he were well enough to attend, upon a matter connected +with the trial of a woman for murder. Thinking that he might be of +service, Owen, leaning on the shoulder of Hokosa, for already he was too +weak to walk far, crept to the litter which was waiting for him, and was +borne to the place of judgment that was before the house of the king. +Hokosa followed, more from curiosity than for any other reason, for +he had heard of no murder being committed, and his old desire to be +acquainted with everything that passed was still strong on him. The +people made way for him, and he seated himself in the first line of +spectators immediately opposite to the king and three other captains +who were judges in the case. So soon as Owen had joined the judges, +the prisoner was brought before them, and to his secret horror Hokosa +recognised in her that woman to whom he had given the poison in exchange +for the basket of fruit. + +Now it seemed to Hokosa that his doom was on him, for she would +certainly confess that she had the drug from him. He thought of flight +only to reject the thought, for to fly would be to acknowledge himself +an accessory. No, he would brazen it out, for after all his word was as +good as hers. With the prisoner came an accuser, her husband, who seemed +sick, and he it was who opened the case against her. + +“This woman,” he said, “was my wife. I divorced her for barrenness, as +I have a right to do according to our ancient law, and I took another +woman to wife, her half-sister. This woman was jealous; she plagued me +continually, and insulted her sister, so that I was forced to drive her +away. After that she came to my house, and though they said nothing +of it at the time, she was seen by two servants of mine to sprinkle +something in the bowl wherein our food was cooking. Subsequently my +wife, this woman’s half-sister, was taken ill with dysentery. I also +was taken ill with dysentery, but I still live to tell this story before +you, O King, and your judges, though I know not for how long I live. My +wife died yesterday, and I buried her this morning. I accuse the woman +of having murdered her, either by witchcraft or by means of a medicine +which she sprinkled on the food, or by both. I have spoken.” + +“Have you anything to say?” asked the king of the prisoner. “Are you +guilty of the crime whereof this man who was your husband charges you, +or does he lie?” + +Then the woman answered in a low and broken voice:-- + +“I am guilty, King. Listen to my story:” and she told it all as she told +it to Hokosa. “I am guilty,” she added, “and may the Great Man in the +sky, of Whom the Messenger has taught us, forgive me. My sister’s blood +is upon my hands, and for aught I know the blood of my husband yonder +will also be on my hands. I seek no mercy; indeed, it is better that I +should die; but I would say this in self-defence, that I did not think +to kill my sister. I believed that I was giving to her a potion which +would cause her husband to hate her and no more.” + +Here she looked round and her eyes met those of Hokosa. + +“Who told you that this was so?” asked one of the judges. + +“A witch-doctor,” she answered, “from whom I bought the medicine in the +old days, long ago, when Umsuka was king.” + +Hokosa gasped. Why should this woman have spared him? + +No further question was asked of her, and the judges consulted together. +At length the king spoke. + +“Woman,” he said, “you are condemned to die. You will be taken to the +Doom Tree, and there be hanged. Out of those who are assembled to try +you, two, the Messenger and myself, have given their vote in favour of +mercy, but the majority think otherwise. They say that a law has been +passed against murder by means of witchcraft and secret medicine, and +that should we let you go free, the people will make a mock of that law. +So be it. Go in peace. To-morrow you must die, and may forgiveness await +you elsewhere.” + +“I ask nothing else,” said the woman. “It is best that I should die.” + +Then they led her away. As she passed Hokosa she turned and looked him +full in the eyes, till he dropped his head abashed. Next morning she was +executed, and he learned that her last words were: “Let it come to +the ears of him who sold me the poison, telling me that it was but +a harmless drug, that as I hope to be forgiven, so I forgive him, +believing that my silence may win for him time for repentance, before he +follows on the road I tread.” + +Now, when Hokosa heard these words he shut himself up in his house for +three days, giving out that he was sick. Nor would he go near to Owen, +being altogether without hope, and not believing that baptism or any +other rite could avail to purge such crimes as his. Truly his sin had +found him out, and the burden of it was intolerable. So intolerable did +it become, that at length he determined to be done with it. He could +live no more. He would die, and by his own hand, before he was called +upon to witness the death of the man whom he had murdered. To this end +he made his preparations. For Noma he left no message; for though his +heart still hungered after her, he knew well that she hated him and +would rejoice at his death. + +When all was ready he sat down to think a while, and as he thought, a +man entered his hut saying that the Messenger desired to see him. At +first he was minded not to go, then it occurred to him that it would be +well if he could die with a clean heart. Why should he not tell all to +the white man, and before he could be delivered up to justice take +that poison which he had prepared? It was impossible that he should be +forgiven, yet he desired that his victim should learn how deep was his +sorrow and repentance, before he proved it by preceding him to death. So +he rose and went. + +He found Owen in his house, lying in a rude chair and propped up by +pillows of bark. Now he was wasted almost to a shadow, and in the pale +pinched face his dark eyes, always large and spiritual, shone with +unnatural lustre, while his delicate hands were so thin that when he +held them up in blessing the light showed through them. + +“Welcome, friend,” he said. “Tell me, why have you deserted me of late? +Have you been ill?” + +“No, Messenger,” answered Hokosa, “that is, not in my body. I have been +sick at heart, and therefore I have not come.” + +“What, Hokosa, do your doubts still torment you? I thought that my +prayers had been heard, and that power had been given me to set them at +rest for ever. Man, let me hear the trouble, and swiftly, for cannot you +who are a doctor see that I shall not be here for long to talk with you? +My days are numbered, Hokosa, and my work is almost done.” + +“I know it,” answered Hokosa. “And, Messenger, _my_ days are also +numbered.” + +“How is this?” asked Owen, “seeing that you are well and strong. Does an +enemy put you in danger of your life?” + +“Yes, Messenger, and I myself am that enemy; for to-day I, who am no +longer fit to live, must die by my own hand. Nay, listen and you will +say that I do well, for before I go I would tell you all. Messenger, you +are doomed, are you not? Well, it was I who doomed you. That fruit which +you ate a while ago was poisoned, and by my hand, for I am a master of +such arts. From the beginning I hated you, as well I might, for had you +not worsted me and torn power from my grasp, and placed the people and +the king under the rule of another God? Therefore, when all else failed, +I determined to murder you, and I did the deed by means of that woman +who not long ago was hung for the killing of her sister, though in truth +she was innocent.” And he told him what had passed between himself and +the woman, and told him also of the plot which he had hatched to kill +Nodwengo and the Christians, and to set Hafela on the throne. + +“She was innocent,” he went on, “but I am guilty. How guilty you and I +know alone. Do you remember that day when you ate the fruit, how +after it I accompanied you to the church yonder and listened to your +preaching? ‘Your sin shall find you out,’ you said, and of a surety mine +has found me out. For, Messenger, it came about that in listening to +you then and afterwards, I grew to love you and to believe the words you +taught, and therefore am I of all men the most miserable, and therefore +must I, who have been great and the councillor of kings, perish +miserably by the death of a dog. + +“Now curse me, and let me go.” + + + +CHAPTER XVII + +THE LOOSING OF NOMA + +When Owen heard that it was Hokosa who had poisoned him, he groaned and +hid his face in his hands, and thus he remained till the evil tale was +finished. Now he lifted his head and spoke, but not to Hokosa. + +“O God,” he said, “I thank Thee that at the cost of my poor life Thou +hast been pleased to lead this sinner towards the Gate of Righteousness, +and to save alive those whom Thou hast sent me to gather to Thy Fold.” + +Then he looked at Hokosa and said:-- + +“Unhappy man, is not your cup full enough of crime, and have you not +sufficiently tempted the mercy of Heaven, that you would add to all your +evil deeds that of self-murder?” + +“It is better to die to-day by my own hand,” answered Hokosa, “than +to-morrow among the mockery of the people to fall a victim to your +vengeance, Messenger.” + +“Vengeance! Did I speak to you of vengeance? Who am I that I should take +vengeance upon one who has repented? Hokosa, freely do I forgive you +all, even as in some few days I hope to be forgiven. Freely and fully +from my heart do I forgive you, nor shall my lips tell one word of the +sin that you have worked against me.” + +Now, when Hokosa heard those words, for a moment he stared stupefied; +then he fell upon his knees before Owen, and bowing his head till it +touched the teacher’s feet, he burst into bitter weeping. + +“Rise and hearken,” said Owen gently. “Weep not because I have shown +kindness to you, for that is my duty and no more, but for your sins in +your own heart weep now and ever. Yet for your comfort I tell you that +if you do this, of a surety they shall be forgiven to you. _Hokosa, you +have indeed lost that which you loved, and henceforth you must follow +after that which you did not desire. In the very grave of error you have +found truth, and from the depths of sin you shall pluck righteousness. +Ay, that Cross which you deemed accursed shall lift you up on high, for +by it you shall be saved._” + +Hokosa heard and shivered. + +“Who set those words between your lips, Messenger?” he whispered. + +“Who set them, Hokosa? Nay, I know not--or rather, I know well. He set +them Who teaches us to speak all things that are good.” + +“It must be so, indeed,” replied Hokosa. “Yet I have heard them before; +I have heard them from the lips of the dead, and with them went this +command: that when they fell upon my ears again I should ‘take them for +a sign, and let my heart be turned.’” + +“Tell me that tale,” said Owen. + +So he told him, and this time it was the white man who trembled. + +“Horrible has been your witchcraft, O Son of Darkness!” said Owen, when +he had finished; “yet it would seem that it was permitted to you to find +truth in the pit of sorcery. Obey, obey, and let your heart be turned. +The dead told you that you should be set high above the nation and its +king, and that saying I cannot read, though it may be fulfilled in some +fashion of which to-day you do not think. At the least, the other saying +is true, that in the end comes judgment, and that there shall the +sin and the atonement strive together; therefore for judgment prepare +yourself. And now depart, for I must talk with the king as to this +matter of the onslaught of Hafela.” + +“Then, that will be the signal for my death, for what king can forgive +one who has plotted such treachery against him?” said Hokosa. + +“Fear not,” answered Owen, “I will soften his heart. Go you into the +church and pray, for there you shall be less tempted; but before you go, +swear to me that you will work no evil on yourself.” + +“I swear it, Messenger, since now I desire to live, if only for awhile, +seeing that death shuts every door.” + +Then he went to the church and waited there. An hour later he was +summoned, and found the king seated with Owen. + +“Man,” said Nodwengo, “I am told by the Messenger here that you have +knowledge of a plot which my brother the Prince Hafela has made to fall +treacherously upon me and put me and my people to the spear. How you +come to be acquainted with the plot, and what part you have played +in it, I will not now inquire, for so much have I promised to the +Messenger. Yet I warn you it will be well that you should tell me all +you know, and that should you lie to me or attempt to deceive me, then +you shall surely die.” + +“King, hear all the truth,” answered Hokosa in a voice of desperate +calm. “I have knowledge of the plot, for it was I who wove it; but +whether or not Hafela will carry it out altogether I cannot say, for +as yet no word has reached me from him. King, this was the plan that I +made.” And he told him everything. + +“It is fortunate for you, Hokosa,” said Nodwengo grimly when he had +finished, “that I gave my word to the Messenger that no harm should come +to you, seeing that you have repented and confessed. This is certain, +that Hafela has listened to your evil counsels, for I gave my consent to +his flight from this land with all his people, and already his women +and children have crossed the mountain path in thousands. Well, this +I swear, that their feet shall tread it no more, for where they are +thither he shall go to join them, should he chance to live to do so. +Hokosa, begone, and know that day and night you will be watched. Should +you so much as dare to approach one of the gates of the Great Place, +that moment you shall die.” + +“Have no fear, O King,” said Hokosa humbly, “for I have emptied all my +heart before you. The past is the past, and cannot be recalled. For the +future, while it pleases you to spare me, I am the most loyal of your +servants.” + +“Can a man empty a spring with a pitcher?” asked the king +contemptuously. “By to-morrow this heart of yours may be full again +with the blackest treachery, O master of sin and lies. Many months ago I +spared you at the prayer of the Messenger; and now at his prayer I spare +you again, yet in doing so I think that I am foolish.” + +“Nay, I will answer for him,” broke in Owen. “Let him stay here with me, +and set your guard without my gates.” + +“How do I know that he will not murder you, friend?” asked the king. +“This man is a snake whom few can nurse with safety.” + +“He will not murder me,” said Owen smiling, “because his heart is turned +from evil to good; also, there is little need to murder a dying man.” + +“Nay, speak not so,” said the king hastily; “and as for this man, be it +as you will. Come, I must take counsel with my captains, for our danger +is near and great.” + +So it came about that Hokosa stayed in the house of Owen. + +On the morrow the Great Place was full of the bustle of preparation, and +by dawn of the following day an _impi_ of some seventeen thousand spears +had started to ambush Hafela and his force in a certain wooded defile +through which he must pass on his way to the mountain pass where his +women and children were gathered. The army was not large, at least in +the eyes of the People of Fire who, before the death of Umsuka and the +break up of the nation, counted their warriors by tens of thousands. +But after those events the most of the regiments had deserted to Hafela, +leaving to Nodwengo not more than two-and-twenty thousand spears upon +which he could rely. Of these he kept less than a third to defend the +Great Place against possible attacks, and all the rest he sent to fall +upon Hafela far away, hoping there to make an end of him once and for +all. This counsel the king took against the better judgment of many of +his captains, and as the issue proved, it was mistaken. + +When Owen told Hokosa of it, that old general shrugged his shoulders. + +“The king would have done better to keep his regiments at home,” he +said, “and fight it out with Hafela here, where he is well prepared. +Yonder the country is very wide, and broken, and it may well chance that +the _impi_ will miss that of Hafela, and then how can the king defend +this place with a handful, should the prince burst upon him at the head +of forty thousand men? But who am I that I should give counsel for which +none seek?” + +“As God wills, so shall it befall,” answered Owen wearily; “but oh! the +thought of all this bloodshed breaks my heart. I trust that its beatings +may be stilled before my eyes behold the evil hour.” + +On the evening of that day Hokosa was baptised. The ceremony took place, +not in the church, for Owen was too weak to go there, but in the +largest room of his house and before some few witnesses chosen from the +congregation. Even as he was being signed with the sign of the cross, +a strange and familiar attraction caused the convert to look up, and +behold, before him, watching all with mocking eyes, stood Noma his wife. +At length the rite was finished, and the little audience melted away, +all save Noma, who stood silent and beautiful as a statue, the light of +mockery still gleaming in her eyes. Then she spoke, saying:-- + +“I greet you, Husband. I have returned from doing your business afar, +and if this foolishness is finished, and the white man can spare you, I +would talk with you alone.” + +“I greet you, Wife,” answered Hokosa. “Say out your say, for none are +present save us three, and from the Messenger here I have no secrets.” + +“What, Husband, none? Do you ever talk to him of certain fruit that you +ripened in a garden yonder?” + +“From the Messenger I have no secrets,” repeated Hokosa in a heavy +voice. + +“Then his heart must be full of them indeed, and it is little wonder +that he seems sick,” replied Noma, gibing. “Tell me, Hokosa, is it true +that you have become a Christian, or would you but fool the white man +and his following?” + +“It is true.” + +At the words her graceful shape was shaken with a little gust of silent +laughter. + +“The wizard has turned saint,” she said. “Well, then, what of the +wizard’s wife?” + +“You were my wife before I became Christian; if the Messenger permits +it, you can still abide with me.” + +“If the Messenger permits it! So you have come to this, Hokosa, that you +must ask the leave of another man as to whether or no you should keep +your own wife! There is no other thing that I could not have thought of +you, but this I would never have believed had I not heard it from your +lips. Say now, do you still love me, Hokosa?” + +“You know well that I love you, now and always,” he answered, in a voice +that sounded like a groan; “as you know that for love of you I have done +many sins from which otherwise I should have turned aside.” + +“Grieve not over them, Hokosa; after all, in such a count as yours they +will make but little show. Well, if you love me, I hate you, though +through your witchcraft your will yet has the mastery of mine. I demand +of you now that you should loose that bond, for I do not desire to +become a Christian; and surely, O most good and holy man, having one +wife already, it will not please you henceforth to live in sin with a +heathen woman.” + +Now Hokosa turned to Owen:-- + +“In the old days,” he said, “I could have answered her; but now I am +fallen; or raised up--at the least I am changed and cannot. O prophet of +Heaven, tell me what I shall do.” + +“Sever the bond that you have upon her and let her go,” answered Owen. +“This love of yours is unnatural, unholy and born of witchcraft; have +done with it, or if you cannot, at the least deny it, for such a woman, +a woman who hates you, can work you no good. Moreover, since she is a +second wife, you being a Christian, are bound to free her should she so +desire.” + +“She can work me no good, Messenger, that I know; but I know also that +while she struggles in the net of my will she can work me no evil. If I +loose the net and the fish swims free, it may be otherwise.” + +“Loose it,” answered Owen, “and leave the rest to Providence. +Henceforth, Hokosa, do right, and take no thought for the morrow, for +the morrow is with God, and what He decrees, that shall befall.” + +“I hear you,” said Hokosa, “and I obey.” For a while he rocked himself +to and fro, staring at the ground, then he lifted his head and spoke:-- + +“Woman,” he said, “the knot is untied and the spell is broken. Begone, +for I release you and I divorce you. Flesh of my flesh have you been, +and soul of my soul, for in the web of sorceries are we knit together. +Yet be warned and presume not too far, for remember that which I have +laid down I can take up, and that should I choose to command, you must +still obey. Farewell, you are free.” + +Noma heard, and with a sigh of ecstasy she sprang into the air as a +slave might do from whom the fetters have been struck off. + +“Ay,” she cried, “I am free! I feel it in my blood, I who have lain in +bondage, and the voice of freedom speaks in my heart and the breath of +freedom blows in my nostrils. I am free from you, O dark and accursed +man; but herein lies my triumph and revenge--_you_ are not free from me. +In obedience to that white fool whom you have murdered, you have loosed +me; but you I will not loose and could not if I would. Listen now, +Hokosa: you love me, do you not?--next to this new creed of yours, I am +most of all to you. Well, since you have divorced me, I will tell you, I +go straight to another man. Now, look your last on me; for you love me, +do you not?” and she slipped the mantle from her shoulders and except +for her girdle stood before him naked, and smiled. + +“Well,” she went on, resuming her robe, “the last words of those we love +are always dear to us; therefore, Hokosa, you who were my husband, I +leave mine with you. You are a coward and a traitor, and your doom shall +be that of a coward and a traitor. For my sake you betrayed Umsuka, your +king and benefactor; for your own sake you betrayed Nodwengo, who spared +you; and now, for the sake of your miserable soul, you have betrayed +Hafela to Nodwengo. Nay, I know the tale, do not answer me, but the end +of it--ah! that is yet to learn. Lie there, snake, and lick the hand +that you have bitten, but I, the bird whom you have loosed, I fly +afar--taking your heart with me!” and suddenly she turned and was gone. + +Presently Hokosa spoke in a thick voice:-- + +“Messenger,” he said, “this cross that you have given me to bear is +heavy indeed.” + +“Yes, Hokosa,” answered Owen, “for to it your sins are nailed.” + + + +CHAPTER XVIII + +THE PASSING OF OWEN + +Once she was outside of Owen’s house, Noma did not tarry. First she +returned to Hokosa’s kraal, where she had already learnt from his head +wife, Zinti, and others the news of his betrayal of the plot of Hafela, +of his conversion to the faith of the Christians, and of the march +of the _impi_ to ambush the prince. Here she took a little spear, and +rolling up in a skin blanket as much dried meat as she could carry, +she slipped unnoticed from the kraal. Her object was to escape from the +Great Place, but this she did not try to do by any of the gates, knowing +them to be guarded. Some months ago, before she started on her embassy, +she had noted a weak spot in the fence, where dogs had torn a hole +through which they passed out to hunt at night. To this spot she made +her way under cover of the darkness--for though she still greatly feared +to be alone at night, her pressing need conquered her fears--and found +that the hole was yet there, for a tall weed growing in its mouth had +caused it to be overlooked by those whose duty it was to mend the fence. +With her assegai she widened it a little, then drew her lithe shape +through it, and lying hidden till the guard had passed, climbed the two +stone walls beyond. Once she was free of the town, she set her course by +the stars and started forward at a steady run. + +“If my strength holds I shall yet be in time to warn him,” she muttered +to herself. “Ah! friend Hokosa, this new madness of yours has blunted +your wits that once were sharp enough. You have set me free, and now you +shall learn how I can use my freedom. Not for nothing have I been your +pupil, Hokosa the fox.” + +Before the dawn broke Noma was thirty miles from the Great Place, and +before the next dawn she was a hundred. At sunset on that second day she +stood among mountains. To her right stretched a great defile, a rugged +place of rocks and bush, wherein she knew that the regiments of the king +were hid in ambush. Perchance she was too late, perchance the _impi_ of +Hafela had already passed to its doom in yonder gorge. Swiftly she ran +forward on to the trail which led to the gorge, to find that it had been +trodden by many feet and recently. Moving to and fro she searched the +spoor with her eyes, then rose with a sigh of joy. It was old, and +marked the passage of the great company of women and children and their +thousands of cattle which, in execution of the plot, had travelled this +path some days before. Either the _impi_ had not yet arrived, or it had +gone by some other road. Weary as she was, Noma followed the old spoor +backwards. A mile or more away it crossed the crest of a hog-backed +mountain, from whose summit she searched the plain beyond, and not in +vain, for there far beneath her twinkled the watch-fires of the army of +Hafela. + +Three hours later a woman, footsore and utterly exhausted, staggered +into the camp, and waving aside the spears that were lifted to stab her, +demanded to be led to the prince. Presently she was there. + +“Who is this woman?” asked the great warrior; for, haggard as she was +with travel, exhaustion, and the terror of her haunted loneliness, he +did not know her in the uncertain firelight. + +“Hafela,” she said, “I am Noma who was the wife of Hokosa, and for whole +nights and days I have journeyed as no woman ever journeyed before, to +tell you of the treachery of Hokosa and to save you from your doom.” + +“What treachery and what doom?” asked the prince. + +“Before I answer you that question, Hafela, you must pay me the price of +my news.” + +“Let me hear the price, Noma.” + +“It is this, Prince: First, the head of Hokosa, who has divorced me, +when you have caught him.” + +“That I promise readily. What more?” + +“Secondly, the place of your chief wife to-day; and a week hence, when +I shall have made you king, the name and state of Queen of the People of +Fire with all that hangs thereto.” + +“You are ambitious, woman, and know well how to drive a bargain. Well, +if you can ask, I can give, for I have ever loved you, and your mind is +great as your body is beautiful. If through your help I should become +King of the People of Fire, you shall be their Queen, I swear it by the +spirits of my fathers and by my own head. And now--your tidings.” + +“These are they, Hafela. Hokosa has turned Christian and betrayed the +plot to Nodwengo; and the great gorge yonder but three hours march away +is ambushed. To-morrow you and your people would have been cut off there +had I not run so fast and far to warn you, after which the _impis_ +of Nodwengo were commanded to follow your women and cattle over the +mountain pass and capture them.” + +“This is news indeed,” said the prince. “Say now, how many regiments are +hidden in the gorge?” + +“Eight.” + +“Well, I have fourteen; so, being warned, there is little to fear. I +will catch these rats in their own hole.” + +“I have a better plan,” said Noma; “it is this: leave six regiments +posted upon the brow of yonder hill and let them stay there. Then when +the generals of Nodwengo see that they do not enter the gorge, they will +believe that the ambush is discovered, and, after waiting one day or +perhaps two, will move out to give battle, thinking that before them is +all your strength. But command your regiments to run and not to fight, +drawing the army of Nodwengo after them. Meanwhile, yes, this very +night, you yourself with all the men that are left to you must march +upon the Great Place, which, though it be strong, can be stormed, for it +is defended by less than five thousand soldiers. There, having taken it, +you shall slay Nodwengo, proclaiming yourself king, and afterwards, by +the help of the _impi_ that you leave here which will march onward to +your succour, you can deal with yonder army.” + +“A great scheme truly,” said Hafela in admiration; “but how do I know +whether all this tale is true, or whether you do but set a snare for +me?” + +“Bid scouts go out and creep into yonder gully,” answered Noma, “and you +will see whether or no I have spoken falsely. For the rest, I am in your +hands, and if I lie you can take my life in payment.” + +“If I march upon the Great Place, it must be at midnight when none see +me go,” said Hafela, “and what will you do then, Noma, who are too weary +to travel again so soon?” + +“I will be borne in a litter till my strength comes back to me,” she +answered. “And now give me to eat and let me rest while I may.” + +***** + +Five hours later, Hafela with the most of his army, a force of something +over twenty thousand men, was journeying swiftly but by a circuitous +route towards the Great Place of the king. On the crest of the hill +facing the gorge, as Noma had suggested, he left six regiments with +instructions to fly before Nodwengo’s generals, and when they had led +them far enough, to follow him as swiftly as they were able. These +orders, or rather the first part of them, they carried out, for as it +chanced after two days’ flight, the king’s soldiers got behind them by +a night march, and falling on them at dawn, killed half of them and +dispersed the rest. Then it was that Nodwengo’s generals learned for +the first time that they were following one wing of Hafela’s army only, +while the main body was striking at the heart of the kingdom, and turned +their faces homewards in fear and haste. + +***** + +On the morning after the flight of Noma, Owen passed into the last stage +of his sickness, and it became evident, both to himself and to those +who watched him, that at the most he could not live for more than a few +days. For his part, he accepted his doom joyfully, spending the time +which was left to him in writing letters that were to be forwarded to +England whenever an opportunity should arise. Also he set down on paper +a statement of the principal events of his strange mission, and other +information for the guidance of his white successors, who by now should +be drawing near to the land of the Amasuka. In the intervals of these +last labours, from time to time he summoned the king and the wisest and +trustiest of them whom he had baptised to his bedside, teaching them +what they should do when he was gone, and exhorting them to cling to the +Faith. + +On the afternoon of the fourth day from that of the baptism of Hokosa he +fell into a quiet sleep, from which he did not wake till sundown. + +“Am I still here?” he asked wondering, of John and Hokosa who watched at +his bedside. “From my dreams I thought that it was otherwise. John, send +a messenger to the king and ask of him to assemble the people, all who +care to come, in the open place before my house. I am about to die, and +first I would speak with them.” + +John went weeping upon his errand, leaving Owen and Hokosa alone. + +“Tell me now what shall I do?” said Hokosa in a voice of despair, +“seeing that it is I and no other who have brought this death upon you.” + +“Fret not, my brother,” answered Owen, “for this and other things you +did in the days of your blindness, and it was permitted that you should +do them to an end. Kneel down now, that I may absolve you from your sins +before I pass away; for I tell you, Hokosa, I believe that ere many days +are over you must walk on the same path which I travel to-night.” + +“Is it so?” Hokosa answered. “Well, I am glad, for I have no longer any +lust of life.” + +Then he knelt down and received the absolution. + +Now John returned and Nodwengo with him, who told him that the people +were gathering in hundreds according to his wish. + +“Then clothe me in my robes and let us go forth,” he said, “for I would +speak my last words in the ears of men.” + +So they put the surplice and hood upon his wasted form and went out, +John preceding him holding on high the ivory crucifix, while the king +and Hokosa supported him, one on either side. + +Without his gate stood a low wooden platform, whence at times Owen had +been accustomed to address any congregation larger than the church would +contain. On this platform he took his seat. The moon was bright above +him, and by it he could see that already his audience numbered some +thousands of men, women and children. The news had spread that the +wonderful white man, Messenger, wished to take his farewell of the +nation, though even now many did not understand that he was dying, but +imagined that he was about to leave the country, or, for aught they +knew, to vanish from their sight into Heaven. For a moment Owen looked +at the sea of dusky faces, then in the midst of an intense stillness, he +spoke in a voice low indeed but clear and steady:-- + +“My children,” he said, “hear my last words to you. More than three +years ago, in a far, far land and upon such a night as this, a Voice +spoke to me from above commanding me to seek you out, to turn you from +your idolatry and to lighten your darkness. I listened to the Voice, and +hither I journeyed across sea and land, though how this thing might be +done I could not guess. But to Him Who sent me all things are possible, +and while yet I lingered upon the threshold of your country, in a dream +were revealed to me events that were to come. So I appeared before you +boldly, and knowing that he had been poisoned and that I could cure +him, I drew back your king from the mouth of death, and you said to +yourselves: ‘Behold a wizard indeed! Let us hear him.’ Then I gave +battle to your sorcerers yonder upon the plain, and from the foot of the +Cross I teach, the lightnings were rolled back upon them and they were +not. Look now, their chief stands at my side, among my disciples one +of the foremost and most faithful. Afterwards troubles arose: your king +died a Christian, and many of the people fell away; but still a remnant +remained, and he who became king was converted to the truth. Now I +have sown the seed, and the corn is ripe before my eyes, but it is not +permitted that I should reap the harvest. My work is ended, my task is +done, and I, the Messenger, return to make report to Him Who sent the +message. + +“Hear me yet a little while, for soon shall my voice be silent. ‘I come +not to bring peace, but a sword,’--so said the Master Whom I preach, and +so say I, the most unworthy of His servants. Salvation cannot be bought +at a little price; it must be paid for by the blood and griefs of +men, and in blood and griefs must you pay, O my children. Through much +tribulation must you also enter the kingdom of God. Even now the heathen +is at your gates, and many of you shall perish on his spears, but I tell +you that he shall not conquer. Be faithful, cling to the Cross, and do +not dare to doubt your Lord, for He will be your Captain and you shall +be His people. Cleave to your king, for he is good; and in the day of +trial listen to the counsel of this Hokosa who once was the first of +evil-doers, for with him goes my spirit, and he is my son in the spirit. + +“My children, fare you well! Forget me not, for I have loved you; or if +you will, forget me, but remember my teaching and hearken to those who +shall tread upon the path I made. The peace of God be with you, the +blessing of God be upon you, and the salvation of God await you, as it +awaits me to-night! Friends, lead me hence to die.” + +They turned to him, but before their hands touched him Thomas Owen fell +forward upon the breast of Hokosa and lay there a while. Then suddenly, +for the last time, he lifted himself and cried aloud:-- + +“I have fought a good fight! I have finished my course! I have kept the +faith! Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness . . . +and not to me only, but to all those who love His appearing.” + +Then his head fell back, his dark eyes closed, and the Messenger was +dead. + +Hokosa, the man who had murdered him, having lifted him up to show him +to the people, amidst a sound of mighty weeping, took the body in his +arms and bore it thence to make it ready for burial. + + + +CHAPTER XIX + +THE FALL OF THE GREAT PLACE + +On the morrow at sundown all that remained of Thomas Owen was laid to +rest before the altar of the little church, Nodwengo the king and Hokosa +lowering him into the grave, while John, his first disciple, read over +him the burial service of the Christians, which it had been one of the +dead man’s last labours to translate into the language of the Amasuka. + +Before the ceremony was finished, a soldier, carrying a spear in his +hand, pushed his way through the dense and weeping crowd, and having +saluted, whispered something into the ear of the king. Nodwengo started, +and, with a last look of farewell at the face of his friend, left the +chapel, accompanied by some of his generals who were present, muttering +to Hokosa that he was to follow when all was done. Accordingly, some +few minutes later, he went and was admitted into the Council Hut, +where captains and messengers were to be seen arriving and departing +continuously. + +“Hokosa,” said the king, “you have dealt treacherously with me in the +past, but I believe now that your heart is true; at the least I follow +the commands of our dead master and trust you. Listen: the outposts have +sighted an _impi_ of many regiments advancing towards the Great Place, +though whether or no it be my own _impi_ returning victorious from the +war with my brother, I cannot say. There is this against it, however, +that a messenger has but just arrived reporting that the generals have +perceived the host of Hafela encamped upon a ridge over against the +gorge where they awaited him. If that be so, they can scarcely have +given him battle, for the messenger is swift of foot and has travelled +night and day. Yet how can this be the _impi_ of Hafela, who, say the +generals, is encamped upon the ridge?” + +“He may have left the ridge, King, having been warned of the ambush.” + +“It cannot be, for when the runner started his fires burned there and +his soldiers were gathered round them.” + +“Then perhaps his captains sit upon the ridge with some portion of his +strength to deceive those who await him in the gorge; while, knowing +that here men are few, he himself swoops down on you with the main body +of his _impi_.” + +“At least we shall learn presently,” answered the king; “but if it be +as I fear and we are outwitted, what is there that we can do against so +many?” + +Now one of the captains proposed that they should stay where they were +and hold the place. + +“It is too large,” answered the king, “they will burst the fences and +break our line.” + +Another suggested that they should fly and, avoiding the regiments of +Hafela in the darkness of the night, should travel swiftly in search of +the main army that had been sent to lie in ambush. + +“What,” said Nodwengo, “leaving the aged and the women and children to +perish, for how can we take such a multitude? No, I will have none of +this plan.” + +Then Hokosa spoke. “King,” he said, “listen to my counsel: Command now +that all the women and the old men, taking with them such cattle and +food as are in the town, depart at once into the Valley of Death and +collect in the open space that lies beyond the Tree of Doom, near the +spring of water that is there. The valley is narrow and the cliffs are +steep, and it may chance that by the help of Heaven we shall be able to +hold it till the army returns to relieve us, to seek which messengers +must be sent at once with these tidings.” + +“The plan is good,” said the king, though none had thought of it; “but +so we shall lose the town.” + +“Towns can be rebuilt,” answered Hokosa, “but who may restore the lives +of men?” + +As the words left his lips, a runner burst into the council, crying: +“King, the _impi_ is that of Hafela, and the prince heads it in person. +Already his outposts rest upon the Plain of Fire.” + +Then Nodwengo rose and issued his orders, commanding that all the +ineffective population of the town, together with such food and cattle +as could be gathered, should retreat at once into the Valley of Death. +By this time the four or five thousand soldiers who were left in the +Great Place had been paraded on the open ground in front of the king’s +house, where they stood, still and silent, in the moonlight. Nodwengo +and the captains went out to them, and as they saw him come they lifted +their spears like one man, giving him the royal salute of “King!” He +held up his hand and addressed them. + +“Soldiers,” he said, “we have been outwitted. My _impi_ is afar, and +that of Hafela is at our gates. Yonder in the valley, though we be +few, we can defend ourselves till succour reaches us, which already +messengers have gone out to seek. But first we must give time for the +women and children, the sick and the aged, to withdraw with food and +cattle; and this we can do in one way only, by keeping Hafela at bay +till they have passed the archway, all of them. Now, soldiers, for the +sake of your own lives, of your honour and of those you love, swear to +me, in the holy Name which we have been taught to worship, that you will +fight out this great fight without fear or faltering.” + +“We swear it in the holy Name, and by your head, King,” roared the +regiments. + +“Then victory is already ours,” answered Nodwengo. “Follow me, Children +of Fire!” and shaking his great spear, he led the way towards that +portion of the outer fence upon which Hafela was advancing. + +By now the town behind them was a scene of almost indescribable tumult +and confusion, for the companies detailed to the task were clearing the +numberless huts of their occupants, and collecting women, children and +oxen in thousands, preparatory to driving them into the defile. Panic +had seized many of these poor creatures, who, in imagination, already +saw themselves impaled upon the cruel spears of Hafela’s troops, and +indeed in not a few instances believed those who were urging them +forward to be the enemy. Women shrieked and wrung their hands, children +wailed piteously, oxen lowed, and the infirm and aged vented their +grief in groans and cries to Heaven, or their ancient god, for mercy. +In truth, so difficult was the task of marshalling this motley array +at night, numbering as it did ten or twelve thousand souls, that a full +hour went by before the mob even began to move, slowly and uncertainly, +towards the place of refuge, whereof the opening was so narrow that but +few of them could pass it at a time. + +Meanwhile Hafela was developing the attack. Forming his great army into +the shape of a wedge he raised his battle-cry and rushed down on the +first line of fortifications, which he stormed without difficulty, +for they were defended by a few skirmishers only. Next he attacked the +second line, and carried it after heavy fighting, then hurled himself +upon the weakest point of the main fence of the vast kraal. Here it was +that the fray began in earnest, for here Nodwengo was waiting for him. +Thrice the thousands rolled on in the face of a storm of spears, and +thrice they fell back from the wide fence of thorns and the wall of +stone behind it. By now the battle had raged for about an hour and a +half, and it was reported to the king that the first of the women and +children had passed the archway into the valley, and that nearly all of +them were clear of the eastern gate of the town. + +“Then it is time that we follow them,” said the king, “for if we wait +here until the warriors of Hafela are among us, our retreat will become +a rout and soon there will be none left to follow. Let one company,” and +he named it, “hold the fence for a while to give us time to withdraw, +taking the wounded with us.” + +“We hear you, king,” said one of that company, “but our captain is +killed.” + +“Who among you will take over the command of these men and hold the +breach?” asked Nodwengo of the group of officers about him. + +“I, King,” answered old Hokosa, lifting his spear, “for I care not +whether I live or die.” + +“Go to, boaster!” cried another. “Who among us cares whether he lives or +dies when the king commands?” + +“That we shall know to-morrow,” said Hokosa quietly, and the soldiers +laughed at the retort. + +“So be it,” said the king, and while silently and swiftly he led off the +regiments, keeping in the shadow of the huts, Hokosa and his hundred +men posted themselves behind the weakened fence and wall. Now, for the +fourth time the attacking regiment came forward grimly, on this occasion +led by the prince himself. As they drew near, Hokosa leapt upon the +wall, and standing there in the bright moonlight where all could see +him, he called to them to halt. Instinctively they obeyed him. + +“Is it Hafela whom I see yonder?” he asked. + +“Ah! it is I,” answered the prince. “What would you with me, wizard and +traitor?” + +“This only, Hafela: I would ask you what you seek here?” + +“That which you promised me, Hokosa, the crown of my father and certain +other things.” + +“Then get you back, Hafela, for you shall never win them.. Have I +prophesied falsely to you at any time? Not so--neither do I prophesy +falsely now. Get you back whence you came, and your wolves with you, +else shall you bide here for ever.” + +“Do you dare to call down evil on me, Wizard?” shouted the prince +furiously. “Your wife is mine, and now I take your life also,” and with +all his strength he hurled at him the great spear he held. + +It hissed past Hokosa’s head, touching his ear, but he never flinched +from the steel. + +“A poor cast, Prince,” he said laughing; “but so it must have been, for +I am guarded by that which you cannot see. My wife you have, and she +shall be your ruin; my life you may take, but ere it leaves me, Hafela, +I shall see you dead and your army scattered. The Messenger is passed +away, but his power has fallen upon me and I speak the truth to you, O +Prince and warriors, who are--already dead.” + +Now a shriek of dismay and fury rose from the hundreds who heard this +prophesy of ill, for of Hokosa and his magic they were terribly afraid. + +“Kill him! Kill the wizard!” they shouted, and a rain of spears rushed +towards him on the wall. + +They rushed towards him, they passed above, below, around; but, of them +all, not one touched him. + +“Did I not tell you that I was guarded by That which you cannot see?” + Hokosa asked contemptuously. Then slowly he descended from the wall +amidst a great silence. + +“When men are scarce the tongue must play a part,” he explained to his +companions, who stared at him wondering. “By now the king and those +with him should have reached the eastern gate; whereas, had we fought at +once, Hafela would be hard upon his heels, for we are few, and who can +hold a buffalo with a rope of grass? Yet I think that I spoke truth +when I told him that the garment of the Messenger has fallen upon my +shoulders, and that death awaits him and his companions, as it awaits +me also and many of us. Now, friends, be ready, for the bull charges +and soon we must feel his horns. This at least is left to you, to die +gloriously.” + +While he was still speaking the first files of the regiment rushed upon +the fence, tearing aside the thorns with their hands till a passage was +made through them. Then they sprang upon the wall, there to be met +by the spears of Hokosa and his men thrusting upward from beneath its +shelter. Time after time they sprang, and time after time they fell back +dead or wounded, till at last, dashing forward in one dense column, they +poured over the stones as the rising tide pours over the rocks on the +sea-shore, driving the defenders before them by the sheer weight of +numbers. + +“This game is played!” cried Hokosa. “Fly now to the eastern gate, for +here we can do nothing more.” + +So they fled, those who survived of them, and after them came the +thousands of the foe, sacking and firing the deserted town as they +advanced. + +Hokosa and his men, or rather the half of them, reached the gate and +passed it in safety, barring it after them, and thereby delaying the +attackers till they could burst their way through. Now hundreds of huts +were afire, and the flames spread swiftly, lighting up the country far +and wide. In the glare of them, Hokosa could see that already a full +two-thirds of the crowd of fugitives had passed the narrow arch; while +Nodwengo and the soldiers were drawn up in companies upon the steep and +rocky slope that led to it, protecting their retreat. + +He advanced to the king and reported himself. + +“So you have lived through it,” said Nodwengo. + +“I shall die when my hour comes, and not before,” Hokosa answered. “We +did well yonder, and yet the most of us are alive to tell the tale, for +I knew when and how to go. Be ready, king, for the foe press us close, +and that mob behind us crawls onward like a snail.” + +As he spoke the pursuers broke through the fence and gate of the burning +town, and once more the fight began. They had the advantage of numbers; +but Nodwengo and his troops stood in a wide road upon higher ground +protected on either side by walls, and were, moreover, rested, not +breathless and weary with travel like the men of Hafela. Slowly, +fighting, every inch of the way, Nodwengo was pushed back, and slowly +the long ant-like line of women and sick and cattle crept through the +opening in the rock, till at length all of them were gone. + +“It is time,” said Nodwengo, glancing behind him, “for our arms grow +weary.” + +Then he gave orders, and company by company the defending force followed +on the path of the fugitives, till at length amidst a roar of rage and +disappointment, the last of them vanished through the arch, Hokosa among +them, and the place was blocked with stones, above which shone a hedge +of spears. + + + +CHAPTER XX + +NOMA SETS A SNARE + +Thus ended the first night’s battle, since for this time the enemy had +fought enough. Nodwengo and his men had also had enough, for out of the +five thousand of them some eleven hundred were killed or wounded. Yet +they might not rest, for all that night, assisted by the women, they +laboured, building stone walls across the narrowest parts of the valley. +Also the cattle, women and children were moved along the gorge, which in +shape may be compared to a bottle with two necks, one at either end, +and encamped in the opening of the second neck, where was the spring +of water. This spot was chosen both because here alone water could be +obtained, without which they could not hold out more than a single day, +and because the koppie whereon grew the strange-looking euphorbia known +as the Tree of Doom afforded a natural rampart against attack. + +Shortly after dawn, while the soldiers were resting and eating of +such food as could be procured--for the most part strips of raw or +half-cooked meat cut from hastily killed cattle--the onslaught was +renewed with vigour, Hafela directing his efforts to the forcing of the +natural archway. But, strive as he would, this he could not do, for it +was choked with stones and thorns and guarded by brave men. + +“You do but waste your labour, Hafela,” said Noma, who stood by him +watching the assault. + +“What then is to be done?” he asked, “for unless we come at them we +cannot kill them. It was clever of them to take refuge in this hole. I +thought surely that they would fight it out yonder, beneath the fences +of the Great Place.” + +“Ah!” she answered, “you forgot that they had Hokosa on their side. Did +you then think to catch him sleeping? This retreat was Hokosa’s counsel. +I learned it from the lips of that wounded captain before they killed +him. Now, it seems that there are but two paths to follow, and you can +choose between them. The one is to send a regiment a day and a half’s +journey across the cliff top to guard the further mouth of the valley +and to wait till these jackals starve in their hole, for certainly they +can never come out.” + +“It has started six hours since,” said Hafela, “and though the +precipices are steep, having the moon to travel by, it should reach the +river mouth of the valley before dawn to-morrow, cutting Nodwengo off +from the plains, if indeed he should dare to venture out upon them, +which, with so small a force, he will not do. Yet this first plan +of yours must fail, Noma, seeing that before they starve within, the +generals of Nodwengo will be back upon us from the mountains, catching +us between the hammer and the anvil, and I know not how that fight would +go.” + +“Yet, soon or late, it must be fought.” + +“Nay,” he answered, “for my hope is that should the _impi_ return to +find Nodwengo dead, they will surrender and acknowledge me as king, who +am the first of the blood royal. But what is your second plan?” + +By way of answer, she pointed to the cliff above them. On the right-hand +side, facing the archway, was a flat ledge overhanging the valley, at a +height of about a hundred feet. + +“If you can come yonder,” she said, “it will be easy to storm this gate, +for there lie rocks in plenty, and men cannot fight when stones are +dropping on their heads.” + +“But how can we come to that home of vultures, where never man has set +a foot? Look, the cliff above is sheer; no rock-rabbit could stand upon +it.” + +With her eye Noma measured the distance from the brink of the precipice +to the broad ledge commanding the valley. + +“Sixty paces, not more,” she said. “Well, yonder are oxen in plenty, and +out of their hides ropes can be made, and out of ropes a ladder, down +which men may pass; ten, or even five, would be enough.” + +“Well thought of Noma,” said Hafela. “Hokosa told us last night that to +him had passed the wisdom of the Messenger; but if this be so, I think +that to you has passed the guile of Hokosa.” + +“It seems to me that some of it abides with him,” answered Noma +laughing. + +Then the prince gave orders, and, with many workers of hides toiling at +it, within two hours the ladder was ready, its staves, set twenty inches +apart, being formed of knob-kerries, or the broken shafts of stabbing +spears. Now they lowered it from the top of the precipice so that its +end rested upon the ledge, and down it came several men, who swung upon +its giddy length like spiders on a web. Reaching this great shelf in +safety and advancing to the edge of it, these men started a boulder, +which, although as it chanced it hurt no one, fell in the midst of a +group of the defenders and bounded away through them. + +“Now we must be going,” said Hokosa, looking up, “for no man can fight +against rocks, and our spears cannot reach those birds. Had the army +been taught the use of the bow, as I counselled in the past days, we +might still have held the archway; but they called it a woman’s weapon, +and would have none of it.” + +As he spoke another stone fell, crushing the life out of a man who stood +next to him. Then they retreated to the first wall, which had been piled +up during the night, where it was not possible to roll rocks upon them +from the cliffs above. This wall, and others reared at intervals behind +it, they set to work to strengthen as much as they could, making the +most of the time that was left to them before the enemy could clear the +way and march on to attack. + +Presently Hafela’s men were through and sweeping down upon them with +a roar, thinking to carry the wall at a single rush. But in this they +failed; indeed, it was only after an hour’s hard fighting and by the +expedient of continually attacking the work with fresh companies that at +length they stormed the wall. + +When Hokosa saw that he could no longer hold the place, but before the +foe was upon him, he drew off his soldiers to the second wall, a quarter +of a mile or more away, and here the fight began again. And so it went +on for hour after hour, as one by one the fortifications were carried +by the weight of numbers, for the attackers fought desperately under the +eye of their prince, caring nothing for the terrible loss they suffered +in men. Twice the force of the defenders was changed by order of +Nodwengo, fresh men being sent from the companies held in reserve to +take the places of those who had borne the brunt of the battle. This +indeed it was necessary to do, seeing that it was impossible to carry +water to so many, and in that burning valley men could not fight for +long athirst. Only Hokosa stayed on, for they brought him drink in +a gourd, and wherever the fray was fiercest there he was always; nor +although spears were rained upon him by hundreds, was he touched by one +of them. + +At length as the night fell the king’s men were driven back from their +last scherm in the western half of the valley, across the open space +back upon the koppie where stood the Tree of Doom. Here they stayed a +while till, overmatched and outworn, they were pushed from its rocks +across the narrow stretch of broken ground into the shelter of the great +stone scherm or wall that ran from side to side of the further neck of +the valley, whereon thousands of women and such men as could be spared +had been working incessantly during the past night and day. + +It was as he retreated among the last upon this wall that Hokosa caught +sight of Noma for the first time since they parted in the house of the +Messenger. In the forefront of his troops, directing the attack, was +Hafela the prince, and at his side stood Noma, carrying in her hand a +little shield and a spear. At this moment also she saw him and called +aloud to him:-- + +“You have fought well, Wizard, but to-morrow all your magic shall avail +you nothing, for it will be your last day upon this earth.” + +“Ay, Noma,” he answered, “and yours also.” + +Then of a sudden a company of the king’s men rushed from the shelter of +the wall upon the attackers driving them back to the koppie and killing +several, so that in the confusion and gathering darkness Hokosa lost +sight of her, though a man at his side declared that he saw her fall +beneath the thrust of an assegai. Thus ended the second day. + +Now when the watch had been set the king and his captains took counsel +together, for their hearts were heavy. + +“Listen,” said Nodwengo: “out of five thousand soldiers a thousand have +been killed and a thousand lie among us wounded. Hark to the groaning of +them! Also we have with us women and children and sick to the number of +twelve thousand, and between us and those who would butcher them every +one there stands but a single wall. Nor is this the worst of it: the +spring cannot supply the wants of so great a multitude in this hot +place, and it is feared that presently the water will be done. What +way shall we turn? If we surrender to Hafela, perhaps he will spare the +lives of the women and children; but whatever he may promise, the most +of us he will surely slay. If we fight and are defeated, then once +his regiments are among us, all will be slain according to the ancient +custom of our people. I have bethought me that we might retreat through +the valley, but the river beyond is in flood; also it is certain that +before this multitude could reach it, the prince will have sent a force +to cut us off while he himself harasses our rear. Now let him who has +counsel speak.” + +“King, I have counsel,” said Hokosa. “What were the words that the +Messenger spoke to us before he died? Did he not say: ‘Even now the +heathen is at your gates, and many of you shall perish on his spears; +but I tell you that he shall not conquer’? Did he not say: ‘Be faithful, +cling to the Cross, and do not dare to doubt your Lord, for He will +protect you, and your children after you, and He will be your Captain +and you shall be His people’? Did he not bid you also to listen to my +counsel? Then listen to it, for it is his: Your case seems desperate, +but have no fear, and take no thought for the morrow, for all shall yet +be well. Let us now pray to Him that the Messenger has revealed to us, +and Whom now he implores on our behalf in that place where he is to +guide us and to save us, for then surely He will hearken to our prayer.” + +“So be it,” said Nodwengo, and going out he stood upon a pillar of stone +in the moonlight and offered up his supplication in the hearing of the +multitude. + +Meanwhile, those of the camp of Hafela were also taking counsel. They +had fought bravely indeed, and carried the schanses; but at great cost, +since for every man that Nodwengo had lost, three of theirs had fallen. +Moreover, they were in evil case with weariness and the want of water, +as each drop they drank must be carried to them from the Great Place in +bags made of raw hide, which caused it to stink, for they had but few +gourds with them. + +“Now it is strange,” said Hafela, “that these men should fight so +bravely, seeing that they are but a handful. There can be scarce three +thousand of them left, and yet I doubt not that before we carry those +last walls of theirs as many of us or more will be done. Ay! and after +they are done with, we must meet their great _impi_ when it returns, and +of what will befall us then I scarcely like to think.” + +“Ill-fortune will befall you while Hokosa lives,” broke in Noma. “Had it +not been for him, this trouble would have been done with by now; but +he is a wizard, and by his wizardries he defeats us and puts heart into +Nodwengo and the warriors. You, yourself, have seen him this day defying +us, not once but many times, for upon his flesh steel has no power. Ay! +and this is but the beginning of evil, for I am sure that he leads you +into some deep trap where you shall perish everlastingly. Did he not +himself declare that the power of that dead white worker of miracles has +fallen upon him, and who can fight against magic?” + +“Who, indeed?” said Hafela humbly; for like all savages he was +very superstitious, and, moreover, a sincere believer in Hokosa’s +supernatural capacities. “This wizard is too strong for us; he is +invulnerable, and as I know well he can read the secret thoughts of men +and can suck wisdom from the dead, while to his eyes the darkness is no +blind.” + +“Nay, Hafela,” answered Noma, “there is one crack in his shield. Hear +me: if we can but catch him and hold him fast we shall have no need to +fear him more, and I think that I know how to bait the trap.” + +“How will you bait it?” asked Hafela. + +“Thus. Midway between the koppie and the wall behind which lie the men +of the king stands a flat rock, and all about that rock are stretched +the bodies of dead soldiers. Now, this is my plan: that when next one +of those dark storm-clouds passes over the face of the moon six of the +strongest of our warriors should creep upon their bellies down this way +and that, as though they were also numbered with the slain. This done, +you shall despatch a herald to call in the ears of the king that you +desire to treat with him of peace. Then he will answer that if this be +so you can come beneath the walls of his camp, and your herald shall +refuse, saying that you fear treachery. But he must add that if Nodwengo +will bid Hokosa to advance alone to the flat rock, you will bid me, +Noma, whom none can fear, to do likewise, and that there we can talk in +sight of both armies, and returning thence, make report to you and to +Nodwengo. Afterwards, so soon as Hokosa has set his foot upon the rock, +those men who seem to be dead shall spring upon him and drag him to +our camp, where we can deal with him; for once the wizard is taken, the +cause of Nodwengo is lost.” + +“A good pitfall,” said the prince; “but will Hokosa walk into the trap?” + +“I think so, Hafela, for three reasons. He is altogether without fear; +he will desire, if may be, to make peace on behalf of the king; and he +has this strange weakness, that he still loves me, and will scarcely +suffer an occasion of speaking with me to go past, although he has +divorced me.” + +“So be it,” said the prince; “the game can be tried, and if it fails, +why we lose nothing, whereas if it succeeds we gain Hokosa, which is +much; for with you I think that our arms will never prosper while that +accursed wizard sits yonder weaving his spells against us, and bringing +our men to death by hundreds and by thousands.” + +Then he gave his orders, and presently, when a cloud passed over the +face of the moon, six chosen men crept forward under the lee of the flat +rock and threw themselves down here and there amongst the dead. + +Soon the cloud passed, and the herald advanced across the open space +blowing a horn, and waving a branch in his hand to show that he came +upon a mission of peace. + + + +CHAPTER XXI + +HOKOSA IS LIFTED UP + +“What would you?” asked Hokosa of the herald as he halted a short +spear-cast from the wall. + +“My master, the Prince Hafela, desires to treat with your master, +Nodwengo. Many men have fallen on either side, and if this war goes on, +though victory must be his at last, many more will fall. Therefore, if +any plan can be found, he desires to spare their lives.” + +Now Hokosa spoke with the king, and answered:-- + +“Then let Hafela come beneath the wall and we will talk with him.” + +“Not so,” answered the herald. “Does a buck walk into an open pit? Were +the prince to come here it might chance that your spears would talk with +him. Let Nodwengo follow me to the camp yonder, where we promise him +safe conduct.” + +“Not so,” answered Hokosa. “‘Does a buck walk into an open pit?’ Set out +your message, and we will consider it.” + +“Nay, I am but a common man without authority; but I am charged to make +you another offer, and if you will not hear it then there is an end. +Let Hokosa advance alone to that flat rock you see yonder, and there he +shall be met, also alone, by one having power to talk with him, namely, +by the Lady Noma, who was once his wife. Thus they can confer together +midway between the camps and in full sight of both of them, nor, no man +being near, can he find cause to be afraid of an unarmed girl. What say +you?” + +Hokosa turned and talked with the king. + +“I think it well that you should not go,” said Nodwengo. “The offer +seems fair, and the stone is out of reach of their spears; still, +behind it may lurk a scheme to kill or capture you, for Hafela is very +cunning.” + +“It may be so, King,” answered Hokosa; “still, my heart tells me it is +wisest that I should do this thing, for our case is desperate, and if I +do it not, that may be the cause of the death of all of us to-morrow. +At the worst, I am but one man, and it matters little what may chance to +me; nor shall I come to any harm unless it is the will of Heaven that it +should be so; and be sure of this, that out of the harm will arise good, +for where I go there the spirit of the Messenger goes with me. Remember +that he bade you listen to my counsel while I remain with you, seeing +that I do not speak of my own wisdom. Therefore let me go, and if it +should chance that I am taken, trouble not about the matter, for thus it +will be fated to some great end. Above all, though often enough I have +been a traitor in the past, do not dream that I betray you, keeping in +mind that so to do would be to betray my own soul, which very soon must +render its account on high.” + +“As you will, Hokosa,” answered the king. “And now tell those rebel dogs +that on these terms only will I make peace with them--that they withdraw +across the mountains by the path which their women and children have +taken, leaving this land for ever without lifting another spear against +us. If they will do this, notwithstanding all the wickedness and +slaughter that they have worked, I will send command to my _impi_ to let +them go unharmed. If they will not do this, I put my trust in the God I +worship and will fight this fray out to the end, knowing that if I and +my people perish, they shall perish also.” + +Now Nodwengo himself spoke to the herald who was waiting beyond the +wall. + +“Go back to him you serve,” he said, “and say that Hokosa will meet her +who was his wife upon the flat stone and talk with her in the sight of +both armies, bearing my word with him. At the sound of the blowing of a +horn shall each of them advance unarmed and alone from either camp. Say +to my brother also that it will indeed be ill for him if he attempts +treachery upon Hokosa, for the man who causes his blood to flow will +surely die, and after death shall be accursed for ever.” + +The herald went, and presently a horn was blown. + +“Now it comes into my mind that we part for the last time,” said +Nodwengo in a troubled voice as he took the hand of Hokosa. + +“It may be so, King; in my heart I think that it is so; yet I do not +altogether grieve thereat, for the burden of my past sins crushes me, +and I am weary and seek for rest. Yet we do not part for the last time, +because whatever chances, in the end I shall make my report to you +yonder”--and he pointed upwards. “Reign on for long years, King--reign +well and wisely, clinging to the Faith, for thus at the last shall you +reap your reward. Farewell!” + +Now again the horn blew, and in the bright moonlight the slight figure +of Noma could be seen advancing towards the stone. + +Then Hokosa sprang from the wall and advanced also, till at the same +moment they climbed upon the stone. + +“Greeting, Hokosa,” said Noma, and she stretched out her hand to him. + +By way of answer he placed his own behind his back, saying: “To your +business, woman.” Yet his eyes searched her face--the face which in his +folly he still loved; and thus it came about that he never saw sundry of +the dead bodies, which lay in the shadow of the stone, begin to quicken +into life, and inch by inch to arise, first to their knees and next to +their feet. He never saw or heard them, yet, as the words left his lips, +they sprang upon him from every side, holding him so that he could not +move. + +“Away with him!” cried Noma with a laugh of triumph; and at her command +he was half-dragged and half-carried across the open space and thrust +violently over a stone wall into the camp of Hafela. + +Now Nodwengo and his soldiers saw what had happened, and with a shout of +“Treachery!” some hundreds of them leapt into the plain and began to run +towards the koppie to rescue their envoy. + +Hokosa heard the shout, and wrenching himself round, beheld them. + +“Back!” he cried in a clear, shrill voice. “Back! children of Nodwengo, +and leave me to my fate, for the foe waits for you by thousands behind +the wall!” + +A soldier struck him across the mouth, bidding him be silent; but his +warning had come to the ears of Nodwengo, causing him and his warriors +to halt and begin a retreat. It was well that they did so, for seeing +that they would not come on, from under the shelter of the wall and +of every rock and stone soldiers jumped up by companies and charged, +driving them back to their own schanse. But the king’s men had the start +of them, and had taken shelter behind it, whence they greeted them with +a volley of spears, killing ten and wounding twice as many more. + +Now it was Hokosa’s turn to laugh, and laugh he did, saying:-- + +“My taking is well paid for already, Prince. A score of your best +warriors is a heavy price to give for the carcase of one weary and aging +man. But since I am here among you, captured with so much pain and loss, +tell me of your courtesy why I have been brought.” + +Then the prince shook his spear at him and cursed him. + +“Would you learn, wizard and traitor?” he cried. “We have caught you +because we know well that while you stay yonder your magic counsel will +prevail against our might; whereas, when once we hold you fast, Nodwengo +will wander to his ruin like a blind and moonstruck man, for you were to +him both eyes and brain.” + +“I understand,” said Hokosa calmly. “But, Prince, how if I left my +wisdom behind me?” + +“That may not be,” answered Hafela, “since even a wizard cannot throw +his thoughts into the heart of another from afar.” + +“Ah! you think so, Prince. Well, ask Noma yonder if I cannot throw my +thoughts into her heart from afar: though of late I have not chosen +to do so, having put aside such spells. But let it pass, and tell me, +having taken me, what is it you propose to do with me? First, however, +I will give you for nothing some of that wisdom which you grudge to +Nodwengo the king. Be advised by me, Prince, and take the terms that he +offers to you--namely, to turn this very night and begone from the land +without harm or hindrance. Will you receive my gift, Hafela?” + +“What will happen if I refuse it?” asked the prince slowly. + +Now Hokosa looked at the dust at his feet, then he gazed upwards +searching the heavens, and answered:-- + +“Did not I tell you yesterday? I think that this will happen. I +think--but who can be quite sure of the future, Hafela?--that you and +the most of your army by this hour to-morrow night will be lying fast +asleep about this place, with jackals for your bedfellows.” + +The prince heard and trembled at his words, for he believed that if he +willed it, Hokosa could prophesy the truth. + +“Accursed dog!” he said. “I am minded to be guided by your saying; but +be sure of this, that if I follow it, you shall stay here to sleep with +jackals, yes, this very night.” + +Then Noma broke in. + +“Be not mad, Hafela!” she said. “Will you listen to the lies that this +renegade tells to work upon your fears? Will you abandon victory when it +lies within your grasp, and in place of a great king become a fugitive +whom all men mock at, an outcast to be hunted down at leisure by that +brother against whom you dared to rebel, but on whom you did not dare +to shut your hand when he lay in its hollow? Silence the tongue of this +captive rogue for ever and become a man again, with the heart of a man.” + +“Now,” said Hokosa gently; “many would find it hard to believe that I +reared this woman from childhood, nursing her with my own hands when +she was sick and giving her of the best I had; that afterwards, when +you stole her from me, Prince, I sinned deeply to win her back. That +I married her and sinned yet more deeply to give her the greatness she +desired; and at last, of my own will, I loosed the bonds by which I held +her, although I could not thrust her memory from my heart. Yet I have +earned it all, for I made her the tool of my witchcraft, and therefore +it is just that she should turn and rend me. Well, if you like it, take +her counsel, Prince, and let mine go, for I care nothing which you take; +only, forgive me if I prophesy once more and for the last time--I am +sure that Nodwengo yonder spoke truth when he bade your herald tell +me that he who causes my blood to flow shall surely die and for it be +called to a strict account. Prince, I am a Christian now, and believe +me, whatever you may do, I seek no revenge upon you; having been myself +forgiven so much, in my turn I have learned to forgive. Yet it may be +ill for that man who causes my blood to flow.” + +“Let him be strangled,” said a captain who stood near by, “and then +there will be no blood in the matter.” + +“Friend,” answered Hokosa, “you should have been not a soldier but a +pleader of causes. True it is then that the prince will only cause my +life to fly, but whether that is a smaller sin I leave you to judge.” + +“Keep him prisoner,” said another, “till we learn how these matters +end.” + +“Nay,” answered Hafela, “for then he will surely outwit us and escape. +Noma, what shall we do with this man who was your husband? Tell us, for +you should know best how to deal with him.” + +“Let me think,” she answered, and she looked first at the ground beneath +her, next around her, then upwards toward the skies. + +Now they stood at the foot of the koppie, on the flat top of which grew +the great Tree of Doom, that for generations had served the People of +Fire as a place of execution of their criminals, or of those who fell +under the ban of the king or of the witch-doctors. Among and above the +finger-like fronds of this strange and dreadful-looking tree towered +that white dead limb shaped like a cross, which Owen had pointed out +to his disciple John, taking it to be a sign and a promise. This cross +stood out clear against the sinking moon. It caught Noma’s eye, and a +devilish thought entered into her heart. + +“You would keep this fellow alive?” she said, “and yet you would +not suffer him to escape. See, there above you is a cross such as he +worships. Bind him to it as he says the Man whom he worships was bound, +and let that dead Man help him if he may.” + +The prince and those about Noma shrank back a little in horror. They +were cruel men rendered more cruel by their superstitious fear of one +whom they believed to be uncanny; one to whom they attributed inhuman +powers which he was exercising to their destruction, but still this +doom seemed dreadful to them. Noma read their minds and went on +passionately:-- + +“You deem me unmerciful, but you do not know what I have suffered at +this wizard’s hands. For his sake and because of him I am haunted. For +his own purposes he opened the gates of Distance, he sent me down among +the dwellers in Death, causing me to interpret their words for him. I +did so, but the dwellers came back out of Death with me, and from that +hour they have not left me, nor will they ever leave me; for night by +night they sojourn at my side, tormenting me with terrors. He has +told me that through my mouth that spirit whom he drew into my body +prophesied that he should be ‘lifted up above the people.’ Let the +prophecy be fulfilled, let him be lifted up, for then perchance the +ghosts will depart from me and I shall win peace and sleep. Also, thus +alone can you hold him safe and yet shed no blood.” + +“Be it so,” said the prince. “When we plotted together of the death of +the king, and as your price, Hokosa, you bargained for the girl whom I +had chosen to wife, did I not warn you that this witch of many spells, +who holds both our hearts in her little hands, should yet hound you to +death and mock you while you perished by an end of shame? What did I +tell you, Hokosa?” + +Now when he heard his fate, Hokosa bowed his head and trembled a little. +Then he lifted it, and exclaimed in a clear voice:-- + +“It is true, Prince, but I will add to your words. She shall bring +_both_ of us to death. For me, I am honoured indeed in that there has +been allotted to me that same end which my Master chose. To that cross +let my sins be fastened and with them my body.” + +Now the moon sank, but in the darkness men were found who dared to climb +the tree, taking with them strips of raw hide. They reached the top of +it, four of them, and seating themselves upon the arms of the cross, +they let down a rope, the noose of which was placed about the body of +Hokosa. As it tightened upon him, he turned his calm and dreadful eyes +on to the eyes of Noma and said to her:-- + +“Woman, I do not reproach you; but I lay this fate upon you, that you +shall watch me die. Thereafter, let God deal with you as He may choose.” + +Now, when she heard these words Noma shrieked aloud, for of a sudden she +felt that the power of the will of Hokosa, from which she had been freed +by him, had once more fallen upon her, and that come what might she was +doomed to obey his last commands. + +Little by little the soldiers drew him up and in the darkness they bound +him fast there upon the lofty cross. Then they descended and left him, +and would have led Noma with them from the tree. But this they could +not do, for always she broke from them screaming, and fled back to its +shadow. + +Then, seeing that she was bewitched, Hafela commanded that they should +bind a cloth about her mouth and leave her there till her senses +returned to her in the sunlight--for none of them dared to stop with +her in the shadow of that tree, since the odours of it were poisonous to +man. Also they believed the place to be haunted by evil spirits. + + + +CHAPTER XXII + +THE VICTORY OF THE CROSS + +The sun rose suddenly over the edge of the cliffs, and while it was yet +deep shadow in the valley, its red light struck upon the white cross of +perished wood that towered above the Tree of Doom and on the black +shape of Hokosa crucified to it living. The camp of the king saw and +understood, and from every throat of the thousands of men, women and +children gathered there, went up a roar of rage and horror. The king +lifted his hand, and silence fell upon the place; then he mounted on the +wall and cried aloud:-- + +“Do you yet live, Hokosa, or is it your body only that those traitors +have fastened to the tree?” + +Back came the answer through the clear still air:-- + +“I live, O King!” + +“Endure then a little while,” called Nodwengo, “and we will storm the +tree and save you.” + +“Nay,” answered Hokosa, “you cannot save me; yet before I die I shall +see you saved.” + +Then his words were lost in tumult, for the third day’s fighting began. +Desperately the regiments of Hafela rushing across the open space, +hurled themselves upon the fortifications, which, during the night, had +been strengthened by the building of two inner walls. Nor was this all, +for suddenly a cry told those in front that the regiment which Hafela +had despatched across the mountains had travelled up the eastern neck of +the valley, and were attacking the position in their rear. Well was it +for Nodwengo now that he had listened to the counsel of Hokosa, and, +wearied as his soldiers were, had commanded that here also a great wall +should be built. + +For two hours the fight raged, and then on either side the foe fell +back, not beaten indeed, though their dead were many, but to rest and +take counsel. But now a new trouble arose: from all the camp of Nodwengo +there went up a moan of pain to Heaven, for since the evening of +yesterday the spring had given out, and they had found no water +wherewith to wet their lips. During the night they bore it; but now the +sun beating down on the black rocks with fearful force scorched them to +the marrow, till they began to wither like fallen leaves, and already +wounded men and children died, while the warriors cut the throats of +oxen and drank their blood. + +Hokosa hanging on his cross heard this moaning and divined its cause. + +“Be of good comfort, children of Nodwengo,” he cried; “for I will pray +that rain be sent upon you.” And he lifted his head and prayed. + +Now, whether it was by chance or whether his prayer was heard, who can +say? At least it happened that immediately thereafter clouds began to +gather and to thicken in the blue of Heaven, and within two hours rain +fell in torrents, so that every one could drink his fill, and the spring +being replenished at its sources, flowed again strongly. + +After the rain came cold and moaning winds, and after the wind a great +gloom and thunder. + +Now, taking advantage of the shadow, the regiments of Hafela renewed +their attack, and this time they carried the first of the three walls, +for its defenders grew feeble and few in number. There they paused a +while, and save for the cries of the wounded and of frightened women, +the silence was great. + +“Let your hearts be filled up!” cried the voice of Hokosa through the +silence; “for the sunlight shines upon the plain of the Great Place +yonder, and in it I see the sheen of spears. The _impi_ travels to your +aid, O children of Nodwengo.” + +Now, at this tidings the people of the king shouted for joy; but +Hafela called to his regiments to make an end of them, and they hurled +themselves upon the second wall, fighting desperately. Again and again +they were beaten back, and again and again they came on, till at +length they carried this wall also, driving its defenders, or those who +remained alive of them, into the third entrenchment, and paused to rest +awhile. + +“Pray for us, O Prophet who are set on high!” cried a voice from the +camp, “for if succour do not reach us speedily, we are sped.” + +Before the echoes of the voice had died away, a flash of lightning +flared through the gloom, and in the light of it Hokosa saw that the +king’s _impi_ was rushing up the gorge. + +“Fight on! Fight on!” he called in answer. “I have prayed to Heaven, and +your succour is at hand.” + +Then, with a howl of rage, Hafela’s regiments hurled themselves upon +the third and last entrenchment, attacking it at once in front and rear. +Twice they nearly carried it, but each time the wild scream of Hokosa +on high was heard above the din, conjuring its defenders to fight on and +fear not, for Heaven had sent them help. They fought as men have seldom +fought before, and with them fought the women and even the children. +They were few and the foe was still many, but they listened to the +urging of him whom they believed to be inspired in his death-agony upon +the cross above them, and still they held their own. Twice portions of +the wall were torn down, but they filled the breach with the corpses of +the dead, ay! and with the bodies of the living, for the wounded, +the old men and the very women piled themselves there in the place of +stones. No such fray was told of in the annals of the People of Fire as +this, the last stand of Nodwengo against the thousands of Hafela. Now +all the shouting had died away, for men had no breath left wherewith to +shout, only from the gloomy place of battle came low groans and the deep +sobbing sighs of warriors gripped in the death-hug. + +“_Fight on! Fight on!_” shrilled the voice of Hokosa on high. “Lo! +the skies are open to my dying sight, and I see the _impis_ of Heaven +sweeping to succour you. _Behold!_” + +They dashed the sweat from their eyes and looked forth, and as they +looked, the pall of gloom was lifted, and in the golden glow of +many-shafted light, they saw, not the legions of Heaven indeed, but the +regiments of Nodwengo rushing round the bend of the valley, as dogs rush +upon a scent, with heads held low and spears outstretched. + +Hafela saw them also. + +“Back to the koppie,” he cried, “there to die like men, for the +wizardries of Hokosa have been too strong for us, and lost is this my +last battle and the crown I came to seek!” + +They obeyed, and all that were left of them, some ten thousand men, they +ran to the koppie and formed themselves upon it, ring above ring, and +here the soldiers of Nodwengo closed in upon them. + +Again and for the last time the voice of Hokosa rang out above the fray. + +“Nodwengo,” he cried, “with my passing breath I charge you have mercy +and spare these men, so many of them as will surrender. The day of +bloodshed has gone by, the fray is finished, the Cross has conquered. +Let there be peace in the land.” + +All men heard him, for his piercing scream, echoed from the precipices, +came to the ears of each. All men heard him, and, even in that fierce +hour of vengeance, all obeyed. The spear that was poised was not thrown, +and the kerry lifted over the fallen did not descend to dash away his +life. + +“Hearken, Hafela!” called the king, stepping forward from the ranks of +the attackers. “He whom you have set on high to bring defeat upon you +charges me to give you peace, and in the name of the conquering Cross I +give peace. All who surrender shall dwell henceforth in my shadow, nor +shall the head or the heel of one of them be harmed, although their sin +is great. One life only will I take, the life of that witch who +brought your armies down upon me to burn my town and slay my people +by thousands, and who but last night betrayed Hokosa to his death of +torment. All shall go free, I say, save the witch; and for you, you +shall be given cattle and such servants as will cling to you to the +number of a hundred, and driven from the land. Now, what say you? Will +you yield or be slain? Swift with your answer; for the sun sinks, and +ere it is set there must be an end in this way or in that.” + +The regiments of Hafela heard, and shouted in answer as with one +voice:-- + +“We take your mercy, King! We fought bravely while we could, and now we +take your mercy, King!” + +“What say you, Hafela?” repeated Nodwengo, addressing the prince, who +stood upon a point of rock above him in full sight of both armies. + +Hafela turned and looked at Hokosa hanging high in mid-air. + +“What say I?” he answered in a slow and quiet voice. “I say that the +Cross and its Prophet have been too strong for me, and that I should +have done well to follow the one and to listen to the counsel of the +other. My brother, you tell me that I may go free, taking servants with +me. I thank you and I will go--alone.” + +And setting the handle of his spear upon the rock, with a sudden +movement he fell forward, transfixing his heart with its broad blade, +and lay still. + +“At least he died like one of the blood-royal of the Sons of Fire!” + cried Nodwengo, while the armies stood silent and awestruck, “and with +the blood-royal he shall be buried. Lay down your arms, you who followed +him and fought for him, fearing nothing, and give over to me the witch +that she may be slain.” + +“She hides under the tree yonder!” cried a voice. + +“Go up and take her,” said Nodwengo to some of his captains. + +Now Noma, crouched on the ground beneath the tree, had seen and heard +all that passed. Perceiving the captains making their way towards her +through the lines of the soldiers, who opened out a path for them, she +rose and for a moment stood bewildered. Then, as though drawn by some +strange attraction, she turned, and seizing hold of the creeper that +clung about it, she began to climb the Tree of Doom swiftly. Up she went +while all men watched, higher and higher yet, till passing out of the +finger-like foliage she reached the cross of dead wood whereto Hokosa +hung, and placing her feet upon one arm of it, stood there, supporting +herself by the broken top of the upright. + +Hokosa was not yet dead, though he was very near to death. Lifting his +glazing eyes, he knew her and said, speaking thickly:-- + +“What do you here, Noma, and wherefore have you come?” + +“I come because you draw me,” she answered, “and because they seek my +life below.” + +“Repent, repent!” he whispered, “there is yet time and Heaven is very +merciful.” + +She heard, and a fury seized her. + +“Be silent, dog!” she cried. “Having defied your God so long, shall I +grovel to Him at the last? Having hated you so much, shall I seek your +forgiveness now? At least of one thing I am glad--it was I who brought +you here, and with me and through me you shall die.” + +Then, placing one foot upon his bent head as if in scorn, she leaned +forward, her long hair flying to the wind, and cursed Nodwengo and his +people, naming them renegades and apostates, and cursed the soldiers of +Hafela, naming them cowards, calling down upon them the malison of their +ancestors. + +Hokosa heard and muttered:-- + +“For your soul’s sake, woman, repent! repent, ere it be too late!” + +“Repent!” she screamed, catching at his words. “Thus do I repent!” + and drawing the knife from her girdle, she leant over him and drove it +hilt-deep into his breast. + +Then with a sudden movement she sprang upwards and outwards into the +air, and rushing down through a hundred feet of space, was struck dead +upon that very rock where the corpse of Hafela lay. + +Now, beneath the agony of the knife Hokosa lifted his head for the last +time, crying in a great voice:-- + +“Messenger, I come, be you my guide,” and with the words his soul +passed. + +“All is over and ended,” said a voice. “Soldiers, salute the king with +the royal salute.” + +“Nay,” answered Nodwengo. “Salute me not, salute the Cross and him who +hangs thereon.” + +So, while the rays of the setting sun shone about it, regiment by +regiment that great army rushed past the koppie, and pausing opposite to +the cross and its burden, they rendered to it the royal salute of kings. + +***** + +Then the night fell, and thus through the power of Faith that now, as of +old, is the only true and efficient magic, was accomplished the mission +to the Sons of Fire of the Saint and Martyr, Thomas Owen, and of his +murderer and disciple, the Wizard Hokosa. + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Wizard, by H. 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Rider Haggard</title> + +<style type="text/css" xml:space="preserve"> + + body { margin:5%; background:#faebd0; text-align:justify} + P { text-indent: 1em; margin-top: .25em; margin-bottom: .25em; } + H1,H2,H3,H4,H5,H6 { text-align: center; margin-left: 15%; margin-right: 15%; } + hr { width: 50%; text-align: center;} + .foot { margin-left: 20%; margin-right: 20%; text-align: justify; text-indent: -3em; font-size: 90%; } + blockquote {font-size: 97%; font-style: italic; margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%;} + .mynote {background-color: #DDE; color: #000; padding: .5em; margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 95%;} + .toc { margin-left: 10%; margin-bottom: .75em;} + .toc2 { margin-left: 20%;} + div.fig { display:block; margin:0 auto; text-align:center; } + div.middle { margin-left: 20%; margin-right: 20%; text-align: justify; } + .figleft {float: left; margin-left: 0%; margin-right: 1%;} + .figright {float: right; margin-right: 0%; margin-left: 1%;} + .pagenum {display:inline; font-size: 70%; font-style:normal; + margin: 0; padding: 0; position: absolute; right: 1%; + text-align: right;} + pre { font-style: italic; font-size: 90%; margin-left: 10%;} + +</style> + </head> + <body> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Wizard, by H. Rider Haggard + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Wizard + +Author: H. Rider Haggard + +Release Date: April 3, 2006 [EBook #2893] +Last Updated: May 20, 2021 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: UTF-8 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE WIZARD *** + + + + +Produced by John Bickers; Dagny; David Widger + + + + + +</pre> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <h1> + THE WIZARD + </h1> + <p> + <br /> + </p> + <h2> + by H. Rider Haggard + </h2> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <blockquote> + <p class="toc"> + <big><b>CONTENTS</b></big> + </p> + <p> + <br /> <a href="#link2H_4_0001"> DEDICATION </a><br /> <br /> <a + href="#link2H_4_0002"> <big><b>THE WIZARD</b></big> </a> <br /> <br /> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0001"> CHAPTER I </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0002"> CHAPTER II </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0003"> CHAPTER III </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0004"> CHAPTER IV </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0005"> CHAPTER V </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0006"> CHAPTER VI </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0007"> CHAPTER VII </a> + </p> + <p> + <br /> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0008"> CHAPTER VIII </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0009"> CHAPTER IX </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0010"> CHAPTER X </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0011"> CHAPTER XI </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0012"> CHAPTER XII </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0013"> CHAPTER XIII </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0014"> CHAPTER XIV </a> + </p> + <p> + <br /> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0015"> CHAPTER XV </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0016"> CHAPTER XVI </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0017"> CHAPTER XVII </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0018"> CHAPTER XVIII </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0019"> CHAPTER XIX </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0020"> CHAPTER XX </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0021"> CHAPTER XXI </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0022"> CHAPTER XXII </a> + </p> + </blockquote> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0001" id="link2H_4_0001"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> <br /> <br /> + </p> + <h2> + DEDICATION + </h2> + <h3> + To the Memory of the Child + </h3> + <h3> + Nada Burnham, + </h3> + <p> + who “bound all to her” and, while her father cut his way through + the hordes of the Ingobo Regiment, perished of the hardships of war at + Buluwayo on 19th May, 1896, I dedicate these tales—and more + particularly the last, that of a Faith which triumphed over savagery and + death. + </p> + <p> + H. Rider Haggard. + </p> + <p> + Ditchingham. + </p> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <h2> + AUTHOR’S NOTE + </h2> + <p> + Of the three stories that comprise this volume[*], one, “The Wizard,” a + tale of victorious faith, first appeared some years ago as a Christmas + Annual. Another, “Elissa,” is an attempt, difficult enough owing to the + scantiness of the material left to us by time, to recreate the life of the + ancient Phœnician Zimbabwe, whose ruins still stand in Rhodesia, and, with + the addition of the necessary love story, to suggest circumstances such as + might have brought about or accompanied its fall at the hands of the + surrounding savage tribes. The third, “Black Heart and White Heart,” is a + story of the courtship, trials and final union of a pair of Zulu lovers in + the time of King Cetywayo. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + [*] This text was prepared from a volume published in 1900 + titled “Black Heart and White Heart, and Other Stories.”— + JB. +</pre> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0002" id="link2H_4_0002"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h1> + THE WIZARD + </h1> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0001" id="link2HCH0001"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER I + </h2> + <h3> + THE DEPUTATION + </h3> + <p> + Has the age of miracle quite gone by, or is it still possible to the Voice + of Faith calling aloud upon the earth to wring from the dumb heavens an + audible answer to its prayer? Does the promise uttered by the Master of + mankind upon the eve of the end—“Whoso that believeth in Me, the + works that I do he shall do also . . . and whatsoever ye shall ask in My + name, that will I do;”—still hold good to such as do ask and do + believe? + </p> + <p> + Let those who care to study the history of the Rev. Thomas Owen, and of + that strange man who carried on and completed his work, answer this + question according to their judgment. + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + The time was a Sunday afternoon in summer, and the place a church in the + Midland counties. It was a beautiful church, ancient and spacious; + moreover, it had recently been restored at great cost. Seven or eight + hundred people could have found sittings in it, and doubtless they had + done so when Busscombe was a large manufacturing town, before the failure + of the coal supply and other causes drove away its trade. Now it was much + what it had been in the time of the Normans, a little agricultural village + with a population of 300 souls. Out of this population, including the + choir boys, exactly thirty-nine had elected to attend church on this + particular Sunday; and of these, three were fast asleep and four were + dozing. + </p> + <p> + The Rev. Thomas Owen counted them from his seat in the chancel, for + another clergyman was preaching; and, as he counted, bitterness and + disappointment took hold of him. The preacher was a “Deputation,” sent by + one of the large missionary societies to arouse the indifferent to a sense + of duty towards their unconverted black brethren in Africa, and + incidentally to collect cash to be spent in the conversion of the said + brethren. The Rev. Thomas Owen himself suggested the visit of the + Deputation, and had laboured hard to secure him a good audience. But the + beauty of the weather, or terror of the inevitable subscription, prevailed + against him. Hence his disappointment. + </p> + <p> + “Well,” he thought, with a sigh, “I have done my best, and I must make it + up out of my own pocket.” + </p> + <p> + Then he settled himself to listen to the sermon. + </p> + <p> + The preacher, a battered-looking individual of between fifty and sixty + years of age, was gaunt with recent sickness, patient and unimaginative in + aspect. He preached extemporarily, with the aid of notes; and it cannot be + said that his discourse was remarkable for interest, at any rate in its + beginning. Doubtless the sparse congregation, so prone to slumber, + discouraged him; for offering exhortations to empty benches is but weary + work. Indeed he was meditating the advisability of bringing his argument + to an abrupt conclusion when, chancing to glance round, he became aware + that he had at least one sympathetic listener, his host, the Rev. Thomas + Owen. + </p> + <p> + From that moment the sermon improved by degrees, till at length it reached + a really high level of excellence. Ceasing from rhetoric, the speaker + began to tell of his own experience and sufferings in the Cause amongst + savage tribes; for he himself was a missionary of many years standing. He + told how once he and a companion had been sent to a nation, who named + themselves the Sons of Fire because their god was the lightning, if indeed + they could be said to boast any gods other than the Spear and the King. In + simple language he narrated his terrible adventures among these savages, + the murder of his companion by command of the Council of Wizards, and his + own flight for his life; a tale so interesting and vivid that even the + bucolic sleepers awakened and listened open-mouthed. + </p> + <p> + “But this is by the way,” he went on; “for my Society does not ask you to + subscribe towards the conversion of the Children of Fire. Until that + people is conquered—which very likely will not be for generations, + seeing that they live in Central Africa, occupying a territory that white + men do not desire—no missionary will dare again to visit them.” + </p> + <p> + At this moment something caused him to look a second time at Thomas Owen. + He was leaning forward in his place listening eagerly, and a strange light + filled the large, dark eyes that shone in the pallor of his delicate, + nervous face. + </p> + <p> + “There is a man who would dare, if he were put to it,” thought the + Deputation to himself. Then he ended his sermon. + </p> + <p> + That evening the two men sat at dinner in the rectory. It was a very fine + rectory, beautifully furnished; for Owen was a man of taste which he had + the means to gratify. Also, although they were alone, the dinner was good—so + good that the poor broken-down missionary, sipping his unaccustomed port, + a vintage wine, sighed aloud in admiration and involuntary envy. + </p> + <p> + “What is the matter?” asked Owen. + </p> + <p> + “Nothing, Mr. Owen;” then, of a sudden thawing into candour, he added: + “that is, everything. Heaven forgive me; but I, who enjoy your + hospitality, am envious of you. Don’t think too hardly of me; I have a + large family to support, and if only you knew what a struggle my life is, + and has been for the last twenty years, you would not, I am sure. But you + have never experienced it, and could not understand. ‘The labourer is + worthy of his hire.’ Well, my hire is under two hundred a year, and eight + of us must live—or starve—on it. And I have worked, ay, until + my health is broken. A labourer indeed! I am a very hodman, a spiritual + Sisyphus. And now I must go back to carry my load and roll my stone again + and again among those hopeless savages till I die of it—till I die + of it!” + </p> + <p> + “At least it is a noble life and death!” exclaimed Owen, a sudden fire of + enthusiasm burning in his dark eyes. + </p> + <p> + “Yes, viewed from a distance. Were you asked to leave this living of two + thousand a year—I see that is what they put it at in Crockford—with + its English comforts and easy work, that <i>you</i> might lead that life + and attain that death, then you would think differently. But why should I + bore you with such talk? Thank Heaven that your lines are cast in pleasant + places. Yes, please, I will take one more glass; it does me good.” + </p> + <p> + “Tell me some more about that tribe you were speaking of in your sermon, + the ‘Sons of Fire’ I think you called them,” said Owen, as he passed him + the decanter. + </p> + <p> + So, with an eloquence induced by the generous wine and a quickened + imagination, the Deputation told him—told him many strange things + and terrible. For this people was an awful people: vigorous in mind and + body, and warriors from generation to generation, but superstition-ridden + and cruel. They lived in the far interior, some months’ journey by boat + and ox-waggon from the coast, and of white men and their ways they knew + but little. + </p> + <p> + “How many of them are there?” asked Owen. + </p> + <p> + “Who can say?” he answered. “Nearly half-a-million, perhaps; at least they + pretend that they can put sixty thousand men under arms.” + </p> + <p> + “And did they treat you badly when you first visited them?” + </p> + <p> + “Not at first. They received us civilly enough; and on a given day we were + requested to explain to the king and the Council of Wizards the religion + which we came to teach. All that day we explained and all the next—or + rather my friend did, for I knew very little of the language—and + they listened with great interest. At last the chief of the wizards and + the first prophet to the king rose to question us. He was named Hokosa, a + tall, thin man, with a spiritual face and terrible calm eyes. + </p> + <p> + “‘You speak well, son of a White Man,’ he said, ‘but let us pass from + words to deeds. You tell us that this God of yours, whom you desire that + we should take as our God, so that you may become His chief prophets in + the land, was a wizard such as we are, though greater than we are; for not + only did He know the past and the future as we do, but also He could cure + those who were smitten with hopeless sickness, and raise those who were + dead, which we cannot do. You tell us, moreover, that by faith those who + believe on Him can do works as great as He did, and that you do believe on + Him. Therefore we will put you to the proof. Ho! there, lead forth that + evil one.’ + </p> + <p> + “As he spoke a man was placed before us, one who had been convicted of + witchcraft or some other crime. + </p> + <p> + “‘Kill him!’ said Hokosa. + </p> + <p> + “There was a faint cry, a scuffle, a flashing of spears, and the man lay + still before us. + </p> + <p> + “‘Now, followers of the new God,’ said Hokosa, ‘raise him from the dead as + your Master did!’ + </p> + <p> + “In vain did we offer explanations. + </p> + <p> + “‘Peace!’ said Hokosa at length, ‘your words weary us. Look now, either + you have preached to us a false god and are liars, or you are traitors to + the King you preach, since, lacking faith in Him, you cannot do such works + as He gives power to do to those who have faith in Him. Out of your own + mouths are you judged, White Men. Choose which horn of the bull you will, + you hang to one of them, and it shall pierce you. This is the sentence of + the king, I speak it who am the king’s mouth: That you, White Man, who + have spoken to us and cheated us these two weary days, be put to death, + and that you, his companion who have been silent, be driven from the + land.’ + </p> + <p> + “I can hardly bear to tell the rest of it, Mr. Owen. They gave my poor + friend ten minutes to ‘talk to his Spirit,’ then they speared him before + my face. After it was over, Hokosa spoke to me, saying:— + </p> + <p> + “‘Go back, White Man, to those who sent you, and tell them the words of + the Sons of Fire: That they have listened to the message of peace, and + though they are a people of warriors, yet they thank them for that + message, for in itself it sounds good and beautiful in their ears, if it + be true. Tell them that having proved you liars, they dealt with you as + all honest men seek that liars should be dealt with. Tell them that they + desire to hear more of this matter, and if one can be sent to them who has + no false tongue; who in all things fulfills the promises of his lips, that + they will hearken to him and treat him well, but that for such as you they + keep a spear.’” + </p> + <p> + “And who went after you got back?” asked Owen, who was listening with the + deepest interest. + </p> + <p> + “Who went? Do you suppose that there are many mad clergymen in Africa, Mr. + Owen? Nobody went.” + </p> + <p> + “And yet,” said Owen, speaking more to himself than to his guest, “the man + Hokosa was right, and the Christian who of a truth believes the promises + of our religion should trust to them and go.” + </p> + <p> + “Then perhaps you would like to undertake the mission, Mr. Owen,” said the + Deputation briskly; for the reflection stung him, unintentional as it was. + </p> + <p> + Owen started. + </p> + <p> + “That is a new idea,” he said. “And now perhaps you wish to go to bed; it + is past eleven o’clock.” + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0002" id="link2HCH0002"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER II + </h2> + <h3> + THOMAS OWEN + </h3> + <p> + Thomas Owen went to his room, but not to bed. Taking a Bible from the + table, he consulted reference after reference. + </p> + <p> + “The promise is clear,” he said aloud presently, as he shut the book; + “clear and often repeated. There is no escape from it, and no possibility + of a double meaning. If it is not true, then it would seem that nothing is + true, and that every Christian in the world is tricked and deluded. But if + it <i>is</i> true, why do we never hear of miracles? The answer is easy: + Because we have not faith enough to work them. The Apostles worked + miracles; for they had seen, therefore their faith was perfect. Since + their day nobody’s faith has been quite perfect; at least I think not. The + physical part of our nature prevents it. Or perhaps the miracles still + happen, but they are spiritual miracles.” + </p> + <p> + Then he sat down by the open window, and gazing at the dreamy beauty of + the summer night, he thought, for his soul was troubled. Once before it + had been troubled thus; that was nine years ago, for now he was but little + over thirty. Then a call had come to him, a voice had seemed to speak to + his ears bidding him to lay down great possessions to follow whither + Heaven should lead him. Thomas Owen had obeyed the voice; though, owing to + circumstances which need not be detailed, to do so he was obliged to + renounce his succession to a very large estate, and to content himself + with a younger son’s portion of thirty thousand pounds and the reversion + to the living which he had now held for some five years. + </p> + <p> + Then and there, with singular unanimity and despatch, his relations came + to the conclusion that he was mad. To this hour, indeed, those who stand + in his place and enjoy the wealth and position that were his by right, + speak of him as “poor Thomas,” and mark their disapprobation of his + peculiar conduct by refusing with an unvarying steadiness to subscribe + even a single shilling to a missionary society. How “poor Thomas” speaks + of them in the place where he is we may wonder, but as yet we cannot know—probably + with the gentle love and charity that marked his every action upon earth. + But this is by the way. + </p> + <p> + He had entered the Church, but what had he done in its shadow? This was + the question which Owen asked himself as he sat that night by the open + window, arraigning his past before the judgment-seat of conscience. For + three years he had worked hard somewhere in the slums; then this living + had fallen to him. He had taken it, and from that day forward his record + was very much of a blank. The parish was small and well ordered; there was + little to do in it, and the Salvation Army had seized upon and reclaimed + two of the three confirmed drunkards it could boast. + </p> + <p> + His guest’s saying echoed in his brain like the catch of a tune—“that + <i>you</i> might lead that life and attain that death.” Supposing that he + were bidden so to do now, this very night, would he indeed “think + differently”? He had become a priest to serve his Maker. How would it be + were that Maker to command that he should serve Him in this extreme and + heroic fashion? Would he flinch from the steel, or would he meet it as the + martyrs met it of old? + </p> + <p> + Physically he was little suited to such an enterprise, for in appearance + he was slight and pale, and in constitution delicate. Also, there was + another reason against the thing. High Church and somewhat ascetic in his + principles, in the beginning he had admired celibacy, and in secret + dedicated himself to that state. But at heart Thomas was very much a man, + and of late he had come to see that that which is against nature is presumably + not right, though fanatics may not hesitate to pronounce it wrong. + Possibly this conversion to more genial views of life was quickened by the + presence in the neighbourhood of a young lady whom he chanced to admire; + at least it is certain that the mere thought of seeing her no more for + ever smote him like a sword of sudden pain. + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + That very night—or so it seemed to him, and so he believed—the + Angel of the Lord stood before him as he was wont to stand before the men + of old, and spoke a summons in his ear. How or in what seeming that + summons came Thomas Owen never told, and we need not inquire. At the least + he heard it, and, like the Apostles, he arose and girded his loins to + obey. For now, in the hour of trial, it proved that this man’s faith + partook of the nature of their faith. It was utter and virgin; it was not + clogged with nineteenth-century qualifications; it had never dallied with + strange doctrines, or kissed the feet of pinchbeck substitutes for God. In + his heart he believed that the Almighty, without intermediary, but face to + face, had bidden him to go forth into the wilderness there to perish. So + he bowed his head and went. + </p> + <p> + On the following morning at breakfast Owen had some talk with his friend + the Deputation. + </p> + <p> + “You asked me last night,” he said quietly, “whether I would undertake a + mission to that people of whom you were telling me—the Sons of Fire. + Well, I have been thinking it over, and come to the conclusion that I will + do so——” + </p> + <p> + At this point the Deputation, concluding that his host must be mad, moved + quietly but decidedly towards the door. + </p> + <p> + “Wait a moment,” went on Owen, in a matter-of-fact voice, “the dog-cart + will not be round for another three-quarters of an hour. Tell me, if it + were offered to you, and on investigation you proved suitable, would you + care to take over this living?” + </p> + <p> + “Would I care to take over this living?” gasped the astonished Deputation. + “Would I care to walk down that garden and find myself in Heaven? But why + are you making fun of me?” + </p> + <p> + “I am not making fun of you. If I go to Africa I must give up the living, + of which I own the advowson, and it occurred to me that it might suit you—that + is all. You have done your share; your health is broken, and you have many + dependent upon you. It seems right, therefore, that you should rest, and + that I should work. If I do no good yonder, at the least you and yours + will be a little benefited.” + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + That same day Owen chanced to meet the lady who has been spoken of as + having caught his heart. He had meant to go away without seeing her, but + fortune brought them together. Hitherto, whilst in reality leading him on, + she had seemed to keep him at a distance, with the result that he did not + know that it was her fixed intention to marry him. To her, with some + hesitation, he told his plans. Surprised and frightened into candour, the + lady reasoned with him warmly, and when reason failed to move him she did + more. By some subtle movement, with some sudden word, she lifted the veil + of her reserve and suffered him to see her heart. “If you will not stay + for aught else,” said her troubled eyes, “then, love, stay for me.” + </p> + <p> + For a moment he was shaken. Then he answered the look straight out, as was + his nature. + </p> + <p> + “I never guessed,” he said. “I did not presume to hope—now it is too + late! Listen! I will tell you what I have told no living soul, though + thereafter you may think me mad. Weak and humble as I am, I believe myself + to have received a Divine mission. I believe that I shall execute it, or + bring about its execution, but at the ultimate cost of my own life. Still, + in such a service two are better than one. If you—can care enough—if + you——” + </p> + <p> + But the lady had already turned away, and was murmuring her farewell in + accents that sounded like a sob. Love and faith after this sort were not + given to her. + </p> + <p> + Of all Owen’s trials this was the sharpest. Of all his sacrifices this was + the most complete. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0003" id="link2HCH0003"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER III + </h2> + <h3> + THE TEMPTATION + </h3> + <p> + Two years have gone by all but a few months, and from the rectory in a + quiet English village we pass to a scene in Central, or South Central, + Africa. + </p> + <p> + On the brow of a grassy slope dotted over with mimosa thorns, and close to + a gushing stream of water, stands a house, or rather a hut, built of green + brick and thatched with grass. Behind this hut is a fence of thorns, rough + but strong, designed to protect all within it from the attacks of lions + and other beasts of prey. At present, save for a solitary mule eating its + provender by the wheel of a tented ox-waggon, it is untenanted, for the + cattle have not yet been kraaled for the night. Presently Thomas Owen + enters this enclosure by the back door of the hut, and having attended to + the mule, which whinnies at the sight of him, goes to the gate and watches + there till he sees his native boys driving the cattle up the slope of the + hill. At length they arrive, and when he has counted them to make sure + that none are missing, and in a few kind words commended the herds for + their watchfulness, he walks to the front of the house and, seating + himself upon a wooden stool set under a mimosa tree that grows near the + door, he looks earnestly towards the west. + </p> + <p> + The man has changed somewhat since last we saw him. To begin with, he has + grown a beard, and although the hot African sun has bronzed it into an + appearance of health, his face is even thinner than it was, and therein + the great spiritual eyes shine still more strangely. + </p> + <p> + At the foot of the slope runs a wide river, just here broken into rapids + where the waters make an angry music. Beyond this river stretches a vast + plain bounded on the horizon by mountain ranges, each line of them rising + higher than the other till their topmost and more distant peaks melt + imperceptibly into the tender blue of the heavens. This is the land of the + Sons of Fire, and yonder amid the slopes of the nearest hills is the great + kraal of their king, Umsuka, whose name, being interpreted, means The + Thunderbolt. + </p> + <p> + In the very midst of the foaming rapids, and about a thousand yards from + the house lies a space of rippling shallow water, where, unless it chances + to be in flood, the river can be forded. It is this ford that Owen watches + so intently. + </p> + <p> + “John should have been back twelve hours ago,” he mutters to himself. “I + pray that no harm has befallen him at the Great Place yonder.” + </p> + <p> + Just then a tiny speck appears far away on the plain. It is a man + travelling towards the water at a swinging trot. Going into the hut, Owen + returns with a pair of field-glasses, and through them scrutinises the + figure of the man. + </p> + <p> + “Heaven be praised! It is John,” he mutters, with a sigh of relief. “Now, + I wonder what answer he brings?” + </p> + <p> + Half an hour later John stands before him, a stalwart native of the tribe + of the Amasuka, the People of Fire, and with uplifted hand salutes him, + giving him titles of honour. + </p> + <p> + “Praise me not, John,” said Owen; “praise God only, as I have taught you + to do. Tell me, have you seen the king, and what is his word?” + </p> + <p> + “Father,” he answered, “I journeyed to the great town, as you bade me, and + I was admitted before the majesty of the king; yes, he received me in the + courtyard of the House of Women. With his guards, who stood at a distance + out of hearing, there were present three only; but oh! those three were + great, the greatest in all the land after the king. They were Hafela, the + king that is to come, the prince Nodwengo, his brother, and Hokosa the + terrible, the chief of the wizards; and I tell you, father, that my blood + dried up and my heart shrivelled when they turned their eyes upon me, + reading the thoughts of my heart.” + </p> + <p> + “Have I not told you, John, to trust in God, and fear nothing at the hands + of man?” + </p> + <p> + “You told me, father, but still I feared,” answered the messenger humbly. + “Yet, being bidden to it, I lifted my forehead from the dust and stood + upon my feet before the king, and delivered to him the message which you + set between my lips.” + </p> + <p> + “Repeat the message, John.” + </p> + <p> + “‘O King,’ I said, ‘beneath whose footfall the whole earth shakes, whose + arms stretch round the world and whose breath is the storm, I, whose name + is John, am sent by the white man whose name is Messenger’—for by + that title you bade me make you known—‘who for a year has dwelt in + the land that your spears have wasted beyond the banks of the river. These + are the words which he spoke to me, O King, that I pass on to you with my + tongue: “To the King Umsuka, lord of the Amasuka, the Sons of Fire, I, + Messenger, who am the servant and the ambassador of the King of Heaven, + give greeting. A year ago, King, I sent to you saying that the message + which was brought by that white man whom you drove from your land had + reached the ears of Him whom I serve, the High and Holy One, and that, + speaking in my heart, He had commanded me to take up the challenge of your + message. Here am I, therefore, ready to abide by the law which you have + laid down; for if guile or lies be found in me, then let me travel from + your land across the bridge of spears. Still, I would dwell a little while + here where I am before I pass into the shadow of your rule and speak in + the ears of your people as I have been bidden. Know, King, that first I + would learn your tongue, and therefore I demand that one of your people + may be sent to dwell with me and to teach me that tongue. King, you heard + my words and you sent me a man to dwell with me, and that man has taught + me your tongue, and I also have taught him, converting him to my faith and + giving him a new name, the name of John. King, now I seek your leave to + visit you, and to deliver into your ears the words with which I, + Messenger, am charged. I have spoken.”’ + </p> + <p> + “Thus I, John, addressed the great ones, my father, and they listened in + silence. When I had done they spoke together, a word here and a word + there. Then Hokosa, the king’s mouth, answered me, telling the thought of + the king: ‘You are a bold man, you whose name is John, but who once had + another name—you, my servant, who dare to appear before me, and to + make it known to me that you have been turned to a new faith and serve + another king than I. Yet because you are bold, I forgive you. Go back now + to that white man who is named Messenger and who comes upon an embassy to + me from the Lord of Heaven, and bid him come in peace. Yet warn him once + again that here also we know something of the Powers that are not seen, + here also we have our wizards who draw wisdom from the air, who tame the + thunderbolt and compel the rain, and that he must show himself greater + than all of these if he would not pass hence by the bridge of spears. Let + him, therefore, take counsel with his heart and with Him he serves, if + such a One there is, and let him come or let him stay away as it shall + please him.’” + </p> + <p> + “So be it,” said Owen; “the words of the king are good, and to-morrow we + will start for the Great Place.” + </p> + <p> + John heard and assented, but without eagerness. + </p> + <p> + “My father,” he said, in a doubtful and tentative voice, “would it not + perhaps be better to bide here awhile first?” + </p> + <p> + “Why?” asked Owen. “We have sown, and now is the hour to reap.” + </p> + <p> + “Quite so, my father, but as I ran hither, full of the king’s words, it + came into my mind that now is not the time to convert the Sons of Fire. + There is trouble brewing at the Great Place, father. Listen, and I will + tell you; as I have heard, so I will tell you. You know well that our King + Umsuka has two sons, Hafela and Nodwengo; and of these Hafela is the + heir-apparent, the fruit of the chief wife of the king, and Nodwengo is + sprung from another wife. Now Hafela is proud and cruel, a warrior of + warriors, a terrible man, and Nodwengo is gentle and mild, like to his + mother whom the king loves. Of late it has been discovered that Hafela, + weary of waiting for power, has made a plot to depose his father and to + kill Nodwengo, his brother, so that the land and those who dwell in it may + become his without question. This plot the king knows—I had it from + one of his women, who is my sister—and he is very wroth, yet he dare + do little, for he grows old and timid, and seeks rest, not war. Yet he is + minded, if he can find the heart, to go back upon the law and to name + Nodwengo as his heir before all the army at the feast of the first-fruits, + which shall be held on the third day from to-night. This Hafela knows, and + Nodwengo knows it also, and each of them has summoned his following, + numbering thousands and tens of thousands of spears, to attend this feast + of the first-fruits. That feast may well be a feast of vultures, my + father, and when the brothers and their regiments rush together fighting + for the throne, what will chance to the white man who comes at such a + moment to preach a faith of peace, and to his servant, one John, who led + him there?” + </p> + <p> + “I do not know,” answered Owen, “and it troubles me not at all. I go to + carry out my mission, and in this way or in that it will be carried out. + John, if you are fearful or unbelieving leave me to go alone.” + </p> + <p> + “Nay, father, I am not fearful; yet, father, I would have you understand. + Yonder there are men who can work wizardry. <i>Wow!</i> I know, for I have + seen it, and they will demand from you magic greater than their magic.” + </p> + <p> + “What of it, John?” + </p> + <p> + “Only this, my father, that if they ask and you fail to give, they will + kill you. You teach beautiful things, but say, are you a wizard? When the + child of a woman yonder lay dead, you could not raise it as did the + Christ; when the oxen were sick with the pest, you could not cure them; or + at least, my father, you did not, although you wept for the child and were + sorry at the loss of the oxen. Now, my father, if perchance they ask you + to do such things as these yonder, or die, say what will happen?” + </p> + <p> + “One of two things, John: either I shall die or I shall do the things.” + </p> + <p> + “But”—hesitated John—“surely you do not believe that——” + and he broke off. + </p> + <p> + Owen turned round and looked at his disciple with kindling eyes. “I do + believe, O you of little faith!” he said. “I do believe that yonder I have + a mission, and that He Whom I serve will give me power to carry out that + mission. You are right, I can work no miracles; but He can work miracles + Whom everything in heaven and earth obeys, and if there is need He will + work them through me, His instrument. Or perhaps He will not work them, + and I shall die, because thus His ends will best be forwarded. At the + least I go in faith, fearing nothing, for what has he to fear who knows + the will of God and does it? But to you who doubt, I say—leave me!” + </p> + <p> + The man spread out his hands in deprecation; his thick lips trembled a + little, and something like a tear appeared at the corners of his eyes. + </p> + <p> + “Father,” he said, “am I a coward that you should talk to me thus? I, who + for twenty years have been a soldier of my king and for ten a captain in + my regiment? These scars show whether or no I am a coward,” and he pointed + to his breast, “but of them I will not speak. I am no coward, else I had + not gone upon that errand of yours. Why, then, should you reproach me + because my ears are not so open as yours, as my heart has not + understanding? I worship that God of Whom you have taught me, but He never + speaks to me as He does to you. I never meet Him as I walk at night; He + leaves me quite alone. Therefore it is that I fear that when the hour of + trial comes He may desert you; and unless He covers you with His shield, + of this I am sure, that the spear is forged which shall blush red in your + heart, my father. It is for you that I fear, who are so gentle and tender; + not for myself, who am well accustomed to look in the eyes of Death, and + who expect no more than death.” + </p> + <p> + “Forgive me,” said Owen hastily, for he was moved; “and be sure that the + shield will be over us till the time comes for us to pass whither we shall + need none.” + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + That night Owen rose from the task at which he was labouring slowly and + painfully—a translation of passages from the Gospel of St. John into + the language of the Amasuka—and going to the open window-place of + the hut, he rested his elbows upon it and thought, staring with empty eyes + into the blackness of the night. Now it was as he sat thus that a great + agony of doubt took possession of his soul. The strength which hitherto + had supported him seemed to be withdrawn, and he was left, as John had + said, “quite alone.” Strange voices seemed to whisper in his ears, + reproaching and reviling him; temptations long ago trampled under foot + rose again in might, alluring him. + </p> + <p> + “Fool,” said the voices, “get you hence before it is too late. You have + been mad; you who dreamed that for your sake, to satisfy your pride, the + Almighty will break His silence and strain His law. Are you then better, + or greater, or purer than millions who have gone before you, that for you + and you alone this thing should be done? Why, were it not that you are + mad, you would be among the chief of sinners; you who dare to ask that the + Powers of Heaven should be set within your feeble hand, that the Angels of + Heaven should wait upon your mortal breath. Worm that you are, has God + need of such as you? If it is His will to turn the heart of yonder people + He will do it, but not by means of <i>you</i>. You and the servant whom + you are deluding to his death will perish miserably, and this alone shall + be the fruit of your presumptuous sin. Get you back out of this wilderness + before the madness takes you afresh. You are still young, you have wealth; + look where She stands yonder whom you desire. Get you back, and forget + your folly in her arms.” + </p> + <p> + These thoughts, and many others of like nature, tore Owen’s soul in that + hour of strange and terrible temptation. He seemed to see himself standing + before the thousands of the savage nation he went to save, and to hear the + mocking voices of their witch-finders commanding him, if he were a true + man and the servant of that God of Whom he prated, to give them a sign, + only a little sign; perhaps to move a stone without touching it with his + hand, or to cause a dead bough to blossom. + </p> + <p> + Then he would beseech Heaven with frantic prayers, and in vain, till at + length, amidst a roar of laughter, he, the false prophet and the liar, was + led out to his doom. He saw the piteous wondering look of the believer + whom he had betrayed to death; he saw the fierce faces and the spears on + high. Seeing all this his spirit broke, and, just as the little clock in + the room behind him struck the first stroke of midnight, with a great and + bitter cry to God to give him back the faith and strength that he had + lost, Owen’s head fell forward and he sank into a swoon there upon the + window-place. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0004" id="link2HCH0004"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER IV + </h2> + <h3> + THE VISION + </h3> + <p> + Was it swoon or sleep? + </p> + <p> + At least it seemed to Owen that presently once again he was gazing into + the dense intolerable blackness of the night. Then a marvel came to pass, + for the blackness opened, or rather on it, framed and surrounded by it, + there appeared a vision. It was the vision of a native town, having a + great bare space in the centre of it encircled by hundreds or thousands of + huts. But there was no one stirring about the huts, for it was night—not + this his night of trial indeed, since now the sky was strewn with + innumerable stars. Everything was silent about that town, save that now + and again a dog barked or a fretful child wailed within a hut, or the + sentries as they passed saluted each other in the name of the king. + </p> + <p> + Among all those hundreds of huts, to Owen it seemed that his attention was + directed to one which stood apart surrounded with a fence. Now the + interior of the hut opened itself to him. It was not lighted, yet with his + spirit sense he could see its every detail: the polished floor, the skin + rugs, the beer gourds, the shields and spears, the roof-tree of red wood, + and the dried lizard hanging from the thatch, a charm to ward off evil. In + this hut, seated face to face halfway between the centre-post and the + door-hole, were two men. The darkness was deep about them, and they + whispered to each other through it; but in his dream this was no bar to + Owen’s sight. He could discern their faces clearly. + </p> + <p> + One of them was that of a man of about thirty-five years of age. In + stature he was almost a giant. He wore a kaross of leopard skins, and on + his wrists and ankles were rings of ivory, the royal ornaments. His face + was fierce and powerful; his eyes, which were set far apart, rolled so + much that at times they seemed all white; and his fingers played nervously + with the handle of a spear that he carried in his right hand. His + companion was of a different stamp; a person of more than fifty years, he + was tall and spare in figure, with delicately shaped hands and feet. His + hair and little beard were tinged with grey, his face was strikingly + handsome, nervous and expressive, and his forehead both broad and high. + But more remarkable still were his eyes, which shone with a piercing + brightness, almost grey in colour, steady as the flame of a well-trimmed + lamp, and so cold that they might have been precious stones set in the + head of a statue. + </p> + <p> + “Must I then put your thoughts in words?” said this man in a clear quick + whisper. “Well, so be it; for I weary of sitting here in the dark waiting + for water that will not flow. Listen, Prince; you come to talk to me of + the death of a king—is it not so? Nay do not start. Why are you + affrighted when you hear upon the lips of another the plot that these many + months has been familiar to your breast?” + </p> + <p> + “Truly, Hokosa, you are the best of wizards, or the worst,” answered the + great man huskily. “Yet this once you are mistaken,” he added with a + change of voice. “I came but to ask you for a charm to turn my father’s + heart——” + </p> + <p> + “To dust? Prince, if I am mistaken, why am I the best of wizards, or the + worst, and why did your jaw drop and your face change at my words, and why + do you even now touch your dry lips with your tongue? Yes, I know that it + is dark here, yet some can see in it, and I am one of them. Ay, Prince, + and I can see your mind also. You would be rid of your father: he has + lived too long. Moreover his love turns to Nodwengo, the good and gentle; + and perhaps—who can say?—it is even in his thought, when all + his regiments are about him two days hence, to declare that you, Prince, + are deposed, and that your brother, Nodwengo, shall be king in your stead. + Now, Nodwengo you cannot kill; he is too well loved and too well guarded. + If he died suddenly, his dead lips would call out ‘Murder!’ in the ears of + all men; and, Prince, all eyes would turn to you, who alone could profit + by his end. But if the king should chance to die—why he is old, is + he not? and such things happen to the old. Also he grows feeble, and will + not suffer the regiments to be doctored for war, although day by day they + clamour to be led to battle; for he seeks to end his years in peace.” + </p> + <p> + “I say that you speak folly,” answered the prince with vehemence. + </p> + <p> + “Then, Son of the Great One, why should you waste time in listening to me? + Farewell, Hafela the Prince, first-born of the king, who in a day to come + shall carry the shield of Nodwengo; for he is good and gentle, and will + spare your life—if I beg it of him.” + </p> + <p> + Hafela stretched out his hand through the darkness, and caught Hokosa by + the wrist. + </p> + <p> + “Stay,” he whispered, “it is true. The king must die; for if he does not + die within three days, I shall cease to be his heir. I know it through my + spies. He is angry with me; he hates me, and he loves Nodwengo and the + mother of Nodwengo. But if he dies before the last day of the festival, + then that decree will never pass his lips, and the regiments will never + roar out the name of Nodwengo as the name of the king to come. He must + die, I tell you, Hokosa, and—by your hand.” + </p> + <p> + “By <i>my</i> hand, Prince! Nay; what have you to offer me in return for + such a deed as this? Have I not grown up in Umsuka’s shadow, and shall I + cut down the tree that shades me?” + </p> + <p> + “What have I to offer you? This: that next to myself you shall be the + greatest in the land, Hokosa.” + </p> + <p> + “That I am already, and whoever rules it, that I must always be. I, who am + the chief of wizards; I, the reader of men’s hearts; I, the hearer of + men’s thoughts! I, the lord of the air and the lightning; I, the + invulnerable. If you would murder, Prince, then do the deed; do it knowing + that I have your secret, and that henceforth you who rule shall be my + servant. Nay, you forget that I can see in the dark; lay down that + assegai, or, by my spirit, prince as you are, I will blast you with a + spell, and your body shall be thrown to the kites, as that of one who + would murder his king and father!” + </p> + <p> + The prince heard and shook, his cheeks sank in, the muscles of his great + form seemed to collapse, and he grovelled on the floor of the hut. + </p> + <p> + “I know your magic,” he groaned; “use it for me, not against me! What is + there that I can offer you, who have everything except the throne, whereon + you cannot sit, seeing that you are not of the blood-royal?” + </p> + <p> + “Think,” said Hokosa. + </p> + <p> + For a while the prince thought, till presently his form straightened + itself, and with a quick movement he lifted up his head. + </p> + <p> + “Is it, perchance, my affianced wife?” he whispered; “the lady Noma, whom + I love, and who, according to our custom, I shall wed as the queen to be + after the feast of first-fruits? Oh! say it not, Hokosa.” + </p> + <p> + “I say it,” answered the wizard. “Listen, Prince. The lady Noma is the + only child of my blood-brother, my friend, with whom I was brought up, he + who was slain at my side in the great war with the tribes of the north. + She was my ward: she was more; for through her—ah! you know not how—I + held my converse with the things of earth and air, the very spirits that + watch us now in this darkness, Hafela. Thus it happened, that before ever + she was a woman, her mind grew greater than the mind of any other woman, + and her thought became my thought, and my thought became her thought, for + I and no other am her master. Still I waited to wed her till she was fully + grown; and while I waited I went upon an embassy to the northern tribes. + Then it was that you saw the maid in visiting at my kraal, and her beauty + and her wit took hold of you; and in the council of the king, as you have + a right to do, you named her as your head wife, the queen to be. + </p> + <p> + “The king heard and bowed his head; he sent and took her, and placed her + in the House of the Royal Women, there to abide till this feast of the + first-fruits, when she shall be given to you in marriage. Yes, he sent her + to that guarded house wherein not even I may set my foot. Although I was + afar, her spirit warned me, and I returned, but too late; for she was + sealed to you of the blood-royal, and that is a law which may not be + broken. + </p> + <p> + “Hafela, I prayed you to return her to me, and you mocked me. I would have + brought you to your death, but it could not have availed me: for then, by + that same law, which may not be broken, she who was sealed to you must die + with you; and though thereafter her spirit would sit with me till I died + also, it was not enough, since I who have conquered all, yet cannot + conquer the fire that wastes my heart, nor cease to long by night and day + for a woman who is lost to me. Then it was, Hafela, that I plotted + vengeance against you. I threw my spell over the mind of the king, till he + learnt to hate you and your evil deeds; and I, even I, have brought it + about that your brother should be preferred before you, and that you shall + be the servant in his house. This is the price that you must pay for her + of whom you have robbed me; and by my spirit and her spirit you shall pay! + Yet listen. Hand back the girl, as you may do—for she is not yet + your wife—and choose another for your queen, and I will undo all + that I have done, and I will find you a means, Hafela, to carry out your + will. Ay, before six suns have set, the regiments rushing past you shall + hail you King of the Nation of the Amasuka, Lord of the ancient House of + Fire!” + </p> + <p> + “I cannot,” groaned the prince; “death were better than this!” + </p> + <p> + “Ay, death were better; but you shall not die, you shall live a servant, + and your name shall become a mockery, a name for women to make rhymes on.” + </p> + <p> + Now the prince sprang up. + </p> + <p> + “Take her!” he hissed; “take her! you, who are an evil ghost; you, beneath + whose eyes children wail, and at whose passing the hairs on the backs of + hounds stand up! Take her, priest of death and ill; but take my curse with + her! Ah! I also can prophecy; and I tell you that this woman whom you have + taught, this witch of many spells, whose glance can shrivel the hearts of + men, shall give you to drink of your own medicine; ay, she shall dog you + to the death, and mock you while you perish by an end of shame!” + </p> + <p> + “What,” laughed the wizard, “have I a rival in my own arts? Nay, Hafela, + if you would learn the trade, pay me well and I will give you lessons. Yet + I counsel you not; for you are flesh, nothing but flesh, and he who would + rule the air must cultivate the spirit. Why, I tell you, Prince, that even + the love for her who is my heart, the lady whom we both would wed, + partaking of the flesh as, alas! it does, has cost me half my powers. Now + let us cease from empty scoldings, and strike our bargain. + </p> + <p> + “Listen. On the last day of the feast, when all the regiments are gathered + to salute the king there in his Great Place according to custom, you shall + stand forth before the king and renounce Noma, and she shall pass back to + the care of my household. You yourself shall bring her to where I stand, + and as I take her from you I will put into your hand a certain powder. + Then you shall return to the side of the king, and after our fashion shall + give him to drink the bowl of the first-fruits; but as you stir the beer, + you will let fall into it that powder which I have given you. The king + will drink, and what he leaves undrunk you will throw out upon the dust. + </p> + <p> + “Now he will rise to give out to the people his royal decree, whereby, + Prince, you are to be deposed from your place as heir, and your brother, + Nodwengo, is to be set in your seat. But of that decree never a word shall + pass his lips; if it does, recall your saying and take back the lady Noma + from where she stands beside me. I tell you that never a word will pass + his lips; for even as he rises a stroke shall take him, such a stroke as + often falls upon the fat and aged, and he will sink to the ground snoring + through his nostrils. For a while thereafter—it may be six hours, it + may be twelve—he shall lie insensible, and then a cry will arise + that the king is dead!” + </p> + <p> + “Ay,” said Hafela, “and that I have poisoned him!” + </p> + <p> + “Why, Prince? Few know what is in your father’s mind, and with those, + being king, you will be able to deal. Also this is the virtue of the + poison which I choose, that it is swift, yet the symptoms of it are the + symptoms of a natural sickness. But that your safety and mine may be + assured, I have made yet another plan, though of this there will be little + need. You were present two days since when a runner came from the white + man who sojourns beyond our border, he who seeks to teach us, the Children + of Fire, a new faith, and gives out that he is the messenger of the King + of heaven. This runner asked leave for the white man to visit the Great + Place, and, speaking in the king’s name, I gave him leave. But I warned + his servant that if his master came, a sign should be required of him to + show that he was a true man, and had of the wisdom of the King of Heaven; + and that if he failed therein, then that he should die as that white liar + died who visited us in bygone years. + </p> + <p> + “Now I have so ordered that this white man, passing through the Valley of + Death yonder, shall reach the Great Place not long before the king drinks + of the cup of the first-fruits. Then if any think that something out of + nature has happened to the king, they will surely think also that this + strange prayer-doctor has wrought the evil. Then also I will call for a + sign from the white man, praying of him to recover the king of his + sickness; and when he fails, he shall be slain as a worker of spells and + the false prophet of a false god, and so we shall be rid of him and his + new faith, and you shall be cleared of doubt. Is not the plan good, + Prince?” + </p> + <p> + “It is very good, Hokosa—save for one thing only.” + </p> + <p> + “For what thing?” + </p> + <p> + “This: the white man who is named Messenger might chance to be a true + prophet of a true God, and to recover the king.” + </p> + <p> + “Oho, let him do it, if he can; but to do it, first he must know the + poison and its antidote. There is but one, and it is known to me only of + all men in this land. When he has done that, then I, yes, even I, Hokosa, + will begin to inquire concerning this God of his, who shows Himself so + mighty in person of His messenger.” And he laughed low and scornfully. + </p> + <p> + “Prince, farewell! I go forth alone, whither you dare not follow at this + hour, to seek that which we shall need. One word—think not to play + me false, or to cheat me of my price; for whate’er betides, be sure of + this, that hour shall be the hour of your dooming. Hail to you, Son of the + King! Hail! and farewell.” Then, removing the door-board, the wizard + passed from the hut and was gone. + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + The vision changed. Now there appeared a valley walled in on either side + with sloping cliffs of granite; a desolate place, sandy and, save for a + single spring, without water, strewn with boulders of rock, some of them + piled fantastically one upon the other. At a certain spot this valley + widened out, and in the mouth of the space thus formed, midway between the + curved lines of the receding cliffs, stood a little hill or koppie, also + built up of boulders. It was a place of death; for all around the hill, + and piled in hundreds between the crevices of its stones, lay the white + bones of men. + </p> + <p> + Nor was this all. Its summit was flat, and in the midst of it stood a huge + tree. Even had it not been for the fruit which hung from its branches, the + aspect of that tree must have struck the beholder as uncanny, even as + horrible. The bark on its great bole was leprous white; and from its gaunt + and spreading rungs rose branches that subdivided themselves again and + again, till at last they terminated in round green fingers, springing from + grey, flat slabs of bark, in shape not unlike that of a human palm. + Indeed, from a little distance this tree, especially if viewed by + moonlight, had the appearance of bearing on it hundreds or thousands of + the arms and hands of men, all of them stretched imploringly to Heaven. + </p> + <p> + Well might they seem to do so, seeing that to its naked limbs hung the + bodies of at least twenty human beings who had suffered death by order of + the king or his captains, or by the decree of the company of wizards, + whereof Hokosa was the chief. There on the Hill of Death stood the Tree of + Death; and that in its dank shade, or piled upon the ground beneath it, + hung and lay the pitiful remnants of the multitudes who for generations + had been led thither to their doom. + </p> + <p> + Now, in Owen’s vision a man was seen approaching by the little pathway + that ran up the side of the mount—the Road of Lost Footsteps it was + called. It was Hokosa the wizard. Outside the circle of the tree he + halted, and drawing a tanned skin from a bundle of medicines which he + carried, he tied it about his mouth; for the very smell of that tree is + poisonous and must not be suffered to reach the lungs. + </p> + <p> + Presently he was under the branches, where once again he halted; this time + it was to gaze at the body of an old man which swung to and fro in the + night breeze. + </p> + <p> + “Ah! friend,” he muttered, “we strove for many years, but it seems that I + have conquered at the last. Well, it is just; for if you could have had + your way, your end would have been my end.” + </p> + <p> + Then very leisurely, as one who is sure that he will not be interrupted, + Hokosa began to climb the tree, till at length some of the green fingers + were within his reach. Resting his back against a bough, one by one he + broke off several of them, and averting his face so that the fumes of it + might not reach him, he caused the thick milk-white juice that they + contained to trickle into the mouth of a little gourd which was hung about + his neck by a string. When he had collected enough of the poison and + carefully corked the gourd with a plug of wood, he descended the tree + again. At the great fork where the main branches sprang from the trunk, he + stood a while contemplating a creeping plant which ran up them. It was a + plant of naked stem, like the tree it grew upon; and, also like the tree, + its leaves consisted of bunches of green spikes having a milky juice. + </p> + <p> + “Strange,” he said aloud, “that Nature should set the bane and the + antidote side by side, the one twined about the other. Well, so it is in + everything; yes, even in the heart of man. Shall I gather some of this + juice also? No; for then I might repent and save him, remembering that he + has loved me, and thus lose her I seek, her whom I must win back or be + withered. Let the messenger of the King of Heaven save him, if he can. + This tree lies on his path; perchance he may prevail upon its dead to tell + him of the bane and of the antidote.” And once more the wizard laughed + mockingly. + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + The vision passed. At this moment Thomas Owen, recovering from his swoon, + lifted his head from the window-place. The night before him was as black + as it had been, and behind him the little American clock was still + striking the hour of midnight. Therefore he could not have remained + insensible for longer than a few seconds. + </p> + <p> + A few seconds, yet how much he had seen in them. Truly his want of faith + had been reproved—truly he also had been “warned of God in a dream,”—truly + “his ears had been opened and his instruction sealed.” His soul had been + “kept back from the pit,” and his life from “perishing by the sword;” and + the way of the wicked had been made clear to him “in a dream, in a vision + of the night when deep sleep falleth upon men.” + </p> + <p> + Not for nothing had he endured that agony, and not for nothing had he + struggled in the grip of doubt. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0005" id="link2HCH0005"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER V + </h2> + <h3> + THE FEAST OF THE FIRST-FRUITS + </h3> + <p> + On the third morning from this night whereof the strange events have been + described, an ox-waggon might have been seen outspanned on the hither side + of those ranges of hills that were visible from the river. These + mountains, which although not high are very steep, form the outer barrier + and defence of the kingdom of the Amasuka. Within five hundred yards of + where the waggon stood, however, a sheer cliffed gorge, fire-riven and + water-hewn, pierced the range, and looking on it, Owen knew it for the + gorge of his dream. Night and day the mouth of it was guarded by a company + of armed soldiers, whose huts were built high on outlook places in the + mountains, whence their keen eyes could scan the vast expanses of plain. A + full day before it reached them, they had seen the white-capped waggon + crawling across the veldt, and swift runners had reported its advent to + the king at his Great Place. + </p> + <p> + Back came the word of the king that the white man, with the waggon and his + servant, were to be led on towards the Great Place at such speed as would + bring him there in time for him to behold the last ceremony of the feast + of first-fruits; but, for the present, that the waggon itself and the oxen + were to be left at the mouth of the gorge, in charge of a guard, who would + be answerable for them. + </p> + <p> + Now, on this morning the captain of the guard and his orderlies advanced + to the waggon and stood in front of it. They were splendid men, armed with + great spears and shields, and adorned with feather head-dresses and all + the wild finery of their regiment. Owen descended from the waggon and came + to meet them, and so for a few moments they remained, face to face, in + silence. A strange contrast they presented as they stood there; the + bare-headed white man frail, delicate, spiritual of countenance, and the + warriors great, grave, powerful, a very embodiment of the essence of + untamed humanity, an incarnate presentation of the spirit of savage + warfare. + </p> + <p> + “How are you named, White Man?” asked the captain. + </p> + <p> + “Chief, I am named Messenger.” + </p> + <p> + “The peace of the king be with you, Messenger,” said the captain, lifting + his spear. + </p> + <p> + “The peace of God be with you, Chief,” answered Owen, holding up his hands + in blessing. + </p> + <p> + “Who is God?” asked the captain. + </p> + <p> + “Chief, He is the King I serve, and His word is between my lips.” + </p> + <p> + “Then pass on, Messenger of God, and deliver the word of God your King + into the ears of my king, at his Great Place yonder. Pass on riding the + beast you have brought with you, for the way is rough; but your waggon, + your oxen, and your servants, save this man only who is of the Children of + Fire, must stay here in my keeping. Fear not, Messenger, I will hold them + safe.” + </p> + <p> + “I do not fear, Chief, there is honour in your eyes.” + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + Some hours later, Owen, mounted on his mule, was riding through the gorge, + a guard in front of and behind him, and with them carriers who had been + sent to bear his baggage. At his side walked his disciple John, and his + face was sad. + </p> + <p> + “Why are you still afraid?” asked Owen. + </p> + <p> + “Ah! father, because this is a place of fear. Here in this valley men are + led to die; presently you will see.” + </p> + <p> + “I have seen,” answered Owen. “Yonder where we shall halt is a mount, and + on that mount stands a tree; it is called the Tree of Death, and it + stretches a thousand hands to Heaven, praying for mercy that does not + come, and from its boughs there hangs fruit, a fruit of dead men—yes, + twenty of them hang there this day.” + </p> + <p> + “How know you these things, my father,” asked the man amazed, “seeing that + I have never spoken to you of them?” + </p> + <p> + “Nay,” he answered, “God has spoken to me. My God and your God.” + </p> + <p> + Another hour passed, and they were resting by the spring of water, near to + the shadow of the dreadful tree, for in that gorge the sun burned + fiercely. John counted the bodies that swung upon it, and again looked + fearfully at Owen, for there were twenty of them. + </p> + <p> + “I desire to go up to that tree,” Owen said to the guard. + </p> + <p> + “As you will, Messenger,” answered their leader; “I have no orders to + prevent you from so doing. Still,” he added with a solemn smile, “it is a + place that few seek of their own will, and, because I like you well, + Messenger, I pray it may never be my duty to lead you there of the king’s + will.” + </p> + <p> + Then Owen went up to the tree and John with him, only John would not pass + beneath the shadow of its branches; but stood by wondering, while his + master bound a handkerchief about his mouth. + </p> + <p> + “How did he know that the breath of the tree is poisonous?” John wondered. + </p> + <p> + Owen walked to the bole of the tree, and breaking off some of the + finger-like leaves of the creeper that twined about it, he pressed their + milky juice into a little bottle that he had made ready. Then he returned + quickly, for the sights and odours of the place were not to be borne. + </p> + <p> + Outside the circle of the branches he halted, and removed the handkerchief + from his mouth. + </p> + <p> + “Be of good cheer,” he said to John, “and if it should chance that I am + called away before my words come true, yet remember my words. I tell you + that this Tree of Death shall become the Tree of Life for all the children + of your people. Look! there above you is its sign and promise.” + </p> + <p> + John lifted his eyes, following the line of Owen’s outstretched hand, and + saw this. High up upon the tree, and standing clear of all the other + branches, was one straight, dead limb, and from this dead limb two arms + projected at right angles, also dead and snapped off short. Had a + carpenter fashioned a cross of wood and set it there, its proportions + could not have been more proper and exact. It was very strange to find + this symbol of the Christian hope towering above that place of human + terror, and stranger still was the purpose which it must serve in a day to + come. + </p> + <p> + Owen and John returned to the guard in silence, and presently they set + forward on their journey. At length, passing beneath a natural arch of + rock, they were out of the Valley of Death, and before them, not five + hundred paces away, appeared the fence of the Great Place. + </p> + <p> + This Great Place stood upon a high plateau, in the lap of the surrounding + hills, all of which were strongly fortified with schanses, pitfalls, and + rough walls of stone. That plateau may have measured fifteen miles in + circumference, and the fence of the town itself was about four miles in + circumference. Within the fence and following its curve, for it was round, + stood thousands of dome-shaped huts carefully set out in streets. Within + these again was a stout stockade of timber, enclosing a vast arena of + trodden earth, large enough to contain all the cattle of the People of + Fire in times of danger, and to serve as a review ground for their <i>impis</i> + in times of peace or festival. + </p> + <p> + At the outer gate of the kraal there was a halt, while the keepers of the + gate despatched a messenger to their king to announce the advent of the + white man. Of this pause Owen took advantage to array himself in the + surplice and hood which he had brought with him in readiness for that + hour. Then he gave the mule to John to lead behind him. + </p> + <p> + “What do you, Messenger?” asked the leader of the guard, astonished. + </p> + <p> + “I clothe myself in my war-dress,” he answered. + </p> + <p> + “Where then is your spear, Messenger?” + </p> + <p> + “Here,” said Owen, presenting to his eyes a crucifix of ivory, most + beautifully carved. + </p> + <p> + “I perceive that you are of the family of wizards,” said the man, and fell + back. + </p> + <p> + Now they entered the kraal and passed for three hundred yards or more + through rows of huts, till they reached the gate of the stockade, which + was opened to them. Once within it, Owen saw a wonderful sight, such a + sight as few white men have seen. The ground of the enormous oval before + him was not flat. Either from natural accident or by design it sloped + gently upwards, so that the spectator, standing by the gate or at the head + of it before the house of the king, could take in its whole expanse, and, + if his sight were keen enough, could see every individual gathered there. + </p> + <p> + On the particular day of Owen’s arrival it was crowded with regiments, + twelve of them, all dressed in their different uniforms and bearing + shields to match, not one of which was less than 2500 strong. At this + moment the regiments were massed in deep lines, each battalion by itself, + on either side of the broad roadway that ran straight up the kraal to + where the king, his sons, his advisers and guards, together with the + company of wizards, were placed in front of the royal house. + </p> + <p> + There they stood in absolute silence, like tens of thousands of bronze + statues, and Owen perceived that either they were resting or that they + were gathered thus to receive him. That the latter was the case soon + became evident, for as he appeared, a white spot at the foot of the slope, + countless heads turned and myriads of eyes fastened themselves upon him. + For an instant he was dismayed; there was something terrifying in this + numberless multitude of warriors, and the thought of the task that he had + undertaken crushed his spirit. Then he remembered, and shaking off his + fear and doubt, alone, save for his disciple John, holding the crucifix + aloft, he walked slowly up the wide road towards the place where he + guessed that the king must be. His arm was weary ere ever he reached it, + but at length he found himself standing before a thickset old man, who was + clad in leopard skins and seated upon a stool of polished wood. + </p> + <p> + “It is the king,” whispered John behind him. + </p> + <p> + “Peace be to you,” said Owen, breaking the silence. + </p> + <p> + “The wish is good, may it be fulfilled,” answered the king in a deep + voice, sighing as he said the words. “Yet yours is a strange greeting,” he + added. “Whence came you, White Man, how are you named, and what is your + mission to me and to my people?” + </p> + <p> + “King, I come from beyond the sea; I am named Messenger, and my mission is + to deliver to you the saying of God, my King and—yours.” + </p> + <p> + At these words a gasp of astonishment went up from those who stood within + hearing, expecting as they did to see them rewarded by instant death. But + Umsuka only said:— + </p> + <p> + “‘My King and yours’? Bold words, Messenger. Where then is this King to + whom I, Umsuka, should bow the knee?” + </p> + <p> + “He is everywhere—in the heavens, on the earth, and below the + earth.” + </p> + <p> + “If He is everywhere, then He is here. Show me the likeness of this King, + Messenger.” + </p> + <p> + “Behold it,” Owen answered, thrusting forward the crucifix. + </p> + <p> + Now all the great ones about the king stared at this figure of a dying man + crowned with thorns and hanging on a cross, and then drew up their lips to + laugh. But that laugh never left them; a sudden impulse, a mysterious wave + of feeling choked it in their throats. A sense of the strangeness of the + contrast between themselves in their armed multitudes and this one + white-robed man in his loneliness took hold of them, and with it another + sense of something not far removed from fear. + </p> + <p> + “A wizard indeed,” they thought in their hearts, and what they thought the + king uttered. + </p> + <p> + “I perceive,” he said, “that you are either mad, White Man, or you are a + prince of wizards. Mad you do not seem to be, for your eyes are calm, + therefore a wizard you must be. Well, stand behind me: by-and-by I will + hear your message and ask of you to show me your powers; but before then + there are things which I must do. Are the lads ready? Ho, you, loose the + bull!” + </p> + <p> + At the command a line of soldiers moved from the right, forming itself up + in front of the king and his attendants, revealing a number of youths, of + from sixteen to seventeen years of age, armed with sticks only, who stood + in companies outside a massive gate. Presently this gate was opened, and + through it, with a mad bellow, rushed a wild buffalo bull. On seeing them + the brute halted, and for a few moments stood pawing the earth and tearing + it with its great horns. Then it put down its head and charged. Instead of + making way for it, uttering a shrill whistling sound, the youths rushed at + the beast, striking with their sticks. + </p> + <p> + Another instant, and one of them appeared above the heads of his + companions, thrown high into the air, to be followed by a second and a + third. Now the animal was through the throng and carrying a poor boy on + its horn, whence presently he fell dead; through and through the ranks of + the regiments it charged furiously backward and forward. + </p> + <p> + Watching it fascinated, Owen noted that it was a point of honour for no + man to stir before its rush; there they stood, and if the bull gored them, + there they fell. At length, exhausted and terrified, the brute headed back + straight up the lane where the main body of the youths were waiting for + it. Now it was among them, and, reckless of wounds or death, they swarmed + about it like bees, seizing it by legs, nose, horns and tail, till with + desperate efforts they dragged it to the ground and beat the life out of + it with their sticks. This done, they formed up before the king and + saluted him. + </p> + <p> + “How many are killed?” he asked. + </p> + <p> + “Eight in all,” was the answer, “and fifteen gored.” + </p> + <p> + “A good bull,” he said with a smile; “that of last year killed but five. + Well, the lads fought him bravely. Let the dead be buried, the hurt + tended, or, if their harms are hopeless, slain, and to the rest give a + double ration of beer. Ho, now, fall back, men, and make a space for the + Bees and the Wasps to fight in.” + </p> + <p> + Some orders were given and a great ring was formed, leaving an arena clear + that may have measured a hundred and fifty yards in diameter. Then + suddenly, from opposite sides, the two regiments, known as the Bees and + the Wasps respectively, rushed upon each other, uttering their war-cries. + </p> + <p> + “I put ten head of cattle on the Bees; who wagers on the Wasps?” cried the + king. + </p> + <p> + “I, Lord,” answered the Prince Hafela, stepping forward. + </p> + <p> + “You, Prince!” said the king with a quick frown. “Well, you are right to + back them, they are your own regiment. Ah! they are at it.” + </p> + <p> + By this time the scene was that of a hell broken loose upon the earth. The + two regiments, numbering some 5000 men in all, had come together, and the + roar of their meeting shields was like the roar of thunder. They were + armed with kerries only, and not with spears, for the fight was supposed + to be a mimic one; but these weapons they used with such effect that soon + hundreds of them were down dead or with shattered skulls and bruised + limbs. Fiercely they fought, while the whole army watched, for their + rivalry was keen and for many months they had known that they were to be + pitted one against the other on this day. Fiercely they fought, while the + captains cried their orders, and the dust rose up in clouds as they swung + to and fro, breast thrusting against breast. At length the end came; the + Bees began to give, they fell back ever more quickly till their retreat + was a rout, and, leaving many stretched upon the ground, amid the mocking + cries of the army they were driven to the fence, by touching which they + obtained peace at the hands of their victors. + </p> + <p> + The king saw, and his somewhat heavy, quiet face grew alive with rage. + </p> + <p> + “Search and see,” he said, “if the captain of the Bees is alive and + unhurt.” + </p> + <p> + Messengers went to do his bidding, and presently they returned, bringing + with them a man of magnificent appearance and middle age, whose left arm + had been broken by a blow from a kerry. With his right hand he saluted + first the king, then the Prince Nodwengo, a kindly-faced, mild-eyed man, + in whose command he was. + </p> + <p> + “What have you to say?” asked the king, in a cold voice of anger. “Know + you that you have cost me ten head of the royal white cattle?” + </p> + <p> + “King, I have nothing to say,” answered the captain calmly, “except that + my men are cowards.” + </p> + <p> + “That is certainly so,” said the king. “Let all the wounded among them be + carried away; and for you, captain, who turn my soldiers into cowards, you + shall die a dog’s death, hanging to-morrow on the Tree of Doom. As for + your regiment, I banish it to the fever country, there to hunt elephants + for three years, since it is not fit to fight with men.” + </p> + <p> + “It is well,” replied the captain, “since death is better than shame. Only + King, I have done you good service in the past; I ask that it may be + presently and by the spear.” + </p> + <p> + “So be it,” said the king. + </p> + <p> + “I crave his life, father,” said the Prince Nodwengo; “he is my friend.” + </p> + <p> + “A prince should not choose cowards for his friends,” replied the king; + “let him be killed, I say.” + </p> + <p> + Then Owen, who had been watching and listening, his heart sick with + horror, stood forward and said:— + </p> + <p> + “King, in the name of Him I serve, I conjure you to spare this man and + those others that are hurt, who have done no crime except to be driven + back by soldiers stronger than themselves.” + </p> + <p> + “Messenger,” answered the king, “I bear with you because you are ignorant. + Know that, according to our customs, this crime is the greatest of crimes, + for here we show no mercy to the conquered.” + </p> + <p> + “Yet you should do so,” said Owen, “seeing that you also must ere long be + conquered by death, and then how can you expect mercy who have shown + none?” + </p> + <p> + “Let him be killed!” said the king. + </p> + <p> + “King!” cried Owen once more, “do this deed, and I tell you that before + the sun is down great evil will overtake you.” + </p> + <p> + “Do you threaten me, Messenger? Well, we will see. Let him be killed, I + say.” + </p> + <p> + Then the man was led away; but, before he went he found time to thank Owen + and Nodwengo the prince, and to call down good fortune upon them. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0006" id="link2HCH0006"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER VI + </h2> + <h3> + THE DRINKING OF THE CUP + </h3> + <p> + Now the king’s word was done, the anger went out of his eyes, and once + more his countenance grew weary. A command was issued, and, with the most + perfect order, moving like one man, the regiments changed their array, + forming up battalion upon battalion in face of the king, that they might + give him the royal salute so soon as he had drunk the cup of the + first-fruits. + </p> + <p> + A herald stood forward and cried:— + </p> + <p> + “Hearken, you Sons of Fire! Hearken, you Children of Umsuka, Shaker of the + Earth! Have any of you a boon to ask of the king?” + </p> + <p> + Men stood forward, and having saluted, one by one asked this thing or + that. The king heard their requests, and as he nodded or turned his head + away, so they were granted or refused. + </p> + <p> + When all had done, the Prince Hafela came forward, lifted his spear, and + cried:— + </p> + <p> + “A boon, King!” + </p> + <p> + “What is it?” asked his father, eyeing him curiously. + </p> + <p> + “A small matter, King,” he replied. “A while ago I named a certain woman, + Noma, the ward of Hokosa the wizard, and she was sealed to me to fill the + place of my first wife, the queen that is to be. She passed into the House + of the Royal Women, and, by your command, King, it was fixed that I should + marry her according to our customs to-morrow, after the feast of the + first-fruits is ended. King, my heart is changed towards that woman; I no + longer desire to take her to wife, and I pray that you will order that she + shall now be handed back to Hokosa her guardian.” + </p> + <p> + “You blow hot and cold with the same mouth, Hafela,” said Umsuka, “and in + love or war I do not like such men. What have you to say to this demand, + Hokosa?” + </p> + <p> + Now Hokosa stepped forward from where he stood at the head of the company + of wizards. His dress, like that of his companions, was simple, but in its + way striking. On his shoulders he wore a cloak of shining snakeskin; about + his loins was a short kilt of the same material; and round his forehead, + arms and knees were fillets of snakeskin. At his side hung his pouch of + medicines, and in his hand he held no spear, but a wand of ivory, whereof + the top was roughly carved so as to resemble the head of a cobra reared up + to strike. + </p> + <p> + “King,” he said, “I have heard the words of the prince, and I do not think + that this insult should have been put upon the Lady Noma, my ward, or upon + me, her guardian. Still, let it be, for I would not that one should pass + from under the shadow of my house whither she is not welcome. Without my + leave the prince named this woman as his queen, as he had the right to do; + and without my leave he unnames her, as he has the right to do. Were the + prince a common man, according to custom he should pay a fine of cattle to + be held by me in trust for her whom he discards; but this is a matter that + I leave to you, King.” + </p> + <p> + “You do well, Hokosa,” answered Umsuka, “to leave this to me. Prince, you + would not wish the fine that you should pay to be that of any common man. + With the girl shall be handed over two hundred head of cattle. More, I + will do justice: unless she herself consents, she shall not be put away. + Let the Lady Noma be summoned.” + </p> + <p> + Now the face of Hafela grew sullen, and watching, Owen saw a swift change + pass over that of Hokosa. Evidently he was not certain of the woman. + Presently there was a stir, and from the gates of the royal house the Lady + Noma appeared, attended by women, and stood before the king. She was a + tall and lovely girl, and the sunlight flashed upon her bronze-hued breast + and her ornaments of ivory. Her black hair was fastened in a knot upon her + neck, her features were fine and small, her gait was delicate and sure as + that of an antelope, and her eyes were beautiful and full of pride. There + she stood before the king, looking round her like a stag. Seeing her thus, + Owen understood how it came about that she held two men so strangely + different in the hollow of her hand, for her charm was of a nature to + appeal to both of them—a charm of the spirit as well as of the + flesh. And yet the face was haughty, a face that upon occasion might even + become cruel. + </p> + <p> + “You sent for me and I am here, O King,” she said, in a slow and quiet + voice. + </p> + <p> + “Listen, girl,” answered the king. “A while ago the Prince Hafela, my son, + named you as her who should be his queen, whereon you were taken and + placed in the House of the Royal Women, to abide the day of your marriage, + which should be to-morrow.” + </p> + <p> + “It is true that the prince has honoured me thus, and that you have been + pleased to approve of his choice,” she said, lifting her eyebrows. “What + of it, O King?” + </p> + <p> + “This, girl: the prince who was pleased to honour you is now pleased to + dishonour you. Here, in the presence of the council and army, he prays of + me to annul his sealing to you, and to send you back to the house of your + guardian, Hokosa the wizard.” + </p> + <p> + Noma started, and her face grew hard. + </p> + <p> + “Is it so?” she said. “Then it would seem that I have lost favour in the + eyes of my lord the prince, or that some fairer woman has found it.” + </p> + <p> + “Of these matters I know nothing,” replied the king; “but this I know, + that if you seek justice you shall have it. Say but the word, and he to + whom you were promised in marriage shall take you in marriage, whether he + wills or wills it not.” + </p> + <p> + At this speech, the face of Hafela was suddenly lit up as with the fire of + hope, while over that of Hokosa there passed another subtle change. The + girl glanced at them both and was silent for a while. Her breast heaved + and her white teeth bit upon her lip. To Owen, who noted all, it was clear + that rival passions were struggling in her heart: the passion of power and + the passion of love, or of some emotion which he did not understand. + Hokosa fixed his calm eyes upon her with a strange intensity of gaze, and + while he gazed his form quivered with a suppressed excitement, much as a + snake quivers that is about to strike its prey. To the careless eye there + was nothing remarkable about his look and attitude; to the observer it was + evident that both were full of extraordinary purpose. He was talking to + the girl, not with words, but in some secret language that he and she + understood alone. She started as one starts who catches the tone of a + well-remembered voice in a crowd of strangers, and lifting her eyes from + the ground, whither she had turned them in meditation, she looked up at + Hokosa. + </p> + <p> + Instantly her face began to change. The haughtiness and anger went out of + it, it grew troubled, the lips parted in a sigh. First she bent her head + and body towards him, then without more ado she walked to where he stood + and took him by the hand. Here, at some whispered word or sign, she seemed + to recover herself, and again resuming the character of a proud offended + beauty, she curtseyed to Umsuka, and spoke:— + </p> + <p> + “O King, as you see, I have made my choice. I will not force myself upon a + man who scorns me, no, not even to share his place and power, though it is + true that I love them both. Nay, I will return to Hokosa my guardian, and + to his wife, Zinti, who has been as my mother, and with them be at peace.” + </p> + <p> + “It is well,” said the king, “and perhaps, girl, your choice is wise; + perhaps your loss is not so great as you have thought. Hafela, take you + the hand of Hokosa and release the girl back to him according to the law, + promising in the ears of men before the first month of winter to pay him + two hundred head of cattle as forfeit, to be held by him in trust for the + girl.” + </p> + <p> + In a sullen voice, his lips trembling with rage, Hafela did as the king + commanded; and when the hands of the conspirators unclasped, Owen + perceived that in that of the prince lay a tiny packet. + </p> + <p> + “Mix me the cup of the first-fruits, and swiftly,” said the king again, + “for the sun grows low in the heavens, and ere it sinks I have words to + say.” + </p> + <p> + Now a polished gourd filled with native beer was handed to Nodwengo, the + second son of the king, and one by one the great councillors approached, + and, with appropriate words, let fall into it offerings emblematic of + fertility and increase. The first cast in a grain of corn; the second, a + blade of grass; the third, a shaving from an ox’s horn; the fourth, a drop + of water; the fifth, a woman’s hair; the sixth, a particle of earth; and + so on, until every ingredient was added to it that was necessary to the + magic brew. + </p> + <p> + Then Hokosa, as chief of the medicine men, blessed the cup according to + the ancient forms, praying that he whose body was the heavens, whose eyes + were lightning, and whose voice was thunder, the spirit whom they + worshipped, might increase and multiply to them during the coming year all + those fruits and elements that were present in the cup, and that every + virtue which they contained might comfort the body of the king. + </p> + <p> + His prayer finished, it was the turn of Hafela to play his part as the + eldest born of the king. Kneeling over the cup which stood upon the + ground, a spear was handed to him that had been made red hot in the fire. + Taking the spear, he stabbed with it towards the four quarters of the + horizon; then, muttering some invocation, he plunged it into the bowl, + stirring its contents till the iron grew black. Now he threw aside the + spear, and lifting the bowl in both hands, he carried it to his father and + offered it to him. + </p> + <p> + Although he had been unable to see him drop the poison into the cup, a + glance at Hafela told Owen that it was there; for though he kept his face + under control, he could not prevent his hands from twitching or the sweat + from starting upon his brow and breast. + </p> + <p> + The king rose, and taking the bowl, held it on high, saying:— + </p> + <p> + “In this cup, which I drink on behalf of the nation, I pledge you, my + people.” + </p> + <p> + It was the signal for the royal salute, for which each regiment had been + prepared. As the last word left the king’s lips, every one of the thirty + thousand men present in that great place began to rattle his kerry against + the surface of his ox-hide shield. At first the sound produced resembled + that of the murmur of the sea; but by slow and just degrees it grew louder + and ever louder, till the roar of it was like the deepest voice of + thunder, a sound awe-inspiring, terrible. + </p> + <p> + Suddenly, when its volume was most, four spears were thrown into the air, + and at this signal every man ceased to beat upon his shield. In the place + itself there was silence, but from the mountains around the echoes still + crashed and volleyed. When the last of them had died away, the king + brought the cup to the level of his lips. Owen saw, and knowing its + contents, was almost moved to cry out in warning. Indeed, his arm was + lifted and his mouth was open, when by chance he noted Hokosa watching + him, and remembered. To act now would be madness, his time had not yet + come. + </p> + <p> + The cup touched the king’s lips, and at the sign from every throat in that + countless multitude sprang the word “<i>King!</i>” and every foot stamped + upon the ground, shaking the solid earth. Thrice the monarch drank, and + thrice this tremendous salute, the salute of the whole nation to its + ruler, was repeated, each time more loudly than the last. Then pouring the + rest of the liquor on the ground, Umsuka set aside the cup, and in the + midst of a silence that seemed deep after the crash of the great salute, + he began to address the multitude:— + </p> + <p> + “Hearken, Councillors and Captains, and you, my people, hearken. As you + know, I have two sons, calves of the Black Bull, princes of the land—my + son Hafela, the eldest born, and my son Nodwengo, his half-brother——” + </p> + <p> + At this point the king began to grow confused. He hesitated, passing his + hand over his eyes, then slowly and with difficulty repeated those words + which he had already said. + </p> + <p> + “We hear you, Father,” cried the councillors in encouragement, as for the + second time he paused. While they still spoke, the veins in the king’s + neck were seen to swell suddenly, foam flecked with blood burst from his + lips, and he fell headlong to the ground. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0007" id="link2HCH0007"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER VII + </h2> + <h3> + THE RECOVERY OF THE KING + </h3> + <p> + For a moment there was silence, then a great cry arose—a cry of “Our + father is dead!” Presently with it were mingled other and angrier shouts + of “The king is murdered!” and “He is bewitched, the white wizard has + bewitched the king! He prophesied evil upon him, and now he has bewitched + him!” + </p> + <p> + Meanwhile the captains and councillors formed a ring about Umsuka, and + Hokosa bending over him examined him. + </p> + <p> + “Princes and Councillors,” he said presently, “your father yet lives, but + his life is like the life of a dying fire and soon he must be dead. This + is sure, that one of two things has befallen him: either the heat has + caused the blood to boil in his veins and he is smitten with a stroke from + heaven, such as men who are fat and heavy sometimes die of; or he has been + bewitched by a wicked wizard. Yonder stands one,” and he pointed to Owen, + “who not an hour ago prophesied that before the sun was down great evil + should overtake the king. The sun is not yet down, and great evil has + overtaken him. Perchance, Princes and Councillors, this white prophet can + tell us of the matter.” + </p> + <p> + “Perchance I can,” answered Owen calmly. + </p> + <p> + “He admits it!” cried some. “Away with him!” + </p> + <p> + “Peace!” said Owen, holding the crucifix towards those whose spears + threatened his life. + </p> + <p> + They shrank back, for this symbol of a dying man terrified them who could + not guess its significance. + </p> + <p> + “Peace,” went on Owen, “and listen. Be sure of this, Councillors, that if + I die, your king will die; whereas if I live, your king may live. You ask + me of this matter. Where shall I begin? Shall I begin with the tale of two + men seated together some nights ago in a hut so dark that no eyes could + see in it, save perchance the eyes of a wizard? What did they talk of in + that hut, and who were those men? They talked, I think, of the death of a + king and of the crowning of a king. They talked of a price to be paid for + a certain medicine; and one of them had a royal air, and one——” + </p> + <p> + “Will ye hearken to this wild babbler while your king lies dying before + your eyes?” broke in Hokosa, in a shrill, unnatural voice; for almost + palsied with fear as he was at Owen’s mysterious words, he still retained + his presence of mind. “Listen now: what is he, and what did he say? He is + one who comes hither to preach a new faith to us; he comes, he says, on an + embassy from the King of Heaven, who has power over all things, and who, + so these white men preach, can give power to His servants. Well, let this + one cease prating and show us his strength, as he has been warned he would + be called upon to do. Let him give us a sign. There before you lies your + king, and he is past the help of man; even I cannot help him. Therefore, + let this messenger cure him, or call upon his God to cure him; that + seeing, we may know him to be a true messenger, and one sent by that King + of whom he speaks. Let him do this now before our eyes, or let him perish + as a wizard who has bewitched the king. Do you hear my words, Messenger, + and can you draw this one back from between the Gates of Death?” + </p> + <p> + “I hear them,” answered Owen quietly; “and I can—or if I cannot, + then I am willing to pay the penalty with my life. You who are a doctor + say that your king is as one who is already dead, so that whatever I may + do I cannot hurt him further. Therefore I ask this of you, that you stand + round and watch, but molest me neither by word nor deed while I attempt + his cure. Do you consent?” + </p> + <p> + “It is just; we consent,” said the councillors. “Let us see what the white + man can do, and by the issue let him be judged.” But Hokosa stared at Owen + wondering, and made no answer. + </p> + <p> + “Bring some clean water to me in a gourd,” said Owen. + </p> + <p> + It was brought and given to him. He looked round, searching the faces of + those about him. Presently his eye fell upon the Prince Nodwengo, and he + beckoned to him, saying:— + </p> + <p> + “Come hither, Prince, for you are honest, and I would have you to help me, + and no other man.” + </p> + <p> + The prince stepped forward and Owen gave him the gourd of water. Then he + drew out the little bottle wherein he had stored the juice of the creeper, + and uncorking it, he bade Nodwengo fill it up with water. This done, he + clasped his hands, and lifting his eyes to heaven, he prayed aloud in the + language of the Amasuka. + </p> + <p> + “O God,” he prayed, “upon whose business I am here, grant, I beseech Thee, + that by Thy Grace power may be given to me to work this miracle in the + face of these people, to the end that I may win them to cease from their + iniquities, to believe upon Thee, the only true God, and to save their + souls alive. Amen.” + </p> + <p> + Having finished his prayer, he took the bottle and shook it; then he + commanded Nodwengo to sit upon the ground and hold his father’s head upon + his knee. Now, as all might see by many signs, the king was upon the verge + of death, for his lips were purple, his breathing was rare and stertorous, + and his heart stood well-nigh still. + </p> + <p> + “Open his mouth and hold down the tongue,” said Owen. + </p> + <p> + The prince obeyed, pressing down the tongue with a snuff spoon. Then + placing the neck of the bottle as far into the throat as it would reach, + Owen poured the fluid it contained into the body of the king, who made a + convulsive movement and instantly seemed to die. + </p> + <p> + “He is dead,” said one; “away with the false prophet!” + </p> + <p> + “It may be so, or it may not be so,” answered Owen. “Wait for the half of + an hour; then, if he shows no sign of life, do what you will with me.” + </p> + <p> + “It is well,” they said; “so be it.” + </p> + <p> + Slowly the minutes slipped by, while the king lay like a corpse before + them, and outside of that silent ring the soldiers murmured as the wind. + The sun was sinking fast, and Hokosa watched it, counting the seconds. At + length he spoke:— + </p> + <p> + “The half of the hour that you demanded is dead, White Man, as dead as the + king; and now the time has come for you to die also,” and he stretched out + his hand to take him. + </p> + <p> + Owen looked at his watch and replied:— + </p> + <p> + “There is still another minute; and you, Hokosa, who are skilled in + medicines, may know that this antidote does not work so swiftly as the + bane.” + </p> + <p> + The shot was a random one, but it told, for Hokosa fell back and was + silent. + </p> + <p> + The seconds passed on as the minute hand of the watch went round from ten + to twenty, from twenty to thirty, from thirty to forty. A few more + instants and the game was played. Had that dream of his been vain + imagining, and was all his faith nothing but a dream wondered Owen? Well, + if so, it would be best that he should die. But he did not believe that it + was so; he believed that the Power above him would intervene to save—not + him, indeed, but all this people. + </p> + <p> + “Let us make an end,” said Hokosa, “the time is done.” + </p> + <p> + “Yes,” said Owen, “the time is done—and <i>the king lives!</i>” + </p> + <p> + Even as he spoke the pulses in the old man’s forehead were seen to throb, + and the veins in his neck to swell as they had swollen after he had + swallowed the poison; then once more they shrank to their natural size. + Umsuka stirred a hand, groaned, sat up, and spoke:— + </p> + <p> + “What has chanced to me?” he said. “I have descended into deep darkness, + now once again I see light.” + </p> + <p> + No one answered, for all were staring, terrified and amazed, at the + Messenger—the white wizard to whom had been given power to bring men + back from the gate of death. At length Owen said:— + </p> + <p> + “This has chanced to you, King: that evil which I prophesied to you if you + refused to listen to the voice of mercy has fallen upon you. By now you + would have been dead, had it not pleased Him Whom I serve, working through + me, His messenger, to bring you back to look upon the sun. Thank Him, + therefore, and worship Him, for He alone is Master of the Earth,” and he + held the crucifix before his eyes. + </p> + <p> + The humbled monarch lifted his hand—he who for many years had made + obeisance to none—and saluted the symbol, saying:— + </p> + <p> + “Messenger, I thank Him and I worship Him, though I know Him not. Say now, + how did His magic work upon me to make me sick to death and to recover + me?” + </p> + <p> + “By the hand of man, King, and by the virtues that lie hid in Nature. Did + you not drink of a cup, and were not many things mixed in the draught? Was + it not but now in your mind to speak words that should bring down the head + of pride and evil, and lift up the head of truth and goodness?” + </p> + <p> + “O White Man, how know you these things?” gasped the king. + </p> + <p> + “I know them, it is enough. Say, who was it that stirred the bowl, King, + and who gave you to drink?” + </p> + <p> + Now Umsuka staggered to his feet, and cried aloud in a voice that was + thick with rage:— + </p> + <p> + “By my head and the heads of my fathers I smell the plot! My son, the + Prince Hafela, has learned my counsel, and would have slain me before I + said words that should set him beneath the feet of Nodwengo. Seize him, + captains, and let him be brought before me for judgment!” + </p> + <p> + Men looked this way and that to carry out the command of the king, but + Hafela was gone. Already he was upon the hillside, running as a man has + rarely run before—his face set towards that fastness in the + mountains where he could find refuge among his mother’s tribesmen and the + regiments which he commanded. Of late they had been sent thither by the + king that they might be far from the Great Place when their prince was + disinherited. + </p> + <p> + “He is fled,” said one; “I saw him go.” + </p> + <p> + “Pursue him and bring him back, dead or alive!” thundered the king. “A + hundred head of cattle to the man who lays hand upon him before he reaches + the <i>impi</i> of the North, for they will fight for him!” + </p> + <p> + “Stay!” broke in Owen. “Once before this day I prayed of you, King, to + show mercy, and you refused it. Will you refuse me a second time? Leave + him his life who has lost all else.” + </p> + <p> + “That he may rebel against me? Well, White Man, I owe you much, and for + this time your wisdom shall be my guide, though my heart speaks against + such gentleness. Hearken, councillors and people, this is my decree: that + Hafela, my son, who would have murdered me, be deposed from his place as + heir to my throne, and that Nodwengo, his brother, be set in that place, + to rule the People of Fire after me when I die.” + </p> + <p> + “It is good, it is just!” said the council. “Let the king’s word be done.” + </p> + <p> + “Hearken again,” said Umsuka. “Let this white man, who is named Messenger, + be placed in the House of Guests and treated with all honour; let oxen be + given him from the royal herds and corn from the granaries, and girls of + noble blood for wives if he wills them. Hokosa, into your hand I deliver + him, and, great though you are, know this, that if but a hair of his head + is harmed, with your goods and your life you shall answer for it, you and + all your house.” + </p> + <p> + “Let the king’s word be done,” said the councillors again. + </p> + <p> + “Heralds,” went on Umsuka, “proclaim that the feast of the first-fruits is + ended, and my command is that every regiment should seek its quarters, + taking with it a double gift of cattle from the king, who has been saved + alive by the magic of this white man. And now, Messenger, farewell, for my + head grows weary. To-morrow I will speak with you.” + </p> + <p> + Then the king was led away into the royal house, and save those who were + quartered in it, the regiments passed one by one through the gates of the + kraal, singing their war-songs as they went. Darkness fell upon the Great + Place, and through it parties of men might be seen dragging thence the + corpses of those who had fallen in the fight with sticks, or been put to + death thereafter by order of the king. + </p> + <p> + “Messenger,” said Hokosa, bowing before Owen, “be pleased to follow me.” + Then he led him to a little kraal numbering five or six large and + beautifully made huts, which stood by itself, within its own fence, at the + north end of the Great Place, not far from the house of the king. In front + of the centre hut a fire was burning, and by its light women appeared + cleaning out the huts and bringing food and water. + </p> + <p> + “Here you may rest in safety, Messenger,” said Hokosa, “seeing that night + and day a guard from the king’s own regiment will stand before your + doors.” + </p> + <p> + “I do not need them,” answered Owen, “for none can harm me till my hour + comes. I am a stranger here and you are a great man; yet, Hokosa, which of + us is the safest this night?” + </p> + <p> + “Your meaning?” said Hokosa sharply. + </p> + <p> + “O man!” answered Owen, “when in a certain hour you crept up the valley + yonder, and climbing the Tree of Death gathered its poison, went I not + with you? When, before that hour, you sat in yonder hut bargaining with + the Prince Hafela—the death of a king for the price of a girl—was + I not with you? Nay, threaten me not—in your own words I say it—‘lay + down that assegai, or by my spirit your body shall be thrown to the kites, + as that of one who would murder the king’—and the king’s guest!” + </p> + <p> + “White Man,” whispered Hokosa throwing down the spear, “how can these + things be? I was alone in the hut with the prince, I was alone beneath the + Tree of Doom, and you, as I know well, were beyond the river. Your spies + must be good, White Man.” + </p> + <p> + “My spirit is my only spy, Hokosa. My spirit watched you, and from your + own lips he learned the secret of the bane and of the antidote. Hafela + mixed the poison as you taught him; I gave the remedy, and saved the king + alive.” + </p> + <p> + Now the knees of Hokosa grew weak beneath him, and he leaned against the + fence of the kraal for support. + </p> + <p> + “I have skill in the art,” he said hoarsely; “but, Messenger, your magic + is more than mine, and my life is forfeit to you. To-morrow morning, you + will tell the king all, and to-morrow night I shall hang upon the dreadful + Tree. Well, so be it; I am overmatched at my own trade, and it is best + that I should die. You have plotted well and you have conquered, and to + you belong my place and power.” + </p> + <p> + “It was you who plotted, and not I, Hokosa. Did you not contrive that I + should reach the Great Place but a little before the poison was given to + the king, so that upon me might be laid the crime of his bewitching? Did + you not plan also that I should be called upon to cure him—a thing + you deemed impossible—and when I failed that I should be straightway + butchered?” + </p> + <p> + “Seeing that it is useless to lie to you, I confess that it was so,” + answered Hokosa boldly. + </p> + <p> + “It was so,” repeated Owen; “therefore, according to your law your life is + forfeit, seeing that you dug a pit to snare the innocent feet. But I come + to tell you of a new law, and that which I preach I practise. Hokosa, I + pardon you, and if you will put aside your evil-doing, I promise you that + no word of all your wickedness shall pass my lips.” + </p> + <p> + “It has not been my fashion to take a boon at the hand of any man, save of + the king only,” said the wizard in a humble voice; “but now it seems that + I am come to this. Tell me, White Man, what is the payment that you seek + of me?” + </p> + <p> + “None, Hokosa, except that you cease from evil and listen with an open + heart to that message which I am sworn to deliver to you and to all your + nation. Also you would do well to put away that fair woman whose price was + the murder of him that fed you.” + </p> + <p> + “I cannot do it,” answered the wizard. “I will listen to your teaching, + but I will not rob my heart of her it craves alone. White Man, I am not + like the rest of my nation. I have not sought after women; I have but one + wife, and she is old and childless. Now, for the first time in my days, I + love this girl—ah, you know not how!—and I will take her, and + she shall be the mother of my children.” + </p> + <p> + “Then, Hokosa, you will take her to your sorrow,” answered Owen solemnly, + “for she will learn to hate you who have robbed her of royalty and rule, + giving her wizardries and your grey hairs in place of them.” + </p> + <p> + And thus for that night they parted. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0008" id="link2HCH0008"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER VIII + </h2> + <h3> + THE FIRST TRIAL BY FIRE + </h3> + <p> + On the following day, while Owen sat eating his morning meal with a + thankful heart, a messenger arrived saying that the king would receive him + whenever it pleased him to come. He answered that he would be with him + before noon, for already he had learned that among natives one loses + little by delay. A great man, they think, is rich in time, and hurries + only to wait upon his superiors. + </p> + <p> + At the appointed hour a guard came to lead him to the royal house, and + thither Owen went, followed by John bearing a Bible. Umsuka was seated + beneath a reed roof supported by poles and open on all sides; behind him + stood councillors and attendants, and by him were Nodwengo the prince, and + Hokosa, his mouth and prophet. Although the day was hot, he wore a kaross + or rug of wild catskins, and his face showed that the effects of the + poisoned draught were still upon him. At the approach of Owen he rose with + something of an effort, and, shaking him by the hand, thanked him for his + life, calling him “doctor of doctors.” + </p> + <p> + “Tell me, Messenger,” he added, “how it was that you were able to cure me, + and who were in the plot to kill me? There must have been more than one,” + and he rolled his eyes round with angry suspicion. + </p> + <p> + “King,” answered Owen, “if I knew anything of this matter, the Power that + wrote it on my mind has wiped it out again, or, at the least, has + forbidden me to speak of its secret. I saved you, it is enough; for the + rest, the past is the past, and I come to deal with the present and the + future.” + </p> + <p> + “This white man keeps his word,” thought Hokosa to himself, and he looked + at him thanking him with his eyes. + </p> + <p> + “So be it,” answered the king; “after all, it is wise not to stir a + dung-heap, for there we find little beside evil odours and the nests of + snakes. Now, what is your business with me, and why do you come from the + white man’s countries to visit me? I have heard of those countries, they + are great and far away. I have heard of the white men also—wonderful + men who have all knowledge; but I do not desire to have anything to do + with them, for whenever they meet black people they eat them up, taking + their lands and making them slaves. Once, some years ago, two of you white + people visited us here, but perhaps you know that story.” + </p> + <p> + “I know it,” answered Owen; “one of those men you murdered, and the other + you sent back with a message which he delivered into my ears across the + waters, thousands of miles away.” + </p> + <p> + “Nay,” answered the king, “we did not murder him; he came to us with the + story of a new God who could raise the dead and work other miracles, and + gave such powers to His servants. So a man was slain and we begged of him + to bring him back to life; and since he could not, we killed him also + because he was a liar.” + </p> + <p> + “He was no liar,” said Owen; “since he never told you that he had power to + open the mouth of the grave. Still, Heaven is merciful, and although you + murdered him that was sent to you, his Master has chosen me to follow in + his footsteps. Me also you may murder if you will, and then another and + another; but still the messengers shall come, till at last your ears are + opened and you listen. Only, for such deeds your punishment must be + heavy.” + </p> + <p> + “What is the message, White Man?” + </p> + <p> + “A message of peace, of forgiveness, and of life beyond the grave, of life + everlasting. Listen, King. Yesterday you were near to death; say now, had + you stepped over the edge of it, where would you be this day?” + </p> + <p> + Umsuka shrugged his shoulders. “With my fathers, White Man.” + </p> + <p> + “And where are your fathers?” + </p> + <p> + “Nay, I know not—nowhere, everywhere: the night is full of them; in + the night we hear the echo of their voices. When they are angry they haunt + the thunder-cloud, and when they are pleased they smile in the sunshine. + Sometimes also they appear in the shape of snakes, or visit us in dreams, + and then we offer them sacrifice. Yonder on the hillside is a haunted + wood; it is full of their spirits, White Man, but they cannot talk, they + only mutter, and their footfalls sound like the dropping of heavy rain, + for they are strengthless and unhappy, and in the end they fade away.” + </p> + <p> + “So you say,” answered Owen, “who are not altogether without + understanding, yet know little, never having been taught. Now listen to + me,” and very earnestly he preached to him and those about him of peace, + of forgiveness, and of life everlasting. + </p> + <p> + “Why should a God die miserably upon a cross?” asked the king at length. + </p> + <p> + “That through His sacrifice men might become as gods,” answered Owen. + “Believe in Him and He will save you.” + </p> + <p> + “How can we do that,” asked the king again, “when already we have a god? + Can we desert one god and set up another?” + </p> + <p> + “What god, King?” + </p> + <p> + “I will show him to you, White Man. Let my litter be brought.” + </p> + <p> + The litter was brought and the king entered it with labouring breath. + Passing through the north gate of the Great Place, the party ascended a + slope of the hill that lay beyond it till they reached a flat plain some + hundreds of yards in width. On this plain vegetation grew scantily, for + here the bed rock of ironstone, denuded with frequent and heavy rains, was + scarcely hidden by a thin crust of earth. On the further side of the + plain, however, and separated from it by a little stream, was a green bank + of deep soft soil, beyond which lay a gloomy valley full of great trees, + that for many generations had been the burying-place of the kings of the + Amasuka. + </p> + <p> + “This is the house of the god,” said the king. + </p> + <p> + “A strange house,” answered Owen, “and where is he that dwells in it?” + </p> + <p> + “Follow me and I will show you, Messenger; but be swift, for already the + sky grows dark with coming tempest.” + </p> + <p> + Now at the king’s command the bearers bore him across the sere plateau + towards a stone that lay almost in its centre. Presently they halted, and, + pointing to this mass, the king said:— + </p> + <p> + “Behold the god!” + </p> + <p> + Owen advanced and examined the object. A glance told him that this god of + the Amasuka was a meteoric stone of unusual size. Most of such stones are + mere shapeless lumps, but this one bore a peculiar resemblance to a seated + human being holding up one arm towards the sky. So strange was this + likeness that, other reasons apart, it seemed not wonderful that savages + should regard the thing with awe and veneration. Rather would it have been + wonderful had they not done so. + </p> + <p> + “Say now,” said Owen to the king when he had inspected the stone, “what is + the history of this dumb god of yours, and why do you worship him?” + </p> + <p> + “Follow me across the stream and I will tell you, Messenger,” answered the + king, again glancing at the sky. “The storm gathers, and when it breaks + none are safe upon this plain except the heaven doctors such as Hokosa and + his companions who can bind the lightning.” + </p> + <p> + So they went and when they reached the further side of the stream Umsuka + descended from his litter. + </p> + <p> + “Messenger,” he said, “this is the story of the god as it has come down to + us. From the beginning our land has been scourged with lightning above all + other lands, and with the floods of rain that accompany the lightning. In + the old days the Great Place of the king was out yonder among the + mountains, but every year fire from heaven fell upon it, destroying much + people: and at length in a great tempest the house of the king of that day + was smitten and burned, and his wives and children were turned to ashes. + Then that king held a council of his wizards and fire-doctors, and these + having consulted the spirits of their forefathers, retired into a place + apart to fast and pray; yes, it was in yonder valley, the burying ground + of kings, that they hid themselves. Now on the third night the God of Fire + appeared to the chief of the doctors in his sleep, and he was shaped like + a burning brand and smoke went up from him. Out of the smoke he spoke to + the doctor, saying: ‘For this reason it is that I torment your people, + that they hate me and curse at me and pay me little honour.’ + </p> + <p> + “In his dream the doctor answered: ‘How can the people honour a god that + they do not see?’ Then the god said: ‘Rise up now in the night, all the + company of you, and go take your stand upon the banks of yonder stream, + and I will fall down in fire from heaven, and there on the plain you shall + find my image. Then let your king move his Great Place into the valley + beneath the plain, and henceforth my bolts shall spare it and him. Only, + month by month you shall make prayers and offerings to me; moreover, the + name of the people shall be changed, for it shall be called the People of + Fire.’ + </p> + <p> + “Now the doctor rose, and having awakened his companions, he told them of + his vision. Then they all of them went down to the banks of this stream + where we now stand. And as they waited there a great tempest burst over + them, and in the midst of that tempest they saw the flaming figure of a + man descend from heaven, and when he touched the earth it shook. The + morning came and there upon the plain before them, where there had been + nothing, sat the likeness of the god as it sits to-day and shall sit for + ever. So the name of this people was changed, and the king’s Great Place + was built where it now is. + </p> + <p> + “Since that day, Messenger, no hut has been burned and no man killed in or + about the Great Place by fire from heaven, which falls only here where the + god is, though away among the mountains and elsewhere men are sometimes + killed. But wait a while and you shall see with your eyes. Hokosa, do you, + whom the lightning will not touch, take that pole of dead wood and set it + up yonder in the crevice of the rock not far from the figure of the god.” + </p> + <p> + “I obey,” said Hokosa, “although I have brought no medicines with me. + Perhaps,” he added with a faint sneer, “the white man, who is so great a + wizard, will not be afraid to accompany me.” + </p> + <p> + Now Owen saw that all those present were looking at him curiously. It was + evident they believed that he would not dare to accept the challenge. + Therefore he answered at once and without hesitation:— + </p> + <p> + “Certainly I will come; the pole is heavy for one man to carry, and where + Hokosa goes, there I can go also.” + </p> + <p> + “Nay, nay, Messenger,” said the king, “the lightning knows Hokosa and will + turn from him, but you are a stranger to it and it will eat you up.” + </p> + <p> + “King,” answered Owen, “I do not believe that Hokosa has any power over + the lightning. It may strike him or it may strike me; but unless my God so + commands, it will strike neither of us.” + </p> + <p> + “On your head be it, White Man,” said Hokosa, with cold anger. “Come, aid + me with the pole.” + </p> + <p> + Then they lifted the dead tree, and between them carried it into the + middle of the plain, where they set it up in a crevice of the rock. By + this time the storm was almost over them, and watching it Owen perceived + that the lightnings struck always along the bank of the stream, doubtless + following a hidden line of the bed of ironstone. + </p> + <p> + “It is but a very little storm,” said Hokosa contemptuously, “such as + visit us almost every afternoon at this period of the year. Ah! White Man, + I would that you could see one of our great tempests, for these are worth + beholding. This I fear, however, that you will never do, seeing it is + likely that within some few minutes you will have passed back to that King + who sent you here, with a hole in your head and a black mark down your + spine.” + </p> + <p> + “That we shall learn presently, Hokosa,” answered Owen; “for my part, I + pray that no such fate may overtake you.” + </p> + <p> + Now Hokosa moved himself away, muttering and pointing with his fingers, + but Owen remained standing within about thirty yards of the pole. Suddenly + there came a glare of light, and the pole was split into fragments; but + although the shock was perceptible, they remained unhurt. Almost + immediately a second flash leaped from the cloud, and Owen saw Hokosa + stagger and fall to his knees. “The man is struck,” he thought to himself, + but it was not so, for recovering his balance, the wizard walked back to + the stream. + </p> + <p> + Owen never stirred. From boyhood courage had been one of his good + qualities, but it was a courage of the spirit rather than of the flesh. + For instance, at this very moment, so far as his body was concerned, he + was much afraid, and did not in the least enjoy standing upon an ironstone + plateau at the imminent risk of being destroyed by lightning. But even if + he had not had an end to gain, he would have scorned to give way to his + human frailties; also, now as always, his faith supported him. As it + happened the storm, which was slight, passed by, and no more flashes fell. + When it was over he walked back to where the king and his court were + standing. + </p> + <p> + “Messenger,” said Umsuka, “you are not only a great doctor, you are also a + brave man, and such I honour. There is no one among us here, not being a + lord of the lightning, who would have dared to stand upon that place with + Hokosa while the flashes fell about him. Yet you have done it; it was + Hokosa who was driven away. You have passed the trial by fire, and + henceforth, whether we refuse your message or accept it, you are great in + this land.” + </p> + <p> + “There is no need to praise me, King,” answered Owen. “The risk is + something; but I knew that I was protected from it, seeing that I shall + not die until my hour comes, and it is not yet. Listen now: your god + yonder is nothing but a stone such as I have often seen before, for + sometimes in great tempests they come to earth from the clouds. You are + not the first people that have worshipped such a stone, but now we know + better. Also this plain before you is full of iron, and iron draws the + lightning. That is why it never strikes your town below. The iron attracts + it more strongly than earth and huts of straw. Again, while the pole stood + I was in little danger, for the lightning strikes the highest thing; but + after the pole was shattered and Hokosa wisely went away, then I was in + some danger, only no flashes fell. I am not a magician, King, but I know + some things that you do not know, and I trust in One whom I shall lead you + to trust also.” + </p> + <p> + “We will talk of this more hereafter,” said the king hurriedly, “for one + day, I have heard and seen enough. Also I do not believe your words, for I + have noted ever that those who are the greatest wizards of all say + continually that they have no magic power. Hokosa, you have been famous in + your day, but it seems that henceforth you who have led must follow.” + </p> + <p> + “The battle is not yet fought, King,” answered Hokosa. “To-day I met the + lightnings without my medicines, and it was a little storm; when I am + prepared with my medicines and the tempest is great, then I will challenge + this white man to face me yonder, and then in that hour <i>my</i> god + shall show his strength and <i>his</i> God shall not be able to save him.” + </p> + <p> + “That we shall see when the time comes,” answered Owen, with a smile. + </p> + <p> + That night as Owen sat in his hut working at the translation of St. John, + the door was opened and Hokosa entered. + </p> + <p> + “White Man,” said the wizard, “you are too strong for me, though whence + you have your power I know not. Let us make a bargain. Show me your magic + and I will show you mine, and we will rule the land between us. You and I + are much akin—we are great; we have the spirit sight; we know that + there are things beyond the things we see and hear and feel; whereas, for + the rest, they are fools, following the flesh alone. I have spoken.” + </p> + <p> + “Very gladly will I show you my magic, Hokosa,” answered Owen cheerfully, + “since, to speak truth, though I know you to be wicked, and guess that you + would be glad to be rid of me by fair means or foul; yet I have taken a + liking for you, seeing in you one who from a sinner may grow into a saint. + </p> + <p> + “This then is my magic: To love God and serve man; to eschew wizardry, + wealth, and power; to seek after holiness, poverty and humility; to deny + your flesh, and to make yourself small in the sight of men, that so + perchance you may grow great in the sight of Heaven and save your soul + alive.” + </p> + <p> + “I have no stomach for that lesson,” said Hokosa. + </p> + <p> + “Yet you shall live to hunger for it,” answered Owen. And the wizard went + away angered but wondering. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0009" id="link2HCH0009"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER IX + </h2> + <h3> + THE CRISIS + </h3> + <p> + Now, day by day for something over a month Owen preached the Gospel before + the king, his councillors, and hundreds of the head men of the nation. + They listened to him attentively, debating the new doctrine point by + point; for although they might be savages, these people were very + keen-witted and subtle. Very patiently did Owen sow, and at length to his + infinite joy he also gathered in his first-fruit. One night as he sat in + his hut labouring as usual at the work of translation, wherein he was + assisted by John whom he had taught to read and write, the Prince Nodwengo + entered and greeted him. For a while he sat silent watching the white man + at his task, then he said:— + </p> + <p> + “Messenger, I have a boon to ask of you. Can you teach me to understand + those signs which you set upon the paper, and to make them also as does + John your servant?” + </p> + <p> + “Certainly,” answered Owen; “if you will come to me at noon to-morrow, we + will begin.” + </p> + <p> + The prince thanked him, but he did not go away. Indeed, from his manner + Owen guessed that he had something more upon his mind. At length it came + out. + </p> + <p> + “Messenger,” he said, “you have told us of baptism whereby we are admitted + into the army of your King; say, have you the power of this rite?” + </p> + <p> + “I have.” + </p> + <p> + “And is your servant here baptised?” + </p> + <p> + “He is.” + </p> + <p> + “Then if he who is a common man can be baptised, why may not I who am a + prince?” + </p> + <p> + “In baptism,” answered Owen, “there is no distinction between the highest + and the lowest; but if you believe, then the door is open and through it + you can join the company of Heaven.” + </p> + <p> + “Messenger, I do believe,” answered the prince humbly. + </p> + <p> + Then Owen was very joyful, and that same night, with John for a witness, + he baptised the prince, giving him the new name of Constantine, after the + first Christian emperor. + </p> + <p> + On the following day Nodwengo, in the presence of Owen, who on this point + would suffer no concealment, announced to the king that he had become a + Christian. Umsuka heard, and for a while sat silent. Then he said in a + troubled voice:— + </p> + <p> + “Truly, Messenger, in the words of that Book from which you read to us, I + fear that you have come hither to bring, ‘not peace but a sword.’ Now when + the witch-doctors and the priests of fire learn this, that he whom I have + chosen to succeed me has become the servant of another faith, they will + stir up the soldiers and there will be civil war. I pray you, therefore, + keep the matter secret, at any rate for a while, seeing that the lives of + many are at stake.” + </p> + <p> + “In this, my father,” answered the prince, “I must do as the Messenger + bids me; but if you desire it, take from me the right of succession and + call back my brother from the northern mountains.” + </p> + <p> + “That by poison or the spear he may put all of us to death, Nodwengo! Be + not afraid; ere long when he learns all that is happening here, your + brother Hafela will come from the northern mountains, and the spears of + his <i>impis</i> shall be countless as the stars of the sky. Messenger, + you desire to draw us to the arms of your God—and myself, I am at + times minded to follow the path of my son Nodwengo and seek a refuge there—but + say, will they be strong enough to protect us from Hafela and the warriors + of the north? Already he gathers his clans, and already my captains desert + to him. By-and-by, in the spring-time—may I be dead before the day—he + will roll down upon us like a flood of water——” + </p> + <p> + “To fall back like waters from a wall of rock,” answered Owen. “‘Let not + your heart be troubled,’ for my Master can protect His servants, and He + will protect you. But first you must confess Him openly, as your son has + done.” + </p> + <p> + “Nay, I am too old to hurry,” said the king with a sigh. “Your tale seems + full of promise to one who is near the grave; but how can I know that it + is more than a dream? And shall I abandon the worship of my fathers and + change, or strive to change, the customs of my people to follow after + dreams? Nodwengo has chosen his part, and I do not blame him; yet, for the + present I beseech you both to keep silence on this matter, lest to save + bloodshed I should be driven to side against you.” + </p> + <p> + “So be it, King,” said Owen; “but I warn you that Truth has a loud voice, + and that it is hard to hide the shining of a light in a dark place, nor + does it please my Lord to be denied by those who confess Him.” + </p> + <p> + “I am weary,” replied the old king, and they saluted him and went. + </p> + <p> + In obedience to the wish of Umsuka his father, the conversion of Nodwengo + was kept secret, and yet—none knew how—the thing leaked out. + Soon the women in their huts, and the soldiers by their watch-fires, + whispered it in each other’s ears that he who was appointed to be their + future ruler had become a servant of the unknown God. That he had forsworn + war and all the delights of men; that he would take but one wife and + appear before the army, not in the uniform of a general, but clad in a + white robe, and carry, not the broad spear, but a cross of wood. Swiftly + the strange story flew from mouth to mouth, yet it was not altogether + believed till it chanced that one day when he was reviewing a regiment, a + soldier who was drunk with beer openly insulted the prince, calling him “a + coward who worshipped a coward.” + </p> + <p> + Now men held their breaths, waiting to see this fool led away to die by + torture of the ant-heap or some other dreadful doom. But the prince only + answered: + </p> + <p> + “Soldier, you are drunk, therefore I forgive you your words. Whether He + Whom you blaspheme will forgive you, I know not. Get you gone!” + </p> + <p> + The warriors stared and murmured, for by those words, wittingly or + unwittingly, their general had confessed his faith, and that day they made + ribald songs about him in the camp. But on the morrow when they learned + how that the man whom the prince spared had been seized by a lion and + taken away as he sat at night with his companions in the bivouac, his + mouth full of boasting of his own courage in offering insult to the prince + and the new faith, then they looked at each other askance and said little + more of the matter. Doubtless it was chance, and yet this Spirit Whom the + Messenger preached was one of Whom it seemed wisest not to speak lightly. + </p> + <p> + But still the trouble grew, for by now the witch-doctors, with Hokosa at + the head of them, were frightened for their place and power, and fomented + it both openly and in secret. Of the women they asked what would become of + them when men were allowed to take but one wife? Of the heads of kraals, + how they would grow wealthy when their daughters ceased to be worth + cattle? Of the councillors and generals, how the land could be protected + from its foes when they were commanded to lay down the spear? Of the + soldiers, whose only trade was war, how it would please them to till the + fields like girls? Dismay took hold of the nation, and although they were + much loved, there was open talk of killing or driving away the king and + Nodwengo who favoured the white man, and of setting up Hafela in their + place. + </p> + <p> + At length the crisis came, and in this fashion. The Amasuka, like many + other African tribes, had a strange veneration for certain varieties of + snakes which they declared to be possessed by the spirits of their + ancestors. It was a law among them that if one of these snakes entered a + kraal it must not be killed, or even driven away, under pain of death, but + must be allowed to share with the human occupants any hut that it might + select. As a result of this enforced hospitality deaths from snake-bite + were numerous among the people; but when they happened in a kraal its + owners met with little sympathy, for the doctors explained that the real + cause of them was the anger of some ancestral spirit towards his + descendants. Now, before John was despatched to instruct Owen in the + language of the Amasuka a certain girl was sealed to him as his future + wife, and this girl, who during his absence had been orphaned, he had + married recently with the approval of Owen, who at this time was preparing + her for baptism. On the third morning after his marriage John appeared + before his master in the last extremity of grief and terror. + </p> + <p> + “Help me, Messenger!” he cried, “for my ancestral spirit has entered our + hut and bitten my wife as she lay asleep.” + </p> + <p> + “Are you mad?” asked Owen. “What is an ancestral spirit, and how can it + have bitten your wife?” + </p> + <p> + “A snake,” gasped John, “a green snake of the worst sort.” + </p> + <p> + Then Owen remembered the superstition, and snatching blue-stone and + spirits of wine from his medicine chest, he rushed to John’s hut. As it + happened, he was fortunately in time with his remedies and succeeded in + saving the woman’s life, whereby his reputation as a doctor and a + magician, already great, was considerably enlarged. + </p> + <p> + “Where is the snake?” he asked when at length she was out of danger. + </p> + <p> + “Yonder, under the kaross,” answered John, pointing to a skin rug which + lay in the corner. + </p> + <p> + “Have you killed it?” + </p> + <p> + “No, Messenger,” answered the man, “I dare not. Alas! we must live with + the thing here in the hut till it chooses to go away.” + </p> + <p> + “Truly,” said Owen, “I am ashamed to think that you who are a Christian + should still believe so horrible a superstition. Does your faith teach you + that the souls of men enter into snakes?” + </p> + <p> + Now John hung his head; then snatching a kerry, he threw aside the kaross, + revealing a great green serpent seven or eight feet long. With fury he + fell upon the reptile, killed it by repeated blows, and hurled it into the + courtyard outside the house. + </p> + <p> + “Behold, father,” he said, “and judge whether I am still superstitious.” + Then his countenance fell and he added: “Yet my life must pay for this + deed, for it is an ancient law among us that to harm one of these snakes + is death.” + </p> + <p> + “Have no fear,” said Owen, “a way will be found out of this trouble.” + </p> + <p> + That afternoon Owen heard a great hubbub outside his kraal, and going to + see what was the matter, he found a party of the witch-doctors dragging + John towards the place of judgment, which was by the king’s house. Thither + he followed to discover that the case was already in course of being + opened before the king, his council, and a vast audience of the people. + Hokosa was the accuser. In brief and pregnant sentences, producing the + dead snake in proof of his argument, he pointed out the enormity of the + offence against the laws of the Amasuka wherewith the prisoner was + charged, demanding that the man who had killed the house of his ancestral + spirit should instantly be put to death. + </p> + <p> + “What have you to say?” asked the king of John. + </p> + <p> + “This, O King,” replied John, “that I am a Christian, and to me that snake + is nothing but a noxious reptile. It bit my wife, and had it not been for + the medicine of the Messenger, she would have perished of the poison. + Therefore I killed it before it could harm others.” + </p> + <p> + “It is a fair answer,” said the king. “Hokosa, I think that this man + should go free.” + </p> + <p> + “The king’s will is the law,” replied Hokosa bitterly; “but if the law + were the king’s will, the decision would be otherwise. This man has slain, + not a snake, but that which held the spirit of an ancestor, and for the + deed he deserves to die. Hearken, O King, for the business is larger than + it seems. How are we to be governed henceforth? Are we to follow our + ancient rules and customs, or must we submit ourselves to a new rule and a + new custom? I tell you, O King, that the people murmur; they are without + light, they wander in the darkness, they cannot understand. Play with us + no more, but let us hear the truth that we may judge of this matter.” + </p> + <p> + Umsuka looked at Owen, but made no reply. + </p> + <p> + “I will answer you, Hokosa,” said Owen, “for I am the spring of all this + trouble, and at my command that man, my disciple, killed yonder snake. + What is it? It is nothing but a reptile; no human spirit ever dwelt within + it as you imagine in your superstition. You ask to hear the truth; day by + day I have preached it in your ears and you have not listened, though many + among you have listened and understood. What is it that you seek?” + </p> + <p> + “We seek, Messenger, to be rid of you, your fantasies and your religion; + and we demand that our king should expel you and restore the ancient laws, + or failing this, that you should prove your power openly before us all. + Your word, O King!” + </p> + <p> + Umsuka thought for a while and answered:— + </p> + <p> + “This is my word, Hokosa: I will not drive the Messenger from the land, + for he is a good man; he saved my life, and there is virtue in his + teaching, towards which I myself incline. Yet it is just that he should be + asked to prove his power, so that an end may be put to doubt and all of us + may learn what god we are to worship.” + </p> + <p> + “How can I prove my power,” asked Owen, “further than I have proved it + already? Does Hokosa desire to set up his god against my God—the + false against the true?” + </p> + <p> + “I do,” answered the wizard with passion, “and according to the issue let + the judgment be. Let us halt no longer between two opinions, let us become + wholly Christian or rest wholly heathen, for to be divided is to be + destroyed. The magic of the Messenger is great; once and for all let us + learn if it is more than our magic. Let us put him and his doctrines to + the trial by fire.” + </p> + <p> + “What is the trial by fire?” asked Owen. + </p> + <p> + “You have seen something of it, White Man, but not much. This is the trial + by fire: to stand yonder before the face of the god of thunder when a + great tempest rages—not such a storm as you saw, but a storm that + splits the heavens—and to come thence unscathed. Listen: I who am a + ‘heaven-herd,’ I who know the signs of the weather, tell you that within + two days such a tempest as this will break upon us. Then White Man, I and + my companions will be ready to meet you on the plain. Take the cross by + which you swear and set it up yonder and stand by it, and with you your + converts, Nodwengo the prince, and this man whom you have named John, if + they dare to go. Over against you, around the symbol of the god by which + we swear, will stand I and my company, and we will pray our god and you + shall pray your God. Then the storm will break upon us, and when it is + ended we shall learn which of us remain alive. If you and your cross are + shattered, to us will be the victory; if we are laid low, take it for your + own. Your judgment, King!” + </p> + <p> + Again Umsuka thought and answered:— + </p> + <p> + “So be it. Messenger, hear me. There is no need for you to accept this + challenge; but if you will not accept it, then go from my country in + peace, taking with you those who cleave to you. If on the other hand you + do accept it, these shall be the stakes: that if you pass the trial + unharmed, and the fire-doctors are swept away, your creed shall be my + creed and the creed of the land; but if the fire-doctors prevail against + you, then it shall be death or banishment to any who profess that creed. + Now choose!” + </p> + <p> + “I have chosen,” said Owen. “I will meet Hokosa and his company on the + Place of fire whenever he may appoint, but for the others I cannot say.” + </p> + <p> + “We will come with you,” said Nodwengo and John, with one voice; “where + you go, Messenger, we will surely follow.” + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0010" id="link2HCH0010"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER X + </h2> + <h3> + THE SECOND TRIAL BY FIRE + </h3> + <p> + When this momentous discussion was finished, as usual Owen preached before + the king, expounding the Scriptures and taking for his subject the duty of + faith. As he went back to his hut he saw that the snake which John had + killed had been set upon a pole in that part of the Great Place which + served as a market, and that hundreds of natives were gathered beneath it + gesticulating and talking excitedly. + </p> + <p> + “See the work of Hokosa,” he thought to himself. “Moses set up a serpent + to save the people; yonder wizard sets up one to destroy them.” + </p> + <p> + That evening Owen had no heart for his labours, for his mind was heavy at + the prospect of the trial which lay before him. Not that he cared for his + own life, for of this he scarcely thought; it was the prospects of his + cause which troubled him. It seemed much to expect that Heaven again + should throw over him the mantle of its especial protection, and yet if it + did not do so there was an end of his mission among the People of Fire. + Well, he did not seek this trial—he would have avoided it if he + could, but it had been thrust upon him, and he was forced to choose + between it and the abandonment of the work which he had undertaken with + such high hopes and pushed so far toward success. He did not choose the + path, it had been pointed out to him to walk upon; and if it ended in a + precipice, at least he would have done his best. + </p> + <p> + As he thought thus John entered the hut, panting. + </p> + <p> + “What is the matter?” Owen asked. + </p> + <p> + “Father, the people saw and pursued me because of the death of that + accursed snake. Had I not run fast and escaped them, I think they would + have killed me.” + </p> + <p> + “At least you have escaped, John; so be comforted and return thanks.” + </p> + <p> + “Father,” said the man presently, “I know that you are great, and can do + many wonderful things, but have you in truth power over lightning?” + </p> + <p> + “Why do you ask?” + </p> + <p> + “Because a great tempest is brewing, and if you have not we shall + certainly be killed when we stand yonder on the Place of Fire.” + </p> + <p> + “John,” he said, “I cannot speak to the lightning in a voice which it can + hear. I cannot say to it ‘go yonder,’ or ‘come hither,’ but He Who made it + can do so. Why do you tempt me with your doubts? Have I not told you the + story of Elijah the prophet and the priests of Baal? Did Elijah’s Master + forsake him, and shall He forsake us? Also this is certain, that all the + medicine of Hokosa and his wizards will not turn a lightning flash by the + breadth of a single hair. God alone can turn it, and for the sake of His + cause among these people I believe that He will do so.” + </p> + <p> + Thus Owen spoke on till, in reproving the weakness of another, he felt his + own faith come back to him and, remembering the past and how he had been + preserved in it, the doubt and trouble went out of his mind to return no + more. + </p> + <p> + The third day—the day of trial—came. For sixty hours or more + the heat of the weather had been intense; indeed, during all that time the + thermometer in Owen’s hut, notwithstanding the protection of a thick + hatch, had shown the temperature to vary between a maximum of 113 and a + minimum of 101 degrees. Now, in the early morning, it stood at 108. + </p> + <p> + “Will the storm break to-day?” asked Owen of Nodwengo, who came to visit + him. + </p> + <p> + “They say so, Messenger, and I think it by the feel of the air. If so, it + will be a very great storm, for the heaven is full of fire. Already Hokosa + and the doctors are at their rites upon the plain yonder, but there will + be no need to join them till two hours after midday.” + </p> + <p> + “Is the cross ready?” asked Owen. + </p> + <p> + “Yes, and set up. It is a heavy cross; six men could scarcely carry it. + Oh! Messenger, I am not afraid—and yet, have you no medicine? If + not, I fear that the lightning will fall upon the cross as it fell upon + the pole and then——” + </p> + <p> + “Listen, Nodwengo,” said Owen, “I know a medicine, but I will not use it. + You see that waggon chain? Were one end of it buried in the ground and the + other with a spear blade made fast to it hung to the top of the cross, we + could live out the fiercest storm in safety. But I say that I will not use + it. Are we witch doctors that we should take refuge in tricks? No, let + faith be our shield, and if it fail us, then let us die. Pray now with me + that it may not fail us.” + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + It was afternoon. All round the Field of Fire were gathered thousands upon + thousands of the people of the Amasuka. The news of this duel between the + God of the white man and their god had travelled far and wide, and even + the very aged who could scarcely crawl and the little ones who must be + carried were collected there to see the issue. Nor had they need to fear + disappointment, for already the sky was half hidden by dense + thunder-clouds piled ridge on ridge, and the hush of the coming tempest + lay upon the earth. Round about the meteor stone which they called a god, + each of them stirring a little gourd of medicine that was placed upon the + ground before him, but uttering no word, were gathered Hokosa and his + followers to the number of twenty. They were all of them arrayed in their + snakeskin dresses and other wizard finery. Also each man held in his hand + a wand fashioned from a human thigh-bone. In front of the stone burned a + little fire, which now and again Hokosa fed with aromatic leaves, at the + same time pouring medicine from his bowl upon the holy stone. Opposite the + symbol of the god, but at a good distance from it, a great cross of white + wood was set up in the rock by a spot which the witch-doctors themselves + had chosen. Upon the banks of the stream, in the place apart, were the + king, his councillors and the regiment on guard, and with them Owen, the + Prince Nodwengo and John. + </p> + <p> + “The storm will be fierce,” said the king uneasily, glancing at the + western sky, upon whose bosom the blue lightnings played with an incessant + flicker. Then he bade those about him stand back, and calling Owen and the + prince to him, said: “Messenger, my son tells me that your wisdom knows a + plan whereby you may be preserved from the fury of the tempest. Use it, I + pray of you, Messenger, that your life may be saved, and with it the life + of the only son who is left to me.” + </p> + <p> + “I cannot,” answered Owen, “for thus by doubting Him I should tempt my + Master. Still, it is not laid upon the prince to accompany through this + trial. Let him stay here, and I alone will stand beneath the cross.” + </p> + <p> + “Stay, Nodwengo,” implored the old man. + </p> + <p> + “I did not think to live to hear my father bid me, one of the royal blood + of the Amasuka, to desert my captain in the hour of battle and hide myself + in the grass like a woman,” answered the prince with a bitter smile. “Nay, + it may be that death awaits me yonder, but nothing except death shall keep + me back from the venture.” + </p> + <p> + “It is well spoken,” said the king; “be it as you will.” + </p> + <p> + Now the company of wizards, leaving their medicine-pots upon the ground, + formed themselves in a treble line, and marching to where the king stood, + they saluted him. Then they sang the praises of their god, and in a song + that had been prepared, heaped insult upon the God of the white man and + upon the messenger who preached Him. To all of this Owen listened in + silence. + </p> + <p> + “He is a coward!” cried their spokesman; “he has not a word to say. He + skulks there in his white robes behind the majesty of the king. Let him go + forth and stand by his piece of wood. He dare not go! He thinks the + hillside safer. Come out, little White Man, and we will show you how we + manage the lightnings. Ah! they shall fly about you like spears in battle. + You shall throw yourself upon the ground and shriek in terror, and then + they will lick you up and you shall be no more, and there will be an end + of you and the symbol of your God.” + </p> + <p> + “Cease your boastings,” said the king shortly, “and get you back to your + place, knowing that if it should chance that the white man conquers you + will be called upon to answer for these words.” + </p> + <p> + “We shall be ready, O King,” they cried; and amidst the cheers of the vast + audience they marched back to their station, still singing the blasphemous + mocking song. + </p> + <p> + Now to the west all the heavens were black as night, though the eastern + sky still showed blue and cloudless. Nature lay oppressed with silence—silence + intense and unnatural; and so great was the heat that the air danced + visibly above the ironstone as it dances about a glowing stove. Suddenly + the quietude was broken by a moaning sound of wind; the grass stirred, the + leaves of the trees began to shiver, and an icy breath beat upon Owen’s + brow. + </p> + <p> + “Let us be going,” he said, and lifting the ivory crucifix above his head, + he passed the stream and walked towards the wooden cross. After him came + the Prince Nodwengo, wearing his royal dress of leopard skin, and after + him, John, arrayed in a linen robe. + </p> + <p> + As the little procession appeared to their view some of the soldiers began + to mock, but almost instantly the laughter died away. Rude as they were, + these savages understood that here was no occasion for their mirth, that + the three men indeed seemed clothed with a curious dignity. Perhaps it was + their slow and quiet gait, perhaps a sense of the errand upon which they + were bound; or it may have been the strange unearthly light that fell upon + them from over the edge of the storm cloud; at the least, as the multitude + became aware, their appearance was impressive. They reached the cross and + took up their stations there, Owen in front of it, Nodwengo to the right, + and John to the left. + </p> + <p> + Now a sharp squall of strong wind swept across the space, and with it came + a flaw of rain. It passed by, and the storm that had been muttering and + growling in the distance began to burst. The great clouds seemed to grow + and swell, and from the breast of them swift lightnings leapt, to be met + by other lightnings rushing upwards from the earth. The air was filled + with a tumult of uncertain wind and a hiss as of distant rain. Then the + batteries of thunder were opened, and the world shook with their volume. + Down from on high the flashes fell blinding and incessant, and by the + light of them the fire-doctors could be seen running to and fro, pointing + now here and now there with their wands of human bones, and pouring the + medicines from their gourds upon the ground and upon each other. Owen and + his two companions could be seen also, standing quietly with clasped + hands, while above them towered the tall white cross. + </p> + <p> + At length the storm was straight over head. Slowly it advanced in its + awe-inspiring might as flash after flash, each more fantastic and horrible + than the last, smote upon the floor of ironstone. It played about the + shapes of the doctors, who in the midst of it looked like devils in an + inferno. It crept onwards towards the station of the cross, but—<i>it + never reached the cross</i>. + </p> + <p> + One flash struck indeed within fifty paces of where Owen stood. Then of a + sudden a marvel happened, or something which to this day the People of + Fire talk of as a marvel, for in an instant the rain began to pour like a + wall of water stretching from earth to heaven, and the wind changed. It + had been blowing from the west, now it blew from the east with the force + of a gale. + </p> + <p> + It blew and rolled the tempest back upon itself, causing it to return to + the regions whence it had gathered. At the very foot of the cross its + march was stayed; there was the water-line, as straight as if it had been + drawn with a rule. The thunder-clouds that were pressed forward met the + clouds that were pressed back, and together they seemed to come to earth, + filling the air with a gloom so dense that the eye could not pierce it. To + the west was a wall of blackness towering to the heavens; to the east, + light, blue and unholy, gleamed upon the white cross and the figures of + its watchers. + </p> + <p> + For some seconds—twenty or more—there was a lull, and then it + seemed as though all hell had broken loose upon the world. The wall of + blackness became a wall of flame, in which strange and ardent shapes + appeared ascending and descending; the thunder bellowed till the mountains + rocked, and in one last blaze, awful and indescribable, the skies melted + into a deluge of fire. In the flare of it Owen thought that he saw the + figures of men falling this way and that, then he staggered against the + cross for support and his senses failed him. + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + When they returned again, he perceived the storm being drawn back from the + face of the pale earth like a pall from the face of the dead, and he heard + a murmur of fear and wonder rising from ten thousand throats. + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + Well might they fear and wonder, for of the twenty and one wizards eleven + were dead, four were paralysed by shock, five were flying in their terror, + and one, Hokosa himself, stood staring at the fallen, a very picture of + despair. Nor was this all, for the meteor stone with a human shape which + for generations the People of Fire had worshipped as a god, lay upon the + plain in fused and shattered fragments. + </p> + <p> + The people saw, and a sound as of a hollow groan of terror went up from + them. Then they were silent. For a while Owen and his companions were + silent also, since their hearts were too full for speech. Then he said:— + </p> + <p> + “As the snake fell harmless from the hand of Paul, so has the lightning + turned back from me, who strive to follow in his footsteps, working death + and dismay among those who would have harmed us. May forgiveness be theirs + who were without understanding. Brethren, let us return and make report to + the king.” + </p> + <p> + Now, as they had come, so they went back; first Owen with the crucifix, + next to him Nodwengo, and last of the three John. They drew near to the + king, when suddenly, moved by a common impulse, the thousands of the + people upon the banks of the stream with one accord threw themselves upon + their knees before Owen, calling him God and offering him worship. + Infected by the contagion, Umsuka, his guard and his councillors followed + their example, so that of all the multitude Hokosa alone remained upon his + feet, standing by his dishonoured and riven deity. + </p> + <p> + “Rise!” cried Owen aghast. “Would you do sacrilege, and offer worship to a + man? Rise, I command you!” + </p> + <p> + Then the king rose, saying:— + </p> + <p> + “You are no man, Messenger, you are a spirit.” + </p> + <p> + “He is a spirit,” repeated the multitude after him. + </p> + <p> + “I am <i>not</i> a spirit, I am yet a man,” cried Owen again, “but the + Spirit Whom I serve has made His power manifest in me His servant, and + your idols are smitten with the sword of His power, O ye Sons of Fire! + Hokosa still lives, let him be brought hither.” + </p> + <p> + They fetched Hokosa, and he stood before them. + </p> + <p> + “You have seen, Wizard,” said the king. “What have you to say?” + </p> + <p> + “Nothing,” answered Hokosa, “save that victory is to the Cross, and to the + white man who preaches it, for his magic is greater than our magic. By his + command the tempest was stayed, and the boasts we hurled fell back upon + our heads and the head of our god to destroy us.” + </p> + <p> + “Yes,” said the king, “victory is to the Cross, and henceforth the Cross + shall be worshipped in this land, or at least no other god shall be + worshipped. Let us be going. Come with me, Messenger, Lord of the + Lightning.” + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0011" id="link2HCH0011"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XI + </h2> + <h3> + THE WISDOM OF THE DEAD + </h3> + <p> + On the morrow Owen baptised the king, many of his councillors, and some + twenty others whom he considered fit to receive the rite. Also he + despatched his first convert John, with other messengers, on a three + months’ journey to the coast, giving them letters acquainting the bishop + and others with his marvellous success, and praying that missionaries + might be sent to assist him in his labours. + </p> + <p> + Now day by day the Church grew till it numbered hundreds of souls, and + thousands more hovered on its threshold. From dawn to dark Owen toiled, + preaching, exhorting, confessing, gathering in his harvest; and from dark + to midnight he pored over his translation of the Scriptures, teaching + Nodwengo and a few others how to read and write them. But although his + efforts were crowned with so signal and extraordinary a triumph, he was + well aware of the dangers that threatened the life of the infant Church. + Many accepted it indeed, and still more tolerated it; but there remained + multitudes who regarded the new religion with suspicion and veiled hatred. + Nor was this strange, seeing that the hearts of men are not changed in an + hour or their ancient customs easily overset. + </p> + <p> + On one point, indeed, Owen had to give way. The Amasuka were a polygamous + people; all their law and traditions were interwoven with polygamy, and to + abolish that institution suddenly and with violence would have brought + their social fabric to the ground. Now, as he knew well, the missionary + Church declares in effect that no man can be both a Christian and a + polygamist; therefore among the followers of that custom the missionary + Church makes but little progress. Not without many qualms and hesitations, + Owen, having only the Scriptures to consult, came to a compromise with his + converts. If a man already married to more than one wife wished to become + a Christian, he permitted him to do so upon the condition that he took no + more wives; while a man unmarried at the time of his conversion might take + one wife only. This decree, liberal as it was, caused great + dissatisfaction among both men and women. But it was as nothing compared + to the feeling that was evoked by Owen’s preaching against all war not + undertaken in self-defence, and against the strict laws which he prevailed + upon the king to pass, suppressing the practice of wizardry, and declaring + the chief or doctor who caused a man to be “smelt out” and killed upon + charges of witchcraft to be guilty of murder. + </p> + <p> + At first whenever Owen went abroad he was surrounded by thousands of + people who followed him in the expectation that he would work miracles, + which, after his exploits with the lightning, they were well persuaded + that he could do if he chose. But he worked no more miracles; he only + preached to them a doctrine adverse to their customs and foreign to their + thoughts. + </p> + <p> + So it came about that in time, when the novelty was gone off and the story + of his victory over the Fire-god had grown stale, although the work of + conversion went on steadily, many of the people grew weary of the white + man and his doctrines. Soon this weariness found expression in various + ways, and in none more markedly than by the constant desertions from the + ranks of the king’s regiments. At first, by Owen’s advice, the king + tolerated these desertions; but at length, having obtained information + that an entire regiment purposed absconding at dawn, he caused it to be + surrounded and seized by night. Next morning he addressed that regiment, + saying:— + </p> + <p> + “Soldiers, you think that because I have become a Christian and will not + permit unnecessary bloodshed, I am also become a fool. I will teach you + otherwise. One man in every twenty of you shall be killed, and henceforth + any soldier who attempts to desert will be killed also!” + </p> + <p> + The order was carried out, for Owen could not find a word to say against + it, with the result that desertions almost ceased, though not before the + king had lost some eight or nine thousand of his best soldiers. Worst of + all, these soldiers had gone to join Hafela in his mountain fastnesses; + and the rumour grew that ere long they would appear again, to claim the + crown for him or to take it by force of arms. + </p> + <p> + Now too a fresh complication arose. The old king sickened of his last + illness, and soon it became known that he must die. A month later die he + did, passing away peacefully in Owen’s arms, and with his last breath + exhorting his people to cling to the Christian religion; to take Nodwengo + for their king and to be faithful to him. + </p> + <p> + The king died, and that same day was buried by Owen in the gloomy + resting-place of the blood-royal of the People of Fire, where a Christian + priest now set foot for the first time. + </p> + <p> + On the morrow Nodwengo was proclaimed king with much ceremony in face of + the people and of all the army that remained to him. One captain raised a + cry for Hafela his brother. Nodwengo caused him to be seized and brought + before him. + </p> + <p> + “Man,” he said, “on this my coronation day I will not stain my hand with + blood. Listen. You cry upon Hafela, and to Hafela you shall go, taking him + this message. Tell him that I, Nodwengo, have succeeded to the crown of + Umsuka, my father, by his will and the will of the people. Tell him it is + true that I have become a Christian, and that Christians follow not after + war but peace. Tell him, however, that though I am a Christian I have not + forgotten how to fight or how to rule. It has reached my ears that it is + his purpose to attack me with a great force which he is gathering, and to + possess himself of my throne. If he should choose to come, I shall be + ready to meet him; but I counsel him against coming, for it will be to + find his death. Let him stay where he is in peace, and be my subject; or + let him go afar with those that cleave to him, and set up a kingdom of his + own, for then I shall not follow him; but let him not dare to lift a spear + against me, his sovereign, since if he does so he shall be treated as a + rebel and find the doom of a rebel. Begone, and show your face here no + more!” + </p> + <p> + The man crept away crestfallen; but all who heard that speech broke into + cheering, which, as its purport was repeated from rank to rank, spread far + and wide; for now the army learned that in becoming a Christian, Nodwengo + had not become a woman. Of this indeed he soon gave them ample proof. The + old king’s grip upon things had been lax, that of Nodwengo was like iron. + He practised no cruelties, and did injustice to none; but his discipline + was severe, and soon the regiments were brought to a greater pitch of + proficiency than they had ever reached before, although they were now + allowed to marry when they pleased, a boon that hitherto had been denied + to them. Moreover, by Owen’s help, he designed an entirely new system of + fortification of the kraal and surrounding hills, which would, it was + thought, make the place impregnable. These and many other acts, equally + vigorous and far-seeing, put new heart into the nation. Also the report of + them put fear into Hafela, who, it was rumoured, had now given up all idea + of attack. + </p> + <p> + Some there were, however, who looked upon these changes with little love, + and Hokosa was one of them. After his defeat in the duel by fire, for a + while his spirit was crushed. Hitherto he had more or less been a believer + in the protecting influence of his own god or fetish, who would, as he + thought, hold his priests scatheless from the lightning. Often and often + had he stood in past days upon that plain while the great tempests broke + around his head, and returned thence unharmed, attributing to sorcery a + safety that was really due to chance. From time to time indeed a priest + was killed; but, so his companions held, the misfortune resulted + invariably from the man’s neglect of some rite, or was a mark of the anger + of the heavens. + </p> + <p> + Now Hokosa had lived to see all these convictions shattered: he had seen + the lightning, which he pretended to be able to control, roll back upon + him from the foot of the Christian cross, reducing his god to nothingness + and his companions to corpses. + </p> + <p> + At first Hokosa was dismayed, but as time went on hope came back to him. + Stripped of his offices and power, and from the greatest in the nation, + after the king, become one of small account, still no harm or violence was + attempted towards him. He was left wealthy and in peace, and living thus + he watched and listened with open eyes and ears, waiting till the tide + should turn. It seemed that he would not have long to wait, for reasons + that have been told. + </p> + <p> + “Why do you sit here like a vulture on a rock,” asked the girl Noma, whom + he had taken to wife, “when you might be yonder with Hafela, preparing him + by your wisdom for the coming war?” + </p> + <p> + “Because I am a king-vulture, and I wait for the sick bull to die,” he + answered, pointing to the Great Place beneath him. “Say, why should I + bring Hafela to prey upon a carcase I have marked down for my own?” + </p> + <p> + “Now you speak well,” said Noma; “the bull suffers from a strange disease, + and when he is dead another must lead the herd.” + </p> + <p> + “That is so,” answered her husband, “and, therefore, I am patient.” + </p> + <p> + It was shortly after this conversation that the old king died, with + results very different from those which Hokosa had anticipated. Although + he was a Christian, to his surprise Nodwengo showed that he was also a + strong ruler, and that there was little chance of the sceptre slipping + from his hand—none indeed while the white teacher was there to guide + him. + </p> + <p> + “What will you do now, Hokosa?” asked Noma his wife upon a certain day. + “Will you turn to Hafela after all?” + </p> + <p> + “No,” answered Hokosa; “I will consult my ancient lore. Listen. Whatever + else is false, this is true: that magic exists, and I am its master. For a + while it seemed to me that the white man was greater at the art than I am; + but of late I have watched him and listened to his doctrines, and I + believe that this is not so. It is true that in the beginning he read my + plans in a dream, or otherwise; it is true that he hurled the lightning + back upon my head; but I hold that these things were accidents. Again and + again he has told us that he is not a wizard; and if this be so, he can be + overcome.” + </p> + <p> + “How, husband?” + </p> + <p> + “How? By wizardry. This very night, Noma, with your help I will consult + the dead, as I have done in bygone time, and learn the future from their + lips which cannot lie.” + </p> + <p> + “So be it; though the task is hateful to me, and I hate you who force me + to it.” + </p> + <p> + Noma answered thus with passion, but her eyes shone as she spoke: for + those who have once tasted the cup of magic are ever drawn to drink of it + again, even when they fear the draught. + </p> + <p> + **** + </p> + <p> + It was midnight, and Hokosa with his wife stood in the burying-ground of + the kings of the Amasuka. Before Owen came upon his mission it was death + to visit this spot except upon the occasion of the laying to rest of one + of the royal blood, or to offer the annual sacrifice to the spirits of the + dead. Even beneath the bright moon that shone upon it the place seemed + terrible. Here in the bosom of the hills was an amphitheatre, surrounded + by walls of rock varying from five hundred to a thousand feet in height. + In this amphitheatre grew great mimosa thorns, and above them towered + pillars of granite, set there not by the hand of man but by nature. It + would seem that the Amasuka, led by some fine instinct, had chosen these + columns as fitting memorials of their kings, at the least a departed + monarch lay at the foot of each of them. + </p> + <p> + The smallest of these unhewn obelisks—it was about fifty feet high—marked + the resting-place of Umsuka; and deep into its granite Owen with his own + hand had cut the dead king’s name and date of death, surmounting his + inscription with a symbol of the cross. + </p> + <p> + Towards this pillar Hokosa made his way through the wet grass, followed by + Noma his wife. Presently they were there, standing one upon each side of a + little mound of earth more like an ant-heap than a grave; for, after the + custom of his people, Umsuka had been buried sitting. At the foot of each + of the pillars rose a heap of similar shape, but many times as large. The + kings who slept there were accompanied to their resting-places by numbers + of their wives and servants, who had been slain in solemn sacrifice that + they might attend their Lord whithersoever he should wander. + </p> + <p> + “What is that you desire and would do?” asked Noma, in a hushed voice. + Bold as she was, the place and the occasion awed her. + </p> + <p> + “I desire wisdom from the dead!” he answered. “Have I not already told + you, and can I not win it with your help?” + </p> + <p> + “What dead, husband?” + </p> + <p> + “Umsuka the king. Ah! I served him living, and at the last he drove me + away from his side. Now he shall serve me, and out of the nowhere I will + call him back to mine.” + </p> + <p> + “Will not this symbol defeat you?” and Noma pointed at the cross hewn in + the granite. + </p> + <p> + At her words a sudden gust of rage seemed to shake the wizard. His still + eyes flashed, his lips turned livid, and with them he spat upon the cross. + </p> + <p> + “It has no power,” he said. “May it be accursed, and may he who believes + therein hang thereon! It has no power; but even if it had, according to + the tale of that white liar, such things as I would do have been done + beneath its shadow. By it the dead have been raised—ay! dead kings + have been dragged from death and forced to tell the secrets of the grave. + Come, come, let us to the work.” + </p> + <p> + “What must I do, husband?” + </p> + <p> + “You shall sit you there, even as a corpse sits, and there for a little + while you shall die—yes, your spirit shall leave you—and I + will fill your body with the soul of him who sleeps beneath; and through + your lips I will learn his wisdom, to whom all things are known.” + </p> + <p> + “It is terrible! I am afraid!” she said. “Cannot this be done otherwise?” + </p> + <p> + “It cannot,” he answered. “The spirits of the dead have no shape or form; + they are invisible, and can speak only in dreams or through the lips of + one in whose pulses life still lingers, though soul and body be already + parted. Have no fear. Ere his ghost leaves you it shall recall your own, + which till the corpse is cold stays ever close at hand. I did not think to + find a coward in you, Noma.” + </p> + <p> + “I am not a coward, as you know well,” she answered passionately, “for + many a deed of magic have we dared together in past days. But this is + fearsome, to die that my body may become the home of the ghost of a dead + man, who perchance, having entered it, will abide there, leaving my spirit + houseless, or perchance will shut up the doors of my heart in such fashion + that they never can be opened. Can it not be done by trance as aforetime? + Tell me, Hokosa, how often have you thus talked with the dead?” + </p> + <p> + “Thrice, Noma.” + </p> + <p> + “And what chanced to them through whom you talked?” + </p> + <p> + “Two lived and took no harm; the third died, because the awakening + medicine lacked power. Yet fear nothing; that which I have with me is of + the best. Noma, you know my plight: I must win wisdom or fall for ever, + and you alone can help me; for under this new rule, I can no longer buy a + youth or maid for purposes of witchcraft, even if one could be found + fitted to the work. Choose then: shall we go back or forward? Here trance + will not help us; for those entranced cannot read the future, nor can they + hold communion with the dead, being but asleep. Choose, Noma.” + </p> + <p> + “I have chosen,” she answered. “Never yet have I turned my back upon a + venture, nor will I do so now. Come life, come death, I will submit me to + your wish, though there are few women who would dare as much for any man. + Nor in truth do I do this for you, Hokosa; I do it because I seek power, + and thus only can we win it who are fallen. Also I love all things + strange, and desire to commune with the dead and to know that, if for some + few minutes only, at least my woman’s breast has held the spirit of a + king. Yet, I warn you, make no fault in your magic; for should I die + beneath it, then I, who desire to live on and to be great, will haunt you + and be avenged upon you!” + </p> + <p> + “Oh! Noma,” he said, “if I believed that there was any danger for you, + should I ask you to suffer this thing?—I, who love you more even + than you love power, more than my life, more than anything that is or ever + can be.” + </p> + <p> + “I know it, and it is to that I trust,” the woman answered. “Now begin, + before my courage leaves me.” + </p> + <p> + “Good,” he said. “Seat yourself there upon the mound, resting your head + against the stone.” + </p> + <p> + She obeyed; and taking thongs of hide which he had made ready, Hokosa + bound her wrists and ankles, as these people bind the wrists and ankles of + corpses. Then he knelt before her, staring into her face with his solemn + eyes and muttering: “Obey and sleep.” + </p> + <p> + Presently her limbs relaxed, and her head fell forward. + </p> + <p> + “Do you sleep?” he asked. + </p> + <p> + “I sleep. Whither shall I go? It is the true sleep—test me.” + </p> + <p> + “Pass to the house of the white man, my rival. Are you with him?” + </p> + <p> + “I am with him.” + </p> + <p> + “What does he?” + </p> + <p> + “He lies in slumber on his bed, and in his slumber he mutters the name of + a woman, and tells her that he loves her, but that duty is more than love. + Oh! call me back I cannot stay; a Presence guards him, and thrusts me + thence.” + </p> + <p> + “Return,” said Hokosa starting. “Pass through the earth beneath you and + tell me what you see.” + </p> + <p> + “I see the body of the king; but were it not for his royal ornaments none + would know him now.” + </p> + <p> + “Return,” said Hokosa, “and let the eyes of your spirit be open. Look + around you and tell me what you see.” + </p> + <p> + “I see the shadows of the dead,” she answered; “they stand about you, + gazing at you with angry eyes; but when they come near you, something + drives them back, and I cannot understand what it is they say.” + </p> + <p> + “Is the ghost of Umsuka among them?” + </p> + <p> + “It is among them.” + </p> + <p> + “Bid him prophesy the future to me.” + </p> + <p> + “I have bidden him, but he does not answer. If you would hear him speak, + it must be through the lips of my body; and first my body must be emptied + of my ghost, that his may find a place therein.” + </p> + <p> + “Say, can his spirit be compelled?” + </p> + <p> + “It can be compelled, or that part of it which still hover near this spot, + if you dare to speak the words you know. But first its house must be made + ready. Then the words must be spoken, and all must be done before a man + can count three hundred; for should the blood begin to clot about my + heart, it will be still for ever.” + </p> + <p> + “Hearken,” said Hokosa. “When the medicine that I shall give does its + work, and the spirit is loosened from your body, let it not go afar, no, + whatever tempts or threatens it, and suffer not that the death-cord be + severed, lest flesh and ghost be parted for ever.” + </p> + <p> + “I hear, and I obey. Be swift, for I grow weary.” + </p> + <p> + Then Hokosa took from his pouch two medicines: one a paste in a box, the + other a fluid in a gourd. Taking of the paste he knelt upon the grave + before the entranced woman and swiftly smeared it upon the mucous membrane + of the mouth and throat. Also he thrust pellets of it into the ears, the + nostrils, and the corners of the eyes. + </p> + <p> + The effect was almost instantaneous. A change came over the girl’s lovely + face, the last awful change of death. Her cheeks fell in, her chin + dropped, her eyes opened, and her flesh quivered convulsively. The wizard + saw it all by the bright moonlight. Then he took up his part in this + unholy drama. + </p> + <p> + All that he did cannot be described, because it is indescribable. The + Witch of Endor repeated no formula, but she raised the dead; and so did + Hokosa the wizard. But he buried his face in the grey dust of the grave, + he blew with his lips into the dust, he clutched at the dust with his + hands, and when he raised his face again, lo! it was grey like the dust. + Now began the marvel; for, though the woman before him remained a corpse, + from the lips of that corpse a voice issued, and its sound was horrible, + for the accent and tone of it were masculine, and the instrument through + which it spoke—Noma’s throat—was feminine. Yet it could be + recognised as the voice of Umsuka the dead king. + </p> + <p> + “Why have you summoned me from my rest, Hokosa?” muttered the voice from + the lips of the huddled corpse. + </p> + <p> + “Because I would learn the future, Spirit of the king,” answered the + wizard boldly, but saluting as he spoke. “You are dead, and to your sight + all the Gates are opened. By the power that I have, I command you to show + me what you see therein concerning myself, and to point out to me the path + that I should follow to attain my ends and the ends of her in whose breast + you dwell.” + </p> + <p> + At once the answer came, always in the same horrible voice:— + </p> + <p> + “Hearken to your fate for this world, Hokosa the wizard. You shall triumph + over your rival, the white man, the messenger; and by your hand he shall + perish, passing to his appointed place where you must meet again. By that + to which you cling you shall be betrayed, ah! you shall lose that which + you love and follow after that which you do not desire. In the grave of + error you shall find truth, from the deeps of sin you shall pluck + righteousness. When these words fall upon your ears again, then, Wizard, + take them for a sign and let your heart be turned. That which you deem + accursed shall lift you up on high. High shall you be set above the nation + and its king, and from age to age the voice of the people shall praise + you. Yet in the end comes judgment; and there shall the sin and the + atonement strive together, and in that hour, Wizard, you shall——” + </p> + <p> + Thus the voice spoke, strongly at first, but growing ever more feeble as + the sparks of life departed from the body of the woman, till at length it + ceased altogether. + </p> + <p> + “What shall chance to me in that hour?” Hokosa asked eagerly, placing his + ears against Noma’s lips. + </p> + <p> + No answer came; and the wizard knew that if he would drag his wife back + from the door of death he must delay no longer. Dashing the sweat from his + eyes with one hand, with the other he seized the gourd of fluid that he + had placed ready, and thrusting back her head, he poured of its contents + down her throat and waited a while. She did not move. In an extremity of + terror he snatched a knife, and with a single cut severed a vein in her + arm, then taking some of the fluid that remained in the gourd in his hand, + he rubbed it roughly upon her brow and throat and heart. Now Noma’s + fingers stirred, and now, with horrible contortions and every symptom of + agony, life returned to her. The blood flowed from her wounded arm, slowly + at first, then more fast, and lifting her head she spoke. + </p> + <p> + “Take me hence,” she cried, “or I shall go mad; for I have seen and heard + things too terrible to be spoken!” + </p> + <p> + “What have you seen and heard?” he asked, while he cut the thongs which + bound her wrists and feet. + </p> + <p> + “I do not know,” Noma answered weeping; “the vision of them passes from + me; but all the distances of death were open to my sight; yes, I travelled + through the distances of death. In them I met him who was the king, and he + lay cold within me, speaking to my heart; and as he passed from me he + looked upon the child which I shall bear and cursed it, and surely + accursed it shall be. Take me hence, O you most evil man, for of your + magic I have had enough, and from this day forth I am haunted!” + </p> + <p> + “Have no fear,” answered Hokosa; “you have made the journey whence but few + return; and yet, as I promised you, you have returned to wear the + greatness you desire and that I sent you forth to win; for henceforth we + shall be great. Look, the dawn is breaking—the dawn of life and the + dawn of power—and the mists of death and of disgrace roll back + before us. Now the path is clear, the dead have shown it to me, and of + wizardry I shall need no more.” + </p> + <p> + “Ay!” answered Noma, “but night follows dawn as the dawn follows night; + and through the darkness and the daylight, I tell you, Wizard, henceforth + I am haunted! Also, be not so sure, for though I know not what the dead + have spoken to you, yet it lingers on my mind that their words have many + meanings. Nay, speak to me no more, but let us fly from this dread home of + ghosts, this habitation of the spirit-folk which we have violated.” + </p> + <p> + So the wizard and his wife crept from that solemn place, and as they went + they saw the dawn-beams lighting upon the white cross that was reared in + the Plain of Fire. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0012" id="link2HCH0012"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XII + </h2> + <h3> + THE MESSAGE OF HOKOSA + </h3> + <p> + The weeks passed by, and Hokosa sat in his kraal weaving a great plot. + None suspected him any more, for though he did not belong to it, he was + heard to speak well of the new faith, and to acknowledge that the god of + fire which he had worshipped was a false god. He was humble also towards + the king, but he craved to withdraw himself from all matters of the State, + saying that now he had but one desire—to tend his herds and garden, + and to grow old in peace with the new wife whom he had chosen and whom he + loved. Owen, too, he greeted courteously when he met him, sending him + gifts of corn and cattle for the service of his church. Moreover, when a + messenger came from Hafela, making proposals to him, he drove him away and + laid the matter before the council of the king. Yet that messenger, who + was hunted from the kraal, took back a secret word for Hafela’s ear. + </p> + <p> + “It is not always winter,” was the word, “and it may chance that in the + springtime you shall hear from me.” And again, “Say to the Prince Hafela, + that though my face towards him is like a storm, yet behind the clouds the + sun shines ever.” + </p> + <p> + At length there came a day when Noma, his wife, was brought to bed. + Hokosa, her husband, tended her alone, and when the child was born he + groaned aloud and would not suffer her to look upon its face. Yet, lifting + herself, she saw. + </p> + <p> + “Did I not tell you it was accursed?” she wailed. “Take it away!” and she + sank back in a swoon. So he took the child, and buried it deep in the + cattle-yard by night. + </p> + <p> + After this it came about that Noma, who, though her mind owned the sway of + his, had never loved him over much, hated her husband Hokosa. Yet he had + this power over her that she could not leave him. But he loved her more + and more, and she had this power over him that she could always draw him + to her. Great as her beauty had ever been, after the birth of the child it + grew greater day by day, but it was an evil beauty, the beauty of a witch; + and this fate fell upon her, that she feared the dark and would never be + alone after the sun had set. + </p> + <p> + When she was recovered from her illness, Noma sat one night in her hut, + and Hokosa sat there also watching her. The evening was warm, but a bright + fire burned in the hut, and she crouched upon a stool by the fire, + glancing continually over her shoulder. + </p> + <p> + “Why do you bide by the fire, seeing that it is so hot, Noma?” he asked. + </p> + <p> + “Because I fear to be away from the light,” she answered; adding, “Oh, + accursed man! for your own ends you have caused me to be bewitched, ah! + and that which was born of me also, and bewitched I am by those shadows + that you bade me seek, which now will never leave me. Nor, is this all. + You swore to me that if I would do your will I should become great, ay! + and you took me from one who would have made me great and whom I should + have pushed on to victory. But now it seems that for nothing I made that + awful voyage into the deeps of death; and for nothing, yet living, am I + become the sport of those that dwell there. How am I greater than I was—I + who am but the second wife of a fallen witch-doctor, who sits in the sun, + day by day, while age gathers on his head like frost upon a bush? Where + are all your high schemes now? Where is the fruit of wisdom that I + gathered for you? Answer, Wizard, whom I have learned to hate, but from + whom I cannot escape!” + </p> + <p> + “Truly,” said Hokosa in a bitter voice, “for all my sins against them the + heavens have laid a heavy fate upon my head, that thus with flesh and + spirit I should worship a woman who loathes me. One comfort only is left + to me, that you dare not take my life lest another should be added to + those shadows who companion you, and what I bid you, that you must still + do. Ay, you fear the dark, Noma; yet did I command you to rise and go + stand alone through the long night yonder in the burying-place of kings, + why, you must obey. Come, I command you—go!” + </p> + <p> + “Nay, nay!” she wailed in an extremity of terror. Yet she rose and went + towards the door sideways, for her hands were outstretched in supplication + to him. + </p> + <p> + “Come back,” he said, “and listen: If a hunter has nurtured up a fierce + dog, wherewith alone he can gain his livelihood, he tries to tame that dog + by love, does he not? And if it will not become gentle, then, the brute + being necessary to him, he tames it by fear. I am the hunter and, Noma, + you are the hound; and since this curse is on me that I cannot live + without you, why I must master you as best I may. Yet, believe me, I would + not cause you fear or pain, and it saddens me that you should be haunted + by these sick fancies, for they are nothing more. I have seen such cases + before to-day, and I have noted that they can be cured by mixing with + fresh faces and travelling in new countries. Noma, I think it would be + well that, after your late sickness, according to the custom of the women + of our people, you should part from me a while, and go upon a journey of + purification.” + </p> + <p> + “Whither shall I go and who will go with me?” she asked sullenly. + </p> + <p> + “I will find you companions, women discreet and skilled. And as to where + you shall go, I will tell you. You shall go upon an embassy to the Prince + Hafela.” + </p> + <p> + “Are you not afraid that I should stop there?” she asked again, with a + flash of her eyes. “It is true that I never learned all the story, yet I + thought that the prince was not so glad to hand me back to you as you + would have had me to believe. The price you paid for me must have been + good, Hokosa, and mayhap it had to do with the death of a king.” + </p> + <p> + “I am not afraid,” he answered, setting his teeth, “because I know that + whatever your heart may desire, my will follows you, and while I live that + is a cord you cannot break unless I choose to loose it, Noma. I command + you to be faithful to me and to return to me, and these commands you must + obey. Hearken: you taunted me just now, saying that I sat like a dotard in + the sun and advanced you nothing. Well, I will advance you, for both our + sakes, but mostly for your own, since you desire it, and it must be done + through the Prince Hafela. I cannot leave this kraal, for day and night I + am watched, and before I had gone an hour’s journey I should be seized; + also here I have work to do. But the Place of Purification is secret, and + when you reach it you need not bide there, you can travel on into the + mountains till you come to the town of the Prince Hafela. He will receive + you gladly, and you shall whisper this message in his ear:— + </p> + <p> + “‘These are the words of Hokosa, my husband, which he has set in my mouth + to deliver to you, O Prince. Be guided by them and grow great; reject them + and die a wanderer, a little man of no account. But first, this is the + price that you shall swear by the sacred oath to pay to Hokosa, if his + wisdom finds favour in your sight and through it you come to victory: That + after you, the king, he, Hokosa, shall be the first man in our land, the + general of the armies, the captain of the council, the head of the + doctors, and that to him shall be given half the cattle of Nodwengo, who + now is king. Also to him shall be given power to stamp out the new faith + which overruns the land like a foreign weed, and to deal as he thinks fit + with those who cling thereto.’ + </p> + <p> + “Now, Noma, when he has sworn this oath in your ear, calling down ruin + upon his own head, should he break one word of it, and not before, you + shall continue the message thus: ‘These are the other words that Hokosa + set in my mouth: “Know, O Prince, that the king, your brother, grows very + strong, for he is a great soldier, who learned his art in bygone wars; + also the white man that is named Messenger has taught him many things as + to the building of forts and walls and the drilling and discipline of men. + So strong is he that you can scarcely hope to conquer him in open war—yet + snakes may crawl where men cannot walk. Therefore, Prince, let your part + be that of a snake. Do you send an embassy to the king, your brother and + say to him:— + </p> + <p> + “‘My brother, you have been preferred before me and set up to be king in + my place, and because of this my heart is bitter, so bitter that I have + gathered my strength to make war upon you. Yet, at the last, I have taken + another council, bethinking me that, if we fight, in the end it may chance + that neither of us will be left alive to rule, and that the people also + will be brought to nothing. To the north there lies a good country and a + wide, where but few men live, and thither I would go, setting the + mountains and the river between us; for there, far beyond your borders, I + also can be a king. Now, to reach this country, I must travel by the pass + that is not far from your Great Place, and I pray you that you will not + attack my <i>impis</i> or the women and children that I shall send, and a + guard before them, to await me in the plain beyond the mountains, seeing + that these can only journey slowly. Let us pass by in peace, my brother, + for so shall our quarrel be ended; but if you do so much as lift a single + spear against me, then I will give you battle, setting my fortune against + your fortune and my god against your God!’ + </p> + <p> + “Such are the words that the embassy shall deliver into the ears of the + king, Nodwengo, and it shall come about that when he hears them, Nodwengo, + whose heart is gentle and who seeks not war, shall answer softly, saying:— + </p> + <p> + “‘Go in peace, my brother, and live in peace in that land which you would + win.’ + </p> + <p> + “Then shall you, Hafela, send on the most of your cattle and the women and + the children through that pass in the mountains, bidding them to await you + in the plain, and after a while you shall follow them with your <i>impis</i>. + But these shall not travel in war array, for carriers must bear their + fighting shields in bundles and their stabbing spears shall be rolled up + in mats. Now, on the sixth day of your journey you shall camp at the mouth + of the pass which the cattle and the women have already travelled, and his + outposts and spies will bring it to the ears of the king that your force + is sleeping there, purposing to climb the pass on the morrow. + </p> + <p> + “But on that night, so soon as the darkness falls, you must rise up with + your captains and your regiments, leaving your fires burning and men about + your fires, and shall travel very swiftly across the valley, so that an + hour before the dawn you reach the second range of mountains, and pass it + by the gorge which is the burying-place of kings. Here you shall light a + fire, which those who watch will believe to be but the fire of a herdsman + who is acold. But I, Hokosa, also shall be watching, and when I see that + fire I will creep, with some whom I can trust, to the little northern gate + of the outer wall, and we will spear those that guard it and open the + gate, that your army may pass through. Then, before the regiments can + stand to their arms or those within it are awakened, you must storm the + inner walls and by the light of the burning huts, put the dwellers in the + Great Place to the spear, and the rays of the rising sun shall crown you + king. + </p> + <p> + “Follow this counsel of mine, O Prince Hafela, and all will go well with + you. Neglect it and be lost. There is but one thing which you need fear—it + is the magic of the Messenger, to whom it is given to read the secret + thoughts of men. But of him take no account, for he is my charge, and + before ever you set a foot within the Great Place he shall have taken his + answer back to Him Who sent him.” + </p> + <p> + Hokosa finished speaking. + </p> + <p> + “Have you heard?” he said to Noma. + </p> + <p> + “I have heard.” + </p> + <p> + “Then speak the message.” + </p> + <p> + She repeated it word for word, making no fault. “Have no fear,” she added, + “I shall forget nothing when I stand before the prince.” + </p> + <p> + “You are a woman, but your counsel is good. What think you of the plan, + Noma?” + </p> + <p> + “It is deep and well laid,” she answered, “and surely it would succeed + were it not for one thing. The white man, Messenger, will be too clever + for you, for as you say, he is a reader of the thoughts of men.” + </p> + <p> + “Can the dead read men’s thoughts, or if they can, do they cry them on the + market-place or into the ears of kings?” asked Hokosa. “Have I not told + you that, before I see the signal-fire yonder, the Messenger shall sleep + sound? I have a medicine, Noma, a slow medicine that none can trace.” + </p> + <p> + “The Messenger may sleep sound, Hokosa, and yet perchance he may pass on + his message to another and, with it, his magic. Who can say? Still, + husband, strike on for power and greatness and revenge, letting the blow + fall where it will.” + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0013" id="link2HCH0013"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XIII + </h2> + <h3> + THE BASKET OF FRUIT + </h3> + <p> + Three days later it was announced that according to the custom of the + women of the People of Fire, Noma having given birth to a still-born + child, was about to start upon a journey to the Mount of Purification. + Here she would abide awhile and make sacrifice to the spirits of her + ancestors, that they might cease to be angry with her and in future + protect her from such misfortunes. This not unusual domestic incident + excited little comment, although it was remarked that the four matrons by + whom she was to be accompanied, in accordance with the tribal etiquette, + were all of them the wives of soldiers who had deserted to Hafela. Indeed, + the king himself noticed as much when Hokosa made the customary formal + application to him to sanction the expedition. + </p> + <p> + “So be it,” he said, “though myself I have lost faith in such rites. Also, + Hokosa, I think it likely that although your wife goes out with company, + she will return alone.” + </p> + <p> + “Why, King?” asked Hokosa. + </p> + <p> + “For this reason—that those who travel with her have husbands yonder + at the town of the Prince Hafela, and the Mount of Purification is on the + road thither. Having gone so far, they may go farther. Well, let them go, + for I desire to have none among my people whose hearts turn otherwhere, + and it would not be wonderful if they should choose to seek their lords. + But perchance, Hokosa, there are some in this town who may use them as + messengers to the prince”—and he looked at him keenly. + </p> + <p> + “I think not, King,” said Hokosa. “None but a fool would make use of women + to carry secret words or tidings. Their tongues are too long and their + memories too bad, or too uncertain.” + </p> + <p> + “Yet I have heard, Hokosa, that you have made use of women in many a + strange work. Say now, what were you doing upon a night a while ago with + that fair witch-wife of yours yonder in the burying-place of kings, where + it is not lawful that you should set your foot? Nay, deny it not. You were + seen to enter the valley after midnight and to return thence at the dawn, + and it was seen also that as she came homewards your wife walked as one + who is drunken, and she, whom it is not easy to frighten, wore a face of + fear. Man, I do not trust you, and were I wise I should hunt you hence, or + keep you so close that you could scarcely move without my knowledge. + </p> + <p> + “Why should I trust you?” Nodwengo went on vehemently. “Can a wizard cease + from wizardry, or a plotter from his plots? No, not until the waters run + upward and the sun shines at night; not until repentance touches you and + your heart is changed, which I should hold as much a marvel. You were my + father’s friend and he made you great; yet you could plan with my brother + to poison him, your king. Nay, be silent; I know it, though I have said + nothing of it because one that is dear to me has interceded for you. You + were the priest of the false god, and with that god are fallen from your + place, yet you have not renounced him. You sit still in your kraal and + pretend to be asleep, but your slumber is that of the serpent which + watches his time to strike. How do I know that you will not poison me as + you would have poisoned my father, or stir up rebellion against me, or + bring my brother’s <i>impis</i> on my head?” + </p> + <p> + “If the King thinks any of these things of his servant,” answered Hokosa + in a humble voice, but with dignity, “his path is plain: let him put me to + death and sleep in peace. Who am I that I should full the ears of a king + with my defence against these charges, or dare to wrangle with him?” + </p> + <p> + “Long ago I should have put you to death, Hokosa,” answered Nodwengo + sternly, “had it not been that one has pleaded for you, declaring that in + you there is good which will overcome the evil, and that you who now are + an axe to cut down my throne, in time to come shall be a roof-tree for its + support. Also, the law that I obey does not allow me to take the blood of + men save upon full proof, and against you as yet I have no proof. Still, + Hokosa, be warned in time and let your heart be turned before the grave + claims your body and the Wicked One your soul.” + </p> + <p> + “I thank you, King, for your gentle words and your tender care for my + well-being both on earth and after I shall leave it. But I tell you, King, + that I had rather die as your father would have killed me in the old days, + or your brother would kill me now, did either of them hate or fear me, + than live on in safety, owing my life to a new law and a new mercy that do + not befit the great ones of the world. King, I am your servant,” and + giving him the royal salute, Hokosa rose and left his presence. + </p> + <p> + “At the least there goes a man,” said Nodwengo, as he watched him depart. + </p> + <p> + “Of whom do you speak, King?” asked Owen, who at that moment entered the + royal house. + </p> + <p> + “Of him whom you must have touched in the door-way, Messenger, Hokosa the + wizard,” answered the king, and he told him of what had passed between + them. “I said,” he added, “that he was a man, and so he is; yet I hold + that I have done wrong to listen to your pleading and to spare him, for I + am certain that he will bring bloodshed upon me and trouble on the Faith. + Think now, Messenger, how full must be that man’s heart of secret rage and + hatred, he who was so great and is now so little! Will he not certainly + strive to grow great again? Will he not strive to be avenged upon those + who humbled him and the religion they have chosen?” + </p> + <p> + “It may be,” answered Owen, “but if so, he will not conquer. I tell you, + King, that like water hidden in a rock there is good in this man’s heart, + and that I shall yet find a rod wherewith to cause it to gush out and + refresh the desert.” + </p> + <p> + “It is more likely that he will find a spear wherewith to cause your blood + to gush out and refresh the jackals,” answered the king grimly; “but be it + as you will. And now, what of your business?” + </p> + <p> + “This, King: John, my servant, has returned from the coast countries, and + he brings me a letter saying that before long three white teachers will + follow him to take up the work which I have begun. I pray that when they + come, for my sake and for the sake of the truth that I have taught you, + you will treat them kindly and protect them, remembering that at first + they can know little of your language or your customs.” + </p> + <p> + “I will indeed,” said the king, with much concern. “But tell me, + Messenger, why do you speak of yourself as of one who soon will be but a + memory? Do you purpose to leave us?” + </p> + <p> + “No, King, but I believe that ere long I shall be recalled. I have given + my message, my task is well-nigh ended and I must be turning home. Save + for your sakes I do not sorrow at this, for to speak truth I grow very + weary,” and he smiled sadly. + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + Hokosa went home alarmed and full of bitterness, for he had never guessed + that the “servant of the Messenger,” as he called Nodwengo the King, knew + so much about him and his plans. His fall was hard to him, but to be thus + measured up, weighed, and contemptuously forgiven was almost more than he + could bear. It was the white prophet who had done this thing; he had told + Nodwengo of his, Hokosa’s, share in the plot to murder the late King + Umsuka, though how he came to know of that matter was beyond guessing. He + had watched him, or caused him to be watched, when he went forth to + consult spirits in the place of the dead; he had warned Nodwengo against + him. Worst of all, he had dared to treat him with contempt; had pleaded + for his life and safety, so that he was spared as men spare a snake from + which the charmer has drawn the fangs. When they met in the gate of the + king’s house yonder this white thief, who had stolen his place and power, + had even smiled upon him and greeted him kindly, and doubtless while he + smiled, by aid of the magic he possessed, had read him through and gone on + to tell the story to the king. Well, of this there should be an end; he + would kill the Messenger, or himself be killed. + </p> + <p> + When Hokosa reached his kraal he found Noma sitting beneath a fruit tree + that grew in it, idly employed in stringing beads, for the work of the + household she left to his other wife, Zinti, an old and homely woman who + thought more of the brewing of the beer and the boiling of the porridge + than of religions or politics or of the will of kings. Of late Noma had + haunted the shadow of this tree, for beneath it lay that child which had + been born to her. + </p> + <p> + “Does it please the king to grant leave for my journey?” she asked, + looking up. + </p> + <p> + “Yes, it pleases him.” + </p> + <p> + “I am thankful,” she answered, “for I think that if I bide here much + longer, with ghosts and memories for company, I shall go mad,” and she + glanced at a spot near by, where the earth showed signs of recent + disturbance. + </p> + <p> + “He gives leave,” Hokosa went on, taking no notice of her speech, “but he + suspects us. Listen——” and he told her of the talk that had + passed between himself and the king. + </p> + <p> + “The white man has read you as he reads in his written books,” she + answered, with a little laugh. “Well, I said that he would be too clever + for you, did I not? It does not matter to me, for to-morrow I go upon my + journey, and you can settle it as you will.” + </p> + <p> + “Ay!” answered Hokosa, grinding his teeth, “it is true that he has read + me; but this I promise you, that all books shall soon be closed to him. + Yet how is it to be done without suspicion or discovery? I know many + poisons, but all of them must be administered, and let him work never so + cunningly, he who gives a poison can be traced.” + </p> + <p> + “Then cause some other to give it and let him bear the blame,” suggested + Noma languidly. + </p> + <p> + Hokosa made no answer, but walking to the gate of the kraal, which was + open, he leaned against it lost in thought. As he stood thus he saw a + woman advancing towards him, who carried on her head a small basket of + fruit, and knew her for one of those whose business it was to wait upon + the Messenger in his huts, or rather in his house, for by now he had built + himself a small house, and near it a chapel. This woman saw Hokosa also + and looked at him sideways, as though she would like to stop and speak to + him, but feared to do so. + </p> + <p> + “Good morrow to you, friend,” he said. “How goes it with your husband and + your house?” + </p> + <p> + Now Hokosa knew well that this woman’s husband had taken a dislike to her + and driven her from his home, filling her place with one younger and more + attractive. At the question the woman’s lips began to tremble, and her + eyes swam with tears. + </p> + <p> + “Ah! great doctor,” she said, “why do you ask me of my husband? Have you + not heard that he has driven me away and that another takes my place?” + </p> + <p> + “Do I hear all the gossip of this town?” asked Hokosa, with a smile. “But + come in and tell me the story; perchance I may be able to help you, for I + have charms to compel the fancy of such faithless ones.” + </p> + <p> + The woman looked round, and seeing that there was no one in sight, she + slipped swiftly through the gate of the kraal, which he closed behind her. + </p> + <p> + “Noma,” said Hokosa, “here is one who tells me that her husband has + deserted her, and who comes to seek my counsel. Bring her milk to drink.” + </p> + <p> + “There are some wives who would not find that so great an evil,” replied + Noma mockingly, as she rose to do his bidding. + </p> + <p> + Hokosa winced at the sarcasm, and turning to his visitor, said:— + </p> + <p> + “Now tell me your tale; but say first, why are you so frightened?” + </p> + <p> + “I am frightened, master,” she answered, “lest any should have seen me + enter here, for I have become a Christian, and the Christians are + forbidden to consult the witch-doctors, as we were wont to do. For my + case, it is——” + </p> + <p> + “No need to set it out,” broke in Hokosa, waving his hand. “I see it + written on your face; your husband has put you away and loves another + woman, your own half-sister whom you brought up from a child.” + </p> + <p> + “Ah! master, you have heard aright.” + </p> + <p> + “I have not heard, I look upon you and I see. Fool, am I not a wizard? + Tell me——” and taking dust into his hand, he blew the grains + this way and that, regarding them curiously. “Yes, it is so. Last night + you crept to your husband’s hut—do you remember, a dog growled at + you as you passed the gate?—and there in front of the hut he sat + with his new wife. She saw you coming, but pretending not to see, she + threw her arms about his neck, kissing and fondling him before your eyes, + till you could bear it no longer, and revealed yourself, upbraiding them. + Then your rival taunted you and stirred up the man with bitter words, till + at length he took a stick and beat you from the door, and there is a mark + of it upon your shoulder.” + </p> + <p> + “It is true, it is too true!” she groaned. + </p> + <p> + “Yes, it is true. And now, what do you wish from me?” + </p> + <p> + “Master, I wish a medicine to make my husband hate my rival and to draw + his heart back to me.” + </p> + <p> + “That must be a strong medicine,” said Hokosa, “which will turn a man from + one who is young and beautiful to one who is past her youth and ugly.” + </p> + <p> + “I am as I am,” answered the poor woman, with a touch of natural dignity, + “but at least I have loved him and worked for him for fifteen long years.” + </p> + <p> + “And that is why he would now be rid of you, for who cumbers his kraal + with old cattle?” + </p> + <p> + “And yet at times they are the best, Master. Wrinkles and smooth skin seem + strange upon one pillow,” she added, glancing at Noma, who came from the + hut carrying a bowl of milk in her hand. + </p> + <p> + “If you seek counsel,” said Hokosa quickly, “why do you not go to the + white man, that Messenger in whom you believe, and ask him for a potion to + turn your husband’s heart?” + </p> + <p> + “Master, I have been to him, and he is very good to me, for when I was + driven out he gave me work to do and food. But he told me that he had no + medicine for such cases, and that the Great Man in the sky alone could + soften the breast of my husband and cause my sister to cease from her + wickedness. Last night I went to see whether He would do it, and you know + what befell me there.” + </p> + <p> + “That befell you which befalls all fools who put their trust in words + alone. What will you pay me, woman, if I give you the medicine which you + seek?” + </p> + <p> + “Alas, master, I am poor. I have nothing to offer you, for when I would + not stay in my husband’s kraal to be a servant to his new wife, he took + the cow and the five goats that belonged to me, as, I being childless, + according to our ancient law he had the right to do.” + </p> + <p> + “You are bold who come to ask a doctor to minister to you, bearing no fee + in your hand,” said Hokosa. “Yet, because I have pity on you, I will be + content with very little. Give me that basket of fruit, for my wife has + been sick and loves its taste.” + </p> + <p> + “I cannot do that, Master,” answered the woman, “for it is sent by my hand + as a present to the Messenger, and he knows this and will eat of it after + he has made prayer to-day. Did I not give it to him, it would be + discovered that I had left it here with you.” + </p> + <p> + “Then begone without your medicine,” said Hokosa, “for I need such fruit.” + </p> + <p> + The woman rose and said, looking at him wistfully:— + </p> + <p> + “Master, if you will be satisfied with other fruits of this same sort, I + know where I can get them for you.” + </p> + <p> + “When will you get them?” + </p> + <p> + “Now, within an hour. And till I return I will leave these in pledge with + you; but these and no other I must give to the Messenger, for he has + already seen them and might discover the difference; also I have promised + so to do.” + </p> + <p> + “As you will,” said Hokosa. “If you are with the fruit within an hour, the + medicine will be ready for you, a medicine that shall not fail.” + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0014" id="link2HCH0014"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XIV + </h2> + <h3> + THE EATING OF THE FRUIT + </h3> + <p> + The woman slipped away secretly. When she had gone Hokosa bade his wife + bring the basket of fruit into the hut. + </p> + <p> + “It is best that the butcher should kill the ox himself,” she answered + meaningly. + </p> + <p> + He carried in the basket and set it on the floor. + </p> + <p> + “Why do you speak thus, Noma?” he asked. + </p> + <p> + “Because I will have no hand in the matter, Hokosa. I have been the tool + of a wizard, and won little joy therefrom. The tool of a murderer I will + not be!” + </p> + <p> + “If I kill, it is for the sake of both of us,” he said passionately. + </p> + <p> + “It may be so, Hokosa, or for the sake of the people, or for the sake of + Heaven above—I do not know and do not care; but I say, do your own + killing, for I am sure that even less luck will hang to it than hangs to + your witchcraft.” + </p> + <p> + “Of all women you are the most perverse!” he said, stamping his foot upon + the ground. + </p> + <p> + “Thus you may say again before everything is done, husband; but if it be + so, why do you love me and tie me to you with your wizardry? Cut the knot, + and let me go my way while you go yours.” + </p> + <p> + “Woman, I cannot; but still I bid you beware, for, strive as you will, my + path must be your path. Moreover, till I free you, you cannot lift voice + or hand against me.” + </p> + <p> + Then, while she watched him curiously, Hokosa fetched his medicines and + took from them some powder fine as dust and two tiny crowquills. Placing a + fruit before him, he inserted one of these quills into its substance, and + filling the second with the powder, he shook its contents into it and + withdrew the tube. This process he repeated four times on each of the + fruits, replacing them one by one in the basket. So deftly did he work + upon them, that however closely they were scanned none could guess that + they had been tampered with. + </p> + <p> + “Will it kill at once?” asked Noma. + </p> + <p> + “No, indeed; but he who eats these fruits will be seized on the third day + with dysentery and fever, and these will cling to him till within seven + weeks—or if he is very strong, three months—he dies. This is + the best of poisons, for it works through nature and can be traced by + none.” + </p> + <p> + “Except, perchance, by that Spirit Whom the white man worships, and Who + also works through nature, as you learned, Hokosa, when He rolled the + lightning back upon your head, shattering your god and beating down your + company.” + </p> + <p> + Then of a sudden terror seized the wizard, and springing to his feet, he + cursed his wife till she trembled before him. + </p> + <p> + “Vile woman, and double-faced!” he said, “why do you push me forward with + one hand and with the other drag me back? Why do you whisper evil counsel + into one ear and into the other prophesy of misfortunes to come? Had it + not been for you, I should have let this business lie; I should have taken + my fate and been content. But day by day you have taunted me with my fall + and grieved over the greatness that you have lost, till at length you have + driven me to this. Why cannot you be all good or all wicked, or at the + least, through righteousness and sin, faithful to my interest and your + own?” + </p> + <p> + “Because I hate you, Hokosa, and yet can strike you only through my tongue + and your mad love for me. I am fast in your power, but thus at least I can + make you feel something of my own pain. Hark! I hear that woman at the + gate. Will you give her back the basket, or will you not? Whatever you may + choose to do, do not say in after days that I urged you to the deed.” + </p> + <p> + “Truly you are great-hearted!” he answered, with cold contempt; “one for + whom I did well to enter into treachery and sin! So be it: having gone so + far upon it, come what may, I will not turn back from this journey. Let in + that fool!” + </p> + <p> + Presently the woman stood before them, bearing with her another basket of + fruit. + </p> + <p> + “These are what you seek, Master,” she said, “though I was forced to win + them by theft. Now give me my own and the medicine and let me go.” + </p> + <p> + He gave her the basket, and with it, wrapped in a piece of kidskin, some + of the same powder with which he had doctored the fruits. + </p> + <p> + “What shall I do with this?” she asked. + </p> + <p> + “You must find means to sprinkle it upon your sister’s food, and + thereafter your husband shall come to hate even the sight of her.” + </p> + <p> + “But will he come to love me again?” + </p> + <p> + Hokosa shrugged his shoulders. + </p> + <p> + “I know not,” he answered; “that is for you to see to. Yet this is sure, + that if a tree grows up before the house of a man, shutting it off from + the sunlight, when that tree is cut down the sun shines upon his house + again.” + </p> + <p> + “It is nothing to the sun on what he shines,” said the woman. + </p> + <p> + “If the saying does not please you, then forget it. I promise you this and + no more, that very soon the man shall cease to turn to your rival.” + </p> + <p> + “The medicine will not harm her?” asked the woman doubtfully. “She has + worked me bitter wrong indeed, yet she is my sister, whom I nursed when + she was little, and I do not wish to do her hurt. If only he will welcome + me back and treat me kindly, I am willing even that she should dwell on + beneath my husband’s roof, bearing his children, for will they not be of + my own blood?” + </p> + <p> + “Woman,” answered Hokosa impatiently, “you weary me with your talk. Did I + say that the charm would hurt her? I said that it would cause your husband + to hate the sight of her. Now begone, taking or leaving it, and let me + rest. If your mind is troubled, throw aside that medicine, and go soothe + it with such sights as you saw last night.” + </p> + <p> + On hearing this the woman sprang up, hid away the poison in her hair, and + taking her basket of fruit, passed from the kraal as secretly as she had + entered it. + </p> + <p> + “Why did you give her death-medicine?” asked Noma of Hokosa, as he stood + staring after her. “Have you a hate to satisfy against the husband or the + girl who is her rival?” + </p> + <p> + “None,” he answered, “for they have never crossed my path. Oh, foolish + woman! cannot you read my plan?” + </p> + <p> + “Not altogether, Husband.” + </p> + <p> + “Listen then: this woman will give to her sister a medicine of which in + the end she must die. She may be discovered or she may not, but it is + certain that she will be suspected, seeing that the bitterness of the + quarrel between them is known. Also she will give to the Messenger certain + fruits, after eating of which he will be taken sick and in due time die, + of just such a disease as that which carries off the woman’s rival. Now, + if any think that he is poisoned, which I trust none will, whom will they + suppose to have poisoned him, though indeed they can never prove the + crime?” + </p> + <p> + “The plan is clever,” said Noma with admiration, “but in it I see a flaw. + The woman will say that she had the drug from you, or, at the least, will + babble of her visit to you.” + </p> + <p> + “Not so,” answered Hokosa, “for on this matter the greatest talker in the + world would keep silence. Firstly, she, being a Christian, dare not own + that she has visited a witch-doctor. Secondly, the fruit she brought in + payment was stolen, therefore she will say nothing of it. Thirdly, to + admit that she had medicine from me would be to admit her guilt, and that + she will scarcely do even under torture, which by the new law it is not + lawful to apply. Moreover, none saw her come here, and I should deny her + visit.” + </p> + <p> + “The plan is very clever,” said Noma again. + </p> + <p> + “It is very clever,” he repeated complacently; “never have I made a better + one. Now throw those fruits to the she goats that are in the kraal, and + burn the basket, while I go and talk to some in the Great Place, telling + them that I have returned from counting my cattle on the mountain, whither + I went after I had bowed the knee in the house of the king.” + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + Two hours later, Hokosa, having made a wide detour and talked to sundry of + his acquaintances about the condition of his cattle, might have been seen + walking slowly along the north side of the Great Place towards his own + kraal. His path lay past the chapel and the little house that Owen had + built to dwell in. This house was furnished with a broad verandah, and + upon it sat the Messenger himself, eating his evening meal. Hokosa saw + him, and a great desire entered his heart to learn whether or no he had + partaken of the poisoned fruit. Also it occurred to him that it would be + wise if, before the end came, he could contrive to divert all possible + suspicion from himself, by giving the impression that he was now upon + friendly terms with the great white teacher and not disinclined even to + become a convert to his doctrine. + </p> + <p> + For a moment he hesitated, seeking an excuse. One soon suggested itself to + his ready mind. That very morning the king had told him not obscurely that + Owen had pleaded for his safety and saved him from being put upon his + trial on charges of witchcraft and murder. He would go to him, now at + once, playing the part of a grateful penitent, and the White Man’s magic + must be keen indeed if it availed to pierce the armour of his practised + craft. + </p> + <p> + So Hokosa went up and squatted himself down native fashion among a little + group of converts who were waiting to see their teacher upon one business + or another. He was not more than ten paces from the verandah, and sitting + thus he saw a sight that interested him strangely. Having eaten a little + of a dish of roasted meat, Owen put out his hand and took a fruit from a + basket that the wizard knew well. At this moment he looked up and + recognised Hokosa. + </p> + <p> + “Do you desire speech with me, Hokosa?” he asked in his gentle voice. “If + so, be pleased to come hither.” + </p> + <p> + “Nay, Messenger,” answered Hokosa, “I desire speech with you indeed, but + it is ill to stand between a hungry man and his food.” + </p> + <p> + “I care little for my food,” answered Owen; “at the least it can wait,” + and he put down the fruit. + </p> + <p> + Then suddenly a feeling to which the wizard had been for many years a + stranger took possession of him—a feeling of compunction. That man + was about to partake of what would cause his death—of what he, + Hokosa, had prepared in order that it should cause his death. He was good, + he was kindly, none could allege a wrong deed against him; and, + foolishness though it might be, so was the doctrine that he taught. Why + should he kill him? It was true that never till that moment had he + hesitated, by fair means or foul, to remove an enemy or rival from his + path. He had been brought up in this teaching; it was part of the + education of wizards to be merciless, for they reigned by terror and evil + craft. Their magic lay chiefly in clairvoyance and powers of observation + developed to a pitch that was almost superhuman, and the best of their + weapons was poison in infinite variety, whereof the guild alone understood + the properties and preparation. Therefore there was nothing strange, + nothing unusual in this deed of devilish and cunning murder that the sight + of its doing should stir him thus, and yet it did stir him. He was minded + to stop the plot, to let things take their course. + </p> + <p> + Some sense of the futility of all such strivings came home to him, and as + in a glass, for Hokosa was a man of imagination, he foresaw their end. A + little success, a little failure, it scarcely mattered which, and then—that + end. Within twenty years, or ten, or mayhap even one, what would this + present victory or defeat mean to him? Nothing so far as he was concerned; + that is, nothing so far as his life of to-day was concerned. Yet, if he + had another life, it might mean everything. There was another life; he + knew it, who had dragged back from its borders the spirits of the dead, + though what might be the state and occupations of those dead he did not + know. Yet he believed—why he could not tell—that they were + affected vitally by their acts and behaviour here; and his intelligence + warned him that good must always flow from good, and evil from evil. To + kill this man was evil, and of it only evil could come. + </p> + <p> + What did he care whether Hafela ruled the nation or Nodwengo, and whether + it worshipped the God of the Christians or the god of Fire—who, by + the way, had proved himself so singularly inefficient in the hour of + trial. Now that he thought of it, he much preferred Nodwengo to Hafela, + for the one was a just man and the other a tyrant; and he himself was more + comfortable as a wealthy private person than he had been as a head + medicine-man and a chief of wizards. He would let things stand; he would + prevent the Messenger from eating of that fruit. A word could do it; he + had but to suggest that it was unripe or not wholesome at this season of + the year, and it would be cast aside. + </p> + <p> + All these reflections, or their substance, passed through Hokosa’s mind in + a few instants of time, and already he was rising to go to the verandah + and translate their moral into acts, when another thought occurred to him—How + should he face Noma with this tale? He could give up his own ambitions, + but could he bear her mockery, as day by day she taunted him with his + faint-heartedness and reproached him with his failure to regain greatness + and to make her great? He forgot that he might conceal the truth from her; + or rather, he did not contemplate such concealment, of which their + relations were too peculiar and too intimate to permit. She hated him, and + he worshipped her with a half-inhuman passion—a passion so + unnatural, indeed, that it suggested the horrid and insatiable longings of + the damned—and yet their souls were naked to each other. It was + their fate that they could hide nothing each from each—they were + cursed with the awful necessity of candour. + </p> + <p> + It would be impossible that he should keep from Noma anything that he did + or did not do; it would be still more impossible that she should conceal + from him even such imaginings and things as it is common for women to hold + secret. Her very bitterness, which it had been policy for her to cloak or + soften, would gush from her lips at the sight of him; nor, in the depth of + his rage and torment, could he, on the other hand, control the ill-timed + utterance of his continual and overmastering passion. It came to this, + then: he must go forward, and against his better judgment, because he was + afraid to go back, for the whip of a woman’s tongue drove him on + remorselessly. It was better that the Messenger should die, and the land + run red with blood, than that he should be forced to endure this scourge. + </p> + <p> + So with a sigh Hokosa sank back to the ground and watched while Owen ate + three of the poisoned fruits. After a pause, he took a fourth and bit into + it, but not seeming to find it to his taste, he threw it to a child that + was waiting by the verandah for any scraps which might be left over from + his meal. The child caught it, and devoured it eagerly. + </p> + <p> + Then, smiling at the little boy’s delight, the Messenger called to Hokosa + to come up and speak with him. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0015" id="link2HCH0015"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XV + </h2> + <h3> + NOMA COMES TO HAFELA + </h3> + <p> + Hokosa advanced to the verandah and bowed to the white man with grave + dignity. + </p> + <p> + “Be seated,” said Owen. “Will you not eat? though I have nothing to offer + you but these,” and he pushed the basket of fruits towards him, adding, + “The best of them, I fear, are already gone.” + </p> + <p> + “I thank you, no, Messenger; such fruits are not always wholesome at this + season of the year. I have known them to breed dysentery.” + </p> + <p> + “Indeed,” said Owen. “If so, I trust that I may escape. I have suffered + from that sickness, and I think that another bout of it would kill me. In + future I will avoid them. But what do you seek with me, Hokosa? Enter and + tell me,” and he led the way into a little sitting-room. + </p> + <p> + “Messenger,” said the wizard, with deep humility, “I am a proud man; I + have been a great man, and it is no light thing to me to humble myself + before the face of my conqueror. Yet I am come to this. To-day when I was + in audience with the king, craving a small boon of his graciousness, he + spoke to me sharp and bitter words. He told me that he had been minded to + put me on trial for my life because of various misdoings which are alleged + against me in the past, but that you had pleaded for me and that for this + cause he spared me. I come to thank you for your gentleness, Messenger, + for I think that had I been in your place I should have whispered + otherwise in the ear of the king.” + </p> + <p> + “Say no more of it, friend,” said Owen kindly, “We are all of us sinners, + and it is my place to push back your ancient sins, not to drag them into + the light of day and clamour for their punishment. It is true I know that + you plotted with the Prince Hafela to poison Umsuka the King, for it was + revealed to me. It chanced, however, that I was able to recover Umsuka + from his sickness, and Hafela is fled, so why should I bring up the deed + against you? It is true that you still practise witchcraft, and that you + hate and strive against the holy Faith which I preach; but you were + brought up to wizardry and have been the priest of another creed, and + these things plead for you. + </p> + <p> + “Also, Hokosa, I can see the good and evil struggling in your soul, and I + pray and I believe that in the end the good will master the evil; that you + who have been pre-eminent in sin will come to be pre-eminent in + righteousness. Oh! be not stubborn, but listen with your ear, and let your + heart be softened. The gate stands open, and I am the guide appointed to + show you the way without reward or fee. Follow them ere it be too late, + that in time to come when my voice is stilled you also may be able to + direct the feet of wanderers into the paths of peace. It is the hour of + prayer; come with me, I beg of you, and listen to some few words of the + message of my lips, and let your spirit be nurtured with them, and the Sun + of Truth arise upon its darkness.” + </p> + <p> + Hokosa heard, and before this simple eloquence his wisdom sank confounded. + More, his intelligence was stirred, and a desire came upon him to + investigate and examine the canons of a creed that could produce such men + as this. He made no answer, but waiting while Owen robed himself, he + followed him to the chapel. It was full of new-made Christians who crowded + even the doorways, but they gave place to him, wondering. Then the service + began—a short and simple service. First Owen offered up some prayer + for the welfare of the infant Church, for the conversion of the + unbelieving, for the safety of the king and the happiness of the people. + Then John, the Messenger’s first disciple, read aloud from a manuscript a + portion of the Scripture which his master had translated. It was St. + Paul’s exposition of the resurrection from the dead, and the grandeur of + its thoughts and language were by no means lost upon Hokosa, who, savage + and heathen though he might be, was also a man of intellect. + </p> + <p> + The reading over, Owen addressed the congregation, taking for his text, + “Thy sin shall find thee out.” Being now a master of the language, he + preached very well and earnestly, and indeed the subject was not difficult + to deal with in the presence of an audience many of whose pasts had been + steeped in iniquities of no common kind. As he talked of judgment to come + for the unrepentant, some of his hearers groaned and even wept; and when, + changing his note, he dwelt upon the blessed future state of those who + earned forgiveness, their faces were lighted up with joy. + </p> + <p> + But perhaps among all those gathered before him there were none more + deeply interested than Hokosa and one other, that woman to whom he had + sold the poison, and who, as it chanced, sat next to him. Hokosa, watching + her face as he was skilled to do, saw the thrusts of the preacher go home, + and grew sure that already in her jealous haste she had found opportunity + to sprinkle the medicine upon her rival’s food. She believed it to be but + a charm indeed, yet knowing that in using such charms she had done + wickedly, she trembled beneath the words of denunciation, and rising at + length, crept from the chapel. + </p> + <p> + “Truly, her sin will find her out,” thought Hokosa to himself, and then in + a strange half-impersonal fashion he turned his thoughts to the + consideration of his own case. Would <i>his</i> sin find him out? he + wondered. Before he could answer that question, it was necessary first to + determine whether or no he had committed a sin. The man before him—that + gentle and yet impassioned man—bore in his vitals the seed of death + which he, Hokosa, had planted there. Was it wrong to have done this? It + depended by which standard the deed was judged. According to his own code, + the code on which he had been educated and which hitherto he had followed + with exactness, it was not wrong. That code taught the necessity of + self-aggrandisement, or at least and at all costs the necessity of + self-preservation. This white preacher stood in his path; he had + humiliated him, Hokosa, and in the end, either of himself or through his + influences, it was probable that he would destroy him. Therefore he must + strike before in his own person he received a mortal blow, and having no + other means at his command, he struck through treachery and poison. + </p> + <p> + That was his law which for many generations had been followed and + respected by his class with the tacit assent of the nation. According to + this law, then, he had done no wrong. But now the victim by the altar, who + did not know that already he was bound upon the altar, preached a new and + a very different doctrine under which, were it to be believed, he, Hokosa, + was one of the worst of sinners. The matter, then, resolved itself to + this: which of these two rules of life was the right rule? Which of them + should a man follow to satisfy his conscience and to secure his abiding + welfare? Apart from the motives that swayed him, as a mere matter of + ethics, this problem interested Hokosa not a little, and he went homewards + determined to solve it if he might. That could be done in one way only—by + a close examination of both systems. The first he knew well; he had + practised it for nearly forty years. Of the second he had but an inkling. + Also, if he would learn more of it he must make haste, seeing that its + exponent in some short while would cease to be in a position to set it + out. + </p> + <p> + “I trust that you will come again,” said Owen to Hokosa as they left the + chapel. + </p> + <p> + “Yes, indeed, Messenger,” answered the wizard; “I will come every day, and + if you permit it, I will attend your private teachings also, for I accept + nothing without examination, and I greatly desire to study this new + doctrine of yours, root and flower and fruit.” + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + On the morrow Noma started upon her journey. As the matrons who + accompanied her gave out with a somewhat suspicious persistency, its + ostensible object was to visit the Mount of Purification, and there by + fastings and solitude to purge herself of the sin of having given birth to + a stillborn child. For amongst savage peoples such an accident is apt to + be looked upon as little short of a crime, or, at the least, as indicating + that the woman concerned is the object of the indignation of spirits who + need to be appeased. To this Mount, Noma went, and there performed the + customary rites. + </p> + <p> + “Little wonder,” she thought to herself, “that the spirits were angry with + her, seeing that yonder in the burying-ground of kings she had dared to + break in upon their rest.” + </p> + <p> + From the Place of Purification she travelled on ten days’ journey with her + companions till they reached the mountain fastness where Hafela had + established himself. The town and its surroundings were of extraordinary + strength, and so well guarded that it was only after considerable + difficulty and delay that the women were admitted. Hearing of her arrival + and that she had words for him, Hafela sent for Noma at once, receiving + her by night and alone in his principal hut. She came and stood before + him, and he looked at her beauty with admiring eyes, for he could not + forget the woman whom the cunning of Hokosa had forced him to put away. + </p> + <p> + “Whence come you, pretty one?” he asked, “and wherefore come you? Are you + weary of your husband, that you fly back to me? If so, you are welcome + indeed; for know, Noma, that I still love you.” + </p> + <p> + “Ay, Prince, I am weary of my husband sure enough; but I do not fly to + you, for he holds me fast to him with bonds that you cannot understand, + and fast to him while he lives I must remain.” + </p> + <p> + “What hinders, Noma, that having got you here I should keep you here? The + cunning and magic of Hokosa may be great, but they will need to be still + greater to win you from my arms.” + </p> + <p> + “This hinders, Prince, that you are playing for a higher stake than that + of a woman’s love, and if you deal thus by me and my husband, then of a + surety you will lose the game.” + </p> + <p> + “What stake, Noma?” + </p> + <p> + “The stake of the crown of the People of Fire.” + </p> + <p> + “And why should I lose if I take you as a wife?” + </p> + <p> + “Because Hokosa, seeing that I do not return and learning from his spies + why I do not return, will warn the king, and by many means bring all your + plans to nothing. Listen now to the words of Hokosa that he has set + between my lips to deliver to you”—and she repeated to him all the + message without fault or fail. + </p> + <p> + “Say it again,” he said, and she obeyed. + </p> + <p> + Then he answered:— + </p> + <p> + “Truly the skill of Hokosa is great, and well he knows how to set a snare; + but I think that if by his counsel I should springe the bird, he will be + too clever a man to keep upon the threshold of my throne. He who sets one + snare may set twain, and he who sits by the threshold may desire to enter + the house of kings wherein there is no space for two to dwell.” + </p> + <p> + “Is this the answer that I am to take back to Hokosa?” asked Noma. “It + will scarcely bind him to your cause, Prince, and I wonder that you dare + to speak it to me who am his wife.” + </p> + <p> + “I dare to speak it to you, Noma, because, although you be his wife, all + wives do not love their lords; and I think that, perchance in days to + come, you would choose rather to hold the hand of a young king than that + of a witch-doctor sinking into eld. Thus shall you answer Hokosa: You + shall say to him that I have heard his words and that I find them very + good, and will walk along the path which he has made. Here before you I + swear by the oath that may not be broken—the sacred oath, calling + down ruin upon my head should I break one word of it—that if by his + aid I succeed in this great venture, I will pay him the price he asks. + After myself, the king, he shall be the greatest man among the people; he + shall be general of the armies; he shall be captain of the council and + head of the doctors, and to him shall be given half the cattle of + Nodwengo. Also, into his hand I will deliver all those who cling to this + faith of the Christians, and, if it pleases him, he shall offer them as a + sacrifice to his god. This I swear, and you, Noma, are witness to the + oath. Yet it may chance that after he, Hokosa, has gathered up all this + pomp and greatness, he himself shall be gathered up by Death, that + harvest-man whom soon or late will garner every ear;” and he looked at her + meaningly. + </p> + <p> + “It may be so, Prince,” she answered. + </p> + <p> + “It may be so,” he repeated, “and when——” + </p> + <p> + “When it is so, then, Prince, we will talk together, but not till then. + Nay, touch me not, for were he to command me, Hokosa has this power over + me that I must show him all that you have done, keeping nothing back. Let + me go now to the place that is made ready for me, and afterwards you shall + tell me again and more fully the words that I must say to Hokosa my + husband.” + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + On the morrow Hafela held a secret council of his great men, and the next + day an embassy departed to Nodwengo the king, taking to him that message + which Hokosa, through Noma his wife, had put into the lips of the prince. + Twenty days later the embassy returned saying that it pleased the king to + grant the prayer of his brother Hafela, and bringing with it the tidings + that the white man, Messenger, had fallen sick, and it was thought that he + would die. + </p> + <p> + So in due course the women and children of the people of Hafela started + upon their journey towards the new land where it was given out that they + should live, and with them went Noma, purposing to leave them as they drew + near the gates of the Great Place of the king. A while after, Hafela and + his <i>impis</i> followed with carriers bearing their fighting shields in + bundles, and having their stabbing spears rolled up in mats. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0016" id="link2HCH0016"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XVI + </h2> + <h3> + THE REPENTANCE OF HOKOSA + </h3> + <p> + Hokosa kept his promise. On the morrow of his first attendance there he + was again to be seen in the chapel, and after the service was over he + waited on Owen at his house and listened to his private teaching. Day by + day he appeared thus, till at length he became master of the whole + doctrine of Christianity, and discovered that that which at first had + struck him as childish and even monstrous, now presented itself to him in + a new and very different light. The conversion of Hokosa came upon him + through the gate of reason, not as is usual among savages—and some + who are not savage—by that of the emotions. Given the position of a + universe torn and groaning beneath the dual rule of Good and Evil, two + powers of well-nigh equal potency, he found no great difficulty in + accepting this tale of the self-sacrifice of the God of Good that He might + wring the race He loved out of the conquering grasp of the god of Ill. + There was a simple majesty about this scheme of redemption which appealed + to one side of his nature. Indeed, Hokosa felt that under certain + conditions and in a more limited fashion he would have been capable of + attempting as much himself. + </p> + <p> + Once his reason was satisfied, the rest followed in a natural sequence. + Within three weeks from the hour of his first attendance at the chapel + Hokosa was at heart a Christian. + </p> + <p> + He was a Christian, although as yet he did not confess it; but he was also + the most miserable man among the nation of the Sons of Fire. The + iniquities of his past life had become abominable to him; but he had + committed them in ignorance, and he understood that they were not beyond + forgiveness. Yet high above them all towered one colossal crime which, as + he believed, could never be pardoned to him in this world or the next. He + was the treacherous murderer of the Messenger of God; he was in the very + act of silencing the Voice that had proclaimed truth in the dark places of + his soul and the dull ears of his countrymen. + </p> + <p> + The deed was done; no power on earth could save his victim. Within a week + from the day of eating that fatal fruit Owen began to sicken, then the + dysentery had seized him which slowly but surely was wasting out his life. + Yet he, the murderer, was helpless, for with this form of the disease no + medicine could cope. With agony in his heart, an agony that was shared by + thousands of the people, Hokosa watched the decrease of the white man’s + strength, and reckoned the days that would elapse before the end. Having + such sin as this upon his soul, though Owen entreated him earnestly, he + would not permit himself to be baptised. Twice he went near to consenting, + but on each occasion an ominous and terrible incident drove him from the + door of mercy. + </p> + <p> + Once, when the words “I will” were almost on his lips, a woman broke in + upon their conference bearing a dying boy in her arms. + </p> + <p> + “Save him,” she implored, “save him, Messenger, for he is my only son!” + </p> + <p> + Owen looked at him and shook his head. + </p> + <p> + “How came he like this?” he asked. + </p> + <p> + “I know not, Messenger, but he has been sick ever since he ate of a + certain fruit which you gave to him;” and she recalled to his mind the + incident of the throwing of a fruit to the child, which she had witnessed. + </p> + <p> + “I remember,” said Owen. “It is strange, but I also have been sick from + the day that I ate of those fruits; yes, and you, Hokosa, warned me + against them.” + </p> + <p> + Then he blessed the boy and prayed over him till he died; but when + afterwards he looked round for Hokosa, it was to find that he had gone. + </p> + <p> + Some eight days later, having to a certain extent recovered from this + shock, Hokosa went one morning to Owen’s house and talked to him. + </p> + <p> + “Messenger,” he said, “is it necessary to baptism that I should confess + all my sins to you? If so, I can never be baptised, for there is + wickedness upon my hands which I am unable to tell into the ear of living + man.” + </p> + <p> + Owen thought and answered:— + </p> + <p> + “It is necessary that you should repent all of your sins, and that you + should confess them to heaven; it is not necessary that you should confess + them to me, who am but a man like yourself.” + </p> + <p> + “Then I will be baptised,” said Hokosa with a sigh of relief. + </p> + <p> + At this moment, as it chanced, their interview was again interrupted, for + runners came from the king requesting the immediate presence of the + Messenger, if he were well enough to attend, upon a matter connected with + the trial of a woman for murder. Thinking that he might be of service, + Owen, leaning on the shoulder of Hokosa, for already he was too weak to + walk far, crept to the litter which was waiting for him, and was borne to + the place of judgment that was before the house of the king. Hokosa + followed, more from curiosity than for any other reason, for he had heard + of no murder being committed, and his old desire to be acquainted with + everything that passed was still strong on him. The people made way for + him, and he seated himself in the first line of spectators immediately + opposite to the king and three other captains who were judges in the case. + So soon as Owen had joined the judges, the prisoner was brought before + them, and to his secret horror Hokosa recognised in her that woman to whom + he had given the poison in exchange for the basket of fruit. + </p> + <p> + Now it seemed to Hokosa that his doom was on him, for she would certainly + confess that she had the drug from him. He thought of flight only to + reject the thought, for to fly would be to acknowledge himself an + accessory. No, he would brazen it out, for after all his word was as good + as hers. With the prisoner came an accuser, her husband, who seemed sick, + and he it was who opened the case against her. + </p> + <p> + “This woman,” he said, “was my wife. I divorced her for barrenness, as I + have a right to do according to our ancient law, and I took another woman + to wife, her half-sister. This woman was jealous; she plagued me + continually, and insulted her sister, so that I was forced to drive her + away. After that she came to my house, and though they said nothing of it + at the time, she was seen by two servants of mine to sprinkle something in + the bowl wherein our food was cooking. Subsequently my wife, this woman’s + half-sister, was taken ill with dysentery. I also was taken ill with + dysentery, but I still live to tell this story before you, O King, and + your judges, though I know not for how long I live. My wife died + yesterday, and I buried her this morning. I accuse the woman of having + murdered her, either by witchcraft or by means of a medicine which she + sprinkled on the food, or by both. I have spoken.” + </p> + <p> + “Have you anything to say?” asked the king of the prisoner. “Are you + guilty of the crime whereof this man who was your husband charges you, or + does he lie?” + </p> + <p> + Then the woman answered in a low and broken voice:— + </p> + <p> + “I am guilty, King. Listen to my story:” and she told it all as she told + it to Hokosa. “I am guilty,” she added, “and may the Great Man in the sky, + of Whom the Messenger has taught us, forgive me. My sister’s blood is upon + my hands, and for aught I know the blood of my husband yonder will also be + on my hands. I seek no mercy; indeed, it is better that I should die; but + I would say this in self-defence, that I did not think to kill my sister. + I believed that I was giving to her a potion which would cause her husband + to hate her and no more.” + </p> + <p> + Here she looked round and her eyes met those of Hokosa. + </p> + <p> + “Who told you that this was so?” asked one of the judges. + </p> + <p> + “A witch-doctor,” she answered, “from whom I bought the medicine in the + old days, long ago, when Umsuka was king.” + </p> + <p> + Hokosa gasped. Why should this woman have spared him? + </p> + <p> + No further question was asked of her, and the judges consulted together. + At length the king spoke. + </p> + <p> + “Woman,” he said, “you are condemned to die. You will be taken to the Doom + Tree, and there be hanged. Out of those who are assembled to try you, two, + the Messenger and myself, have given their vote in favour of mercy, but + the majority think otherwise. They say that a law has been passed against + murder by means of witchcraft and secret medicine, and that should we let + you go free, the people will make a mock of that law. So be it. Go in + peace. To-morrow you must die, and may forgiveness await you elsewhere.” + </p> + <p> + “I ask nothing else,” said the woman. “It is best that I should die.” + </p> + <p> + Then they led her away. As she passed Hokosa she turned and looked him + full in the eyes, till he dropped his head abashed. Next morning she was + executed, and he learned that her last words were: “Let it come to the + ears of him who sold me the poison, telling me that it was but a harmless + drug, that as I hope to be forgiven, so I forgive him, believing that my + silence may win for him time for repentance, before he follows on the road + I tread.” + </p> + <p> + Now, when Hokosa heard these words he shut himself up in his house for + three days, giving out that he was sick. Nor would he go near to Owen, + being altogether without hope, and not believing that baptism or any other + rite could avail to purge such crimes as his. Truly his sin had found him + out, and the burden of it was intolerable. So intolerable did it become, + that at length he determined to be done with it. He could live no more. He + would die, and by his own hand, before he was called upon to witness the + death of the man whom he had murdered. To this end he made his + preparations. For Noma he left no message; for though his heart still + hungered after her, he knew well that she hated him and would rejoice at + his death. + </p> + <p> + When all was ready he sat down to think a while, and as he thought, a man + entered his hut saying that the Messenger desired to see him. At first he + was minded not to go, then it occurred to him that it would be well if he + could die with a clean heart. Why should he not tell all to the white man, + and before he could be delivered up to justice take that poison which he + had prepared? It was impossible that he should be forgiven, yet he desired + that his victim should learn how deep was his sorrow and repentance, + before he proved it by preceding him to death. So he rose and went. + </p> + <p> + He found Owen in his house, lying in a rude chair and propped up by + pillows of bark. Now he was wasted almost to a shadow, and in the pale + pinched face his dark eyes, always large and spiritual, shone with + unnatural lustre, while his delicate hands were so thin that when he held + them up in blessing the light showed through them. + </p> + <p> + “Welcome, friend,” he said. “Tell me, why have you deserted me of late? + Have you been ill?” + </p> + <p> + “No, Messenger,” answered Hokosa, “that is, not in my body. I have been + sick at heart, and therefore I have not come.” + </p> + <p> + “What, Hokosa, do your doubts still torment you? I thought that my prayers + had been heard, and that power had been given me to set them at rest for + ever. Man, let me hear the trouble, and swiftly, for cannot you who are a + doctor see that I shall not be here for long to talk with you? My days are + numbered, Hokosa, and my work is almost done.” + </p> + <p> + “I know it,” answered Hokosa. “And, Messenger, <i>my</i> days are also + numbered.” + </p> + <p> + “How is this?” asked Owen, “seeing that you are well and strong. Does an + enemy put you in danger of your life?” + </p> + <p> + “Yes, Messenger, and I myself am that enemy; for to-day I, who am no + longer fit to live, must die by my own hand. Nay, listen and you will say + that I do well, for before I go I would tell you all. Messenger, you are + doomed, are you not? Well, it was I who doomed you. That fruit which you + ate a while ago was poisoned, and by my hand, for I am a master of such + arts. From the beginning I hated you, as well I might, for had you not + worsted me and torn power from my grasp, and placed the people and the + king under the rule of another God? Therefore, when all else failed, I + determined to murder you, and I did the deed by means of that woman who + not long ago was hung for the killing of her sister, though in truth she + was innocent.” And he told him what had passed between himself and the + woman, and told him also of the plot which he had hatched to kill Nodwengo + and the Christians, and to set Hafela on the throne. + </p> + <p> + “She was innocent,” he went on, “but I am guilty. How guilty you and I + know alone. Do you remember that day when you ate the fruit, how after it + I accompanied you to the church yonder and listened to your preaching? + ‘Your sin shall find you out,’ you said, and of a surety mine has found me + out. For, Messenger, it came about that in listening to you then and + afterwards, I grew to love you and to believe the words you taught, and + therefore am I of all men the most miserable, and therefore must I, who + have been great and the councillor of kings, perish miserably by the death + of a dog. + </p> + <p> + “Now curse me, and let me go.” + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0017" id="link2HCH0017"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XVII + </h2> + <h3> + THE LOOSING OF NOMA + </h3> + <p> + When Owen heard that it was Hokosa who had poisoned him, he groaned and + hid his face in his hands, and thus he remained till the evil tale was + finished. Now he lifted his head and spoke, but not to Hokosa. + </p> + <p> + “O God,” he said, “I thank Thee that at the cost of my poor life Thou hast + been pleased to lead this sinner towards the Gate of Righteousness, and to + save alive those whom Thou hast sent me to gather to Thy Fold.” + </p> + <p> + Then he looked at Hokosa and said:— + </p> + <p> + “Unhappy man, is not your cup full enough of crime, and have you not + sufficiently tempted the mercy of Heaven, that you would add to all your + evil deeds that of self-murder?” + </p> + <p> + “It is better to die to-day by my own hand,” answered Hokosa, “than + to-morrow among the mockery of the people to fall a victim to your + vengeance, Messenger.” + </p> + <p> + “Vengeance! Did I speak to you of vengeance? Who am I that I should take + vengeance upon one who has repented? Hokosa, freely do I forgive you all, + even as in some few days I hope to be forgiven. Freely and fully from my + heart do I forgive you, nor shall my lips tell one word of the sin that + you have worked against me.” + </p> + <p> + Now, when Hokosa heard those words, for a moment he stared stupefied; then + he fell upon his knees before Owen, and bowing his head till it touched + the teacher’s feet, he burst into bitter weeping. + </p> + <p> + “Rise and hearken,” said Owen gently. “Weep not because I have shown + kindness to you, for that is my duty and no more, but for your sins in + your own heart weep now and ever. Yet for your comfort I tell you that if + you do this, of a surety they shall be forgiven to you. <i>Hokosa, you + have indeed lost that which you loved, and henceforth you must follow + after that which you did not desire. In the very grave of error you have + found truth, and from the depths of sin you shall pluck righteousness. Ay, + that Cross which you deemed accursed shall lift you up on high, for by it + you shall be saved.</i>” + </p> + <p> + Hokosa heard and shivered. + </p> + <p> + “Who set those words between your lips, Messenger?” he whispered. + </p> + <p> + “Who set them, Hokosa? Nay, I know not—or rather, I know well. He + set them Who teaches us to speak all things that are good.” + </p> + <p> + “It must be so, indeed,” replied Hokosa. “Yet I have heard them before; I + have heard them from the lips of the dead, and with them went this + command: that when they fell upon my ears again I should ‘take them for a + sign, and let my heart be turned.’” + </p> + <p> + “Tell me that tale,” said Owen. + </p> + <p> + So he told him, and this time it was the white man who trembled. + </p> + <p> + “Horrible has been your witchcraft, O Son of Darkness!” said Owen, when he + had finished; “yet it would seem that it was permitted to you to find + truth in the pit of sorcery. Obey, obey, and let your heart be turned. The + dead told you that you should be set high above the nation and its king, + and that saying I cannot read, though it may be fulfilled in some fashion + of which to-day you do not think. At the least, the other saying is true, + that in the end comes judgment, and that there shall the sin and the + atonement strive together; therefore for judgment prepare yourself. And + now depart, for I must talk with the king as to this matter of the + onslaught of Hafela.” + </p> + <p> + “Then, that will be the signal for my death, for what king can forgive one + who has plotted such treachery against him?” said Hokosa. + </p> + <p> + “Fear not,” answered Owen, “I will soften his heart. Go you into the + church and pray, for there you shall be less tempted; but before you go, + swear to me that you will work no evil on yourself.” + </p> + <p> + “I swear it, Messenger, since now I desire to live, if only for awhile, + seeing that death shuts every door.” + </p> + <p> + Then he went to the church and waited there. An hour later he was + summoned, and found the king seated with Owen. + </p> + <p> + “Man,” said Nodwengo, “I am told by the Messenger here that you have + knowledge of a plot which my brother the Prince Hafela has made to fall + treacherously upon me and put me and my people to the spear. How you come + to be acquainted with the plot, and what part you have played in it, I + will not now inquire, for so much have I promised to the Messenger. Yet I + warn you it will be well that you should tell me all you know, and that + should you lie to me or attempt to deceive me, then you shall surely die.” + </p> + <p> + “King, hear all the truth,” answered Hokosa in a voice of desperate calm. + “I have knowledge of the plot, for it was I who wove it; but whether or + not Hafela will carry it out altogether I cannot say, for as yet no word + has reached me from him. King, this was the plan that I made.” And he told + him everything. + </p> + <p> + “It is fortunate for you, Hokosa,” said Nodwengo grimly when he had + finished, “that I gave my word to the Messenger that no harm should come + to you, seeing that you have repented and confessed. This is certain, that + Hafela has listened to your evil counsels, for I gave my consent to his + flight from this land with all his people, and already his women and + children have crossed the mountain path in thousands. Well, this I swear, + that their feet shall tread it no more, for where they are thither he + shall go to join them, should he chance to live to do so. Hokosa, begone, + and know that day and night you will be watched. Should you so much as + dare to approach one of the gates of the Great Place, that moment you + shall die.” + </p> + <p> + “Have no fear, O King,” said Hokosa humbly, “for I have emptied all my + heart before you. The past is the past, and cannot be recalled. For the + future, while it pleases you to spare me, I am the most loyal of your + servants.” + </p> + <p> + “Can a man empty a spring with a pitcher?” asked the king contemptuously. + “By to-morrow this heart of yours may be full again with the blackest + treachery, O master of sin and lies. Many months ago I spared you at the + prayer of the Messenger; and now at his prayer I spare you again, yet in + doing so I think that I am foolish.” + </p> + <p> + “Nay, I will answer for him,” broke in Owen. “Let him stay here with me, + and set your guard without my gates.” + </p> + <p> + “How do I know that he will not murder you, friend?” asked the king. “This + man is a snake whom few can nurse with safety.” + </p> + <p> + “He will not murder me,” said Owen smiling, “because his heart is turned + from evil to good; also, there is little need to murder a dying man.” + </p> + <p> + “Nay, speak not so,” said the king hastily; “and as for this man, be it as + you will. Come, I must take counsel with my captains, for our danger is + near and great.” + </p> + <p> + So it came about that Hokosa stayed in the house of Owen. + </p> + <p> + On the morrow the Great Place was full of the bustle of preparation, and + by dawn of the following day an <i>impi</i> of some seventeen thousand + spears had started to ambush Hafela and his force in a certain wooded + defile through which he must pass on his way to the mountain pass where + his women and children were gathered. The army was not large, at least in + the eyes of the People of Fire who, before the death of Umsuka and the + break up of the nation, counted their warriors by tens of thousands. But + after those events the most of the regiments had deserted to Hafela, + leaving to Nodwengo not more than two-and-twenty thousand spears upon + which he could rely. Of these he kept less than a third to defend the + Great Place against possible attacks, and all the rest he sent to fall + upon Hafela far away, hoping there to make an end of him once and for all. + This counsel the king took against the better judgment of many of his + captains, and as the issue proved, it was mistaken. + </p> + <p> + When Owen told Hokosa of it, that old general shrugged his shoulders. + </p> + <p> + “The king would have done better to keep his regiments at home,” he said, + “and fight it out with Hafela here, where he is well prepared. Yonder the + country is very wide, and broken, and it may well chance that the <i>impi</i> + will miss that of Hafela, and then how can the king defend this place with + a handful, should the prince burst upon him at the head of forty thousand + men? But who am I that I should give counsel for which none seek?” + </p> + <p> + “As God wills, so shall it befall,” answered Owen wearily; “but oh! the + thought of all this bloodshed breaks my heart. I trust that its beatings + may be stilled before my eyes behold the evil hour.” + </p> + <p> + On the evening of that day Hokosa was baptised. The ceremony took place, + not in the church, for Owen was too weak to go there, but in the largest + room of his house and before some few witnesses chosen from the + congregation. Even as he was being signed with the sign of the cross, a + strange and familiar attraction caused the convert to look up, and behold, + before him, watching all with mocking eyes, stood Noma his wife. At length + the rite was finished, and the little audience melted away, all save Noma, + who stood silent and beautiful as a statue, the light of mockery still + gleaming in her eyes. Then she spoke, saying:— + </p> + <p> + “I greet you, Husband. I have returned from doing your business afar, and + if this foolishness is finished, and the white man can spare you, I would + talk with you alone.” + </p> + <p> + “I greet you, Wife,” answered Hokosa. “Say out your say, for none are + present save us three, and from the Messenger here I have no secrets.” + </p> + <p> + “What, Husband, none? Do you ever talk to him of certain fruit that you + ripened in a garden yonder?” + </p> + <p> + “From the Messenger I have no secrets,” repeated Hokosa in a heavy voice. + </p> + <p> + “Then his heart must be full of them indeed, and it is little wonder that + he seems sick,” replied Noma, gibing. “Tell me, Hokosa, is it true that + you have become a Christian, or would you but fool the white man and his + following?” + </p> + <p> + “It is true.” + </p> + <p> + At the words her graceful shape was shaken with a little gust of silent + laughter. + </p> + <p> + “The wizard has turned saint,” she said. “Well, then, what of the wizard’s + wife?” + </p> + <p> + “You were my wife before I became Christian; if the Messenger permits it, + you can still abide with me.” + </p> + <p> + “If the Messenger permits it! So you have come to this, Hokosa, that you + must ask the leave of another man as to whether or no you should keep your + own wife! There is no other thing that I could not have thought of you, + but this I would never have believed had I not heard it from your lips. + Say now, do you still love me, Hokosa?” + </p> + <p> + “You know well that I love you, now and always,” he answered, in a voice + that sounded like a groan; “as you know that for love of you I have done + many sins from which otherwise I should have turned aside.” + </p> + <p> + “Grieve not over them, Hokosa; after all, in such a count as yours they + will make but little show. Well, if you love me, I hate you, though + through your witchcraft your will yet has the mastery of mine. I demand of + you now that you should loose that bond, for I do not desire to become a + Christian; and surely, O most good and holy man, having one wife already, + it will not please you henceforth to live in sin with a heathen woman.” + </p> + <p> + Now Hokosa turned to Owen:— + </p> + <p> + “In the old days,” he said, “I could have answered her; but now I am + fallen; or raised up—at the least I am changed and cannot. O prophet + of Heaven, tell me what I shall do.” + </p> + <p> + “Sever the bond that you have upon her and let her go,” answered Owen. + “This love of yours is unnatural, unholy and born of witchcraft; have done + with it, or if you cannot, at the least deny it, for such a woman, a woman + who hates you, can work you no good. Moreover, since she is a second wife, + you being a Christian, are bound to free her should she so desire.” + </p> + <p> + “She can work me no good, Messenger, that I know; but I know also that + while she struggles in the net of my will she can work me no evil. If I + loose the net and the fish swims free, it may be otherwise.” + </p> + <p> + “Loose it,” answered Owen, “and leave the rest to Providence. Henceforth, + Hokosa, do right, and take no thought for the morrow, for the morrow is + with God, and what He decrees, that shall befall.” + </p> + <p> + “I hear you,” said Hokosa, “and I obey.” For a while he rocked himself to + and fro, staring at the ground, then he lifted his head and spoke:— + </p> + <p> + “Woman,” he said, “the knot is untied and the spell is broken. Begone, for + I release you and I divorce you. Flesh of my flesh have you been, and soul + of my soul, for in the web of sorceries are we knit together. Yet be + warned and presume not too far, for remember that which I have laid down I + can take up, and that should I choose to command, you must still obey. + Farewell, you are free.” + </p> + <p> + Noma heard, and with a sigh of ecstasy she sprang into the air as a slave + might do from whom the fetters have been struck off. + </p> + <p> + “Ay,” she cried, “I am free! I feel it in my blood, I who have lain in + bondage, and the voice of freedom speaks in my heart and the breath of + freedom blows in my nostrils. I am free from you, O dark and accursed man; + but herein lies my triumph and revenge—<i>you</i> are not free from + me. In obedience to that white fool whom you have murdered, you have + loosed me; but you I will not loose and could not if I would. Listen now, + Hokosa: you love me, do you not?—next to this new creed of yours, I + am most of all to you. Well, since you have divorced me, I will tell you, + I go straight to another man. Now, look your last on me; for you love me, + do you not?” and she slipped the mantle from her shoulders and except for + her girdle stood before him naked, and smiled. + </p> + <p> + “Well,” she went on, resuming her robe, “the last words of those we love + are always dear to us; therefore, Hokosa, you who were my husband, I leave + mine with you. You are a coward and a traitor, and your doom shall be that + of a coward and a traitor. For my sake you betrayed Umsuka, your king and + benefactor; for your own sake you betrayed Nodwengo, who spared you; and + now, for the sake of your miserable soul, you have betrayed Hafela to + Nodwengo. Nay, I know the tale, do not answer me, but the end of it—ah! + that is yet to learn. Lie there, snake, and lick the hand that you have + bitten, but I, the bird whom you have loosed, I fly afar—taking your + heart with me!” and suddenly she turned and was gone. + </p> + <p> + Presently Hokosa spoke in a thick voice:— + </p> + <p> + “Messenger,” he said, “this cross that you have given me to bear is heavy + indeed.” + </p> + <p> + “Yes, Hokosa,” answered Owen, “for to it your sins are nailed.” + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0018" id="link2HCH0018"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XVIII + </h2> + <h3> + THE PASSING OF OWEN + </h3> + <p> + Once she was outside of Owen’s house, Noma did not tarry. First she + returned to Hokosa’s kraal, where she had already learnt from his head + wife, Zinti, and others the news of his betrayal of the plot of Hafela, of + his conversion to the faith of the Christians, and of the march of the <i>impi</i> + to ambush the prince. Here she took a little spear, and rolling up in a + skin blanket as much dried meat as she could carry, she slipped unnoticed + from the kraal. Her object was to escape from the Great Place, but this + she did not try to do by any of the gates, knowing them to be guarded. + Some months ago, before she started on her embassy, she had noted a weak + spot in the fence, where dogs had torn a hole through which they passed + out to hunt at night. To this spot she made her way under cover of the + darkness—for though she still greatly feared to be alone at night, + her pressing need conquered her fears—and found that the hole was + yet there, for a tall weed growing in its mouth had caused it to be + overlooked by those whose duty it was to mend the fence. With her assegai + she widened it a little, then drew her lithe shape through it, and lying + hidden till the guard had passed, climbed the two stone walls beyond. Once + she was free of the town, she set her course by the stars and started + forward at a steady run. + </p> + <p> + “If my strength holds I shall yet be in time to warn him,” she muttered to + herself. “Ah! friend Hokosa, this new madness of yours has blunted your + wits that once were sharp enough. You have set me free, and now you shall + learn how I can use my freedom. Not for nothing have I been your pupil, + Hokosa the fox.” + </p> + <p> + Before the dawn broke Noma was thirty miles from the Great Place, and + before the next dawn she was a hundred. At sunset on that second day she + stood among mountains. To her right stretched a great defile, a rugged + place of rocks and bush, wherein she knew that the regiments of the king + were hid in ambush. Perchance she was too late, perchance the <i>impi</i> + of Hafela had already passed to its doom in yonder gorge. Swiftly she ran + forward on to the trail which led to the gorge, to find that it had been + trodden by many feet and recently. Moving to and fro she searched the + spoor with her eyes, then rose with a sigh of joy. It was old, and marked + the passage of the great company of women and children and their thousands + of cattle which, in execution of the plot, had travelled this path some + days before. Either the <i>impi</i> had not yet arrived, or it had gone by + some other road. Weary as she was, Noma followed the old spoor backwards. + A mile or more away it crossed the crest of a hog-backed mountain, from + whose summit she searched the plain beyond, and not in vain, for there far + beneath her twinkled the watch-fires of the army of Hafela. + </p> + <p> + Three hours later a woman, footsore and utterly exhausted, staggered into + the camp, and waving aside the spears that were lifted to stab her, + demanded to be led to the prince. Presently she was there. + </p> + <p> + “Who is this woman?” asked the great warrior; for, haggard as she was with + travel, exhaustion, and the terror of her haunted loneliness, he did not + know her in the uncertain firelight. + </p> + <p> + “Hafela,” she said, “I am Noma who was the wife of Hokosa, and for whole + nights and days I have journeyed as no woman ever journeyed before, to + tell you of the treachery of Hokosa and to save you from your doom.” + </p> + <p> + “What treachery and what doom?” asked the prince. + </p> + <p> + “Before I answer you that question, Hafela, you must pay me the price of + my news.” + </p> + <p> + “Let me hear the price, Noma.” + </p> + <p> + “It is this, Prince: First, the head of Hokosa, who has divorced me, when + you have caught him.” + </p> + <p> + “That I promise readily. What more?” + </p> + <p> + “Secondly, the place of your chief wife to-day; and a week hence, when I + shall have made you king, the name and state of Queen of the People of + Fire with all that hangs thereto.” + </p> + <p> + “You are ambitious, woman, and know well how to drive a bargain. Well, if + you can ask, I can give, for I have ever loved you, and your mind is great + as your body is beautiful. If through your help I should become King of + the People of Fire, you shall be their Queen, I swear it by the spirits of + my fathers and by my own head. And now—your tidings.” + </p> + <p> + “These are they, Hafela. Hokosa has turned Christian and betrayed the plot + to Nodwengo; and the great gorge yonder but three hours march away is + ambushed. To-morrow you and your people would have been cut off there had + I not run so fast and far to warn you, after which the <i>impis</i> of + Nodwengo were commanded to follow your women and cattle over the mountain + pass and capture them.” + </p> + <p> + “This is news indeed,” said the prince. “Say now, how many regiments are + hidden in the gorge?” + </p> + <p> + “Eight.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, I have fourteen; so, being warned, there is little to fear. I will + catch these rats in their own hole.” + </p> + <p> + “I have a better plan,” said Noma; “it is this: leave six regiments posted + upon the brow of yonder hill and let them stay there. Then when the + generals of Nodwengo see that they do not enter the gorge, they will + believe that the ambush is discovered, and, after waiting one day or + perhaps two, will move out to give battle, thinking that before them is + all your strength. But command your regiments to run and not to fight, + drawing the army of Nodwengo after them. Meanwhile, yes, this very night, + you yourself with all the men that are left to you must march upon the + Great Place, which, though it be strong, can be stormed, for it is + defended by less than five thousand soldiers. There, having taken it, you + shall slay Nodwengo, proclaiming yourself king, and afterwards, by the + help of the <i>impi</i> that you leave here which will march onward to + your succour, you can deal with yonder army.” + </p> + <p> + “A great scheme truly,” said Hafela in admiration; “but how do I know + whether all this tale is true, or whether you do but set a snare for me?” + </p> + <p> + “Bid scouts go out and creep into yonder gully,” answered Noma, “and you + will see whether or no I have spoken falsely. For the rest, I am in your + hands, and if I lie you can take my life in payment.” + </p> + <p> + “If I march upon the Great Place, it must be at midnight when none see me + go,” said Hafela, “and what will you do then, Noma, who are too weary to + travel again so soon?” + </p> + <p> + “I will be borne in a litter till my strength comes back to me,” she + answered. “And now give me to eat and let me rest while I may.” + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + Five hours later, Hafela with the most of his army, a force of something + over twenty thousand men, was journeying swiftly but by a circuitous route + towards the Great Place of the king. On the crest of the hill facing the + gorge, as Noma had suggested, he left six regiments with instructions to + fly before Nodwengo’s generals, and when they had led them far enough, to + follow him as swiftly as they were able. These orders, or rather the first + part of them, they carried out, for as it chanced after two days’ flight, + the king’s soldiers got behind them by a night march, and falling on them + at dawn, killed half of them and dispersed the rest. Then it was that + Nodwengo’s generals learned for the first time that they were following + one wing of Hafela’s army only, while the main body was striking at the + heart of the kingdom, and turned their faces homewards in fear and haste. + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + On the morning after the flight of Noma, Owen passed into the last stage + of his sickness, and it became evident, both to himself and to those who + watched him, that at the most he could not live for more than a few days. + For his part, he accepted his doom joyfully, spending the time which was + left to him in writing letters that were to be forwarded to England + whenever an opportunity should arise. Also he set down on paper a + statement of the principal events of his strange mission, and other + information for the guidance of his white successors, who by now should be + drawing near to the land of the Amasuka. In the intervals of these last + labours, from time to time he summoned the king and the wisest and + trustiest of them whom he had baptised to his bedside, teaching them what + they should do when he was gone, and exhorting them to cling to the Faith. + </p> + <p> + On the afternoon of the fourth day from that of the baptism of Hokosa he + fell into a quiet sleep, from which he did not wake till sundown. + </p> + <p> + “Am I still here?” he asked wondering, of John and Hokosa who watched at + his bedside. “From my dreams I thought that it was otherwise. John, send a + messenger to the king and ask of him to assemble the people, all who care + to come, in the open place before my house. I am about to die, and first I + would speak with them.” + </p> + <p> + John went weeping upon his errand, leaving Owen and Hokosa alone. + </p> + <p> + “Tell me now what shall I do?” said Hokosa in a voice of despair, “seeing + that it is I and no other who have brought this death upon you.” + </p> + <p> + “Fret not, my brother,” answered Owen, “for this and other things you did + in the days of your blindness, and it was permitted that you should do + them to an end. Kneel down now, that I may absolve you from your sins + before I pass away; for I tell you, Hokosa, I believe that ere many days + are over you must walk on the same path which I travel to-night.” + </p> + <p> + “Is it so?” Hokosa answered. “Well, I am glad, for I have no longer any + lust of life.” + </p> + <p> + Then he knelt down and received the absolution. + </p> + <p> + Now John returned and Nodwengo with him, who told him that the people were + gathering in hundreds according to his wish. + </p> + <p> + “Then clothe me in my robes and let us go forth,” he said, “for I would + speak my last words in the ears of men.” + </p> + <p> + So they put the surplice and hood upon his wasted form and went out, John + preceding him holding on high the ivory crucifix, while the king and + Hokosa supported him, one on either side. + </p> + <p> + Without his gate stood a low wooden platform, whence at times Owen had + been accustomed to address any congregation larger than the church would + contain. On this platform he took his seat. The moon was bright above him, + and by it he could see that already his audience numbered some thousands + of men, women and children. The news had spread that the wonderful white + man, Messenger, wished to take his farewell of the nation, though even now + many did not understand that he was dying, but imagined that he was about + to leave the country, or, for aught they knew, to vanish from their sight + into Heaven. For a moment Owen looked at the sea of dusky faces, then in + the midst of an intense stillness, he spoke in a voice low indeed but + clear and steady:— + </p> + <p> + “My children,” he said, “hear my last words to you. More than three years + ago, in a far, far land and upon such a night as this, a Voice spoke to me + from above commanding me to seek you out, to turn you from your idolatry + and to lighten your darkness. I listened to the Voice, and hither I + journeyed across sea and land, though how this thing might be done I could + not guess. But to Him Who sent me all things are possible, and while yet I + lingered upon the threshold of your country, in a dream were revealed to + me events that were to come. So I appeared before you boldly, and knowing + that he had been poisoned and that I could cure him, I drew back your king + from the mouth of death, and you said to yourselves: ‘Behold a wizard + indeed! Let us hear him.’ Then I gave battle to your sorcerers yonder upon + the plain, and from the foot of the Cross I teach, the lightnings were + rolled back upon them and they were not. Look now, their chief stands at + my side, among my disciples one of the foremost and most faithful. + Afterwards troubles arose: your king died a Christian, and many of the + people fell away; but still a remnant remained, and he who became king was + converted to the truth. Now I have sown the seed, and the corn is ripe + before my eyes, but it is not permitted that I should reap the harvest. My + work is ended, my task is done, and I, the Messenger, return to make + report to Him Who sent the message. + </p> + <p> + “Hear me yet a little while, for soon shall my voice be silent. ‘I come + not to bring peace, but a sword,’—so said the Master Whom I preach, + and so say I, the most unworthy of His servants. Salvation cannot be + bought at a little price; it must be paid for by the blood and griefs of + men, and in blood and griefs must you pay, O my children. Through much + tribulation must you also enter the kingdom of God. Even now the heathen + is at your gates, and many of you shall perish on his spears, but I tell + you that he shall not conquer. Be faithful, cling to the Cross, and do not + dare to doubt your Lord, for He will be your Captain and you shall be His + people. Cleave to your king, for he is good; and in the day of trial + listen to the counsel of this Hokosa who once was the first of evil-doers, + for with him goes my spirit, and he is my son in the spirit. + </p> + <p> + “My children, fare you well! Forget me not, for I have loved you; or if + you will, forget me, but remember my teaching and hearken to those who + shall tread upon the path I made. The peace of God be with you, the + blessing of God be upon you, and the salvation of God await you, as it + awaits me to-night! Friends, lead me hence to die.” + </p> + <p> + They turned to him, but before their hands touched him Thomas Owen fell + forward upon the breast of Hokosa and lay there a while. Then suddenly, + for the last time, he lifted himself and cried aloud:— + </p> + <p> + “I have fought a good fight! I have finished my course! I have kept the + faith! Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness . . . + and not to me only, but to all those who love His appearing.” + </p> + <p> + Then his head fell back, his dark eyes closed, and the Messenger was dead. + </p> + <p> + Hokosa, the man who had murdered him, having lifted him up to show him to + the people, amidst a sound of mighty weeping, took the body in his arms + and bore it thence to make it ready for burial. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0019" id="link2HCH0019"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XIX + </h2> + <h3> + THE FALL OF THE GREAT PLACE + </h3> + <p> + On the morrow at sundown all that remained of Thomas Owen was laid to rest + before the altar of the little church, Nodwengo the king and Hokosa + lowering him into the grave, while John, his first disciple, read over him + the burial service of the Christians, which it had been one of the dead + man’s last labours to translate into the language of the Amasuka. + </p> + <p> + Before the ceremony was finished, a soldier, carrying a spear in his hand, + pushed his way through the dense and weeping crowd, and having saluted, + whispered something into the ear of the king. Nodwengo started, and, with + a last look of farewell at the face of his friend, left the chapel, + accompanied by some of his generals who were present, muttering to Hokosa + that he was to follow when all was done. Accordingly, some few minutes + later, he went and was admitted into the Council Hut, where captains and + messengers were to be seen arriving and departing continuously. + </p> + <p> + “Hokosa,” said the king, “you have dealt treacherously with me in the + past, but I believe now that your heart is true; at the least I follow the + commands of our dead master and trust you. Listen: the outposts have + sighted an <i>impi</i> of many regiments advancing towards the Great + Place, though whether or no it be my own <i>impi</i> returning victorious + from the war with my brother, I cannot say. There is this against it, + however, that a messenger has but just arrived reporting that the generals + have perceived the host of Hafela encamped upon a ridge over against the + gorge where they awaited him. If that be so, they can scarcely have given + him battle, for the messenger is swift of foot and has travelled night and + day. Yet how can this be the <i>impi</i> of Hafela, who, say the generals, + is encamped upon the ridge?” + </p> + <p> + “He may have left the ridge, King, having been warned of the ambush.” + </p> + <p> + “It cannot be, for when the runner started his fires burned there and his + soldiers were gathered round them.” + </p> + <p> + “Then perhaps his captains sit upon the ridge with some portion of his + strength to deceive those who await him in the gorge; while, knowing that + here men are few, he himself swoops down on you with the main body of his + <i>impi</i>.” + </p> + <p> + “At least we shall learn presently,” answered the king; “but if it be as I + fear and we are outwitted, what is there that we can do against so many?” + </p> + <p> + Now one of the captains proposed that they should stay where they were and + hold the place. + </p> + <p> + “It is too large,” answered the king, “they will burst the fences and + break our line.” + </p> + <p> + Another suggested that they should fly and, avoiding the regiments of + Hafela in the darkness of the night, should travel swiftly in search of + the main army that had been sent to lie in ambush. + </p> + <p> + “What,” said Nodwengo, “leaving the aged and the women and children to + perish, for how can we take such a multitude? No, I will have none of this + plan.” + </p> + <p> + Then Hokosa spoke. “King,” he said, “listen to my counsel: Command now + that all the women and the old men, taking with them such cattle and food + as are in the town, depart at once into the Valley of Death and collect in + the open space that lies beyond the Tree of Doom, near the spring of water + that is there. The valley is narrow and the cliffs are steep, and it may + chance that by the help of Heaven we shall be able to hold it till the + army returns to relieve us, to seek which messengers must be sent at once + with these tidings.” + </p> + <p> + “The plan is good,” said the king, though none had thought of it; “but so + we shall lose the town.” + </p> + <p> + “Towns can be rebuilt,” answered Hokosa, “but who may restore the lives of + men?” + </p> + <p> + As the words left his lips, a runner burst into the council, crying: + “King, the <i>impi</i> is that of Hafela, and the prince heads it in + person. Already his outposts rest upon the Plain of Fire.” + </p> + <p> + Then Nodwengo rose and issued his orders, commanding that all the + ineffective population of the town, together with such food and cattle as + could be gathered, should retreat at once into the Valley of Death. By + this time the four or five thousand soldiers who were left in the Great + Place had been paraded on the open ground in front of the king’s house, + where they stood, still and silent, in the moonlight. Nodwengo and the + captains went out to them, and as they saw him come they lifted their + spears like one man, giving him the royal salute of “King!” He held up his + hand and addressed them. + </p> + <p> + “Soldiers,” he said, “we have been outwitted. My <i>impi</i> is afar, and + that of Hafela is at our gates. Yonder in the valley, though we be few, we + can defend ourselves till succour reaches us, which already messengers + have gone out to seek. But first we must give time for the women and + children, the sick and the aged, to withdraw with food and cattle; and + this we can do in one way only, by keeping Hafela at bay till they have + passed the archway, all of them. Now, soldiers, for the sake of your own + lives, of your honour and of those you love, swear to me, in the holy Name + which we have been taught to worship, that you will fight out this great + fight without fear or faltering.” + </p> + <p> + “We swear it in the holy Name, and by your head, King,” roared the + regiments. + </p> + <p> + “Then victory is already ours,” answered Nodwengo. “Follow me, Children of + Fire!” and shaking his great spear, he led the way towards that portion of + the outer fence upon which Hafela was advancing. + </p> + <p> + By now the town behind them was a scene of almost indescribable tumult and + confusion, for the companies detailed to the task were clearing the + numberless huts of their occupants, and collecting women, children and + oxen in thousands, preparatory to driving them into the defile. Panic had + seized many of these poor creatures, who, in imagination, already saw + themselves impaled upon the cruel spears of Hafela’s troops, and indeed in + not a few instances believed those who were urging them forward to be the + enemy. Women shrieked and wrung their hands, children wailed piteously, + oxen lowed, and the infirm and aged vented their grief in groans and cries + to Heaven, or their ancient god, for mercy. In truth, so difficult was the + task of marshalling this motley array at night, numbering as it did ten or + twelve thousand souls, that a full hour went by before the mob even began + to move, slowly and uncertainly, towards the place of refuge, whereof the + opening was so narrow that but few of them could pass it at a time. + </p> + <p> + Meanwhile Hafela was developing the attack. Forming his great army into + the shape of a wedge he raised his battle-cry and rushed down on the first + line of fortifications, which he stormed without difficulty, for they were + defended by a few skirmishers only. Next he attacked the second line, and + carried it after heavy fighting, then hurled himself upon the weakest + point of the main fence of the vast kraal. Here it was that the fray began + in earnest, for here Nodwengo was waiting for him. Thrice the thousands + rolled on in the face of a storm of spears, and thrice they fell back from + the wide fence of thorns and the wall of stone behind it. By now the + battle had raged for about an hour and a half, and it was reported to the + king that the first of the women and children had passed the archway into + the valley, and that nearly all of them were clear of the eastern gate of + the town. + </p> + <p> + “Then it is time that we follow them,” said the king, “for if we wait here + until the warriors of Hafela are among us, our retreat will become a rout + and soon there will be none left to follow. Let one company,” and he named + it, “hold the fence for a while to give us time to withdraw, taking the + wounded with us.” + </p> + <p> + “We hear you, king,” said one of that company, “but our captain is + killed.” + </p> + <p> + “Who among you will take over the command of these men and hold the + breach?” asked Nodwengo of the group of officers about him. + </p> + <p> + “I, King,” answered old Hokosa, lifting his spear, “for I care not whether + I live or die.” + </p> + <p> + “Go to, boaster!” cried another. “Who among us cares whether he lives or + dies when the king commands?” + </p> + <p> + “That we shall know to-morrow,” said Hokosa quietly, and the soldiers + laughed at the retort. + </p> + <p> + “So be it,” said the king, and while silently and swiftly he led off the + regiments, keeping in the shadow of the huts, Hokosa and his hundred men + posted themselves behind the weakened fence and wall. Now, for the fourth + time the attacking regiment came forward grimly, on this occasion led by + the prince himself. As they drew near, Hokosa leapt upon the wall, and + standing there in the bright moonlight where all could see him, he called + to them to halt. Instinctively they obeyed him. + </p> + <p> + “Is it Hafela whom I see yonder?” he asked. + </p> + <p> + “Ah! it is I,” answered the prince. “What would you with me, wizard and + traitor?” + </p> + <p> + “This only, Hafela: I would ask you what you seek here?” + </p> + <p> + “That which you promised me, Hokosa, the crown of my father and certain + other things.” + </p> + <p> + “Then get you back, Hafela, for you shall never win them.. Have I + prophesied falsely to you at any time? Not so—neither do I prophesy + falsely now. Get you back whence you came, and your wolves with you, else + shall you bide here for ever.” + </p> + <p> + “Do you dare to call down evil on me, Wizard?” shouted the prince + furiously. “Your wife is mine, and now I take your life also,” and with + all his strength he hurled at him the great spear he held. + </p> + <p> + It hissed past Hokosa’s head, touching his ear, but he never flinched from + the steel. + </p> + <p> + “A poor cast, Prince,” he said laughing; “but so it must have been, for I + am guarded by that which you cannot see. My wife you have, and she shall + be your ruin; my life you may take, but ere it leaves me, Hafela, I shall + see you dead and your army scattered. The Messenger is passed away, but + his power has fallen upon me and I speak the truth to you, O Prince and + warriors, who are—already dead.” + </p> + <p> + Now a shriek of dismay and fury rose from the hundreds who heard this + prophesy of ill, for of Hokosa and his magic they were terribly afraid. + </p> + <p> + “Kill him! Kill the wizard!” they shouted, and a rain of spears rushed + towards him on the wall. + </p> + <p> + They rushed towards him, they passed above, below, around; but, of them + all, not one touched him. + </p> + <p> + “Did I not tell you that I was guarded by That which you cannot see?” + Hokosa asked contemptuously. Then slowly he descended from the wall amidst + a great silence. + </p> + <p> + “When men are scarce the tongue must play a part,” he explained to his + companions, who stared at him wondering. “By now the king and those with + him should have reached the eastern gate; whereas, had we fought at once, + Hafela would be hard upon his heels, for we are few, and who can hold a + buffalo with a rope of grass? Yet I think that I spoke truth when I told + him that the garment of the Messenger has fallen upon my shoulders, and + that death awaits him and his companions, as it awaits me also and many of + us. Now, friends, be ready, for the bull charges and soon we must feel his + horns. This at least is left to you, to die gloriously.” + </p> + <p> + While he was still speaking the first files of the regiment rushed upon + the fence, tearing aside the thorns with their hands till a passage was + made through them. Then they sprang upon the wall, there to be met by the + spears of Hokosa and his men thrusting upward from beneath its shelter. + Time after time they sprang, and time after time they fell back dead or + wounded, till at last, dashing forward in one dense column, they poured + over the stones as the rising tide pours over the rocks on the sea-shore, + driving the defenders before them by the sheer weight of numbers. + </p> + <p> + “This game is played!” cried Hokosa. “Fly now to the eastern gate, for + here we can do nothing more.” + </p> + <p> + So they fled, those who survived of them, and after them came the + thousands of the foe, sacking and firing the deserted town as they + advanced. + </p> + <p> + Hokosa and his men, or rather the half of them, reached the gate and + passed it in safety, barring it after them, and thereby delaying the + attackers till they could burst their way through. Now hundreds of huts + were afire, and the flames spread swiftly, lighting up the country far and + wide. In the glare of them, Hokosa could see that already a full + two-thirds of the crowd of fugitives had passed the narrow arch; while + Nodwengo and the soldiers were drawn up in companies upon the steep and + rocky slope that led to it, protecting their retreat. + </p> + <p> + He advanced to the king and reported himself. + </p> + <p> + “So you have lived through it,” said Nodwengo. + </p> + <p> + “I shall die when my hour comes, and not before,” Hokosa answered. “We did + well yonder, and yet the most of us are alive to tell the tale, for I knew + when and how to go. Be ready, king, for the foe press us close, and that + mob behind us crawls onward like a snail.” + </p> + <p> + As he spoke the pursuers broke through the fence and gate of the burning + town, and once more the fight began. They had the advantage of numbers; + but Nodwengo and his troops stood in a wide road upon higher ground + protected on either side by walls, and were, moreover, rested, not + breathless and weary with travel like the men of Hafela. Slowly, fighting, + every inch of the way, Nodwengo was pushed back, and slowly the long + ant-like line of women and sick and cattle crept through the opening in + the rock, till at length all of them were gone. + </p> + <p> + “It is time,” said Nodwengo, glancing behind him, “for our arms grow + weary.” + </p> + <p> + Then he gave orders, and company by company the defending force followed + on the path of the fugitives, till at length amidst a roar of rage and + disappointment, the last of them vanished through the arch, Hokosa among + them, and the place was blocked with stones, above which shone a hedge of + spears. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0020" id="link2HCH0020"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XX + </h2> + <h3> + NOMA SETS A SNARE + </h3> + <p> + Thus ended the first night’s battle, since for this time the enemy had + fought enough. Nodwengo and his men had also had enough, for out of the + five thousand of them some eleven hundred were killed or wounded. Yet they + might not rest, for all that night, assisted by the women, they laboured, + building stone walls across the narrowest parts of the valley. Also the + cattle, women and children were moved along the gorge, which in shape may + be compared to a bottle with two necks, one at either end, and encamped in + the opening of the second neck, where was the spring of water. This spot + was chosen both because here alone water could be obtained, without which + they could not hold out more than a single day, and because the koppie + whereon grew the strange-looking euphorbia known as the Tree of Doom + afforded a natural rampart against attack. + </p> + <p> + Shortly after dawn, while the soldiers were resting and eating of such + food as could be procured—for the most part strips of raw or + half-cooked meat cut from hastily killed cattle—the onslaught was + renewed with vigour, Hafela directing his efforts to the forcing of the + natural archway. But, strive as he would, this he could not do, for it was + choked with stones and thorns and guarded by brave men. + </p> + <p> + “You do but waste your labour, Hafela,” said Noma, who stood by him + watching the assault. + </p> + <p> + “What then is to be done?” he asked, “for unless we come at them we cannot + kill them. It was clever of them to take refuge in this hole. I thought + surely that they would fight it out yonder, beneath the fences of the + Great Place.” + </p> + <p> + “Ah!” she answered, “you forgot that they had Hokosa on their side. Did + you then think to catch him sleeping? This retreat was Hokosa’s counsel. I + learned it from the lips of that wounded captain before they killed him. + Now, it seems that there are but two paths to follow, and you can choose + between them. The one is to send a regiment a day and a half’s journey + across the cliff top to guard the further mouth of the valley and to wait + till these jackals starve in their hole, for certainly they can never come + out.” + </p> + <p> + “It has started six hours since,” said Hafela, “and though the precipices + are steep, having the moon to travel by, it should reach the river mouth + of the valley before dawn to-morrow, cutting Nodwengo off from the plains, + if indeed he should dare to venture out upon them, which, with so small a + force, he will not do. Yet this first plan of yours must fail, Noma, + seeing that before they starve within, the generals of Nodwengo will be + back upon us from the mountains, catching us between the hammer and the + anvil, and I know not how that fight would go.” + </p> + <p> + “Yet, soon or late, it must be fought.” + </p> + <p> + “Nay,” he answered, “for my hope is that should the <i>impi</i> return to + find Nodwengo dead, they will surrender and acknowledge me as king, who am + the first of the blood royal. But what is your second plan?” + </p> + <p> + By way of answer, she pointed to the cliff above them. On the right-hand + side, facing the archway, was a flat ledge overhanging the valley, at a + height of about a hundred feet. + </p> + <p> + “If you can come yonder,” she said, “it will be easy to storm this gate, + for there lie rocks in plenty, and men cannot fight when stones are + dropping on their heads.” + </p> + <p> + “But how can we come to that home of vultures, where never man has set a + foot? Look, the cliff above is sheer; no rock-rabbit could stand upon it.” + </p> + <p> + With her eye Noma measured the distance from the brink of the precipice to + the broad ledge commanding the valley. + </p> + <p> + “Sixty paces, not more,” she said. “Well, yonder are oxen in plenty, and + out of their hides ropes can be made, and out of ropes a ladder, down + which men may pass; ten, or even five, would be enough.” + </p> + <p> + “Well thought of Noma,” said Hafela. “Hokosa told us last night that to + him had passed the wisdom of the Messenger; but if this be so, I think + that to you has passed the guile of Hokosa.” + </p> + <p> + “It seems to me that some of it abides with him,” answered Noma laughing. + </p> + <p> + Then the prince gave orders, and, with many workers of hides toiling at + it, within two hours the ladder was ready, its staves, set twenty inches + apart, being formed of knob-kerries, or the broken shafts of stabbing + spears. Now they lowered it from the top of the precipice so that its end + rested upon the ledge, and down it came several men, who swung upon its + giddy length like spiders on a web. Reaching this great shelf in safety + and advancing to the edge of it, these men started a boulder, which, + although as it chanced it hurt no one, fell in the midst of a group of the + defenders and bounded away through them. + </p> + <p> + “Now we must be going,” said Hokosa, looking up, “for no man can fight + against rocks, and our spears cannot reach those birds. Had the army been + taught the use of the bow, as I counselled in the past days, we might + still have held the archway; but they called it a woman’s weapon, and + would have none of it.” + </p> + <p> + As he spoke another stone fell, crushing the life out of a man who stood + next to him. Then they retreated to the first wall, which had been piled + up during the night, where it was not possible to roll rocks upon them + from the cliffs above. This wall, and others reared at intervals behind + it, they set to work to strengthen as much as they could, making the most + of the time that was left to them before the enemy could clear the way and + march on to attack. + </p> + <p> + Presently Hafela’s men were through and sweeping down upon them with a + roar, thinking to carry the wall at a single rush. But in this they + failed; indeed, it was only after an hour’s hard fighting and by the + expedient of continually attacking the work with fresh companies that at + length they stormed the wall. + </p> + <p> + When Hokosa saw that he could no longer hold the place, but before the foe + was upon him, he drew off his soldiers to the second wall, a quarter of a + mile or more away, and here the fight began again. And so it went on for + hour after hour, as one by one the fortifications were carried by the + weight of numbers, for the attackers fought desperately under the eye of + their prince, caring nothing for the terrible loss they suffered in men. + Twice the force of the defenders was changed by order of Nodwengo, fresh + men being sent from the companies held in reserve to take the places of + those who had borne the brunt of the battle. This indeed it was necessary + to do, seeing that it was impossible to carry water to so many, and in + that burning valley men could not fight for long athirst. Only Hokosa + stayed on, for they brought him drink in a gourd, and wherever the fray + was fiercest there he was always; nor although spears were rained upon him + by hundreds, was he touched by one of them. + </p> + <p> + At length as the night fell the king’s men were driven back from their + last scherm in the western half of the valley, across the open space back + upon the koppie where stood the Tree of Doom. Here they stayed a while + till, overmatched and outworn, they were pushed from its rocks across the + narrow stretch of broken ground into the shelter of the great stone scherm + or wall that ran from side to side of the further neck of the valley, + whereon thousands of women and such men as could be spared had been + working incessantly during the past night and day. + </p> + <p> + It was as he retreated among the last upon this wall that Hokosa caught + sight of Noma for the first time since they parted in the house of the + Messenger. In the forefront of his troops, directing the attack, was + Hafela the prince, and at his side stood Noma, carrying in her hand a + little shield and a spear. At this moment also she saw him and called + aloud to him:— + </p> + <p> + “You have fought well, Wizard, but to-morrow all your magic shall avail + you nothing, for it will be your last day upon this earth.” + </p> + <p> + “Ay, Noma,” he answered, “and yours also.” + </p> + <p> + Then of a sudden a company of the king’s men rushed from the shelter of + the wall upon the attackers driving them back to the koppie and killing + several, so that in the confusion and gathering darkness Hokosa lost sight + of her, though a man at his side declared that he saw her fall beneath the + thrust of an assegai. Thus ended the second day. + </p> + <p> + Now when the watch had been set the king and his captains took counsel + together, for their hearts were heavy. + </p> + <p> + “Listen,” said Nodwengo: “out of five thousand soldiers a thousand have + been killed and a thousand lie among us wounded. Hark to the groaning of + them! Also we have with us women and children and sick to the number of + twelve thousand, and between us and those who would butcher them every one + there stands but a single wall. Nor is this the worst of it: the spring + cannot supply the wants of so great a multitude in this hot place, and it + is feared that presently the water will be done. What way shall we turn? + If we surrender to Hafela, perhaps he will spare the lives of the women + and children; but whatever he may promise, the most of us he will surely + slay. If we fight and are defeated, then once his regiments are among us, + all will be slain according to the ancient custom of our people. I have + bethought me that we might retreat through the valley, but the river + beyond is in flood; also it is certain that before this multitude could + reach it, the prince will have sent a force to cut us off while he himself + harasses our rear. Now let him who has counsel speak.” + </p> + <p> + “King, I have counsel,” said Hokosa. “What were the words that the + Messenger spoke to us before he died? Did he not say: ‘Even now the + heathen is at your gates, and many of you shall perish on his spears; but + I tell you that he shall not conquer’? Did he not say: ‘Be faithful, cling + to the Cross, and do not dare to doubt your Lord, for He will protect you, + and your children after you, and He will be your Captain and you shall be + His people’? Did he not bid you also to listen to my counsel? Then listen + to it, for it is his: Your case seems desperate, but have no fear, and + take no thought for the morrow, for all shall yet be well. Let us now pray + to Him that the Messenger has revealed to us, and Whom now he implores on + our behalf in that place where he is to guide us and to save us, for then + surely He will hearken to our prayer.” + </p> + <p> + “So be it,” said Nodwengo, and going out he stood upon a pillar of stone + in the moonlight and offered up his supplication in the hearing of the + multitude. + </p> + <p> + Meanwhile, those of the camp of Hafela were also taking counsel. They had + fought bravely indeed, and carried the schanses; but at great cost, since + for every man that Nodwengo had lost, three of theirs had fallen. + Moreover, they were in evil case with weariness and the want of water, as + each drop they drank must be carried to them from the Great Place in bags + made of raw hide, which caused it to stink, for they had but few gourds + with them. + </p> + <p> + “Now it is strange,” said Hafela, “that these men should fight so bravely, + seeing that they are but a handful. There can be scarce three thousand of + them left, and yet I doubt not that before we carry those last walls of + theirs as many of us or more will be done. Ay! and after they are done + with, we must meet their great <i>impi</i> when it returns, and of what + will befall us then I scarcely like to think.” + </p> + <p> + “Ill-fortune will befall you while Hokosa lives,” broke in Noma. “Had it + not been for him, this trouble would have been done with by now; but he is + a wizard, and by his wizardries he defeats us and puts heart into Nodwengo + and the warriors. You, yourself, have seen him this day defying us, not + once but many times, for upon his flesh steel has no power. Ay! and this + is but the beginning of evil, for I am sure that he leads you into some + deep trap where you shall perish everlastingly. Did he not himself declare + that the power of that dead white worker of miracles has fallen upon him, + and who can fight against magic?” + </p> + <p> + “Who, indeed?” said Hafela humbly; for like all savages he was very + superstitious, and, moreover, a sincere believer in Hokosa’s supernatural + capacities. “This wizard is too strong for us; he is invulnerable, and as + I know well he can read the secret thoughts of men and can suck wisdom + from the dead, while to his eyes the darkness is no blind.” + </p> + <p> + “Nay, Hafela,” answered Noma, “there is one crack in his shield. Hear me: + if we can but catch him and hold him fast we shall have no need to fear + him more, and I think that I know how to bait the trap.” + </p> + <p> + “How will you bait it?” asked Hafela. + </p> + <p> + “Thus. Midway between the koppie and the wall behind which lie the men of + the king stands a flat rock, and all about that rock are stretched the + bodies of dead soldiers. Now, this is my plan: that when next one of those + dark storm-clouds passes over the face of the moon six of the strongest of + our warriors should creep upon their bellies down this way and that, as + though they were also numbered with the slain. This done, you shall + despatch a herald to call in the ears of the king that you desire to treat + with him of peace. Then he will answer that if this be so you can come + beneath the walls of his camp, and your herald shall refuse, saying that + you fear treachery. But he must add that if Nodwengo will bid Hokosa to + advance alone to the flat rock, you will bid me, Noma, whom none can fear, + to do likewise, and that there we can talk in sight of both armies, and + returning thence, make report to you and to Nodwengo. Afterwards, so soon + as Hokosa has set his foot upon the rock, those men who seem to be dead + shall spring upon him and drag him to our camp, where we can deal with + him; for once the wizard is taken, the cause of Nodwengo is lost.” + </p> + <p> + “A good pitfall,” said the prince; “but will Hokosa walk into the trap?” + </p> + <p> + “I think so, Hafela, for three reasons. He is altogether without fear; he + will desire, if may be, to make peace on behalf of the king; and he has + this strange weakness, that he still loves me, and will scarcely suffer an + occasion of speaking with me to go past, although he has divorced me.” + </p> + <p> + “So be it,” said the prince; “the game can be tried, and if it fails, why + we lose nothing, whereas if it succeeds we gain Hokosa, which is much; for + with you I think that our arms will never prosper while that accursed + wizard sits yonder weaving his spells against us, and bringing our men to + death by hundreds and by thousands.” + </p> + <p> + Then he gave his orders, and presently, when a cloud passed over the face + of the moon, six chosen men crept forward under the lee of the flat rock + and threw themselves down here and there amongst the dead. + </p> + <p> + Soon the cloud passed, and the herald advanced across the open space + blowing a horn, and waving a branch in his hand to show that he came upon + a mission of peace. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0021" id="link2HCH0021"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XXI + </h2> + <h3> + HOKOSA IS LIFTED UP + </h3> + <p> + “What would you?” asked Hokosa of the herald as he halted a short + spear-cast from the wall. + </p> + <p> + “My master, the Prince Hafela, desires to treat with your master, + Nodwengo. Many men have fallen on either side, and if this war goes on, + though victory must be his at last, many more will fall. Therefore, if any + plan can be found, he desires to spare their lives.” + </p> + <p> + Now Hokosa spoke with the king, and answered:— + </p> + <p> + “Then let Hafela come beneath the wall and we will talk with him.” + </p> + <p> + “Not so,” answered the herald. “Does a buck walk into an open pit? Were + the prince to come here it might chance that your spears would talk with + him. Let Nodwengo follow me to the camp yonder, where we promise him safe + conduct.” + </p> + <p> + “Not so,” answered Hokosa. “‘Does a buck walk into an open pit?’ Set out + your message, and we will consider it.” + </p> + <p> + “Nay, I am but a common man without authority; but I am charged to make + you another offer, and if you will not hear it then there is an end. Let + Hokosa advance alone to that flat rock you see yonder, and there he shall + be met, also alone, by one having power to talk with him, namely, by the + Lady Noma, who was once his wife. Thus they can confer together midway + between the camps and in full sight of both of them, nor, no man being + near, can he find cause to be afraid of an unarmed girl. What say you?” + </p> + <p> + Hokosa turned and talked with the king. + </p> + <p> + “I think it well that you should not go,” said Nodwengo. “The offer seems + fair, and the stone is out of reach of their spears; still, behind it may + lurk a scheme to kill or capture you, for Hafela is very cunning.” + </p> + <p> + “It may be so, King,” answered Hokosa; “still, my heart tells me it is + wisest that I should do this thing, for our case is desperate, and if I do + it not, that may be the cause of the death of all of us to-morrow. At the + worst, I am but one man, and it matters little what may chance to me; nor + shall I come to any harm unless it is the will of Heaven that it should be + so; and be sure of this, that out of the harm will arise good, for where I + go there the spirit of the Messenger goes with me. Remember that he bade + you listen to my counsel while I remain with you, seeing that I do not + speak of my own wisdom. Therefore let me go, and if it should chance that + I am taken, trouble not about the matter, for thus it will be fated to + some great end. Above all, though often enough I have been a traitor in + the past, do not dream that I betray you, keeping in mind that so to do + would be to betray my own soul, which very soon must render its account on + high.” + </p> + <p> + “As you will, Hokosa,” answered the king. “And now tell those rebel dogs + that on these terms only will I make peace with them—that they + withdraw across the mountains by the path which their women and children + have taken, leaving this land for ever without lifting another spear + against us. If they will do this, notwithstanding all the wickedness and + slaughter that they have worked, I will send command to my <i>impi</i> to + let them go unharmed. If they will not do this, I put my trust in the God + I worship and will fight this fray out to the end, knowing that if I and + my people perish, they shall perish also.” + </p> + <p> + Now Nodwengo himself spoke to the herald who was waiting beyond the wall. + </p> + <p> + “Go back to him you serve,” he said, “and say that Hokosa will meet her + who was his wife upon the flat stone and talk with her in the sight of + both armies, bearing my word with him. At the sound of the blowing of a + horn shall each of them advance unarmed and alone from either camp. Say to + my brother also that it will indeed be ill for him if he attempts + treachery upon Hokosa, for the man who causes his blood to flow will + surely die, and after death shall be accursed for ever.” + </p> + <p> + The herald went, and presently a horn was blown. + </p> + <p> + “Now it comes into my mind that we part for the last time,” said Nodwengo + in a troubled voice as he took the hand of Hokosa. + </p> + <p> + “It may be so, King; in my heart I think that it is so; yet I do not + altogether grieve thereat, for the burden of my past sins crushes me, and + I am weary and seek for rest. Yet we do not part for the last time, + because whatever chances, in the end I shall make my report to you yonder”—and + he pointed upwards. “Reign on for long years, King—reign well and + wisely, clinging to the Faith, for thus at the last shall you reap your + reward. Farewell!” + </p> + <p> + Now again the horn blew, and in the bright moonlight the slight figure of + Noma could be seen advancing towards the stone. + </p> + <p> + Then Hokosa sprang from the wall and advanced also, till at the same + moment they climbed upon the stone. + </p> + <p> + “Greeting, Hokosa,” said Noma, and she stretched out her hand to him. + </p> + <p> + By way of answer he placed his own behind his back, saying: “To your + business, woman.” Yet his eyes searched her face—the face which in + his folly he still loved; and thus it came about that he never saw sundry + of the dead bodies, which lay in the shadow of the stone, begin to quicken + into life, and inch by inch to arise, first to their knees and next to + their feet. He never saw or heard them, yet, as the words left his lips, + they sprang upon him from every side, holding him so that he could not + move. + </p> + <p> + “Away with him!” cried Noma with a laugh of triumph; and at her command he + was half-dragged and half-carried across the open space and thrust + violently over a stone wall into the camp of Hafela. + </p> + <p> + Now Nodwengo and his soldiers saw what had happened, and with a shout of + “Treachery!” some hundreds of them leapt into the plain and began to run + towards the koppie to rescue their envoy. + </p> + <p> + Hokosa heard the shout, and wrenching himself round, beheld them. + </p> + <p> + “Back!” he cried in a clear, shrill voice. “Back! children of Nodwengo, + and leave me to my fate, for the foe waits for you by thousands behind the + wall!” + </p> + <p> + A soldier struck him across the mouth, bidding him be silent; but his + warning had come to the ears of Nodwengo, causing him and his warriors to + halt and begin a retreat. It was well that they did so, for seeing that + they would not come on, from under the shelter of the wall and of every + rock and stone soldiers jumped up by companies and charged, driving them + back to their own schanse. But the king’s men had the start of them, and + had taken shelter behind it, whence they greeted them with a volley of + spears, killing ten and wounding twice as many more. + </p> + <p> + Now it was Hokosa’s turn to laugh, and laugh he did, saying:— + </p> + <p> + “My taking is well paid for already, Prince. A score of your best warriors + is a heavy price to give for the carcase of one weary and aging man. But + since I am here among you, captured with so much pain and loss, tell me of + your courtesy why I have been brought.” + </p> + <p> + Then the prince shook his spear at him and cursed him. + </p> + <p> + “Would you learn, wizard and traitor?” he cried. “We have caught you + because we know well that while you stay yonder your magic counsel will + prevail against our might; whereas, when once we hold you fast, Nodwengo + will wander to his ruin like a blind and moonstruck man, for you were to + him both eyes and brain.” + </p> + <p> + “I understand,” said Hokosa calmly. “But, Prince, how if I left my wisdom + behind me?” + </p> + <p> + “That may not be,” answered Hafela, “since even a wizard cannot throw his + thoughts into the heart of another from afar.” + </p> + <p> + “Ah! you think so, Prince. Well, ask Noma yonder if I cannot throw my + thoughts into her heart from afar: though of late I have not chosen to do + so, having put aside such spells. But let it pass, and tell me, having + taken me, what is it you propose to do with me? First, however, I will + give you for nothing some of that wisdom which you grudge to Nodwengo the + king. Be advised by me, Prince, and take the terms that he offers to you—namely, + to turn this very night and begone from the land without harm or + hindrance. Will you receive my gift, Hafela?” + </p> + <p> + “What will happen if I refuse it?” asked the prince slowly. + </p> + <p> + Now Hokosa looked at the dust at his feet, then he gazed upwards searching + the heavens, and answered:— + </p> + <p> + “Did not I tell you yesterday? I think that this will happen. I think—but + who can be quite sure of the future, Hafela?—that you and the most + of your army by this hour to-morrow night will be lying fast asleep about + this place, with jackals for your bedfellows.” + </p> + <p> + The prince heard and trembled at his words, for he believed that if he + willed it, Hokosa could prophesy the truth. + </p> + <p> + “Accursed dog!” he said. “I am minded to be guided by your saying; but be + sure of this, that if I follow it, you shall stay here to sleep with + jackals, yes, this very night.” + </p> + <p> + Then Noma broke in. + </p> + <p> + “Be not mad, Hafela!” she said. “Will you listen to the lies that this + renegade tells to work upon your fears? Will you abandon victory when it + lies within your grasp, and in place of a great king become a fugitive + whom all men mock at, an outcast to be hunted down at leisure by that + brother against whom you dared to rebel, but on whom you did not dare to + shut your hand when he lay in its hollow? Silence the tongue of this + captive rogue for ever and become a man again, with the heart of a man.” + </p> + <p> + “Now,” said Hokosa gently; “many would find it hard to believe that I + reared this woman from childhood, nursing her with my own hands when she + was sick and giving her of the best I had; that afterwards, when you stole + her from me, Prince, I sinned deeply to win her back. That I married her + and sinned yet more deeply to give her the greatness she desired; and at + last, of my own will, I loosed the bonds by which I held her, although I + could not thrust her memory from my heart. Yet I have earned it all, for I + made her the tool of my witchcraft, and therefore it is just that she + should turn and rend me. Well, if you like it, take her counsel, Prince, + and let mine go, for I care nothing which you take; only, forgive me if I + prophesy once more and for the last time—I am sure that Nodwengo + yonder spoke truth when he bade your herald tell me that he who causes my + blood to flow shall surely die and for it be called to a strict account. + Prince, I am a Christian now, and believe me, whatever you may do, I seek + no revenge upon you; having been myself forgiven so much, in my turn I + have learned to forgive. Yet it may be ill for that man who causes my + blood to flow.” + </p> + <p> + “Let him be strangled,” said a captain who stood near by, “and then there + will be no blood in the matter.” + </p> + <p> + “Friend,” answered Hokosa, “you should have been not a soldier but a + pleader of causes. True it is then that the prince will only cause my life + to fly, but whether that is a smaller sin I leave you to judge.” + </p> + <p> + “Keep him prisoner,” said another, “till we learn how these matters end.” + </p> + <p> + “Nay,” answered Hafela, “for then he will surely outwit us and escape. + Noma, what shall we do with this man who was your husband? Tell us, for + you should know best how to deal with him.” + </p> + <p> + “Let me think,” she answered, and she looked first at the ground beneath + her, next around her, then upwards toward the skies. + </p> + <p> + Now they stood at the foot of the koppie, on the flat top of which grew + the great Tree of Doom, that for generations had served the People of Fire + as a place of execution of their criminals, or of those who fell under the + ban of the king or of the witch-doctors. Among and above the finger-like + fronds of this strange and dreadful-looking tree towered that white dead + limb shaped like a cross, which Owen had pointed out to his disciple John, + taking it to be a sign and a promise. This cross stood out clear against + the sinking moon. It caught Noma’s eye, and a devilish thought entered + into her heart. + </p> + <p> + “You would keep this fellow alive?” she said, “and yet you would not + suffer him to escape. See, there above you is a cross such as he worships. + Bind him to it as he says the Man whom he worships was bound, and let that + dead Man help him if he may.” + </p> + <p> + The prince and those about Noma shrank back a little in horror. They were + cruel men rendered more cruel by their superstitious fear of one whom they + believed to be uncanny; one to whom they attributed inhuman powers which + he was exercising to their destruction, but still this doom seemed + dreadful to them. Noma read their minds and went on passionately:— + </p> + <p> + “You deem me unmerciful, but you do not know what I have suffered at this + wizard’s hands. For his sake and because of him I am haunted. For his own + purposes he opened the gates of Distance, he sent me down among the + dwellers in Death, causing me to interpret their words for him. I did so, + but the dwellers came back out of Death with me, and from that hour they + have not left me, nor will they ever leave me; for night by night they + sojourn at my side, tormenting me with terrors. He has told me that + through my mouth that spirit whom he drew into my body prophesied that he + should be ‘lifted up above the people.’ Let the prophecy be fulfilled, let + him be lifted up, for then perchance the ghosts will depart from me and I + shall win peace and sleep. Also, thus alone can you hold him safe and yet + shed no blood.” + </p> + <p> + “Be it so,” said the prince. “When we plotted together of the death of the + king, and as your price, Hokosa, you bargained for the girl whom I had + chosen to wife, did I not warn you that this witch of many spells, who + holds both our hearts in her little hands, should yet hound you to death + and mock you while you perished by an end of shame? What did I tell you, + Hokosa?” + </p> + <p> + Now when he heard his fate, Hokosa bowed his head and trembled a little. + Then he lifted it, and exclaimed in a clear voice:— + </p> + <p> + “It is true, Prince, but I will add to your words. She shall bring <i>both</i> + of us to death. For me, I am honoured indeed in that there has been + allotted to me that same end which my Master chose. To that cross let my + sins be fastened and with them my body.” + </p> + <p> + Now the moon sank, but in the darkness men were found who dared to climb + the tree, taking with them strips of raw hide. They reached the top of it, + four of them, and seating themselves upon the arms of the cross, they let + down a rope, the noose of which was placed about the body of Hokosa. As it + tightened upon him, he turned his calm and dreadful eyes on to the eyes of + Noma and said to her:— + </p> + <p> + “Woman, I do not reproach you; but I lay this fate upon you, that you + shall watch me die. Thereafter, let God deal with you as He may choose.” + </p> + <p> + Now, when she heard these words Noma shrieked aloud, for of a sudden she + felt that the power of the will of Hokosa, from which she had been freed + by him, had once more fallen upon her, and that come what might she was + doomed to obey his last commands. + </p> + <p> + Little by little the soldiers drew him up and in the darkness they bound + him fast there upon the lofty cross. Then they descended and left him, and + would have led Noma with them from the tree. But this they could not do, + for always she broke from them screaming, and fled back to its shadow. + </p> + <p> + Then, seeing that she was bewitched, Hafela commanded that they should + bind a cloth about her mouth and leave her there till her senses returned + to her in the sunlight—for none of them dared to stop with her in + the shadow of that tree, since the odours of it were poisonous to man. + Also they believed the place to be haunted by evil spirits. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0022" id="link2HCH0022"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XXII + </h2> + <h3> + THE VICTORY OF THE CROSS + </h3> + <p> + The sun rose suddenly over the edge of the cliffs, and while it was yet + deep shadow in the valley, its red light struck upon the white cross of + perished wood that towered above the Tree of Doom and on the black shape + of Hokosa crucified to it living. The camp of the king saw and understood, + and from every throat of the thousands of men, women and children gathered + there, went up a roar of rage and horror. The king lifted his hand, and + silence fell upon the place; then he mounted on the wall and cried aloud:— + </p> + <p> + “Do you yet live, Hokosa, or is it your body only that those traitors have + fastened to the tree?” + </p> + <p> + Back came the answer through the clear still air:— + </p> + <p> + “I live, O King!” + </p> + <p> + “Endure then a little while,” called Nodwengo, “and we will storm the tree + and save you.” + </p> + <p> + “Nay,” answered Hokosa, “you cannot save me; yet before I die I shall see + you saved.” + </p> + <p> + Then his words were lost in tumult, for the third day’s fighting began. + Desperately the regiments of Hafela rushing across the open space, hurled + themselves upon the fortifications, which, during the night, had been + strengthened by the building of two inner walls. Nor was this all, for + suddenly a cry told those in front that the regiment which Hafela had + despatched across the mountains had travelled up the eastern neck of the + valley, and were attacking the position in their rear. Well was it for + Nodwengo now that he had listened to the counsel of Hokosa, and, wearied + as his soldiers were, had commanded that here also a great wall should be + built. + </p> + <p> + For two hours the fight raged, and then on either side the foe fell back, + not beaten indeed, though their dead were many, but to rest and take + counsel. But now a new trouble arose: from all the camp of Nodwengo there + went up a moan of pain to Heaven, for since the evening of yesterday the + spring had given out, and they had found no water wherewith to wet their + lips. During the night they bore it; but now the sun beating down on the + black rocks with fearful force scorched them to the marrow, till they + began to wither like fallen leaves, and already wounded men and children + died, while the warriors cut the throats of oxen and drank their blood. + </p> + <p> + Hokosa hanging on his cross heard this moaning and divined its cause. + </p> + <p> + “Be of good comfort, children of Nodwengo,” he cried; “for I will pray + that rain be sent upon you.” And he lifted his head and prayed. + </p> + <p> + Now, whether it was by chance or whether his prayer was heard, who can + say? At least it happened that immediately thereafter clouds began to + gather and to thicken in the blue of Heaven, and within two hours rain + fell in torrents, so that every one could drink his fill, and the spring + being replenished at its sources, flowed again strongly. + </p> + <p> + After the rain came cold and moaning winds, and after the wind a great + gloom and thunder. + </p> + <p> + Now, taking advantage of the shadow, the regiments of Hafela renewed their + attack, and this time they carried the first of the three walls, for its + defenders grew feeble and few in number. There they paused a while, and + save for the cries of the wounded and of frightened women, the silence was + great. + </p> + <p> + “Let your hearts be filled up!” cried the voice of Hokosa through the + silence; “for the sunlight shines upon the plain of the Great Place + yonder, and in it I see the sheen of spears. The <i>impi</i> travels to + your aid, O children of Nodwengo.” + </p> + <p> + Now, at this tidings the people of the king shouted for joy; but Hafela + called to his regiments to make an end of them, and they hurled themselves + upon the second wall, fighting desperately. Again and again they were + beaten back, and again and again they came on, till at length they carried + this wall also, driving its defenders, or those who remained alive of + them, into the third entrenchment, and paused to rest awhile. + </p> + <p> + “Pray for us, O Prophet who are set on high!” cried a voice from the camp, + “for if succour do not reach us speedily, we are sped.” + </p> + <p> + Before the echoes of the voice had died away, a flash of lightning flared + through the gloom, and in the light of it Hokosa saw that the king’s <i>impi</i> + was rushing up the gorge. + </p> + <p> + “Fight on! Fight on!” he called in answer. “I have prayed to Heaven, and + your succour is at hand.” + </p> + <p> + Then, with a howl of rage, Hafela’s regiments hurled themselves upon the + third and last entrenchment, attacking it at once in front and rear. Twice + they nearly carried it, but each time the wild scream of Hokosa on high + was heard above the din, conjuring its defenders to fight on and fear not, + for Heaven had sent them help. They fought as men have seldom fought + before, and with them fought the women and even the children. They were + few and the foe was still many, but they listened to the urging of him + whom they believed to be inspired in his death-agony upon the cross above + them, and still they held their own. Twice portions of the wall were torn + down, but they filled the breach with the corpses of the dead, ay! and + with the bodies of the living, for the wounded, the old men and the very + women piled themselves there in the place of stones. No such fray was told + of in the annals of the People of Fire as this, the last stand of Nodwengo + against the thousands of Hafela. Now all the shouting had died away, for + men had no breath left wherewith to shout, only from the gloomy place of + battle came low groans and the deep sobbing sighs of warriors gripped in + the death-hug. + </p> + <p> + “<i>Fight on! Fight on!</i>” shrilled the voice of Hokosa on high. “Lo! + the skies are open to my dying sight, and I see the <i>impis</i> of Heaven + sweeping to succour you. <i>Behold!</i>” + </p> + <p> + They dashed the sweat from their eyes and looked forth, and as they + looked, the pall of gloom was lifted, and in the golden glow of + many-shafted light, they saw, not the legions of Heaven indeed, but the + regiments of Nodwengo rushing round the bend of the valley, as dogs rush + upon a scent, with heads held low and spears outstretched. + </p> + <p> + Hafela saw them also. + </p> + <p> + “Back to the koppie,” he cried, “there to die like men, for the wizardries + of Hokosa have been too strong for us, and lost is this my last battle and + the crown I came to seek!” + </p> + <p> + They obeyed, and all that were left of them, some ten thousand men, they + ran to the koppie and formed themselves upon it, ring above ring, and here + the soldiers of Nodwengo closed in upon them. + </p> + <p> + Again and for the last time the voice of Hokosa rang out above the fray. + </p> + <p> + “Nodwengo,” he cried, “with my passing breath I charge you have mercy and + spare these men, so many of them as will surrender. The day of bloodshed + has gone by, the fray is finished, the Cross has conquered. Let there be + peace in the land.” + </p> + <p> + All men heard him, for his piercing scream, echoed from the precipices, + came to the ears of each. All men heard him, and, even in that fierce hour + of vengeance, all obeyed. The spear that was poised was not thrown, and + the kerry lifted over the fallen did not descend to dash away his life. + </p> + <p> + “Hearken, Hafela!” called the king, stepping forward from the ranks of the + attackers. “He whom you have set on high to bring defeat upon you charges + me to give you peace, and in the name of the conquering Cross I give + peace. All who surrender shall dwell henceforth in my shadow, nor shall + the head or the heel of one of them be harmed, although their sin is + great. One life only will I take, the life of that witch who brought your + armies down upon me to burn my town and slay my people by thousands, and + who but last night betrayed Hokosa to his death of torment. All shall go + free, I say, save the witch; and for you, you shall be given cattle and + such servants as will cling to you to the number of a hundred, and driven + from the land. Now, what say you? Will you yield or be slain? Swift with + your answer; for the sun sinks, and ere it is set there must be an end in + this way or in that.” + </p> + <p> + The regiments of Hafela heard, and shouted in answer as with one voice:— + </p> + <p> + “We take your mercy, King! We fought bravely while we could, and now we + take your mercy, King!” + </p> + <p> + “What say you, Hafela?” repeated Nodwengo, addressing the prince, who + stood upon a point of rock above him in full sight of both armies. + </p> + <p> + Hafela turned and looked at Hokosa hanging high in mid-air. + </p> + <p> + “What say I?” he answered in a slow and quiet voice. “I say that the Cross + and its Prophet have been too strong for me, and that I should have done + well to follow the one and to listen to the counsel of the other. My + brother, you tell me that I may go free, taking servants with me. I thank + you and I will go—alone.” + </p> + <p> + And setting the handle of his spear upon the rock, with a sudden movement + he fell forward, transfixing his heart with its broad blade, and lay + still. + </p> + <p> + “At least he died like one of the blood-royal of the Sons of Fire!” cried + Nodwengo, while the armies stood silent and awestruck, “and with the + blood-royal he shall be buried. Lay down your arms, you who followed him + and fought for him, fearing nothing, and give over to me the witch that + she may be slain.” + </p> + <p> + “She hides under the tree yonder!” cried a voice. + </p> + <p> + “Go up and take her,” said Nodwengo to some of his captains. + </p> + <p> + Now Noma, crouched on the ground beneath the tree, had seen and heard all + that passed. Perceiving the captains making their way towards her through + the lines of the soldiers, who opened out a path for them, she rose and + for a moment stood bewildered. Then, as though drawn by some strange + attraction, she turned, and seizing hold of the creeper that clung about + it, she began to climb the Tree of Doom swiftly. Up she went while all men + watched, higher and higher yet, till passing out of the finger-like + foliage she reached the cross of dead wood whereto Hokosa hung, and + placing her feet upon one arm of it, stood there, supporting herself by + the broken top of the upright. + </p> + <p> + Hokosa was not yet dead, though he was very near to death. Lifting his + glazing eyes, he knew her and said, speaking thickly:— + </p> + <p> + “What do you here, Noma, and wherefore have you come?” + </p> + <p> + “I come because you draw me,” she answered, “and because they seek my life + below.” + </p> + <p> + “Repent, repent!” he whispered, “there is yet time and Heaven is very + merciful.” + </p> + <p> + She heard, and a fury seized her. + </p> + <p> + “Be silent, dog!” she cried. “Having defied your God so long, shall I + grovel to Him at the last? Having hated you so much, shall I seek your + forgiveness now? At least of one thing I am glad—it was I who + brought you here, and with me and through me you shall die.” + </p> + <p> + Then, placing one foot upon his bent head as if in scorn, she leaned + forward, her long hair flying to the wind, and cursed Nodwengo and his + people, naming them renegades and apostates, and cursed the soldiers of + Hafela, naming them cowards, calling down upon them the malison of their + ancestors. + </p> + <p> + Hokosa heard and muttered:— + </p> + <p> + “For your soul’s sake, woman, repent! repent, ere it be too late!” + </p> + <p> + “Repent!” she screamed, catching at his words. “Thus do I repent!” and + drawing the knife from her girdle, she leant over him and drove it + hilt-deep into his breast. + </p> + <p> + Then with a sudden movement she sprang upwards and outwards into the air, + and rushing down through a hundred feet of space, was struck dead upon + that very rock where the corpse of Hafela lay. + </p> + <p> + Now, beneath the agony of the knife Hokosa lifted his head for the last + time, crying in a great voice:— + </p> + <p> + “Messenger, I come, be you my guide,” and with the words his soul passed. + </p> + <p> + “All is over and ended,” said a voice. “Soldiers, salute the king with the + royal salute.” + </p> + <p> + “Nay,” answered Nodwengo. “Salute me not, salute the Cross and him who + hangs thereon.” + </p> + <p> + So, while the rays of the setting sun shone about it, regiment by regiment + that great army rushed past the koppie, and pausing opposite to the cross + and its burden, they rendered to it the royal salute of kings. + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + Then the night fell, and thus through the power of Faith that now, as of + old, is the only true and efficient magic, was accomplished the mission to + the Sons of Fire of the Saint and Martyr, Thomas Owen, and of his murderer + and disciple, the Wizard Hokosa. + </p> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Wizard, by H. 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Anyone seeking to utilize +this eBook outside of the United States should confirm copyright +status under the laws that apply to them. diff --git a/README.md b/README.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..9c2b6c8 --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +eBook #2893 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/2893) diff --git a/old/2893.txt b/old/2893.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..896b1ab --- /dev/null +++ b/old/2893.txt @@ -0,0 +1,6718 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Wizard, by H. Rider Haggard + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Wizard + +Author: H. Rider Haggard + +Release Date: April 3, 2006 [EBook #2893] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE WIZARD *** + + + + +Produced by John Bickers; Dagny + + + + + +THE WIZARD + +by H. Rider Haggard + + + + +DEDICATION + +To the Memory of the Child + +Nada Burnham, + +who "bound all to her" and, while her father cut his way through the +hordes of the Ingobo Regiment, perished of the hardships of war +at Buluwayo on 19th May, 1896, I dedicate these tales--and more +particularly the last, that of a Faith which triumphed over savagery and +death. + +H. Rider Haggard. + +Ditchingham. + + + +AUTHOR'S NOTE + +Of the three stories that comprise this volume[*], one, "The Wizard," a +tale of victorious faith, first appeared some years ago as a Christmas +Annual. Another, "Elissa," is an attempt, difficult enough owing to the +scantiness of the material left to us by time, to recreate the life of +the ancient Poenician Zimbabwe, whose ruins still stand in Rhodesia, +and, with the addition of the necessary love story, to suggest +circumstances such as might have brought about or accompanied its fall +at the hands of the surrounding savage tribes. The third, "Black Heart +and White Heart," is a story of the courtship, trials and final union of +a pair of Zulu lovers in the time of King Cetywayo. + + [*] This text was prepared from a volume published in 1900 + titled "Black Heart and White Heart, and Other Stories."-- + JB. + + + + + +THE WIZARD + + + +CHAPTER I + +THE DEPUTATION + +Has the age of miracle quite gone by, or is it still possible to the +Voice of Faith calling aloud upon the earth to wring from the dumb +heavens an audible answer to its prayer? Does the promise uttered by the +Master of mankind upon the eve of the end--"Whoso that believeth in Me, +the works that I do he shall do also . . . and whatsoever ye shall ask +in My name, that will I do;"--still hold good to such as do ask and do +believe? + +Let those who care to study the history of the Rev. Thomas Owen, and +of that strange man who carried on and completed his work, answer this +question according to their judgment. + +***** + +The time was a Sunday afternoon in summer, and the place a church in +the Midland counties. It was a beautiful church, ancient and spacious; +moreover, it had recently been restored at great cost. Seven or eight +hundred people could have found sittings in it, and doubtless they +had done so when Busscombe was a large manufacturing town, before the +failure of the coal supply and other causes drove away its trade. Now +it was much what it had been in the time of the Normans, a little +agricultural village with a population of 300 souls. Out of this +population, including the choir boys, exactly thirty-nine had elected to +attend church on this particular Sunday; and of these, three were fast +asleep and four were dozing. + +The Rev. Thomas Owen counted them from his seat in the chancel, for +another clergyman was preaching; and, as he counted, bitterness and +disappointment took hold of him. The preacher was a "Deputation," sent +by one of the large missionary societies to arouse the indifferent to +a sense of duty towards their unconverted black brethren in Africa, and +incidentally to collect cash to be spent in the conversion of the +said brethren. The Rev. Thomas Owen himself suggested the visit of the +Deputation, and had laboured hard to secure him a good audience. But +the beauty of the weather, or terror of the inevitable subscription, +prevailed against him. Hence his disappointment. + +"Well," he thought, with a sigh, "I have done my best, and I must make +it up out of my own pocket." + +Then he settled himself to listen to the sermon. + +The preacher, a battered-looking individual of between fifty and sixty +years of age, was gaunt with recent sickness, patient and unimaginative +in aspect. He preached extemporarily, with the aid of notes; and it +cannot be said that his discourse was remarkable for interest, at any +rate in its beginning. Doubtless the sparse congregation, so prone to +slumber, discouraged him; for offering exhortations to empty benches is +but weary work. Indeed he was meditating the advisability of bringing +his argument to an abrupt conclusion when, chancing to glance round, he +became aware that he had at least one sympathetic listener, his host, +the Rev. Thomas Owen. + +From that moment the sermon improved by degrees, till at length it +reached a really high level of excellence. Ceasing from rhetoric, the +speaker began to tell of his own experience and sufferings in the Cause +amongst savage tribes; for he himself was a missionary of many years +standing. He told how once he and a companion had been sent to a +nation, who named themselves the Sons of Fire because their god was the +lightning, if indeed they could be said to boast any gods other than +the Spear and the King. In simple language he narrated his terrible +adventures among these savages, the murder of his companion by command +of the Council of Wizards, and his own flight for his life; a tale +so interesting and vivid that even the bucolic sleepers awakened and +listened open-mouthed. + +"But this is by the way," he went on; "for my Society does not ask you +to subscribe towards the conversion of the Children of Fire. Until that +people is conquered--which very likely will not be for generations, +seeing that they live in Central Africa, occupying a territory that +white men do not desire--no missionary will dare again to visit them." + +At this moment something caused him to look a second time at Thomas +Owen. He was leaning forward in his place listening eagerly, and a +strange light filled the large, dark eyes that shone in the pallor of +his delicate, nervous face. + +"There is a man who would dare, if he were put to it," thought the +Deputation to himself. Then he ended his sermon. + +That evening the two men sat at dinner in the rectory. It was a very +fine rectory, beautifully furnished; for Owen was a man of taste which +he had the means to gratify. Also, although they were alone, the dinner +was good--so good that the poor broken-down missionary, sipping his +unaccustomed port, a vintage wine, sighed aloud in admiration and +involuntary envy. + +"What is the matter?" asked Owen. + +"Nothing, Mr. Owen;" then, of a sudden thawing into candour, he +added: "that is, everything. Heaven forgive me; but I, who enjoy your +hospitality, am envious of you. Don't think too hardly of me; I have a +large family to support, and if only you knew what a struggle my life +is, and has been for the last twenty years, you would not, I am sure. +But you have never experienced it, and could not understand. 'The +labourer is worthy of his hire.' Well, my hire is under two hundred a +year, and eight of us must live--or starve--on it. And I have worked, +ay, until my health is broken. A labourer indeed! I am a very hodman, a +spiritual Sisyphus. And now I must go back to carry my load and roll +my stone again and again among those hopeless savages till I die of +it--till I die of it!" + +"At least it is a noble life and death!" exclaimed Owen, a sudden fire +of enthusiasm burning in his dark eyes. + +"Yes, viewed from a distance. Were you asked to leave this living of two +thousand a year--I see that is what they put it at in Crockford--with +its English comforts and easy work, that _you_ might lead that life and +attain that death, then you would think differently. But why should +I bore you with such talk? Thank Heaven that your lines are cast in +pleasant places. Yes, please, I will take one more glass; it does me +good." + +"Tell me some more about that tribe you were speaking of in your sermon, +the 'Sons of Fire' I think you called them," said Owen, as he passed him +the decanter. + +So, with an eloquence induced by the generous wine and a quickened +imagination, the Deputation told him--told him many strange things and +terrible. For this people was an awful people: vigorous in mind +and body, and warriors from generation to generation, but +superstition-ridden and cruel. They lived in the far interior, some +months' journey by boat and ox-waggon from the coast, and of white men +and their ways they knew but little. + +"How many of them are there?" asked Owen. + +"Who can say?" he answered. "Nearly half-a-million, perhaps; at least +they pretend that they can put sixty thousand men under arms." + +"And did they treat you badly when you first visited them?" + +"Not at first. They received us civilly enough; and on a given day we +were requested to explain to the king and the Council of Wizards the +religion which we came to teach. All that day we explained and all +the next--or rather my friend did, for I knew very little of the +language--and they listened with great interest. At last the chief of +the wizards and the first prophet to the king rose to question us. He +was named Hokosa, a tall, thin man, with a spiritual face and terrible +calm eyes. + +"'You speak well, son of a White Man,' he said, 'but let us pass from +words to deeds. You tell us that this God of yours, whom you desire that +we should take as our God, so that you may become His chief prophets in +the land, was a wizard such as we are, though grater than we are; for +not only did He know the past and the future as we do, but also He could +cure those who were smitten with hopeless sickness, and raise those +who were dead, which we cannot do. You tell us, moreover, that by faith +those who believe on Him can do works as great as He did, and that you +do believe on Him. Therefore we will put you to the proof. Ho! there, +lead forth that evil one.' + +"As he spoke a man was placed before us, one who had been convicted of +witchcraft or some other crime. + +"'Kill him!' said Hokosa. + +"There was a faint cry, a scuffle, a flashing of spears, and the man lay +still before us. + +"'Now, followers of the new God,' said Hokosa, 'raise him from the dead +as your Master did!' + +"In vain did we offer explanations. + +"'Peace!' said Hokosa at length, 'your words weary us. Look now, either +you have preached to us a false god and are liars, or you are traitors +to the King you preach, since, lacking faith in Him, you cannot do such +works as He gives power to do to those who have faith in Him. Out of +your own mouths are you judged, White Men. Choose which horn of the bull +you will, you hang to one of them, and it shall pierce you. This is +the sentence of the king, I speak it who am the king's mouth: That you, +White Man, who have spoken to us and cheated us these two weary days, +be put to death, and that you, his companion who have been silent, be +driven from the land.' + +"I can hardly bear to tell the rest of it, Mr. Owen. They gave my poor +friend ten minutes to 'talk to his Spirit,' then they speared him before +my face. After it was over, Hokosa spoke to me, saying:-- + +"'Go back, White Man, to those who sent you, and tell them the words of +the Sons of Fire: That they have listened to the message of peace, +and though they are a people of warriors, yet they thank them for that +message, for in itself it sounds good and beautiful in their ears, if it +be true. Tell them that having proved you liars, they dealt with you as +all honest men seek that liars should be dealt with. Tell them that they +desire to hear more of this matter, and if one can be sent to them who +has no false tongue; who in all things fulfills the promises of his +lips, that they will hearken to him and treat him well, but that for +such as you they keep a spear.'" + +"And who went after you got back?" asked Owen, who was listening with +the deepest interest. + +"Who went? Do you suppose that there are many mad clergymen in Africa, +Mr. Owen? Nobody went." + +"And yet," said Owen, speaking more to himself than to his guest, "the +man Hokosa was right, and the Christian who of a truth believes the +promises of our religion should trust to them and go." + +"Then perhaps you would like to undertake the mission, Mr. Owen," said +the Deputation briskly; for the reflection stung him, unintentional as +it was. + +Owen started. + +"That is a new idea," he said. "And now perhaps you wish to go to bed; +it is past eleven o'clock." + + + +CHAPTER II + +THOMAS OWEN + +Thomas Owen went to his room, but not to bed. Taking a Bible from the +table, he consulted reference after reference. + +"The promise is clear," he said aloud presently, as he shut the +book; "clear and often repeated. There is no escape from it, and no +possibility of a double meaning. If it is not true, then it would seem +that nothing is true, and that every Christian in the world is tricked +and deluded. But if it _is_ true, why do we never hear of miracles? +The answer is easy: Because we have not faith enough to work them. The +Apostles worked miracles; for they had seen, therefore their faith was +perfect. Since their day nobody's faith has been quite perfect; at least +I think not. The physical part of our nature prevents it. Or perhaps the +miracles still happen, but they are spiritual miracles." + +Then he sat down by the open window, and gazing at the dreamy beauty of +the summer night, he thought, for his soul was troubled. Once before +it had been troubled thus; that was nine years ago, for now he was but +little over thirty. Then a call had come to him, a voice had seemed to +speak to his ears bidding him to lay down great possessions to follow +whither Heaven should lead him. Thomas Owen had obeyed the voice; +though, owing to circumstances which need not be detailed, to do so he +was obliged to renounce his succession to a very large estate, and to +content himself with a younger son's portion of thirty thousand pounds +and the reversion to the living which he had now held for some five +years. + +Then and there, with singular unanimity and despatch, his relations came +to the conclusion that he was mad. To this hour, indeed, those who stand +in his place and enjoy the wealth and position that were his by right, +speak of him as "poor Thomas," and mark their disapprobation of his +peculiar conduct by refusing with an unvarying steadiness to subscribe +even a single shilling to a missionary society. How "poor Thomas" speaks +of them in the place where he is we may wonder, but as yet we cannot +know--probably with the gentle love and charity that marked his every +action upon earth. But this is by the way. + +He had entered the Church, but what had he done in its shadow? This was +the question which Owen asked himself as he sat that night by the open +window, arraigning his past before the judgment-seat of conscience. For +three years he had worked hard somewhere in the slums; then this living +had fallen to him. He had taken it, and from that day forward his record +was very much of a blank. The parish was small and well ordered; there +was little to do in it, and the Salvation Army had seized upon and +reclaimed two of the three confirmed drunkards it could boast. + +His guest's saying echoed in his brain like the catch of a tune--"that +_you_ might lead that life and attain that death." Supposing that +he were bidden so to do now, this very night, would he indeed "think +differently"? He had become a priest to serve his Maker. How would it be +were that Maker to command that he should serve Him in this extreme and +heroic fashion? Would he flinch from the steel, or would he meet it as +the martyrs met it of old? + +Physically he was little suited to such an enterprise, for in appearance +he was slight and pale, and in constitution delicate. Also, there was +another reason against the thing. High Church and somewhat ascetic in +his principles, in the beginning he had admired celibacy, and in secret +dedicated himself to that state. But at heart Thomas was very much a +man, and of late he had come to see that which is against nature is +presumably not right, though fanatics may not hesitate to pronounce +it wrong. Possibly this conversion to more genial views of life was +quickened by the presence in the neighbourhood of a young lady whom +he chanced to admire; at least it is certain that the mere thought of +seeing her no more for ever smote him like a sword of sudden pain. + +***** + +That very night--or so it seemed to him, and so he believed--the Angel +of the Lord stood before him as he was wont to stand before the men of +old, and spoke a summons in his ear. How or in what seeming that summons +came Thomas Owen never told, and we need not inquire. At the least he +heard it, and, like the Apostles, he arose and girded his loins to obey. +For now, in the hour of trial, it proved that this man's faith partook +of the nature of their faith. It was utter and virgin; it was not +clogged with nineteenth-century qualifications; it had never dallied +with strange doctrines, or kissed the feet of pinchbeck substitutes for +God. In his heart he believed that the Almighty, without intermediary, +but face to face, had bidden him to go forth into the wilderness there +to perish. So he bowed his head and went. + +On the following morning at breakfast Owen had some talk with his friend +the Deputation. + +"You asked me last night," he said quietly, "whether I would undertake +a mission to that people of whom you were telling me--the Sons of Fire. +Well, I have been thinking it over, and come to the conclusion that I +will do so----" + +At this point the Deputation, concluding that his host must be mad, +moved quietly but decidedly towards the door. + +"Wait a moment," went on Owen, in a matter-of-fact voice, "the dog-cart +will not be round for another three-quarters of an hour. Tell me, if it +were offered to you, and on investigation you proved suitable, would you +care to take over this living?" + +"Would I care to take over this living?" gasped the astonished +Deputation. "Would I care to walk down that garden and find myself in +Heaven? But why are you making fun of me?" + +"I am not making fun of you. If I go to Africa I must give up the +living, of which I own the advowson, and it occurred to me that it might +suit you--that is all. You have done your share; your health is broken, +and you have many dependent upon you. It seems right, therefore, that +you should rest, and that I should work. If I do no good yonder, at the +least you and yours will be a little benefited." + +***** + +That same day Owen chanced to meet the lady who has been spoken of as +having caught his heart. He had meant to go away without seeing her, but +fortune brought them together. Hitherto, whilst in reality leading him +on, she had seemed to keep him at a distance, with the result that he +did not know that it was her fixed intention to marry him. To her, +with some hesitation, he told his plans. Surprised and frightened into +candour, the lady reasoned with him warmly, and when reason failed to +move him she did more. By some subtle movement, with some sudden word, +she lifted the veil of her reserve and suffered him to see her heart. +"If you will not stay for aught else," said her troubled eyes, "then, +love, stay for me." + +For a moment he was shaken. Then he answered the look straight out, as +was his nature. + +"I never guessed," he said. "I did not presume to hope--now it is too +late! Listen! I will tell you what I have told no living soul, though +thereafter you may think me mad. Weak and humble as I am, I believe +myself to have received a Divine mission. I believe that I shall execute +it, or bring about its execution, but at the ultimate cost of my own +life. Still, in such a service two are better than one. If you--can care +enough--if you----" + +But the lady had already turned away, and was murmuring her farewell in +accents that sounded like a sob. Love and faith after this sort were not +given to her. + +Of all Owen's trials this was the sharpest. Of all his sacrifices this +was the most complete. + + + +CHAPTER III + +THE TEMPTATION + +Two years have gone by all but a few months, and from the rectory in a +quiet English village we pass to a scene in Central, or South Central, +Africa. + +On the brow of a grassy slope dotted over with mimosa thorns, and close +to a gushing stream of water, stands a house, or rather a hut, built +of green brick and thatched with grass. Behind this hut is a fence of +thorns, rough but strong, designed to protect all within it from the +attacks of lions and other beasts of prey. At present, save for a +solitary mule eating its provender by the wheel of a tented ox-waggon, +it is untenanted, for the cattle have not yet been kraaled for the +night. Presently Thomas Owen enters this enclosure by the back door of +the hut, and having attended to the mule, which whinnies at the sight +of him, goes to the gate and watches there till he sees his native boys +driving the cattle up the slope of the hill. At length they arrive, and +when he has counted them to make sure that none are missing, and in a +few kind words commended the herds for their watchfulness, he walks +to the front of the house and, seating himself upon a wooden stool set +under a mimosa tree that grows near the door, he looks earnestly towards +the west. + +The man has changed somewhat since last we saw him. To begin with, he +has grown a beard, and although the hot African sun has bronzed it +into an appearance of health, his face is even thinner than it was, and +therein the great spiritual eyes shine still more strangely. + +At the foot of the slope runs a wide river, just here broken into rapids +where the waters make an angry music. Beyond this river stretches a +vast plain bounded on the horizon by mountain ranges, each line of them +rising higher than the other till their topmost and more distant peaks +melt imperceptibly into the tender blue of the heavens. This is the land +of the Sons of Fire, and yonder amid the slopes of the nearest hills is +the great kraal of their king, Umsuka, whose name, being interpreted, +means The Thunderbolt. + +In the very midst of the foaming rapids, and about a thousand yards +from the house lies a space of rippling shallow water, where, unless it +chances to be in flood, the river can be forded. It is this ford that +Owen watches so intently. + +"John should have been back twelve hours ago," he mutters to himself. "I +pray that no harm has befallen him at the Great Place yonder." + +Just then a tiny speck appears far away on the plain. It is a man +travelling towards the water at a swinging trot. Going into the hut, +Owen returns with a pair of field-glasses, and through them scrutinises +the figure of the man. + +"Heaven be praised! It is John," he mutters, with a sigh of relief. +"Now, I wonder what answer he brings?" + +Half an hour later John stands before him, a stalwart native of the +tribe of the Amasuka, the People of Fire, and with uplifted hand salutes +him, giving him titles of honour. + +"Praise me not, John," said Owen; "praise God only, as I have taught you +to do. Tell me, have you seen the king, and what is his word?" + +"Father," he answered, "I journeyed to the great town, as you bade me, +and I was admitted before the majesty of the king; yes, he received me +in the courtyard of the House of Women. With his guards, who stood at +a distance out of hearing, there were present three only; but oh! those +three were great, the greatest in all the land after the king. They were +Hafela, the king that is to come, the prince Nodwengo, his brother, and +Hokosa the terrible, the chief of the wizards; and I tell you, father, +that my blood dried up and my heart shrivelled when they turned their +eyes upon me, reading the thoughts of my heart." + +"Have I not told you, John, to trust in God, and fear nothing at the +hands of man?" + +"You told me, father, but still I feared," answered the messenger +humbly. "Yet, being bidden to it, I lifted my forehead from the dust +and stood upon my feet before the king, and delivered to him the message +which you set between my lips." + +"Repeat the message, John." + +"'O King,' I said, 'beneath those footfall the whole earth shakes, whose +arms stretch round the world and whose breath is the storm, I, whose +name is John, am sent by the white man whose name is Messenger'--for by +that title you bade me make you known--'who for a year has dwelt in the +land that your spears have wasted beyond the banks of the river. These +are the words which he spoke to me, O King, that I pass on to you with +my tongue: "To the King Umsuka, lord of the Amasuka, the Sons of Fire, +I, Messenger, who am the servant and the ambassador of the King of +Heaven, give greeting. A year ago, King, I sent to you saying that the +message which was brought by that white man whom you drove from your +land had reached the ears of Him whom I serve, the High and Holy One, +and that, speaking in my heart, He had commanded me to take up the +challenge of your message. Here am I, therefore, ready to abide by the +law which you have laid down; for if guile or lies be found in me, then +let me travel from your land across the bridge of spears. Still, I would +dwell a little while here where I am before I pass into the shadow of +your rule and speak in the ears of your people as I have been bidden. +Know, King, that first I would learn your tongue, and therefore I demand +that one of your people may be sent to dwell with me and to teach me +that tongue. King, you heard my words and you sent me a man to dwell +with me, and that man has taught me your tongue, and I also have taught +him, converting him to my faith and giving him a new name, the name of +John. King, now I seek your leave to visit you, and to deliver into your +ears the words with which I, Messenger, am charged. I have spoken."' + +"Thus I, John, addressed the great ones, my father, and they listened +in silence. When I had done they spoke together, a word here and a word +there. Then Hokosa, the king's mouth, answered me, telling the thought +of the king: 'You are a bold man, you whose name is John, but who once +had another name--you, my servant, who dare to appear before me, and to +make it known to me that you have been turned to a new faith and serve +another king than I. Yet because you are bold, I forgive you. Go back +now to that white man who is named Messenger and who comes upon an +embassy to me from the Lord of Heaven, and bid him come in peace. Yet +warn him once again that here also we know something of the Powers that +are not seen, here also we have our wizards who draw wisdom from the +air, who tame the thunderbolt and compel the rain, and that he must +show himself greater than all of these if he would not pass hence by the +bridge of spears. Let him, therefore, take counsel with his heart and +with Him he serves, if such a One there is, and let him come or let him +stay away as it shall please him.'" + +"So be it," said Owen; "the words of the king are good, and to-morrow we +will start for the Great Place." + +John heard and assented, but without eagerness. + +"My father," he said, in a doubtful and tentative voice, "would it not +perhaps be better to bide here awhile first?" + +"Why?" asked Owen. "We have sown, and now is the hour to reap." + +"It is so, my father, but as I ran hither, full of the king's words, it +came into my mind that now is not the time to convert the Sons of Fire. +There is trouble brewing at the Great Palace, father. Listen, and I will +tell you; as I have heard, so I will tell you. You know well that our +King Umsuka has two sons, Hafela and Nodwengo; and of these Hafela is +the heir-apparent, the fruit of the chief wife of the king, and Nodwengo +is sprung from another wife. Now Hafela is proud and cruel, a warrior of +warriors, a terrible man, and Nodwengo is gentle and mild, like to his +mother whom the king loves. Of late it has been discovered that Hafela, +weary of waiting for power, has made a plot to depose his father and to +kill Nodwengo, his brother, so that the land and those who dwell in it +may become his without question. This plot the king knows--I had it from +one of his women, who is my sister--and he is very wroth, yet he dare do +little, for he grows old and timid, and seeks rest, not war. Yet he is +minded, if he can find the heart, to go back upon the law and to +name Nodwengo as his heir before all the army at the feast of the +first-fruits, which shall be held on the third day from to-night. This +Hafela knows, and Nodwengo knows it also, and each of them has summoned +his following, numbering thousands and tens of thousands of spears, to +attend this feast of the first-fruits. That feast may well be a feast +of vultures, my father, and when the brothers and their regiments rush +together fighting for the throne, what will chance to the white man who +comes at such a moment to preach a faith of peace, and to his servant, +one John, who led him there?" + +"I do not know," answered Owen, "and it troubles me not at all. I go to +carry out my mission, and in this way or in that it will be carried out. +John, if you are fearful or unbelieving leave me to go alone." + +"Nay, father, I am not fearful; yet, father, I would have you +understand. Yonder there are men who can work wizardry. _Wow!_ I know, +for I have seen it, and they will demand from you magic greater than +their magic." + +"What of it, John?" + +"Only this, my father, that if they ask and you fail to give, they will +kill you. You teach beautiful things, but say, are you a wizard? When +the child of a woman yonder lay dead, you could not raise it as did the +Christ; when the oxen were sick with the pest, you could not cure them; +or at least, my father, you did not, although you wept for the child and +were sorry at the loss of the oxen. Now, my father, if perchance +they ask you to do such things as these yonder, or die, say what will +happen?" + +"One of two things, John: either I shall die or I shall do the things." + +"But"--hesitated John--"surely you do not believe that----" and he broke +off. + +Owen turned round and looked at his disciple with kindling eyes. "I do +believe, O you of little faith!" he said. "I do believe that yonder I +have a mission, and that He Whom I serve will give me power to carry +out that mission. You are right, I can work no miracles; but He can work +miracles Whom everything in heaven and earth obeys, and if there is need +He will work them through me, His instrument. Or perhaps He will +not work them, and I shall die, because thus His ends will best be +forwarded. At the least I go in faith, fearing nothing, for what has he +to fear who knows the will of God and does it? But to you who doubt, I +say--leave me!" + +The man spread out his hands in deprecation; his thick lips trembled a +little, and something like a tear appeared at the corners of his eyes. + +"Father," he said, "am I a coward that you should talk to me thus? +I, who for twenty years have been a soldier of my king and for ten a +captain in my regiment? These scars show whether or no I am a coward," +and he pointed to his breast, "but of them I will not speak. I am no +coward, else I had not gone upon that errand of yours. Why, then, should +you reproach me because my ears are not so open as yours, as my heart +has not understanding? I worship that God of Whom you have taught me, +but He never speaks to me as He does to you. I never meet Him as I walk +at night; He leaves me quite alone. Therefore it is that I fear that +when the hour of trial comes He may desert you; and unless He covers you +with His shield, of this I am sure, that the spear is forged which shall +blush red in your heart, my father. It is for you that I fear, who are +so gentle and tender; not for myself, who am well accustomed to look in +the eyes of Death, and who expect no more than death." + +"Forgive me," said Owen hastily, for he was moved; "and be sure that +the shield will be over us till the time comes for us to pass whither we +shall need none." + +***** + +That night Owen rose from the task at which he was labouring slowly and +painfully--a translation of passages from the Gospel of St. John into +the language of the Amasuka--and going to the open window-place of the +hut, he rested his elbows upon it and thought, staring with empty eyes +into the blackness of the night. Now it was as he sat thus that a great +agony of doubt took possession of his soul. The strength which hitherto +had supported him seemed to be withdrawn, and he was left, as John +had said, "quite alone." Strange voices seemed to whisper in his ears, +reproaching and reviling him; temptations long ago trampled under foot +rose again in might, alluring him. + +"Fool," said the voices, "get you hence before it is too late. You have +been mad; you who dreamed that for your sake, to satisfy your pride, the +Almighty will break His silence and strain His law. Are you then better, +or greater, or purer than millions who have gone before you, that for +you and you alone this thing should be done? Why, were it not that you +are mad, you would be among the chief of sinners; you who dare to ask +that the Powers of Heaven should be set within your feeble hand, that +the Angels of Heaven should wait upon your mortal breath. Worm that you +are, has God need of such as you? If it is His will to turn the heart +of yonder people He will do it, but not by means of _you_. You and the +servant whom you are deluding to his death will perish miserably, and +this alone shall be the fruit of your presumptuous sin. Get you back out +of this wilderness before the madness takes you afresh. You are still +young, you have wealth; look where She stands yonder whom you desire. +Get you back, and forget your folly in her arms." + +These thoughts, and many others of like nature, tore Owen's soul in +that hour of strange and terrible temptation. He seemed to see himself +standing before the thousands of the savage nation he went to save, and +to hear the mocking voices of their witch-finders commanding him, if he +were a true man and the servant of that God of Whom he prated, to +give them a sign, only a little sign; perhaps to move a stone without +touching it with his hand, or to cause a dead bough to blossom. + +Then he would beseech Heaven with frantic prayers, and in vain, till at +length, amidst a roar of laughter, he, the false prophet and the liar, +was led out to his doom. He saw the piteous wondering look of the +believer whom he had betrayed to death; he saw the fierce faces and +the spears on high. Seeing all this his spirit broke, and, just as the +little clock in the room behind him struck the first stroke of midnight, +with a great and bitter cry to God to give him back the faith and +strength that he had lost, Owen's head fell forward and he sank into a +swoon there upon the window-place. + + + +CHAPTER IV + +THE VISION + +Was it swoon or sleep? + +At least it seemed to Owen that presently once again he was gazing into +the dense intolerable blackness of the night. Then a marvel came to +pass, for the blackness opened, or rather on it, framed and surrounded +by it, there appeared a vision. It was the vision of a native town, +having a great bare space in the centre of it encircled by hundreds or +thousands of huts. But there was no one stirring about the huts, for +it was night--not this his night of trial indeed, since now the sky was +strewn with innumerable stars. Everything was silent about that town, +save that now and again a dog barked or a fretful child wailed within +a hut, or the sentries as they passed saluted each other in the name of +the king. + +Among all those hundreds of huts, to Owen it seemed that his attention +was directed to one which stood apart surrounded with a fence. Now the +interior of the hut opened itself to him. It was not lighted, yet with +his spirit sense he could see its every detail: the polished floor, the +skin rugs, the beer gourds, the shields and spears, the roof-tree of red +wood, and the dried lizard hanging from the thatch, a charm to ward off +evil. In this hut, seated face to face halfway between the centre-post +and the door-hole, were two men. The darkness was deep about them, and +they whispered to each other through it; but in his dream this was no +bar to Owen's sight. He could discern their faces clearly. + +One of them was that of a man of about thirty-five years of age. In +stature he was almost a giant. He wore a kaross of leopard skins, and on +his wrists and ankles were rings of ivory, the royal ornaments. His face +was fierce and powerful; his eyes, which were set far apart, rolled +so much that at times they seemed all white; and his fingers played +nervously with the handle of a spear that he carried in his right hand. +His companion was of a different stamp; a person of more than fifty +years, he was tall and spare in figure, with delicately shaped hands +and feet. His hair and little beard were tinged with grey, his face was +strikingly handsome, nervous and expressive, and his forehead both broad +and high. But more remarkable still were his eyes, which shone with a +piercing brightness, almost grey in colour, steady as the flame of a +well-trimmed lamp, and so cold that they might have been precious stones +set in the head of a statue. + +"Must I then put your thoughts in words?" said this man in a clear +quick whisper. "Well, so be it; for I weary of sitting here in the dark +waiting for water that will not flow. Listen, Prince; you come to talk +to me of the death of a king--is it not so? Nay do not start. Why are +you affrighted when you hear upon the lips of another the plot that +these many months has been familiar to your breast?" + +"Truly, Hokosa, you are the best of wizards, or the worst," answered +the great man huskily. "Yet this once you are mistaken," he added with a +change of voice. "I came but to ask you for a charm to turn my father's +heart----" + +"To dust? Prince, if I am mistaken, why am I the best of wizards, or the +worst, and why did your jaw drop and your face change at my words, and +why do you even now touch your dry lips with your tongue? Yes, I know +that it is dark here, yet some can see in it, and I am one of them. Ay, +Prince, and I can see your mind also. You would be rid of your father: +he has lived too long. Moreover his love turns to Nodwengo, the good and +gentle; and perhaps--who can say?--it is even in his thought, when all +his regiments are about him two days hence, to declare that you, Prince, +are deposed, and that your brother, Nodwengo, shall be king in your +stead. Now, Nodwengo you cannot kill; he is too well loved and too well +guarded. If he died suddenly, his dead lips would call out 'Murder!' in +the ears of all men; and, Prince, all eyes would turn to you, who alone +could profit by his end. But if the king should chance to die--why he is +old, is he not? and such things happen to the old. Also he grows feeble, +and will not suffer the regiments to be doctored for war, although day +by day they clamour to be led to battle; for he seeks to end his years +in peace." + +"I say that you speak folly," answered the prince with vehemence. + +"Then, Son of the Great One, why should you waste time in listening to +me? Farewell, Hafela the Prince, first-born of the king, who in a day to +come shall carry the shield of Nodwengo; for he is good and gentle, and +will spare your life--if I beg it of him." + +Hafela stretched out his hand through the darkness, and caught Hokosa by +the wrist. + +"Stay," he whispered, "it is true. The king must die; for if he does not +die within three days, I shall cease to be his heir. I know it through +my spies. He is angry with me; he hates me, and he loves Nodwengo +and the mother of Nodwengo. But if he dies before the last day of the +festival, then that decree will never pass his lips, and the regiments +will never roar out the name of Nodwengo as the name of the king to +come. He must die, I tell you, Hokosa, and--by your hand." + +"By _my_ hand, Prince! Nay; what have you to offer me in return for such +a deed as this? Have I not grown up in Umsuka's shadow, and shall I cut +down the tree that shades me?" + +"What have I to offer you? This: that next to myself you shall be the +greatest in the land, Hokosa." + +"That I am already, and whoever rules it, that I must always be. I, who +am the chief of wizards; I, the reader of men's hearts; I, the hearer +of men's thoughts! I, the lord of the air and the lightning; I, the +invulnerable. If you would murder, Prince, then do the deed; do it +knowing that I have your secret, and that henceforth you who rule shall +be my servant. Nay, you forget that I can see in the dark; lay down that +assegai, or, by my spirit, prince as you are, I will blast you with a +spell, and your body shall be thrown to the kites, as that of one who +would murder his king and father!" + +The prince heard and shook, his cheeks sank in, the muscles of his great +form seemed to collapse, and he grovelled on the floor of the hut. + +"I know your magic," he groaned; "use it for me, not against me! What +is there that I can offer you, who have everything except the throne, +whereon you cannot sit, seeing that you are not of the blood-royal?" + +"Think," said Hokosa. + +For a while the prince thought, till presently his form straightened +itself, and with a quick movement he lifted up his head. + +"Is it, perchance, my affianced wife?" he whispered; "the lady Noma, +whom I love, and who, according to our custom, I shall wed as the queen +to be after the feast of first-fruits? Oh! say it not, Hokosa." + +"I say it," answered the wizard. "Listen, Prince. The lady Noma is the +only child of my blood-brother, my friend, with whom I was brought up, +he who was slain at my side in the great war with the tribes of the +north. She was my ward: she was more; for through her--ah! you know +not how--I held my converse with the things of earth and air, the very +spirits that watch us now in this darkness, Hafela. Thus it happened, +that before ever she was a woman, her mind grew greater than the mind +of any other woman, and her thought became my thought, and my thought +became her thought, for I and no other am her master. Still I waited +to wed her till she was fully grown; and while I waited I went upon an +embassy to the northern tribes. Then it was that you saw the maid in +visiting at my kraal, and her beauty and her wit took hold of you; and +in the council of the king, as you have a right to do, you named her as +your head wife, the queen to be. + +"The king heard and bowed his head; he sent and took her, and placed her +in the House of the Royal Women, there to abide till this feast of the +first-fruits, when she shall be given to you in marriage. Yes, he sent +her to that guarded house wherein not even I may set my foot. Although +I was afar, her spirit warned me, and I returned, but too late; for she +was sealed to you of the blood-royal, and that is a law which may not be +broken. + +"Hafela, I prayed you to return her to me, and you mocked me. I would +have brought you to your death, but it could not have availed me: for +then, by that same law, which may not be broken, she who was sealed to +you must die with you; and though thereafter her spirit would sit with +me till I died also, it was not enough, since I who have conquered all, +yet cannot conquer the fire that wastes my heart, nor cease to long by +night and day for a woman who is lost to me. Then it was, Hafela, that +I plotted vengeance against you. I threw my spell over the mind of the +king, till he learnt to hate you and your evil deeds; and I, even I, +have brought it about that your brother should be preferred before you, +and that you shall be the servant in his house. This is the price that +you must pay for her of whom you have robbed me; and by my spirit and +her spirit you shall pay! Yet listen. Hand back the girl, as you may +do--for she is not yet your wife--and choose another for your queen, and +I will undo all that I have done, and I will find you a means, Hafela, +to carry out your will. Ay, before six suns have set, the regiments +rushing past you shall hail you King of the Nation of the Amasuka, Lord +of the ancient House of Fire!" + +"I cannot," groaned the prince; "death were better than this!" + +"Ay, death were better; but you shall not die, you shall live a servant, +and your name shall become a mockery, a name for women to make rhymes +on." + +Now the prince sprang up. + +"Take her!" he hissed; "take her! you, who are an evil ghost; you, +beneath whose eyes children wail, and at whose passing the hairs on the +backs of hounds stand up! Take her, priest of death and ill; but take my +curse with her! Ah! I also can prophecy; and I tell you that this +woman whom you have taught, this witch of many spells, whose glance can +shrivel the hearts of men, shall give you to drink of your own medicine; +ay, she shall dog you to the death, and mock you while you perish by an +end of shame!" + +"What," laughed the wizard, "have I a rival in my own arts? Nay, Hafela, +if you would learn the trade, pay me well and I will give you lessons. +Yet I counsel you not; for you are flesh, nothing but flesh, and he who +would rule the air must cultivate the spirit. Why, I tell you, Prince, +that even the love for her who is my heart, the lady whom we both would +wed, partaking of the flesh as, alas! it does, has cost me half my +powers. Now let us cease from empty scoldings, and strike our bargain. + +"Listen. On the last day of the feast, when all the regiments are +gathered to salute the king there in his Great Place according to +custom, you shall stand forth before the king and renounce Noma, and she +shall pass back to the care of my household. You yourself shall bring +her to where I stand, and as I take her from you I will put into your +hand a certain powder. Then you shall return to the side of the +king, and after our fashion shall give him to drink the bowl of the +first-fruits; but as you stir the beer, you will let fall into it that +powder which I have given you. The king will drink, and what he leaves +undrunk you will throw out upon the dust. + +"Now he will rise to give out to the people his royal decree, whereby, +Prince, you are to be deposed from your place as heir, and your brother, +Nodwengo, is to be set in your seat. But of that decree never a word +shall pass his lips; if it does, recall your saying and take back the +lady Noma from where she stands beside me. I tell you that never a word +will pass his lips; for even as he rises a stroke shall take him, such +a stroke as often falls upon the fat and aged, and he will sink to the +ground snoring through his nostrils. For a while thereafter--it may be +six hours, it may be twelve--he shall lie insensible, and then a cry +will arise that the king is dead!" + +"Ay," said Hafela, "and that I have poisoned him!" + +"Why, Prince? Few know what is in your father's mind, and with those, +being king, you will be able to deal. Also this is the virtue of the +poison which I choose, that it is swift, yet the symptoms of it are the +symptoms of a natural sickness. But that your safety and mine may be +assured, I have made yet another plan, though of this there will be +little need. You were present two days since when a runner came from the +white man who sojourns beyond our border, he who seeks to teach us, the +Children of Fire, a new faith, and gives out that he is the messenger of +the King of heaven. This runner asked leave for the white man to visit +the Great Place, and, speaking in the king's name, I gave him leave. But +I warned his servant that if his master came, a sign should be required +of him to show that he was a true man, and had of the wisdom of the King +of Heaven; and that if he failed therein, then that he should die as +that white liar died who visited us in bygone years. + +"Now I have so ordered that this white man, passing through the Valley +of Death yonder, shall reach the Great Place not long before the king +drinks of the cup of the first-fruits. Then if any think that something +out of nature has happened to the king, they will surely think also that +this strange prayer-doctor has wrought the evil. Then also I will call +for a sign from the white man, praying of him to recover the king of his +sickness; and when he fails, he shall be slain as a worker of spells and +the false prophet of a false god, and so we shall be rid of him and +his new faith, and you shall be cleared of doubt. Is not the plan good, +Prince?" + +"It is very good, Hokosa--save for one thing only." + +"For what thing?" + +"This: the white man who is named Messenger might chance to be a true +prophet of a true God, and to recover the king." + +"Oho, let him do it, if he can; but to do it, first he must know the +poison and its antidote. There is but one, and it is known to me only +of all men in this land. When he has done that, then I, yes, even I, +Hokosa, will begin to inquire concerning this God of his, who shows +Himself so mighty in person of His messenger." And he laughed low and +scornfully. + +"Prince, farewell! I go forth alone, whither you dare not follow at this +hour, to seek that which we shall need. One word--think not to play +me false, or to cheat me of my price; for whate'er betides, be sure of +this, that hour shall be the hour of your dooming. Hail to you, Son of +the King! Hail! and farewell." Then, removing the door-board, the wizard +passed from the hut and was gone. + +***** + +The vision changed. Now there appeared a valley walled in on either side +with sloping cliffs of granite; a desolate place, sandy and, save for a +single spring, without water, strewn with boulders of rock, some of them +piled fantastically one upon the other. At a certain spot this valley +widened out, and in the mouth of the space thus formed, midway between +the curved lines of the receding cliffs, stood a little hill or koppie, +also built up of boulders. It was a place of death; for all around the +hill, and piled in hundreds between the crevices of its stones, lay the +white bones of men. + +Nor was this all. Its summit was flat, and in the midst of it stood +a huge tree. Even had it not been for the fruit which hung from its +branches, the aspect of that tree must have struck the beholder as +uncanny, even as horrible. The bark on its great bole was leprous white; +and from its gaunt and spreading rungs rose branches that subdivided +themselves again and again, till at last they terminated in round green +fingers, springing from grey, flat slabs of bark, in shape not unlike +that of a human palm. Indeed, from a little distance this tree, +especially if viewed by moonlight, had the appearance of bearing on +it hundreds or thousands of the arms and hands of men, all of them +stretched imploringly to Heaven. + +Well might they seem to do so, seeing that to its naked limbs hung the +bodies of at least twenty human beings who had suffered death by order +of the king or his captains, or by the decree of the company of wizards, +whereof Hokosa was the chief. There on the Hill of Death stood the Tree +of Death; and that in its dank shade, or piled upon the ground beneath +it, hung and lay the pitiful remnants of the multitudes who for +generations had been led thither to their doom. + +Now, in Owen's vision a man was seen approaching by the little pathway +that ran up the side of the mount--the Road of Lost Footsteps it was +called. It was Hokosa the wizard. Outside the circle of the tree he +halted, and drawing a tanned skin from a bundle of medicines which he +carried, he tied it about his mouth; for the very smell of that tree is +poisonous and must not be suffered to reach the lungs. + +Presently he was under the branches, where once again he halted; this +time it was to gaze at the body of an old man which swung to and fro in +the night breeze. + +"Ah! friend," he muttered, "we strove for many years, but it seems that +I have conquered at the last. Well, it is just; for if you could have +had your way, your end would have been my end." + +Then very leisurely, as one who is sure that he will not be interrupted, +Hokosa began to climb the tree, till at length some of the green fingers +were within his reach. Resting his back against a bough, one by one he +broke off several of them, and averting his face so that the fumes of +it might not reach him, he caused the thick milk-white juice that they +contained to trickle into the mouth of a little gourd which was hung +about his neck by a string. When he had collected enough of the poison +and carefully corked the gourd with a plug of wood, he descended the +tree again. At the great fork where the main branches sprang from the +trunk, he stood a while contemplating a creeping plant which ran up +them. It was a plant of naked stem, like the tree it grew upon; and, +also like the tree, its leaves consisted of bunches of green spikes +having a milky juice. + +"Strange," he said aloud, "that Nature should set the bane and the +antidote side by side, the one twined about the other. Well, so it is in +everything; yes, even in the heart of man. Shall I gather some of this +juice also? No; for then I might repent and save him, remembering that +he has loved me, and thus lose her I seek, her whom I must win back or +be withered. Let the messenger of the King of Heaven save him, if he +can. This tree lies on his path; perchance he may prevail upon its dead +to tell him of the bane and of the antidote." And once more the wizard +laughed mockingly. + +***** + +The vision passed. At this moment Thomas Owen, recovering from his +swoon, lifted his head from the window-place. The night before him was +as black as it had been, and behind him the little American clock +was still striking the hour of midnight. Therefore he could not have +remained insensible for longer than a few seconds. + +A few seconds, yet how much he had seen in them. Truly his want of +faith had been reproved--truly he also had been "warned of God in a +dream,"--truly "his ears had been opened and his instruction sealed." +His soul had been "kept back from the pit," and his life from "perishing +by the sword;" and the way of the wicked had been made clear to him "in +a dream, in a vision of the night when deep sleep falleth upon men." + +Not for nothing had he endured that agony, and not for nothing had he +struggled in the grip of doubt. + + + +CHAPTER V + +THE FEAST OF THE FIRST-FRUITS + +On the third morning from this night whereof the strange events have +been described, an ox-waggon might have been seen outspanned on the +hither side of those ranges of hills that were visible from the river. +These mountains, which although not high are very steep, form the outer +barrier and defence of the kingdom of the Amasuka. Within five hundred +yards of where the waggon stood, however, a sheer cliffed gorge, +fire-riven and water-hewn, pierced the range, and looking on it, Owen +knew it for the gorge of his dream. Night and day the mouth of it was +guarded by a company of armed soldiers, whose huts were built high on +outlook places in the mountains, whence their keen eyes could scan the +vast expanses of plain. A full day before it reached them, they had seen +the white-capped waggon crawling across the veldt, and swift runners had +reported its advent to the king at his Great Place. + +Back came the word of the king that the white man, with the waggon and +his servant, were to be led on towards the Great Place at such speed as +would bring him there in time for him to behold the last ceremony of the +feast of first-fruits; but, for the present, that the waggon itself +and the oxen were to be left at the mouth of the gorge, in charge of a +guard, who would be answerable for them. + +Now, on this morning the captain of the guard and his orderlies advanced +to the waggon and stood in front of it. They were splendid men, armed +with great spears and shields, and adorned with feather head-dresses and +all the wild finery of their regiment. Owen descended from the waggon +and came to meet them, and so for a few moments they remained, face to +face, in silence. A strange contrast they presented as they stood there; +the bare-headed white man frail, delicate, spiritual of countenance, and +the warriors great, grave, powerful, a very embodiment of the essence +of untamed humanity, an incarnate presentation of the spirit of savage +warfare. + +"How are you named, White Man?" asked the captain. + +"Chief, I am named Messenger." + +"The peace of the king be with you, Messenger," said the captain, +lifting his spear. + +"The peace of God be with you, Chief," answered Owen, holding up his +hands in blessing. + +"Who is God?" asked the captain. + +"Chief, He is the King I serve, and His word is between my lips." + +"Then pass on, Messenger of God, and deliver the word of God your King +into the ears of my king, at his Great Place yonder. Pass on riding the +beast you have brought with you, for the way is rough; but your waggon, +your oxen, and your servants, save this man only who is of the Children +of Fire, must stay here in my keeping. Fear not, Messenger, I will hold +them safe." + +"I do not fear, Chief, there is honour in your eyes." + +***** + +Some hours later, Owen, mounted on his mule, was riding through the +gorge, a guard in front of and behind him, and with them carriers who +had been sent to bear his baggage. At his side walked his disciple John, +and his face was sad. + +"Why are you still afraid?" asked Owen. + +"Ah! father, because this is a place of fear. Here in this valley men +are led to die; presently you will see." + +"I have seen," answered Owen. "Yonder where we shall halt is a mount, +and on that mount stands a tree; it is called the Tree of Death, and it +stretches a thousand hands to Heaven, praying for mercy that does not +come, and from its boughs there hangs fruit, a fruit of dead men--yes, +twenty of them hang there this day." + +"How know you these things, my father," asked the man amazed, "seeing +that I have never spoken to you of them?" + +"Nay," he answered, "God has spoken to me. My God and your God." + +Another hour passed, and they were resting by the spring of water, near +to the shadow of the dreadful tree, for in that gorge the sun burned +fiercely. John counted the bodies that swung upon it, and again looked +fearfully at Owen, for there were twenty of them. + +"I desire to go up to that tree," Owen said to the guard. + +"As you will, Messenger," answered their leader; "I have no orders to +prevent you from so doing. Still," he added with a solemn smile, "it is +a place that few seek of their own will, and, because I like you well, +Messenger, I pray it may never be my duty to lead you there of the +king's will." + +Then Owen went up to the tree and John with him, only John would not +pass beneath the shadow of its branches; but stood by wondering, while +his master bound a handkerchief about his mouth. + +"How did he know that the breath of the tree is poisonous?" John +wondered. + +Owen walked to the bole of the tree, and breaking off some of the +finger-like leaves of the creeper that twined about it, he pressed +their milky juice into a little bottle that he had made ready. Then he +returned quickly, for the sights and odours of the place were not to be +borne. + +Outside the circle of the branches he halted, and removed the +handkerchief from his mouth. + +"Be of good cheer," he said to John, "and if it should chance that I am +called away before my words come true, yet remember my words. I tell +you that this Tree of Death shall become the Tree of Life for all the +children of your people. Look! there above you is its sign and promise." + +John lifted his eyes, following the line of Owen's outstretched hand, +and saw this. High up upon the tree, and standing clear of all the other +branches, was one straight, dead limb, and from this dead limb two +arms projected at right angles, also dead and snapped off short. Had a +carpenter fashioned a cross of wood and set it there, its proportions +could not have been more proper and exact. It was very strange to find +this symbol of the Christian hope towering above that place of human +terror, and stranger still was the purpose which it must serve in a day +to come. + +Owen and John returned to the guard in silence, and presently they set +forward on their journey. At length, passing beneath a natural arch of +rock, they were out of the Valley of Death, and before them, not five +hundred paces away, appeared the fence of the Great Place. + +This Great Place stood upon a high plateau, in the lap of the +surrounding hills, all of which were strongly fortified with schanses, +pitfalls, and rough walls of stone. That plateau may have measured +fifteen miles in circumference, and the fence of the town itself was +about four miles in circumference. Within the fence and following its +curve, for it was round, stood thousands of dome-shaped huts carefully +set out in streets. Within these again was a stout stockade of timber, +enclosing a vast arena of trodden earth, large enough to contain all +the cattle of the People of Fire in times of danger, and to serve as a +review ground for their _impis_ in times of peace or festival. + +At the outer gate of the kraal there was a halt, while the keepers of +the gate despatched a messenger to their king to announce the advent of +the white man. Of this pause Owen took advantage to array himself in the +surplice and hood which he had brought with him in readiness for that +hour. Then he gave the mule to John to lead behind him. + +"What do you, Messenger?" asked the leader of the guard, astonished. + +"I clothe myself in my war-dress," he answered. + +"Where then is your spear, Messenger?" + +"Here," said Owen, presenting to his eyes a crucifix of ivory, most +beautifully carved. + +"I perceive that you are of the family of wizards," said the man, and +fell back. + +Now they entered the kraal and passed for three hundred yards or more +through rows of huts, till they reached the gate of the stockade, which +was opened to them. Once within it, Owen saw a wonderful sight, such a +sight as few white men have seen. The ground of the enormous oval before +him was not flat. Either from natural accident or by design it sloped +gently upwards, so that the spectator, standing by the gate or at +the head of it before the house of the king, could take in its whole +expanse, and, if his sight were keen enough, could see every individual +gathered there. + +On the particular day of Owen's arrival it was crowded with regiments, +twelve of them, all dressed in their different uniforms and bearing +shields to match, not one of which was less than 2500 strong. At this +moment the regiments were massed in deep lines, each battalion by +itself, on either side of the broad roadway that ran straight up the +kraal to where the king, his sons, his advisers and guards, together +with the company of wizards, were placed in front of the royal house. + +There they stood in absolute silence, like tens of thousands of bronze +statues, and Owen perceived that either they were resting or that they +were gathered thus to receive him. That the latter was the case soon +became evident, for as he appeared, a white spot at the foot of the +slope, countless heads turned and myriads of eyes fastened themselves +upon him. For an instant he was dismayed; there was something terrifying +in this numberless multitude of warriors, and the thought of the task +that he had undertaken crushed his spirit. Then he remembered, and +shaking off his fear and doubt, alone, save for his disciple John, +holding the crucifix aloft, he walked slowly up the wide road towards +the place where he guessed that the king must be. His arm was weary ere +ever he reached it, but at length he found himself standing before a +thickset old man, who was clad in leopard skins and seated upon a stool +of polished wood. + +"It is the king," whispered John behind him. + +"Peace be to you," said Owen, breaking the silence. + +"The wish is good, may it be fulfilled," answered the king in a deep +voice, sighing as he said the words. "Yet yours is a strange greeting," +he added. "Whence came you, White Man, how are you named, and what is +your mission to me and to my people?" + +"King, I come from beyond the sea; I am named Messenger, and my mission +is to deliver to you the saying of God, my King and--yours." + +At these words a gasp of astonishment went up from those who stood +within hearing, expecting as they did to see them rewarded by instant +death. But Umsuka only said:-- + +"'My King and yours'? Bold words, Messenger. Where then is this King to +whom I, Umsuka, should bow the knee?" + +"He is everywhere--in the heavens, on the earth, and below the earth." + +"If He is everywhere, then He is here. Show me the likeness of this +King, Messenger." + +"Behold it," Owen answered, thrusting forward the crucifix. + +Now all the great ones about the king stared at this figure of a dying +man crowned with thorns and hanging on a cross, and then drew up their +lips to laugh. But that laugh never left them; a sudden impulse, a +mysterious wave of feeling choked it in their throats. A sense of the +strangeness of the contrast between themselves in their armed multitudes +and this one white-robed man in his loneliness took hold of them, and +with it another sense of something not far removed from fear. + +"A wizard indeed," they thought in their hearts, and what they thought +the king uttered. + +"I perceive," he said, "that you are either mad, White Man, or you are +a prince of wizards. Mad you do not seem to be, for your eyes are calm, +therefore a wizard you must be. Well, stand behind me: by-and-by I will +hear your message and ask of you to show me your powers; but before then +there are things which I must do. Are the lads ready? Ho, you, loose the +bull!" + +At the command a line of soldiers moved from the right, forming itself +up in front of the king and his attendants, revealing a number of +youths, of from sixteen to seventeen years of age, armed with sticks +only, who stood in companies outside a massive gate. Presently this gate +was opened, and through it, with a mad bellow, rushed a wild buffalo +bull. On seeing them the brute halted, and for a few moments stood +pawing the earth and tearing it with its great horns. Then it put down +its head and charged. Instead of making way for it, uttering a shrill +whistling sound, the youths rushed at the beast, striking with their +sticks. + +Another instant, and one of them appeared above the heads of his +companions, thrown high into the air, to be followed by a second and a +third. Now the animal was through the throng and carrying a poor boy on +its horn, whence presently he fell dead; through and through the ranks +of the regiments it charged furiously backward and forward. + +Watching it fascinated, Owen noted that it was a point of honour for +no man to stir before its rush; there they stood, and if the bull gored +them, there they fell. At length, exhausted and terrified, the brute +headed back straight up the lane where the main body of the youths were +waiting for it. Now it was among them, and, reckless of wounds or death, +they swarmed about it like bees, seizing it by legs, nose, horns and +tail, till with desperate efforts they dragged it to the ground and beat +the life out of it with their sticks. This done, they formed up before +the king and saluted him. + +"How many are killed?" he asked. + +"Eight in all," was the answer, "and fifteen gored." + +"A good bull," he said with a smile; "that of last year killed but five. +Well, the lads fought him bravely. Let the dead be buried, the hurt +tended, or, if their harms are hopeless, slain, and to the rest give a +double ration of beer. Ho, now, fall back, men, and make a space for the +Bees and the Wasps to fight in." + +Some orders were given and a great ring was formed, leaving an arena +clear that may have measured a hundred and fifty yards in diameter. Then +suddenly, from opposite sides, the two regiments, known as the Bees +and the Wasps respectively, rushed upon each other, uttering their +war-cries. + +"I put ten head of cattle on the Bees; who wagers on the Wasps?" cried +the king. + +"I, Lord," answered the Prince Hafela, stepping forward. + +"You, Prince!" said the king with a quick frown. "Well, you are right to +back them, they are your own regiment. Ah! they are at it." + +By this time the scene was that of a hell broken loose upon the earth. +The two regiments, numbering some 5000 men in all, had come together, +and the roar of their meeting shields was like the roar of thunder. They +were armed with kerries only, and not with spears, for the fight was +supposed to be a mimic one; but these weapons they used with such effect +that soon hundreds of them were down dead or with shattered skulls and +bruised limbs. Fiercely they fought, while the whole army watched, for +their rivalry was keen and for many months they had known that they were +to be pitted one against the other on this day. Fiercely they fought, +while the captains cried their orders, and the dust rose up in clouds +as they swung to and fro, breast thrusting against breast. At length the +end came; the Bees began to give, they fell back ever more quickly till +their retreat was a rout, and, leaving many stretched upon the ground, +amid the mocking cries of the army they were driven to the fence, by +touching which they obtained peace at the hands of their victors. + +The king saw, and his somewhat heavy, quiet face grew alive with rage. + +"Search and see," he said, "if the captain of the Bees is alive and +unhurt." + +Messengers went to do his bidding, and presently they returned, bringing +with them a man of magnificent appearance and middle age, whose left arm +had been broken by a blow from a kerry. With his right hand he saluted +first the king, then the Prince Nodwengo, a kindly-faced, mild-eyed man, +in whose command he was. + +"What have you to say?" asked the king, in a cold voice of anger. "Know +you that you have cost me ten head of the royal white cattle?" + +"King, I have nothing to say," answered the captain calmly, "except that +my men are cowards." + +"That is certainly so," said the king. "Let all the wounded among +them be carried away; and for you, captain, who turn my soldiers into +cowards, you shall die a dog's death, hanging to-morrow on the Tree of +Doom. As for your regiment, I banish it to the fever country, there to +hunt elephants for three years, since it is not fit to fight with men." + +"It is well," replied the captain, "since death is better than shame. +Only King, I have done you good service in the past; I ask that it may +be presently and by the spear." + +"So be it," said the king. + +"I crave his life, father," said the Prince Nodwengo; "he is my friend." + +"A prince should not choose cowards for his friends," replied the king; +"let him be killed, I say." + +Then Owen, who had been watching and listening, his heart sick with +horror, stood forward and said:-- + +"King, in the name of Him I serve, I conjure you to spare this man and +those others that are hurt, who have done no crime except to be driven +back by soldiers stronger than themselves." + +"Messenger," answered the king, "I bear with you because you are +ignorant. Know that, according to our customs, this crime is the +greatest of crimes, for here we show no mercy to the conquered." + +"Yet you should do so," said Owen, "seeing that you also must ere long +be conquered by death, and then how can you expect mercy who have shown +none?" + +"Let him be killed!" said the king. + +"King!" cried Owen once more, "do this deed, and I tell you that before +the sun is down great evil will overtake you." + +"Do you threaten me, Messenger? Well, we will see. Let him be killed, I +say." + +Then the man was led away; but, before he went he found time to thank +Owen and Nodwengo the prince, and to call down good fortune upon them. + + + +CHAPTER VI + +THE DRINKING OF THE CUP + +Now the king's word was done, the anger went out of his eyes, and once +more his countenance grew weary. A command was issued, and, with the +most perfect order, moving like one man, the regiments changed their +array, forming up battalion upon battalion in face of the king, that +they might give him the royal salute so soon as he had drunk the cup of +the first-fruits. + +A herald stood forward and cried:-- + +"Hearken, you Sons of Fire! Hearken, you Children of Umsuka, Shaker of +the Earth! Have any of you a boon to ask of the king?" + +Men stood forward, and having saluted, one by one asked this thing or +that. The king heard their requests, and as he nodded or turned his head +away, so they were granted or refused. + +When all had done, the Prince Hafela came forward, lifted his spear, and +cried:-- + +"A boon, King!" + +"What is it?" asked his father, eyeing him curiously. + +"A small matter, King," he replied. "A while ago I named a certain +woman, Noma, the ward of Hokosa the wizard, and she was sealed to me +to fill the place of my first wife, the queen that is to be. She passed +into the House of the Royal Women, and, by your command, King, it was +fixed that I should marry her according to our customs to-morrow, +after the feast of the first-fruits is ended. King, my heart is changed +towards that woman; I no longer desire to take her to wife, and I pray +that you will order that she shall now be handed back to Hokosa her +guardian." + +"You blow hot and cold with the same mouth, Hafela," said Umsuka, "and +in love or war I do not like such men. What have you to say to this +demand, Hokosa?" + +Now Hokosa stepped forward from where he stood at the head of the +company of wizards. His dress, like that of his companions, was simple, +but in its way striking. On his shoulders he wore a cloak of shining +snakeskin; about his loins was a short kilt of the same material; and +round his forehead, arms and knees were fillets of snakeskin. At his +side hung his pouch of medicines, and in his hand he held no spear, but +a wand of ivory, whereof the top was roughly carved so as to resemble +the head of a cobra reared up to strike. + +"King," he said, "I have heard the words of the prince, and I do not +think that this insult should have been put upon the Lady Noma, my ward, +or upon me, her guardian. Still, let it be, for I would not that +one should pass from under the shadow of my house whither she is not +welcome. Without my leave the prince named this woman as his queen, as +he had the right to do; and without my leave he unnames her, as he has +the right to do. Were the prince a common man, according to custom he +should pay a fine of cattle to be held by me in trust for her whom he +discards; but this is a matter that I leave to you, King." + +"You do well, Hokosa," answered Umsuka, "to leave this to me. Prince, +you would not wish the fine that you should pay to be that of any common +man. With the girl shall be handed over two hundred head of cattle. +More, I will do justice: unless she herself consents, she shall not be +put away. Let the Lady Noma be summoned." + +Now the face of Hafela grew sullen, and watching, Owen saw a swift +change pass over that of Hokosa. Evidently he was not certain of the +woman. Presently there was a stir, and from the gates of the royal house +the Lady Noma appeared, attended by women, and stood before the king. +She was a tall and lovely girl, and the sunlight flashed upon her +bronze-hued breast and her ornaments of ivory. Her black hair was +fastened in a knot upon her neck, her features were fine and small, her +gait was delicate and sure as that of an antelope, and her eyes were +beautiful and full of pride. There she stood before the king, looking +round her like a stag. Seeing her thus, Owen understood how it came +about that she held two men so strangely different in the hollow of her +hand, for her charm was of a nature to appeal to both of them--a charm +of the spirit as well as of the flesh. And yet the face was haughty, a +face that upon occasion might even become cruel. + +"You sent for me and I am here, O King," she said, in a slow and quiet +voice. + +"Listen, girl," answered the king. "A while ago the Prince Hafela, my +son, named you as her who should be his queen, whereon you were taken +and placed in the House of the Royal Women, to abide the day of your +marriage, which should be to-morrow." + +"It is true that the prince has honoured me thus, and that you have been +pleased to approve of his choice," she said, lifting her eyebrows. "What +of it, O King?" + +"This, girl: the prince who was pleased to honour you is now pleased to +dishonour you. Here, in the presence of the council and army, he prays +of me to annul his sealing to you, and to send you back to the house of +your guardian, Hokosa the wizard." + +Noma started, and her face grew hard. + +"Is it so?" she said. "Then it would seem that I have lost favour in the +eyes of my lord the prince, or that some fairer woman has found it." + +"Of these matters I know nothing," replied the king; "but this I know, +that if you seek justice you shall have it. Say but the word, and he to +whom you were promised in marriage shall take you in marriage, whether +he wills or wills it not." + +At this speech, the face of Hafela was suddenly lit up as with the fire +of hope, while over that of Hokosa there passed another subtle change. +The girl glanced at them both and was silent for a while. Her breast +heaved and her white teeth bit upon her lip. To Owen, who noted all, it +was clear that rival passions were struggling in her heart: the passion +of power and the passion of love, or of some emotion which he did not +understand. Hokosa fixed his calm eyes upon her with a strange intensity +of gaze, and while he gazed his form quivered with a suppressed +excitement, much as a snake quivers that is about to strike its prey. +To the careless eye there was nothing remarkable about his look +and attitude; to the observer it was evident that both were full of +extraordinary purpose. He was talking to the girl, not with words, but +in some secret language that he and she understood alone. She started as +one starts who catches the tone of a well-remembered voice in a crowd of +strangers, and lifting her eyes from the ground, whither she had turned +them in meditation, she looked up at Hokosa. + +Instantly her face began to change. The haughtiness and anger went out +of it, it grew troubled, the lips parted in a sigh. First she bent her +head and body towards him, then without more ado she walked to where he +stood and took him by the hand. Here, at some whispered word or sign, +she seemed to recover herself, and again resuming the character of a +proud offended beauty, she curtseyed to Umsuka, and spoke:-- + +"O King, as you see, I have made my choice. I will not force myself upon +a man who scorns me, no, not even to share his place and power, though +it is true that I love them both. Nay, I will return to Hokosa my +guardian, and to his wife, Zinti, who has been as my mother, and with +them be at peace." + +"It is well," said the king, "and perhaps, girl, your choice is wise; +perhaps your loss is not so great as you have thought. Hafela, take you +the hand of Hokosa and release the girl back to him according to the +law, promising in the ears of men before the first month of winter to +pay him two hundred head of cattle as forfeit, to be held by him in +trust for the girl." + +In a sullen voice, his lips trembling with rage, Hafela did as the +king commanded; and when the hands of the conspirators unclasped, Owen +perceived that in that of the prince lay a tiny packet. + +"Mix me the cup of the first-fruits, and swiftly," said the king again, +"for the sun grows low in the heavens, and ere it sinks I have words to +say." + +Now a polished gourd filled with native beer was handed to Nodwengo, the +second son of the king, and one by one the great councillors approached, +and, with appropriate words, let fall into it offerings emblematic of +fertility and increase. The first cast in a grain of corn; the second, +a blade of grass; the third, a shaving from an ox's horn; the fourth, +a drop of water; the fifth, a woman's hair; the sixth, a particle +of earth; and so on, until every ingredient was added to it that was +necessary to the magic brew. + +Then Hokosa, as chief of the medicine men, blessed the cup according +to the ancient forms, praying that he whose body was the heavens, whose +eyes were lightning, and whose voice was thunder, the spirit whom they +worshipped, might increase and multiply to them during the coming year +all those fruits and elements that were present in the cup, and that +every virtue which they contained might comfort the body of the king. + +His prayer finished, it was the turn of Hafela to play his part as the +eldest born of the king. Kneeling over the cup which stood upon the +ground, a spear was handed to him that had been made red hot in the +fire. Taking the spear, he stabbed with it towards the four quarters +of the horizon; then, muttering some invocation, he plunged it into the +bowl, stirring its contents till the iron grew black. Now he threw aside +the spear, and lifting the bowl in both hands, he carried it to his +father and offered it to him. + +Although he had been unable to see him drop the poison into the cup, +a glance at Hafela told Owen that it was there; for though he kept his +face under control, he could not prevent his hands from twitching or the +sweat from starting upon his brow and breast. + +The king rose, and taking the bowl, held it on high, saying:-- + +"In this cup, which I drink on behalf of the nation, I pledge you, my +people." + +It was the signal for the royal salute, for which each regiment had been +prepared. As the last word left the king's lips, every one of the thirty +thousand men present in that great place began to rattle his kerry +against the surface of his ox-hide shield. At first the sound produced +resembled that of the murmur of the sea; but by slow and just degrees +it grew louder and ever louder, till the roar of it was like the deepest +voice of thunder, a sound awe-inspiring, terrible. + +Suddenly, when its volume was most, four spears were thrown into the +air, and at this signal every man ceased to beat upon his shield. In the +place itself there was silence, but from the mountains around the echoes +still crashed and volleyed. When the last of them had died away, the +king brought the cup to the level of his lips. Owen saw, and knowing its +contents, was almost moved to cry out in warning. Indeed, his arm was +lifted and his mouth was open, when by chance he noted Hokosa watching +him, and remembered. To act now would be madness, his time had not yet +come. + +The cup touched the king's lips, and at the sign from every throat +in that countless multitude sprang the word "_King!_" and every foot +stamped upon the ground, shaking the solid earth. Thrice the monarch +drank, and thrice this tremendous salute, the salute of the whole nation +to its ruler, was repeated, each time more loudly than the last. Then +pouring the rest of the liquor on the ground, Umsuka set aside the cup, +and in the midst of a silence that seemed deep after the crash of the +great salute, he began to address the multitude:-- + +"Hearken, Councillors and Captains, and you, my people, hearken. As you +know, I have two sons, calves of the Black Bull, princes of the land--my +son Hafela, the eldest born, and my son Nodwengo, his half-brother----" + +At this point the king began to grow confused. He hesitated, passing his +hand over his eyes, then slowly and with difficulty repeated those words +which he had already said. + +"We hear you, Father," cried the councillors in encouragement, as for +the second time he paused. While they still spoke, the veins in the +king's neck were seen to swell suddenly, foam flecked with blood burst +from his lips, and he fell headlong to the ground. + + + +CHAPTER VII + +THE RECOVERY OF THE KING + +For a moment there was silence, then a great cry arose--a cry of "Our +father is dead!" Presently with it were mingled other and angrier shouts +of "The king is murdered!" and "He is bewitched, the white wizard +has bewitched the king! He prophesied evil upon him, and now he has +bewitched him!" + +Meanwhile the captains and councillors formed a ring about Umsuka, and +Hokosa bending over him examined him. + +"Princes and Councillors," he said presently, "your father yet lives, +but his life is like the life of a dying fire and soon he must be dead. +This is sure, that one of two things has befallen him: either the heat +has caused the blood to boil in his veins and he is smitten with a +stroke from heaven, such as men who are fat and heavy sometimes die of; +or he has been bewitched by a wicked wizard. Yonder stands one," and he +pointed to Owen, "who not an hour ago prophesied that before the sun was +down great evil should overtake the king. The sun is not yet down, and +great evil has overtaken him. Perchance, Princes and Councillors, this +white prophet can tell us of the matter." + +"Perchance I can," answered Owen calmly. + +"He admits it!" cried some. "Away with him!" + +"Peace!" said Owen, holding the crucifix towards those whose spears +threatened his life. + +They shrank back, for this symbol of a dying man terrified them who +could not guess its significance. + +"Peace," went on Owen, "and listen. Be sure of this, Councillors, that +if I die, your king will die; whereas if I live, your king may live. You +ask me of this matter. Where shall I begin? Shall I begin with the tale +of two men seated together some nights ago in a hut so dark that no eyes +could see in it, save perchance the eyes of a wizard? What did they talk +of in that hut, and who were those men? They talked, I think, of the +death of a king and of the crowning of a king. They talked of a price +to be paid for a certain medicine; and one of them had a royal air, and +one----" + +"Will ye hearken to this wild babbler while your king lies dying before +your eyes?" broke in Hokosa, in a shrill, unnatural voice; for almost +palsied with fear as he was at Owen's mysterious words, he still +retained his presence of mind. "Listen now: what is he, and what did he +say? He is one who comes hither to preach a new faith to us; he comes, +he says, on an embassy from the King of Heaven, who has power over +all things, and who, so these white men preach, can give power to His +servants. Well, let this one cease prating and show us his strength, +as he has been warned he would be called upon to do. Let him give us a +sign. There before you lies your king, and he is past the help of man; +even I cannot help him. Therefore, let this messenger cure him, or call +upon his God to cure him; that seeing, we may know him to be a true +messenger, and one sent by that King of whom he speaks. Let him do this +now before our eyes, or let him perish as a wizard who has bewitched the +king. Do you hear my words, Messenger, and can you draw this one back +from between the Gates of Death?" + +"I hear them," answered Owen quietly; "and I can--or if I cannot, then +I am willing to pay the penalty with my life. You who are a doctor say +that your king is as one who is already dead, so that whatever I may do +I cannot hurt him further. Therefore I ask this of you, that you stand +round and watch, but molest me neither by word nor deed while I attempt +his cure. Do you consent?" + +"It is just; we consent," said the councillors. "Let us see what the +white man can do, and by the issue let him be judged." But Hokosa stared +at Owen wondering, and made no answer. + +"Bring some clean water to me in a gourd," said Owen. + +It was brought and given to him. He looked round, searching the faces of +those about him. Presently his eye fell upon the Prince Nodwengo, and he +beckoned to him, saying:-- + +"Come hither, Prince, for you are honest, and I would have you to help +me, and no other man." + +The prince stepped forward and Owen gave him the gourd of water. Then +he drew out the little bottle wherein he had stored the juice of the +creeper, and uncorking it, he bade Nodwengo fill it up with water. This +done, he clasped his hands, and lifting his eyes to heaven, he prayed +aloud in the language of the Amasuka. + +"O God," he prayed, "upon whose business I am here, grant, I beseech +Thee, that by Thy Grace power may be given to me to work this miracle in +the face of these people, to the end that I may win them to cease from +their iniquities, to believe upon Thee, the only true God, and to save +their souls alive. Amen." + +Having finished his prayer, he took the bottle and shook it; then he +commanded Nodwengo to sit upon the ground and hold his father's head +upon his knee. Now, as all might see by many signs, the king was upon +the verge of death, for his lips were purple, his breathing was rare and +stertorous, and his heart stood well-nigh still. + +"Open his mouth and hold down the tongue," said Owen. + +The prince obeyed, pressing down the tongue with a snuff spoon. Then +placing the neck of the bottle as far into the throat as it would reach, +Owen poured the fluid it contained into the body of the king, who made a +convulsive movement and instantly seemed to die. + +"He is dead," said one; "away with the false prophet!" + +"It may be so, or it may not be so," answered Owen. "Wait for the half +of an hour; then, if he shows no sign of life, do what you will with +me." + +"It is well," they said; "so be it." + +Slowly the minutes slipped by, while the king lay like a corpse before +them, and outside of that silent ring the soldiers murmured as the wind. +The sun was sinking fast, and Hokosa watched it, counting the seconds. +At length he spoke:-- + +"The half of the hour that you demanded is dead, White Man, as dead +as the king; and now the time has come for you to die also," and he +stretched out his hand to take him. + +Owen looked at his watch and replied:-- + +"There is still another minute; and you, Hokosa, who are skilled in +medicines, may know that this antidote does not work so swiftly as the +bane." + +The shot was a random one, but it told, for Hokosa fell back and was +silent. + +The seconds passed on as the minute hand of the watch went round from +ten to twenty, from twenty to thirty, from thirty to forty. A few +more instants and the game was played. Had that dream of his been vain +imagining, and was all his faith nothing but a dream wondered Owen? +Well, if so, it would be best that he should die. But he did not believe +that it was so; he believed that the Power above him would intervene to +save--not him, indeed, but all this people. + +"Let us make an end," said Hokosa, "the time is done." + +"Yes," said Owen, "the time is done--and _the king lives!_" + +Even as he spoke the pulses in the old man's forehead were seen to +throb, and the veins in his neck to swell as they had swollen after he +had swallowed the poison; then once more they shrank to their natural +size. Umsuka stirred a hand, groaned, sat up, and spoke:-- + +"What has chanced to me?" he said. "I have descended into deep darkness, +now once again I see light." + +No one answered, for all were staring, terrified and amazed, at the +Messenger--the white wizard to whom had been given power to bring men +back from the gate of death. At length Owen said:-- + +"This has chanced to you, King: that evil which I prophesied to you if +you refused to listen to the voice of mercy has fallen upon you. By now +you would have been dead, had it not pleased Him Whom I serve, working +through me, His messenger, to bring you back to look upon the sun. Thank +Him, therefore, and worship Him, for He alone is Master of the Earth," +and he held the crucifix before his eyes. + +The humbled monarch lifted his hand--he who for many years had made +obeisance to none--and saluted the symbol, saying:-- + +"Messenger, I thank Him and I worship Him, though I know Him not. Say +now, how did His magic work upon me to make me sick to death and to +recover me?" + +"By the hand of man, King, and by the virtues that lie hid in Nature. +Did you not drink of a cup, and were not many things mixed in the +draught? Was it not but now in your mind to speak words that should +bring down the head of pride and evil, and lift up the head of truth and +goodness?" + +"O White Man, how know you these things?" gasped the king. + +"I know them, it is enough. Say, who was it that stirred the bowl, King, +and who gave you to drink?" + +Now Umsuka staggered to his feet, and cried aloud in a voice that was +thick with rage:-- + +"By my head and the heads of my fathers I smell the plot! My son, the +Prince Hafela, has learned my counsel, and would have slain me before I +said words that should set him beneath the feet of Nodwengo. Seize him, +captains, and let him be brought before me for judgment!" + +Men looked this way and that to carry out the command of the king, but +Hafela was gone. Already he was upon the hillside, running as a man has +rarely run before--his face set towards that fastness in the mountains +where he could find refuge among his mother's tribesmen and the +regiments which he commanded. Of late they had been sent thither by the +king that they might be far from the Great Place when their prince was +disinherited. + +"He is fled," said one; "I saw him go." + +"Pursue him and bring him back, dead or alive!" thundered the king. +"A hundred head of cattle to the man who lays hand upon him before he +reaches the _impi_ of the North, for they will fight for him!" + +"Stay!" broke in Owen. "Once before this day I prayed of you, King, to +show mercy, and you refused it. Will you refuse me a second time? Leave +him his life who has lost all else." + +"That he may rebel against me? Well, White Man, I owe you much, and for +this time your wisdom shall be my guide, though my heart speaks against +such gentleness. Hearken, councillors and people, this is my decree: +that Hafela, my son, who would have murdered me, be deposed from his +place as heir to my throne, and that Nodwengo, his brother, be set in +that place, to rule the People of Fire after me when I die." + +"It is good, it is just!" said the council. "Let the king's word be +done." + +"Hearken again," said Umsuka. "Let this white man, who is named +Messenger, be placed in the House of Guests and treated with all honour; +let oxen be given him from the royal herds and corn from the granaries, +and girls of noble blood for wives if he wills them. Hokosa, into your +hand I deliver him, and, great though you are, know this, that if but +a hair of his head is harmed, with your goods and your life you shall +answer for it, you and all your house." + +"Let the king's word be done," said the councillors again. + +"Heralds," went on Umsuka, "proclaim that the feast of the first-fruits +is ended, and my command is that every regiment should seek its +quarters, taking with it a double gift of cattle from the king, who has +been saved alive by the magic of this white man. And now, Messenger, +farewell, for my head grows weary. To-morrow I will speak with you." + +Then the king was led away into the royal house, and save those who were +quartered in it, the regiments passed one by one through the gates of +the kraal, singing their war-songs as they went. Darkness fell upon the +Great Place, and through it parties of men might be seen dragging thence +the corpses of those who had fallen in the fight with sticks, or been +put to death thereafter by order of the king. + +"Messenger," said Hokosa, bowing before Owen, "be pleased to follow +me." Then he led him to a little kraal numbering five or six large and +beautifully made huts, which stood by itself, within its own fence, at +the north end of the Great Place, not far from the house of the king. +In front of the centre hut a fire was burning, and by its light women +appeared cleaning out the huts and bringing food and water. + +"Here you may rest in safety, Messenger," said Hokosa, "seeing that +night and day a guard from the king's own regiment will stand before +your doors." + +"I do not need them," answered Owen, "for none can harm me till my hour +comes. I am a stranger here and you are a great man; yet, Hokosa, which +of us is the safest this night?" + +"Your meaning?" said Hokosa sharply. + +"O man!" answered Owen, "when in a certain hour you crept up the valley +yonder, and climbing the Tree of Death gathered its poison, went I not +with you? When, before that hour, you sat in yonder hut bargaining with +the Prince Hafela--the death of a king for the price of a girl--was I +not with you? Nay, threaten me not--in your own words I say it--'lay +down that assegai, or by my spirit your body shall be thrown to the +kites, as that of one who would murder the king'--and the king's guest!" + +"White Man," whispered Hokosa throwing down the spear, "how can these +things be? I was alone in the hut with the prince, I was alone beneath +the Tree of Doom, and you, as I know well, were beyond the river. Your +spies must be good, White Man." + +"My spirit is my only spy, Hokosa. My spirit watched you, and from your +own lips he learned the secret of the bane and of the antidote. Hafela +mixed the poison as you taught him; I gave the remedy, and saved the +king alive." + +Now the knees of Hokosa grew weak beneath him, and he leaned against the +fence of the kraal for support. + +"I have skill in the art," he said hoarsely; "but, Messenger, your magic +is more than mine, and my life is forfeit to you. To-morrow morning, +you will tell the king all, and to-morrow night I shall hang upon the +dreadful Tree. Well, so be it; I am overmatched at my own trade, and it +is best that I should die. You have plotted well and you have conquered, +and to you belong my place and power." + +"It was you who plotted, and not I, Hokosa. Did you not contrive that I +should reach the Great Place but a little before the poison was given to +the king, so that upon me might be laid the crime of his bewitching? Did +you not plan also that I should be called upon to cure him--a thing +you deemed impossible--and when I failed that I should be straightway +butchered?" + +"Seeing that it is useless to lie to you, I confess that it was so," +answered Hokosa boldly. + +"It was so," repeated Owen; "therefore, according to your law your life +is forfeit, seeing that you dug a pit to snare the innocent feet. But +I come to tell you of a new law, and that which I preach I practise. +Hokosa, I pardon you, and if you will put aside your evil-doing, I +promise you that no word of all your wickedness shall pass my lips." + +"It has not been my fashion to take a boon at the hand of any man, save +of the king only," said the wizard in a humble voice; "but now it seems +that I am come to this. Tell me, White Man, what is the payment that you +seek of me?" + +"None, Hokosa, except that you cease from evil and listen with an open +heart to that message which I am sworn to deliver to you and to all your +nation. Also you would do well to put away that fair woman whose price +was the murder of him that fed you." + +"I cannot do it," answered the wizard. "I will listen to your teaching, +but I will not rob my heart of her it craves alone. White Man, I am not +like the rest of my nation. I have not sought after women; I have but +one wife, and she is old and childless. Now, for the first time in my +days, I love this girl--ah, you know not how!--and I will take her, and +she shall be the mother of my children." + +"Then, Hokosa, you will take her to your sorrow," answered Owen +solemnly, "for she will learn to hate you who have robbed her of royalty +and rule, giving her wizardries and your grey hairs in place of them." + +And thus for that night they parted. + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +THE FIRST TRIAL BY FIRE + +On the following day, while Owen sat eating his morning meal with a +thankful heart, a messenger arrived saying that the king would receive +him whenever it pleased him to come. He answered that he would be with +him before noon, for already he had learned that among natives one loses +little by delay. A great man, they think, is rich in time, and hurries +only to wait upon his superiors. + +At the appointed hour a guard came to lead him to the royal house, and +thither Owen went, followed by John bearing a Bible. Umsuka was seated +beneath a reed roof supported by poles and open on all sides; behind him +stood councillors and attendants, and by him were Nodwengo the prince, +and Hokosa, his mouth and prophet. Although the day was hot, he wore a +kaross or rug of wild catskins, and his face showed that the effects +of the poisoned draught were still upon him. At the approach of Owen he +rose with something of an effort, and, shaking him by the hand, thanked +him for his life, calling him "doctor of doctors." + +"Tell me, Messenger," he added, "how it was that you were able to cure +me, and who were in the plot to kill me? There must have been more than +one," and he rolled his eyes round with angry suspicion. + +"King," answered Owen, "if I knew anything of this matter, the Power +that wrote it on my mind has wiped it out again, or, at the least, has +forbidden me to speak of its secret. I saved you, it is enough; for the +rest, the past is the past, and I come to deal with the present and the +future." + +"This white man keeps his word," thought Hokosa to himself, and he +looked at him thanking him with his eyes. + +"So be it," answered the king; "after all, it is wise not to stir a +dung-heap, for there we find little beside evil odours and the nests of +snakes. Now, what is your business with me, and why do you come from the +white man's countries to visit me? I have heard of those countries, they +are great and far away. I have heard of the white men also--wonderful +men who have all knowledge; but I do not desire to have anything to do +with them, for whenever they meet black people they eat them up, taking +their lands and making them slaves. Once, some years ago, two of you +white people visited us here, but perhaps you know that story." + +"I know it," answered Owen; "one of those men you murdered, and the +other you sent back with a message which he delivered into my ears +across the waters; thousands of miles away." + +"Nay," answered the king, "we did not murder him; he came to us with the +story of a new God who could raise the dead and work other miracles, and +gave such powers to His servants. So a man was slain and we begged of +him to bring him back to life; and since he could not, we killed him +also because he was a liar." + +"He was no liar," said Owen; "since he never told you that he had power +to open the mouth of the grave. Still, Heaven is merciful, and although +you murdered him that was sent to you, his Master has chosen me to +follow in his footsteps. Me also you may murder if you will, and then +another and another; but still the messengers shall come, till at +last your ears are opened and you listen. Only, for such deeds your +punishment must be heavy." + +"What is the message, White Man?" + +"A message of peace, of forgiveness, and of life beyond the grave, of +life everlasting. Listen, King. Yesterday you were near to death; say +now, had you stepped over the edge of it, where would you be this day?" + +Umsuka shrugged his shoulders. "With my fathers, White Man." + +"And where are your fathers?" + +"Nay, I know not--nowhere, everywhere: the night is full of them; in the +night we hear the echo of their voices. When they are angry they haunt +the thunder-cloud, and when they are pleased they smile in the sunshine. +Sometimes also they appear in the shape of snakes, or visit us in +dreams, and then we offer them sacrifice. Yonder on the hillside is a +haunted wood; it is full of their spirits, White Man, but they cannot +talk, they only mutter, and their footfalls sound like the dropping of +heavy rain, for they are strengthless and unhappy, and in the end they +fade away." + +"So you say," answered Owen, "who are not altogether without +understanding, yet know little, never having been taught. Now listen to +me," and very earnestly he preached to him and those about him of peace, +of forgiveness, and of life everlasting. + +"Why should a God die miserably upon a cross?" asked the king at length. + +"That through His sacrifice men might become as gods," answered Owen. +"Believe in Him and He will save you." + +"How can we do that," asked the king again, "when already we have a god? +Can we desert one god and set up another?" + +"What god, King?" + +"I will show him to you, White Man. Let my litter be brought." + +The litter was brought and the king entered it with labouring breath. +Passing through the north gate of the Great Place, the party ascended a +slope of the hill that lay beyond it till they reached a flat plain some +hundreds of yards in width. On this plain vegetation grew scantily, for +here the bed rock of ironstone, denuded with frequent and heavy rains, +was scarcely hidden by a thin crust of earth. On the further side of the +plain, however, and separated from it by a little stream, was a green +bank of deep soft soil, beyond which lay a gloomy valley full of great +trees, that for many generations had been the burying-place of the kings +of the Amasuka. + +"This is the house of the god," said the king. + +"A strange house," answered Owen, "and where is he that dwells in it?" + +"Follow me and I will show you, Messenger; but be swift, for already the +sky grows dark with coming tempest." + +Now at the king's command the bearers bore him across the sere plateau +towards a stone that lay almost in its centre. Presently they halted, +and, pointing to this mass, the king said:-- + +"Behold the god!" + +Owen advanced and examined the object. A glance told him that this god +of the Amasuka was a meteoric stone of unusual size. Most of such stones +are mere shapeless lumps, but this one bore a peculiar resemblance to +a seated human being holding up one arm towards the sky. So strange was +this likeness that, other reasons apart, it seemed not wonderful that +savages should regard the thing with awe and veneration. Rather would it +have been wonderful had they not done so. + +"Say now," said Owen to the king when he had inspected the stone, "what +is the history of this dumb god of yours, and why do you worship him?" + +"Follow me across the stream and I will tell you, Messenger," answered +the king, again glancing at the sky. "The storm gathers, and when it +breaks none are safe upon this plain except the heaven doctors such as +Hokosa and his companions who can bind the lightning." + +So they went and when they reached the further side of the stream Umsuka +descended from his litter. + +"Messenger," he said, "this is the story of the god as it has come down +to us. From the beginning our land has been scourged with lightning +above all other lands, and with the floods of rain that accompany the +lightning. In the old days the Great Place of the king was out yonder +among the mountains, but every year fire from heaven fell upon it, +destroying much people: and at length in a great tempest the house of +the king of that day was smitten and burned, and his wives and children +were turned to ashes. Then that king held a council of his wizards +and fire-doctors, and these having consulted the spirits of their +forefathers, retired into a place apart to fast and pray; yes, it was +in yonder valley, the burying ground of kings, that they hid themselves. +Now on the third night the God of Fire appeared to the chief of the +doctors in his sleep, and he was shaped like a burning brand and smoke +went up from him. Out of the smoke he spoke to the doctor, saying: 'For +this reason it is that I torment your people, that they hate me and +curse at me and pay me little honour.' + +"In his dream the doctor answered: 'How can the people honour a god that +they do not see?' Then the god said: 'Rise up now in the night, all the +company of you, and go take your stand upon the banks of yonder stream, +and I will fall down in fire from heaven, and there on the plain you +shall find my image. Then let your king move his Great Place into the +valley beneath the plain, and henceforth my bolts shall spare it and +him. Only, month by month you shall make prayers and offerings to me; +moreover, the name of the people shall be changed, for it shall be +called the People of Fire.' + +"Now the doctor rose, and having awakened his companions, he told them +of his vision. Then they all of them went down to the banks of this +stream where we now stand. And as they waited there a great tempest +burst over them, and in the midst of that tempest they saw the flaming +figure of a man descend from heaven, and when he touched the earth it +shook. The morning came and there upon the plain before them, where +there had been nothing, sat the likeness of the god as it sits to-day +and shall sit for ever. So the name of this people was changed, and the +king's Great Place was built where it now is. + +"Since that day, Messenger, no hut has been burned and no man killed +in or about the Great Place by fire from heaven, which falls only here +where the god is, though away among the mountains and elsewhere men are +sometimes killed. But wait a while and you shall see with your eyes. +Hokosa, do you, whom the lightning will not touch, take that pole of +dead wood and set it up yonder in the crevice of the rock not far from +the figure of the god." + +"I obey," said Hokosa, "although I have brought no medicines with me. +Perhaps," he added with a faint sneer, "the white man, who is so great a +wizard, will not be afraid to accompany me." + +Now Owen saw that all those present were looking at him curiously. +It was evident they believed that he would not dare to accept the +challenge. Therefore he answered at once and without hesitation:-- + +"Certainly I will come; the pole is heavy for one man to carry, and +where Hokosa goes, there I can go also." + +"Nay, nay, Messenger," said the king, "the lightning knows Hokosa and +will turn from him, but you are a stranger to it and it will eat you +up." + +"King," answered Owen, "I do not believe that Hokosa has any power over +the lightning. It may strike him or it may strike me; but unless my God +so commands, it will strike neither of us." + +"On your head be it, White Man," said Hokosa, with cold anger. "Come, +aid me with the pole." + +Then they lifted the dead tree, and between them carried it into the +middle of the plain, where they set it up in a crevice of the rock. By +this time the storm was almost over them, and watching it Owen perceived +that the lightnings struck always along the bank of the stream, +doubtless following a hidden line of the bed of ironstone. + +"It is but a very little storm," said Hokosa contemptuously, "such as +visit us almost every afternoon at this period of the year. Ah! White +Man, I would that you could see one of our great tempests, for these are +worth beholding. This I fear, however, that you will never do, seeing it +is likely that within some few minutes you will have passed back to that +King who sent you here, with a hole in your head and a black mark down +your spine." + +"That we shall learn presently, Hokosa," answered Owen; "for my part, I +pray that no such fate may overtake you." + +Now Hokosa moved himself away, muttering and pointing with his fingers, +but Owen remained standing within about thirty yards of the pole. +Suddenly there came a glare of light, and the pole was split into +fragments; but although the shock was perceptible, they remained unhurt. +Almost immediately a second flash leaped from the cloud, and Owen saw +Hokosa stagger and fall to his knees. "The man is struck," he thought +to himself, but it was not so, for recovering his balance, the wizard +walked back to the stream. + +Owen never stirred. From boyhood courage had been one of his good +qualities, but it was a courage of the spirit rather than of the flesh. +For instance, at this very moment, so far as his body was concerned, +he was much afraid, and did not in the least enjoy standing upon an +ironstone plateau at the imminent risk of being destroyed by lightning. +But even if he had not had an end to gain, he would have scorned to give +way to his human frailties; also, now as always, his faith supported +him. As it happened the storm, which was slight, passed by, and no more +flashes fell. When it was over he walked back to where the king and his +court were standing. + +"Messenger," said Umsuka, "you are not only a great doctor, you are also +a brave man, and such I honour. There is no one among us here, not being +a lord of the lightning, who would have dared to stand upon that place +with Hokosa while the flashes fell about him. Yet you have done it; it +was Hokosa who was driven away. You have passed the trial by fire, and +henceforth, whether we refuse your message or accept it, you are great +in this land." + +"There is no need to praise me, King," answered Owen. "The risk is +something; but I knew that I was protected from it, seeing that I shall +not die until my hour comes, and it is not yet. Listen now: your god +yonder is nothing but a stone such as I have often seen before, for +sometimes in great tempests they come to earth from the clouds. You are +not the first people that have worshipped such a stone, but now we know +better. Also this plain before you is full of iron, and iron draws +the lightning. That is why it never strikes your town below. The iron +attracts it more strongly than earth and huts of straw. Again, while the +pole stood I was in little danger, for the lightning strikes the highest +thing; but after the pole was shattered and Hokosa wisely went away, +then I was in some danger, only no flashes fell. I am not a magician, +King, but I know some things that you do not know, and I trust in One +whom I shall lead you to trust also." + +"We will talk of this more hereafter," said the king hurriedly, "for one +day, I have heard and seen enough. Also I do not believe your words, +for I have noted ever that those who are the greatest wizards of all say +continually that they have no magic power. Hokosa, you have been famous +in your day, but it seems that henceforth you who have led must follow." + +"The battle is not yet fought, King," answered Hokosa. "To-day I met the +lightnings without my medicines, and it was a little storm; when I +am prepared with my medicines and the tempest is great, then I will +challenge this white man to face me yonder, and then in that hour _my_ +god shall show his strength and _his_ God shall not be able to save +him." + +"That we shall see when the time comes," answered Owen, with a smile. + +That night as Owen sat in his hut working at the translation of St. +John, the door was opened and Hokosa entered. + +"White Man," said the wizard, "you are too strong for me, though whence +you have your power I know not. Let us make a bargain. Show me your +magic and I will show you mine, and we will rule the land between us. +You and I are much akin--we are great; we have the spirit sight; we +know that there are things beyond the things we see and hear and feel; +whereas, for the rest, they are fools, following the flesh alone. I have +spoken." + +"Very gladly will I show you my magic, Hokosa," answered Owen +cheerfully, "since, to speak truth, though I know you to be wicked, and +guess that you would be glad to be rid of me by fair means or foul; yet +I have taken a liking for you, seeing in you one who from a sinner may +grow into a saint. + +"This then is my magic: To love God and serve man; to eschew wizardry, +wealth, and power; to seek after holiness, poverty and humility; to +deny your flesh, and to make yourself small in the sight of men, that so +perchance you may grow great in the sight of Heaven and save your soul +alive." + +"I have no stomach for that lesson," said Hokosa. + +"Yet you shall live to hunger for it," answered Owen. And the wizard +went away angered but wondering. + + + +CHAPTER IX + +THE CRISIS + +Now, day by day for something over a month Owen preached the Gospel +before the king, his councillors, and hundreds of the head men of the +nation. They listened to him attentively, debating the new doctrine +point by point; for although they might be savages, these people were +very keen-witted and subtle. Very patiently did Owen sow, and at length +to his infinite joy he also gathered in his first-fruit. One night as he +sat in his hut labouring as usual at the work of translation, wherein +he was assisted by John whom he had taught to read and write, the Prince +Nodwengo entered and greeted him. For a while he sat silent watching the +white man at his task, then he said:-- + +"Messenger, I have a boon to ask of you. Can you teach me to understand +those signs which you set upon the paper, and to make them also as does +John your servant?" + +"Certainly," answered Owen; "if you will come to me at noon to-morrow, +we will begin." + +The prince thanked him, but he did not go away. Indeed, from his manner +Owen guessed that he had something more upon his mind. At length it came +out. + +"Messenger," he said, "you have told us of baptism whereby we are +admitted into the army of your King; say, have you the power of this +rite?" + +"I have." + +"And is your servant here baptised?" + +"He is." + +"Then if he who is a common man can be baptised, why may not I who am a +prince?" + +"In baptism," answered Owen, "there is no distinction between the +highest and the lowest; but if you believe, then the door is open and +through it you can join the company of Heaven." + +"Messenger, I do believe," answered the prince humbly. + +Then Owen was very joyful, and that same night, with John for a witness, +he baptised the prince, giving him the new name of Constantine, after +the first Christian emperor. + +On the following day Nodwengo, in the presence of Owen, who on this +point would suffer no concealment, announced to the king that he had +become a Christian. Umsuka heard, and for a while sat silent. Then he +said in a troubled voice:-- + +"Truly, Messenger, in the words of that Book from which you read to us, +I fear that you have come hither to bring, 'not peace but a sword.' Now +when the witch-doctors and the priests of fire learn this, that he whom +I have chosen to succeed me has become the servant of another faith, +they will stir up the soldiers and there will be civil war. I pray you, +therefore, keep the matter secret, at any rate for a while, seeing that +the lives of many are at stake." + +"In this, my father," answered the prince, "I must do as the Messenger +bids me; but if you desire it, take from me the right of succession and +call back my brother from the northern mountains." + +"That by poison or the spear he may put all of us to death, Nodwengo! +Be not afraid; ere long when he learns all that is happening here, your +brother Hafela will come from the northern mountains, and the spears of +his _impis_ shall be countless as the stars of the sky. Messenger, you +desire to draw us to the arms of your God--and myself, I am at +times minded to follow the path of my son Nodwengo and seek a refuge +there--but say, will they be strong enough to protect us from Hafela and +the warriors of the north? Already he gathers his clans, and already +my captains desert to him. By-and-by, in the spring-time--may I be dead +before the day--he will roll down upon us like a flood of water----" + +"To fall back like waters from a wall of rock," answered Owen. "'Let not +your heart be troubled,' for my Master can protect His servants, and He +will protect you. But first you must confess Him openly, as your son has +done." + +"Nay, I am too old to hurry," said the king with a sigh. "Your tale +seems full of promise to one who is near the grave; but how can I know +that it is more than a dream? And shall I abandon the worship of my +fathers and change, or strive to change, the customs of my people to +follow after dreams? Nodwengo has chosen his part, and I do not blame +him; yet, for the present I beseech you both to keep silence on this +matter, lest to save bloodshed I should be driven to side against you." + +"So be it, King," said Owen; "but I warn you that Truth has a loud +voice, and that it is hard to hide the shining of a light in a dark +place, nor does it please my Lord to be denied by those who confess +Him." + +"I am weary," replied the old king, and they saluted him and went. + +In obedience to the wish of Umsuka his father, the conversion of +Nodwengo was kept secret, and yet--none knew how--the thing leaked out. +Soon the women in their huts, and the soldiers by their watch-fires, +whispered it in each other's ears that he who was appointed to be +their future ruler had become a servant of the unknown God. That he had +forsworn war and all the delights of men; that he would take but one +wife and appear before the army, not in the uniform of a general, but +clad in a white robe, and carry, not the broad spear, but a cross of +wood. Swiftly the strange story flew from mouth to mouth, yet it was not +altogether believed till it chanced that one day when he was reviewing a +regiment, a soldier who was drunk with beer openly insulted the prince, +calling him "a coward who worshipped a coward." + +Now men held their breaths, waiting to see this fool led away to die by +torture of the ant-heap or some other dreadful doom. But the prince only +answered: + +"Soldier, you are drunk, therefore I forgive you your words. Whether He +Whom you blaspheme will forgive you, I know not. Get you gone!" + +The warriors stared and murmured, for by those words, wittingly or +unwittingly, their general had confessed his faith, and that day they +made ribald songs about him in the camp. But on the morrow when they +learned how that the man whom the prince spared had been seized by +a lion and taken away as he sat at night with his companions in the +bivouac, his mouth full of boasting of his own courage in offering +insult to the prince and the new faith, then they looked at each other +askance and said little more of the matter. Doubtless it was chance, and +yet this Spirit Whom the Messenger preached was one of Whom it seemed +wisest not to speak lightly. + +But still the trouble grew, for by now the witch-doctors, with Hokosa +at the head of them, were frightened for their place and power, and +fomented it both openly and in secret. Of the women they asked what +would become of them when men were allowed to take but one wife? Of the +heads of kraals, how they would grow wealthy when their daughters ceased +to be worth cattle? Of the councillors and generals, how the land could +be protected from its foes when they were commanded to lay down the +spear? Of the soldiers, whose only trade was war, how it would please +them to till the fields like girls? Dismay took hold of the nation, and +although they were much loved, there was open talk of killing or driving +away the king and Nodwengo who favoured the white man, and of setting up +Hafela in their place. + +At length the crisis came, and in this fashion. The Amasuka, like many +other African tribes, had a strange veneration for certain varieties +of snakes which they declared to be possessed by the spirits of their +ancestors. It was a law among them that if one of these snakes entered +a kraal it must not be killed, or even driven away, under pain of death, +but must be allowed to share with the human occupants any hut that +it might select. As a result of this enforced hospitality deaths from +snake-bite were numerous among the people; but when they happened in +a kraal its owners met with little sympathy, for the doctors explained +that the real cause of them was the anger of some ancestral spirit +towards his descendants. Now, before John was despatched to instruct +Owen in the language of the Amasuka a certain girl was sealed to him +as his future wife, and this girl, who during his absence had been +orphaned, he had married recently with the approval of Owen, who at +this time was preparing her for baptism. On the third morning after his +marriage John appeared before his master in the last extremity of grief +and terror. + +"Help me, Messenger!" he cried, "for my ancestral spirit has entered our +hut and bitten my wife as she lay asleep." + +"Are you mad?" asked Owen. "What is an ancestral spirit, and how can it +have bitten your wife?" + +"A snake," gasped John, "a green snake of the worst sort." + +Then Owen remembered the superstition, and snatching blue-stone and +spirits of wine from his medicine chest, he rushed to John's hut. As it +happened, he was fortunately in time with his remedies and succeeded +in saving the woman's life, whereby his reputation as a doctor and a +magician, already great, was considerably enlarged. + +"Where is the snake?" he asked when at length she was out of danger. + +"Yonder, under the kaross," answered John, pointing to a skin rug which +lay in the corner. + +"Have you killed it?" + +"No, Messenger," answered the man, "I dare not. Alas! we must live with +the thing here in the hut till it chooses to go away." + +"Truly," said Owen, "I am ashamed to think that you who are a Christian +should still believe so horrible a superstition. Does your faith teach +you that the souls of men enter into snakes?" + +Now John hung his head; then snatching a kerry, he threw aside the +kaross, revealing a great green serpent seven or eight feet long. With +fury he fell upon the reptile, killed it by repeated blows, and hurled +it into the courtyard outside the house. + +"Behold, father," he said, "and judge whether I am still superstitious." +Then his countenance fell and he added: "Yet my life must pay for this +deed, for it is an ancient law among us that to harm one of these snakes +is death." + +"Have no fear," said Owen, "a way will be found out of this trouble." + +That afternoon Owen heard a great hubbub outside his kraal, and going to +see what was the matter, he found a party of the witch-doctors dragging +John towards the place of judgment, which was by the king's house. +Thither he followed to discover that the case was already in course of +being opened before the king, his council, and a vast audience of +the people. Hokosa was the accuser. In brief and pregnant sentences, +producing the dead snake in proof of his argument, he pointed out the +enormity of the offence against the laws of the Amasuka wherewith the +prisoner was charged, demanding that the man who had killed the house of +his ancestral spirit should instantly be put to death. + +"What have you to say?" asked the king of John. + +"This, O King," replied John, "that I am a Christian, and to me that +snake is nothing but a noxious reptile. It bit my wife, and had it not +been for the medicine of the Messenger, she would have perished of the +poison. Therefore I killed it before it could harm others." + +"It is a fair answer," said the king. "Hokosa, I think that this man +should go free." + +"The king's will is the law," replied Hokosa bitterly; "but if the law +were the king's will, the decision would be otherwise. This man has +slain, not a snake, but that which held the spirit of an ancestor, and +for the deed he deserves to die. Hearken, O King, for the business is +larger than it seems. How are we to be governed henceforth? Are we to +follow our ancient rules and customs, or must we submit ourselves to a +new rule and a new custom? I tell you, O King, that the people murmur; +they are without light, they wander in the darkness, they cannot +understand. Play with us no more, but let us hear the truth that we may +judge of this matter." + +Umsuka looked at Owen, but made no reply. + +"I will answer you, Hokosa," said Owen, "for I am the spring of all this +trouble, and at my command that man, my disciple, killed yonder snake. +What is it? It is nothing but a reptile; no human spirit ever dwelt +within it as you imagine in your superstition. You ask to hear the +truth; day by day I have preached it in your ears and you have not +listened, though many among you have listened and understood. What is it +that you seek?" + +"We seek, Messenger, to be rid of you, your fantasies and your religion; +and we demand that our king should expel you and restore the ancient +laws, or failing this, that you should prove your power openly before us +all. Your word, O King!" + +Umsuka thought for a while and answered:-- + +"This is my word, Hokosa: I will not drive the Messenger from the land, +for he is a good man; he saved my life, and there is virtue in his +teaching, towards which I myself incline. Yet it is just that he should +be asked to prove his power, so that an end may be put to doubt and all +of us may learn what god we are to worship." + +"How can I prove my power," asked Owen, "further than I have proved it +already? Does Hokosa desire to set up his god against my God--the false +against the true?" + +"I do," answered the wizard with passion, "and according to the issue +let the judgment be. Let us halt no longer between two opinions, let us +become wholly Christian or rest wholly heathen, for to be divided is to +be destroyed. The magic of the Messenger is great; once and for all let +us learn if it is more than our magic. Let us put him and his doctrines +to the trial by fire." + +"What is the trial by fire?" asked Owen. + +"You have seen something of it, White Man, but not much. This is the +trial by fire: to stand yonder before the face of the god of thunder +when a great tempest rages--not such a storm as you saw, but a storm +that splits the heavens--and to come thence unscathed. Listen: I who +am a 'heaven-herd,' I who know the signs of the weather, tell you that +within two days such a tempest as this will break upon us. Then White +Man, I and my companions will be ready to meet you on the plain. Take +the cross by which you swear and set it up yonder and stand by it, and +with you your converts, Nodwengo the prince, and this man whom you have +named John, if they dare to go. Over against you, around the symbol of +the god by which we swear, will stand I and my company, and we will pray +our god and you shall pray your God. Then the storm will break upon us, +and when it is ended we shall learn which of us remain alive. If you and +your cross are shattered, to us will be the victory; if we are laid low, +take it for your own. Your judgment, King!" + +Again Umsuka thought and answered:-- + +"So be it. Messenger, hear me. There is no need for you to accept this +challenge; but if you will not accept it, then go from my country in +peace, taking with you those who cleave to you. If on the other hand +you do accept it, these shall be the stakes: that if you pass the trial +unharmed, and the fire-doctors are swept away, your creed shall be my +creed and the creed of the land; but if the fire-doctors prevail against +you, then it shall be death or banishment to any who profess that creed. +Now choose!" + +"I have chosen," said Owen. "I will meet Hokosa and his company on the +Place of fire whenever he may appoint, but for the others I cannot say." + +"We will come with you," said Nodwengo and John, with one voice; "where +you go, Messenger, we will surely follow." + + + +CHAPTER X + +THE SECOND TRIAL BY FIRE + +When this momentous discussion was finished, as usual Owen preached +before the king, expounding the Scriptures and taking for his subject +the duty of faith. As he went back to his hut he saw that the snake +which John had killed had been set upon a pole in that part of the +Great Place which served as a market, and that hundreds of natives were +gathered beneath it gesticulating and talking excitedly. + +"See the work of Hokosa," he thought to himself. "Moses set up a serpent +to save the people; yonder wizard sets up one to destroy them." + +That evening Owen had no heart for his labours, for his mind was heavy +at the prospect of the trial which lay before him. Not that he cared for +his own life, for of this he scarcely thought; it was the prospects of +his cause which troubled him. It seemed much to expect that Heaven again +should throw over him the mantle of its especial protection, and yet +if it did not do so there was an end of his mission among the People of +Fire. Well, he did not seek this trial--he would have avoided it if +he could, but it had been thrust upon him, and he was forced to choose +between it and the abandonment of the work which he had undertaken with +such high hopes and pushed so far toward success. He did not choose the +path, it had been pointed out to him to walk upon; and if it ended in a +precipice, at least he would have done his best. + +As he thought thus John entered the hut, panting. + +"What is the matter?" Owen asked. + +"Father, the people saw and pursued me because of the death of that +accursed snake. Had I not run fast and escaped them, I think they would +have killed me." + +"At least you have escaped, John; so be comforted and return thanks." + +"Father," said the man presently, "I know that you are great, and can do +many wonderful things, but have you in truth power over lightning?" + +"Why do you ask?" + +"Because a great tempest is brewing, and if you have not we shall +certainly be killed when we stand yonder on the Place of Fire." + +"John," he said, "I cannot speak to the lightning in a voice which it +can hear. I cannot say to it 'go yonder,' or 'come hither,' but He Who +made it can do so. Why do you tempt me with your doubts? Have I not +told you the story of Elijah the prophet and the priests of Baal? Did +Elijah's Master forsake him, and shall He forsake us? Also this is +certain, that all the medicine of Hokosa and his wizards will not turn a +lightning flash by the breadth of a single hair. God alone can turn it, +and for the sake of His cause among these people I believe that He will +do so." + +Thus Owen spoke on till, in reproving the weakness of another, he felt +his own faith come back to him and, remembering the past and how he +had been preserved in it, the doubt and trouble went out of his mind to +return no more. + +The third day--the day of trial--came. For sixty hours or more the +heat of the weather had been intense; indeed, during all that time the +thermometer in Owen's hut, notwithstanding the protection of a thick +hatch, had shown the temperature to vary between a maximum of 113 and a +minimum of 101 degrees. Now, in the early morning, it stood at 108. + +"Will the storm break to-day?" asked Owen of Nodwengo, who came to visit +him. + +"They say so, Messenger, and I think it by the feel of the air. If so, +it will be a very great storm, for the heaven is full of fire. Already +Hokosa and the doctors are at their rites upon the plain yonder, but +there will be no need to join them till two hours after midday." + +"Is the cross ready?" asked Owen. + +"Yes, and set up. It is a heavy cross; six men could scarcely carry it. +Oh! Messenger, I am not afraid--and yet, have you no medicine? If not, +I fear that the lightning will fall upon the cross as it fell upon the +pole and then----" + +"Listen, Nodwengo," said Owen, "I know a medicine, but I will not use +it. You see that waggon chain? Were one end of it buried in the ground +and the other with a spear blade made fast to it hung to the top of the +cross, we could live out the fiercest storm in safety. But I say that +I will not use it. Are we witch doctors that we should take refuge in +tricks? No, let faith be our shield, and if it fail us, then let us die. +Pray now with me that it may not fail us." + +***** + +It was afternoon. All round the Field of Fire were gathered thousands +upon thousands of the people of the Amasuka. The news of this duel +between the God of the white man and their god had travelled far and +wide, and even the very aged who could scarcely crawl and the little +ones who must be carried were collected there to see the issue. Nor had +they need to fear disappointment, for already the sky was half hidden +by dense thunder-clouds piled ridge on ridge, and the hush of the coming +tempest lay upon the earth. Round about the meteor stone which they +called a god, each of them stirring a little gourd of medicine that was +placed upon the ground before him, but uttering no word, were gathered +Hokosa and his followers to the number of twenty. They were all of them +arrayed in their snakeskin dresses and other wizard finery. Also each +man held in his hand a wand fashioned from a human thigh-bone. In front +of the stone burned a little fire, which now and again Hokosa fed with +aromatic leaves, at the same time pouring medicine from his bowl upon +the holy stone. Opposite the symbol of the god, but at a good distance +from it, a great cross of white wood was set up in the rock by a spot +which the witch-doctors themselves had chosen. Upon the banks of the +stream, in the place apart, were the king, his councillors and the +regiment on guard, and with them Owen, the Prince Nodwengo and John. + +"The storm will be fierce," said the king uneasily, glancing at the +western sky, upon whose bosom the blue lightnings played with an +incessant flicker. Then he bade those about him stand back, and calling +Owen and the prince to him, said: "Messenger, my son tells me that your +wisdom knows a plan whereby you may be preserved from the fury of the +tempest. Use it, I pray of you, Messenger, that your life may be saved, +and with it the life of the only son who is left to me." + +"I cannot," answered Owen, "for thus by doubting Him I should tempt my +Master. Still, it is not laid upon the prince to accompany through this +trial. Let him stay here, and I alone will stand beneath the cross." + +"Stay, Nodwengo," implored the old man. + +"I did not think to live to hear my father bid me, one of the royal +blood of the Amasuka, to desert my captain in the hour of battle and +hide myself in the grass like a woman," answered the prince with a +bitter smile. "Nay, it may be that death awaits me yonder, but nothing +except death shall keep me back from the venture." + +"It is well spoken," said the king; "be it as you will." + +Now the company of wizards, leaving their medicine-pots upon the ground, +formed themselves in a treble line, and marching to where the king +stood, they saluted him. Then they sang the praises of their god, and in +a song that had been prepared, heaped insult upon the God of the +white man and upon the messenger who preached Him. To all of this Owen +listened in silence. + +"He is a coward!" cried their spokesman; "he has not a word to say. He +skulks there in his white robes behind the majesty of the king. Let him +go forth and stand by his piece of wood. He dare not go! He thinks the +hillside safer. Come out, little White Man, and we will show you how +we manage the lightnings. Ah! they shall fly about you like spears in +battle. You shall throw yourself upon the ground and shriek in terror, +and then they will lick you up and you shall be no more, and there will +be an end of you and the symbol of your God." + +"Cease your boastings," said the king shortly, "and get you back to your +place, knowing that if it should chance that the white man conquers you +will be called upon to answer for these words." + +"We shall be ready, O King," they cried; and amidst the cheers of the +vast audience they marched back to their station, still singing the +blasphemous mocking song. + +Now to the west all the heavens were black as night, though the +eastern sky still showed blue and cloudless. Nature lay oppressed with +silence--silence intense and unnatural; and so great was the heat that +the air danced visibly above the ironstone as it dances about a glowing +stove. Suddenly the quietude was broken by a moaning sound of wind; +the grass stirred, the leaves of the trees began to shiver, and an icy +breath beat upon Owen's brow. + +"Let us be going," he said, and lifting the ivory crucifix above his +head, he passed the stream and walked towards the wooden cross. After +him came the Prince Nodwengo, wearing his royal dress of leopard skin, +and after him, John, arrayed in a linen robe. + +As the little procession appeared to their view some of the soldiers +began to mock, but almost instantly the laughter died away. Rude as +they were, these savages understood that here was no occasion for their +mirth, that the three men indeed seemed clothed with a curious dignity. +Perhaps it was their slow and quiet gait, perhaps a sense of the errand +upon which they were bound; or it may have been the strange unearthly +light that fell upon them from over the edge of the storm cloud; at the +least, as the multitude became aware, their appearance was impressive. +They reached the cross and took up their stations there, Owen in front +of it, Nodwengo to the right, and John to the left. + +Now a sharp squall of strong wind swept across the space, and with it +came a flaw of rain. It passed by, and the storm that had been muttering +and growling in the distance began to burst. The great clouds seemed to +grow and swell, and from the breast of them swift lightnings leapt, to +be met by other lightnings rushing upwards from the earth. The air was +filled with a tumult of uncertain wind and a hiss as of distant rain. +Then the batteries of thunder were opened, and the world shook with +their volume. Down from on high the flashes fell blinding and incessant, +and by the light of them the fire-doctors could be seen running to and +fro, pointing now here and now there with their wands of human bones, +and pouring the medicines from their gourds upon the ground and upon +each other. Owen and his two companions could be seen also, standing +quietly with clasped hands, while above them towered the tall white +cross. + +At length the storm was straight over head. Slowly it advanced in +its awe-inspiring might as flash after flash, each more fantastic and +horrible than the last, smote upon the floor of ironstone. It played +about the shapes of the doctors, who in the midst of it looked like +devils in an inferno. It crept onwards towards the station of the cross, +but--_it never reached the cross_. + +One flash struck indeed within fifty paces of where Owen stood. Then of +a sudden a marvel happened, or something which to this day the People of +Fire talk of as a marvel, for in an instant the rain began to pour like +a wall of water stretching from earth to heaven, and the wind changed. +It had been blowing from the west, now it blew from the east with the +force of a gale. + +It blew and rolled the tempest back upon itself, causing it to return +to the regions whence it had gathered. At the very foot of the cross +its march was stayed; there was the water-line, as straight as if it had +been drawn with a rule. The thunder-clouds that were pressed forward met +the clouds that were pressed back, and together they seemed to come +to earth, filling the air with a gloom so dense that the eye could not +pierce it. To the west was a wall of blackness towering to the heavens; +to the east, light, blue and unholy, gleamed upon the white cross and +the figures of its watchers. + +For some seconds--twenty or more--there was a lull, and then it +seemed as though all hell had broken loose upon the world. The wall of +blackness became a wall of flame, in which strange and ardent shapes +appeared ascending and descending; the thunder bellowed till the +mountains rocked, and in one last blaze, awful and indescribable, the +skies melted into a deluge of fire. In the flare of it Owen thought that +he saw the figures of men falling this way and that, then he staggered +against the cross for support and his senses failed him. + +***** + +When they returned again, he perceived the storm being drawn back from +the face of the pale earth like a pall from the face of the dead, and he +heard a murmur of fear and wonder rising from ten thousand throats. + +***** + +Well might they fear and wonder, for of the twenty and one wizards +eleven were dead, four were paralysed by shock, five were flying in +their terror, and one, Hokosa himself, stood staring at the fallen, a +very picture of despair. Nor was this all, for the meteor stone with a +human shape which for generations the People of Fire had worshipped as a +god, lay upon the plain in fused and shattered fragments. + +The people saw, and a sound as of a hollow groan of terror went up from +them. Then they were silent. For a while Owen and his companions were +silent also, since their hearts were too full for speech. Then he +said:-- + +"As the snake fell harmless from the hand of Paul, so has the lightning +turned back from me, who strive to follow in his footsteps, working +death and dismay among those who would have harmed us. May forgiveness +be theirs who were without understanding. Brethren, let us return and +make report to the king." + +Now, as they had come, so they went back; first Owen with the crucifix, +next to him Nodwengo, and last of the three John. They drew near to the +king, when suddenly, moved by a common impulse, the thousands of the +people upon the banks of the stream with one accord threw themselves +upon their knees before Owen, calling him God and offering him worship. +Infected by the contagion, Umsuka, his guard and his councillors +followed their example, so that of all the multitude Hokosa alone +remained upon his feet, standing by his dishonoured and riven deity. + +"Rise!" cried Owen aghast. "Would you do sacrilege, and offer worship to +a man? Rise, I command you!" + +Then the king rose, saying:-- + +"You are no man, Messenger, you are a spirit." + +"He is a spirit," repeated the multitude after him. + +"I am _not_ a spirit, I am yet a man," cried Owen again, "but the Spirit +Whom I serve has made His power manifest in me His servant, and your +idols are smitten with the sword of His power, O ye Sons of Fire! Hokosa +still lives, let him be brought hither." + +They fetched Hokosa, and he stood before them. + +"You have seen, Wizard," said the king. "What have you to say?" + +"Nothing," answered Hokosa, "save that victory is to the Cross, and to +the white man who preaches it, for his magic is greater than our magic. +By his command the tempest was stayed, and the boasts we hurled fell +back upon our heads and the head of our god to destroy us." + +"Yes," said the king, "victory is to the Cross, and henceforth the Cross +shall be worshipped in this land, or at least no other god shall be +worshipped. Let us be going. Come with me, Messenger, Lord of the +Lightning." + + + +CHAPTER XI + +THE WISDOM OF THE DEAD + +On the morrow Owen baptised the king, many of his councillors, and +some twenty others whom he considered fit to receive the rite. Also he +despatched his first convert John, with other messengers, on a three +months' journey to the coast, giving them letters acquainting the bishop +and others with his marvellous success, and praying that missionaries +might be sent to assist him in his labours. + +Now day by day the Church grew till it numbered hundreds of souls, and +thousands more hovered on its threshold. From dawn to dark Owen toiled, +preaching, exhorting, confessing, gathering in his harvest; and from +dark to midnight he pored over his translation of the Scriptures, +teaching Nodwengo and a few others how to read and write them. But +although his efforts were crowned with so signal and extraordinary a +triumph, he was well aware of the dangers that threatened the life of +the infant Church. Many accepted it indeed, and still more tolerated +it; but there remained multitudes who regarded the new religion with +suspicion and veiled hatred. Nor was this strange, seeing that the +hearts of men are not changed in an hour or their ancient customs easily +overset. + +On one point, indeed, Owen had to give way. The Amasuka were a +polygamous people; all their law and traditions were interwoven with +polygamy, and to abolish that institution suddenly and with violence +would have brought their social fabric to the ground. Now, as he knew +well, the missionary Church declares in effect that no man can be both a +Christian and a polygamist; therefore among the followers of that custom +the missionary Church makes but little progress. Not without many qualms +and hesitations, Owen, having only the Scriptures to consult, came to a +compromise with his converts. If a man already married to more than one +wife wished to become a Christian, he permitted him to do so upon the +condition that he took no more wives; while a man unmarried at the time +of his conversion might take one wife only. This decree, liberal as it +was, caused great dissatisfaction among both men and women. But it was +as nothing compared to the feeling that was evoked by Owen's preaching +against all war not undertaken in self-defence, and against the strict +laws which he prevailed upon the king to pass, suppressing the practice +of wizardry, and declaring the chief or doctor who caused a man to +be "smelt out" and killed upon charges of witchcraft to be guilty of +murder. + +At first whenever Owen went abroad he was surrounded by thousands of +people who followed him in the expectation that he would work miracles, +which, after his exploits with the lightning, they were well persuaded +that he could do if he chose. But he worked no more miracles; he only +preached to them a doctrine adverse to their customs and foreign to +their thoughts. + +So it came about that in time, when the novelty was gone off and the +story of his victory over the Fire-god had grown stale, although the +work of conversion went on steadily, many of the people grew weary of +the white man and his doctrines. Soon this weariness found expression in +various ways, and in none more markedly than by the constant desertions +from the ranks of the king's regiments. At first, by Owen's advice, +the king tolerated these desertions; but at length, having obtained +information that an entire regiment purposed absconding at dawn, +he caused it to be surrounded and seized by night. Next morning he +addressed that regiment, saying:-- + +"Soldiers, you think that because I have become a Christian and will not +permit unnecessary bloodshed, I am also become a fool. I will teach +you otherwise. One man in every twenty of you shall be killed, and +henceforth any soldier who attempts to desert will be killed also!" + +The order was carried out, for Owen could not find a word to say against +it, with the result that desertions almost ceased, though not before the +king had lost some eight or nine thousand of his best soldiers. Worst of +all, these soldiers had gone to join Hafela in his mountain fastnesses; +and the rumour grew that ere long they would appear again, to claim the +crown for him or to take it by force of arms. + +Now too a fresh complication arose. The old king sickened of his last +illness, and soon it became known that he must die. A month later die +he did, passing away peacefully in Owen's arms, and with his last +breath exhorting his people to cling to the Christian religion; to take +Nodwengo for their king and to be faithful to him. + +The king died, and that same day was buried by Owen in the gloomy +resting-place of the blood-royal of the People of Fire, where a +Christian priest now set foot for the first time. + +On the morrow Nodwengo was proclaimed king with much ceremony in face of +the people and of all the army that remained to him. One captain raised +a cry for Hafela his brother. Nodwengo caused him to be seized and +brought before him. + +"Man," he said, "on this my coronation day I will not stain my hand with +blood. Listen. You cry upon Hafela, and to Hafela you shall go, taking +him this message. Tell him that I, Nodwengo, have succeeded to the crown +of Umsuka, my father, by his will and the will of the people. Tell him +it is true that I have become a Christian, and that Christians follow +not after war but peace. Tell him, however, that though I am a Christian +I have not forgotten how to fight or how to rule. It has reached my +ears that it is his purpose to attack me with a great force which he is +gathering, and to possess himself of my throne. If he should choose to +come, I shall be ready to meet him; but I counsel him against coming, +for it will be to find his death. Let him stay where he is in peace, and +be my subject; or let him go afar with those that cleave to him, and set +up a kingdom of his own, for then I shall not follow him; but let him +not dare to lift a spear against me, his sovereign, since if he does so +he shall be treated as a rebel and find the doom of a rebel. Begone, and +show your face here no more!" + +The man crept away crestfallen; but all who heard that speech broke into +cheering, which, as its purport was repeated from rank to rank, spread +far and wide; for now the army learned that in becoming a Christian, +Nodwengo had not become a woman. Of this indeed he soon gave them ample +proof. The old king's grip upon things had been lax, that of Nodwengo +was like iron. He practised no cruelties, and did injustice to none; +but his discipline was severe, and soon the regiments were brought to a +greater pitch of proficiency than they had ever reached before, although +they were now allowed to marry when they pleased, a boon that hitherto +had been denied to them. Moreover, by Owen's help, he designed an +entirely new system of fortification of the kraal and surrounding hills, +which would, it was thought, make the place impregnable. These and many +other acts, equally vigorous and far-seeing, put new heart into the +nation. Also the report of them put fear into Hafela, who, it was +rumoured, had now given up all idea of attack. + +Some there were, however, who looked upon these changes with little +love, and Hokosa was one of them. After his defeat in the duel by fire, +for a while his spirit was crushed. Hitherto he had more or less been +a believer in the protecting influence of his own god or fetish, who +would, as he thought, hold his priests scatheless from the lightning. +Often and often had he stood in past days upon that plain while the +great tempests broke around his head, and returned thence unharmed, +attributing to sorcery a safety that was really due to chance. From time +to time indeed a priest was killed; but, so his companions held, the +misfortune resulted invariably from the man's neglect of some rite, or +was a mark of the anger of the heavens. + +Now Hokosa had lived to see all these convictions shattered: he had seen +the lightning, which he pretended to be able to control, roll back +upon him from the foot of the Christian cross, reducing his god to +nothingness and his companions to corpses. + +At first Hokosa was dismayed, but as time went on hope came back to him. +Stripped of his offices and power, and from the greatest in the nation, +after the king, become one of small account, still no harm or violence +was attempted towards him. He was left wealthy and in peace, and living +thus he watched and listened with open eyes and ears, waiting till the +tide should turn. It seemed that he would not have long to wait, for +reasons that have been told. + +"Why do you sit here like a vulture on a rock," asked the girl Noma, +whom he had taken to wife, "when you might be yonder with Hafela, +preparing him by your wisdom for the coming war?" + +"Because I am a king-vulture, and I wait for the sick bull to die," he +answered, pointing to the Great Place beneath him. "Say, why should I +bring Hafela to prey upon a carcase I have marked down for my own?" + +"Now you speak well," said Noma; "the bull suffers from a strange +disease, and when he is dead another must lead the herd." + +"That is so," answered her husband, "and, therefore, I am patient." + +It was shortly after this conversation that the old king died, with +results very different from those which Hokosa had anticipated. Although +he was a Christian, to his surprise Nodwengo showed that he was also a +strong ruler, and that there was little chance of the sceptre slipping +from his hand--none indeed while the white teacher was there to guide +him. + +"What will you do now, Hokosa?" asked Noma his wife upon a certain day. +"Will you turn to Hafela after all?" + +"No," answered Hokosa; "I will consult my ancient lore. Listen. Whatever +else is false, this is true: that magic exists, and I am its master. For +a while it seemed to me that the white man was greater at the art than I +am; but of late I have watched him and listened to his doctrines, and I +believe that this is not so. It is true that in the beginning he read my +plans in a dream, or otherwise; it is true that he hurled the lightning +back upon my head; but I hold that these things were accidents. Again +and again he has told us that he is not a wizard; and if this be so, he +can be overcome." + +"How, husband?" + +"How? By wizardry. This very night, Noma, with your help I will consult +the dead, as I have done in bygone time, and learn the future from their +lips which cannot lie." + +"So be it; though the task is hateful to me, and I hate you who force me +to it." + +Noma answered thus with passion, but her eyes shone as she spoke: for +those who have once tasted the cup of magic are ever drawn to drink of +it again, even when they fear the draught. + +**** + +It was midnight, and Hokosa with his wife stood in the burying-ground of +the kings of the Amasuka. Before Owen came upon his mission it was death +to visit this spot except upon the occasion of the laying to rest of one +of the royal blood, or to offer the annual sacrifice to the spirits +of the dead. Even beneath the bright moon that shone upon it the place +seemed terrible. Here in the bosom of the hills was an amphitheatre, +surrounded by walls of rock varying from five hundred to a thousand feet +in height. In this amphitheatre grew great mimosa thorns, and above +them towered pillars of granite, set there not by the hand of man but by +nature. It would seem that the Amasuka, led by some fine instinct, had +chosen these columns as fitting memorials of their kings, at the least a +departed monarch lay at the foot of each of them. + +The smallest of these unhewn obelisks--it was about fifty feet +high--marked the resting-place of Umsuka; and deep into its granite +Owen with his own hand had cut the dead king's name and date of death, +surmounting his inscription with a symbol of the cross. + +Towards this pillar Hokosa made his way through the wet grass, followed +by Noma his wife. Presently they were there, standing one upon each +side of a little mound of earth more like an ant-heap than a grave; for, +after the custom of his people, Umsuka had been buried sitting. At the +foot of each of the pillars rose a heap of similar shape, but many +times as large. The kings who slept there were accompanied to their +resting-places by numbers of their wives and servants, who had +been slain in solemn sacrifice that they might attend their Lord +whithersoever he should wander. + +"What is that you desire and would do?" asked Noma, in a hushed voice. +Bold as she was, the place and the occasion awed her. + +"I desire wisdom from the dead!" he answered. "Have I not already told +you, and can I not win it with your help?" + +"What dead, husband?" + +"Umsuka the king. Ah! I served him living, and at the last he drove me +away from his side. Now he shall serve me, and out of the nowhere I will +call him back to mine." + +"Will not this symbol defeat you?" and Noma pointed at the cross hewn in +the granite. + +At her words a sudden gust of rage seemed to shake the wizard. His still +eyes flashed, his lips turned livid, and with them he spat upon the +cross. + +"It has no power," he said. "May it be accursed, and may he who believes +therein hang thereon! It has no power; but even if it had, according to +the tale of that white liar, such things as I would do have been done +beneath its shadow. By it the dead have been raised--ay! dead kings have +been dragged from death and forced to tell the secrets of the grave. +Come, come, let us to the work." + +"What must I do, husband?" + +"You shall sit you there, even as a corpse sits, and there for a little +while you shall die--yes, your spirit shall leave you--and I will fill +your body with the soul of him who sleeps beneath; and through your +lips I will learn his wisdom, to whom all things are known." + +"It is terrible! I am afraid!" she said. "Cannot this be done +otherwise?" + +"It cannot," he answered. "The spirits of the dead have no shape or +form; they are invisible, and can speak only in dreams or through the +lips of one in whose pulses life still lingers, though soul and body be +already parted. Have no fear. Ere his ghost leaves you it shall recall +your own, which till the corpse is cold stays ever close at hand. I did +not think to find a coward in you, Noma." + +"I am not a coward, as you know well," she answered passionately, "for +many a deed of magic have we dared together in past days. But this is +fearsome, to die that my body may become the home of the ghost of a +dead man, who perchance, having entered it, will abide there, leaving +my spirit houseless, or perchance will shut up the doors of my heart in +such fashion that they never can be opened. Can it not be done by trance +as aforetime? Tell me, Hokosa, how often have you thus talked with the +dead?" + +"Thrice, Noma." + +"And what chanced to them through whom you talked?" + +"Two lived and took no harm; the third died, because the awakening +medicine lacked power. Yet fear nothing; that which I have with me is of +the best. Noma, you know my plight: I must win wisdom or fall for ever, +and you alone can help me; for under this new rule, I can no longer buy +a youth or maid for purposes of witchcraft, even if one could be found +fitted to the work. Choose then: shall we go back or forward? Here +trance will not help us; for those entranced cannot read the future, nor +can they hold communion with the dead, being but asleep. Choose, Noma." + +"I have chosen," she answered. "Never yet have I turned my back upon a +venture, nor will I do so now. Come life, come death, I will submit me +to your wish, though there are few women who would dare as much for any +man. Nor in truth do I do this for you, Hokosa; I do it because I seek +power, and thus only can we win it who are fallen. Also I love all +things strange, and desire to commune with the dead and to know that, +if for some few minutes only, at least my woman's breast has held the +spirit of a king. Yet, I warn you, make no fault in your magic; for +should I die beneath it, then I, who desire to live on and to be great, +will haunt you and be avenged upon you!" + +"Oh! Noma," he said, "if I believed that there was any danger for you, +should I ask you to suffer this thing?--I, who love you more even than +you love power, more than my life, more than anything that is or ever +can be." + +"I know it, and it is to that I trust," the woman answered. "Now begin, +before my courage leaves me." + +"Good," he said. "Seat yourself there upon the mound, resting your head +against the stone." + +She obeyed; and taking thongs of hide which he had made ready, Hokosa +bound her wrists and ankles, as these people bind the wrists and ankles +of corpses. Then he knelt before her, staring into her face with his +solemn eyes and muttering: "Obey and sleep." + +Presently her limbs relaxed, and her head fell forward. + +"Do you sleep?" he asked. + +"I sleep. Whither shall I go? It is the true sleep--test me." + +"Pass to the house of the white man, my rival. Are you with him?" + +"I am with him." + +"What does he?" + +"He lies in slumber on his bed, and in his slumber he mutters the name +of a woman, and tells her that he loves her, but that duty is more than +love. Oh! call me back I cannot stay; a Presence guards him, and thrusts +me thence." + +"Return," said Hokosa starting. "Pass through the earth beneath you and +tell me what you see." + +"I see the body of the king; but were it not for his royal ornaments +none would know him now." + +"Return," said Hokosa, "and let the eyes of your spirit be open. Look +around you and tell me what you see." + +"I see the shadows of the dead," she answered; "they stand about you, +gazing at you with angry eyes; but when they come near you, something +drives them back, and I cannot understand what it is they say." + +"Is the ghost of Umsuka among them?" + +"It is among them." + +"Bid him prophesy the future to me." + +"I have bidden him, but he does not answer. If you would hear him +speak, it must be through the lips of my body; and first my body must be +emptied of my ghost, that his may find a place therein." + +"Say, can his spirit be compelled?" + +"It can be compelled, or that part of it which still hover near this +spot, if you dare to speak the words you know. But first its house +must be made ready. Then the words must be spoken, and all must be done +before a man can count three hundred; for should the blood begin to clot +about my heart, it will be still for ever." + +"Hearken," said Hokosa. "When the medicine that I shall give does its +work, and the spirit is loosened from your body, let it not go afar, no, +whatever tempts or threatens it, and suffer not that the death-cord be +severed, lest flesh and ghost be parted for ever." + +"I hear, and I obey. Be swift, for I grow weary." + +Then Hokosa took from his pouch two medicines: one a paste in a box, the +other a fluid in a gourd. Taking of the paste he knelt upon the grave +before the entranced woman and swiftly smeared it upon the mucous +membrane of the mouth and throat. Also he thrust pellets of it into the +ears, the nostrils, and the corners of the eyes. + +The effect was almost instantaneous. A change came over the girl's +lovely face, the last awful change of death. Her cheeks fell in, her +chin dropped, her eyes opened, and her flesh quivered convulsively. The +wizard saw it all by the bright moonlight. Then he took up his part in +this unholy drama. + +All that he did cannot be described, because it is indescribable. The +Witch of Endor repeated no formula, but she raised the dead; and so did +Hokosa the wizard. But he buried his face in the grey dust of the grave, +he blew with his lips into the dust, he clutched at the dust with his +hands, and when he raised his face again, lo! it was grey like the +dust. Now began the marvel; for, though the woman before him remained a +corpse, from the lips of that corpse a voice issued, and its sound +was horrible, for the accent and tone of it were masculine, and the +instrument through which it spoke--Noma's throat--was feminine. Yet it +could be recognised as the voice of Umsuka the dead king. + +"Why have you summoned me from my rest, Hokosa?" muttered the voice from +the lips of the huddled corpse. + +"Because I would learn the future, Spirit of the king," answered the +wizard boldly, but saluting as he spoke. "You are dead, and to your +sight all the Gates are opened. By the power that I have, I command you +to show me what you see therein concerning myself, and to point out to +me the path that I should follow to attain my ends and the ends of her +in whose breast you dwell." + +At once the answer came, always in the same horrible voice:-- + +"Hearken to your fate for this world, Hokosa the wizard. You shall +triumph over your rival, the white man, the messenger; and by your hand +he shall perish, passing to his appointed place where you must meet +again. By that to which you cling you shall be betrayed, ah! you shall +lose that which you love and follow after that which you do not desire. +In the grave of error you shall find truth, from the deeps of sin you +shall pluck righteousness. When these words fall upon your ears again, +then, Wizard, take them for a sign and let your heart be turned. That +which you deem accursed shall lift you up on high. High shall you be +set above the nation and its king, and from age to age the voice of the +people shall praise you. Yet in the end comes judgment; and there shall +the sin and the atonement strive together, and in that hour, Wizard, you +shall----" + +Thus the voice spoke, strongly at first, but growing ever more feeble as +the sparks of life departed from the body of the woman, till at length +it ceased altogether. + +"What shall chance to me in that hour?" Hokosa asked eagerly, placing +his ears against Noma's lips. + +No answer came; and the wizard knew that if he would drag his wife back +from the door of death he must delay no longer. Dashing the sweat from +his eyes with one hand, with the other he seized the gourd of fluid +that he had placed ready, and thrusting back her head, he poured of its +contents down her throat and waited a while. She did not move. In an +extremity of terror he snatched a knife, and with a single cut severed +a vein in her arm, then taking some of the fluid that remained in the +gourd in his hand, he rubbed it roughly upon her brow and throat and +heart. Now Noma's fingers stirred, and now, with horrible contortions +and every symptom of agony, life returned to her. The blood flowed from +her wounded arm, slowly at first, then more fast, and lifting her head +she spoke. + +"Take me hence," she cried, "or I shall go mad; for I have seen and +heard things too terrible to be spoken!" + +"What have you seen and heard?" he asked, while he cut the thongs which +bound her wrists and feet. + +"I do not know," Noma answered weeping; "the vision of them passes +from me; but all the distances of death were open to my sight; yes, I +travelled through the distances of death. In them I met him who was the +king, and he lay cold within me, speaking to my heart; and as he passed +from me he looked upon the child which I shall bear and cursed it, and +surely accursed it shall be. Take me hence, O you most evil man, for of +your magic I have had enough, and from this day forth I am haunted!" + +"Have no fear," answered Hokosa; "you have made the journey whence but +few return; and yet, as I promised you, you have returned to wear the +greatness you desire and that I sent you forth to win; for henceforth +we shall be great. Look, the dawn is breaking--the dawn of life and the +dawn of power--and the mists of death and of disgrace roll back before +us. Now the path is clear, the dead have shown it to me, and of wizardry +I shall need no more." + +"Ay!" answered Noma, "but night follows dawn as the dawn follows +night; and through the darkness and the daylight, I tell you, Wizard, +henceforth I am haunted! Also, be not so sure, for though I know not +what the dead have spoken to you, yet it lingers on my mind that their +words have many meanings. Nay, speak to me no more, but let us fly from +this dread home of ghosts, this habitation of the spirit-folk which we +have violated." + +So the wizard and his wife crept from that solemn place, and as they +went they saw the dawn-beams lighting upon the white cross that was +reared in the Plain of Fire. + + + +CHAPTER XII + +THE MESSAGE OF HOKOSA + +The weeks passed by, and Hokosa sat in his kraal weaving a great plot. +None suspected him any more, for though he did not belong to it, he was +heard to speak well of the new faith, and to acknowledge that the god of +fire which he had worshipped was a false god. He was humble also towards +the king, but he craved to withdraw himself from all matters of the +State, saying that now he had but one desire--to tend his herds and +garden, and to grow old in peace with the new wife whom he had chosen +and whom he loved. Owen, too, he greeted courteously when he met him, +sending him gifts of corn and cattle for the service of his church. +Moreover, when a messenger came from Hafela, making proposals to him, he +drove him away and laid the matter before the council of the king. Yet +that messenger, who was hunted from the kraal, took back a secret word +for Hafela's ear. + +"It is not always winter," was the word, "and it may chance that in +the springtime you shall hear from me." And again, "Say to the Prince +Hafela, that though my face towards him is like a storm, yet behind the +clouds the sun shines ever." + +At length there came a day when Noma, his wife, was brought to bed. +Hokosa, her husband, tended her alone, and when the child was born +he groaned aloud and would not suffer her to look upon its face. Yet, +lifting herself, she saw. + +"Did I not tell you it was accursed?" she wailed. "Take it away!" and +she sank back in a swoon. So he took the child, and buried it deep in +the cattle-yard by night. + +After this it came about that Noma, who, though her mind owned the sway +of his, had never loved him over much, hated her husband Hokosa. Yet he +had this power over her that she could not leave him. But he loved her +more and more, and she had this power over him that she could always +draw him to her. Great as her beauty had ever been, after the birth of +the child it grew greater day by day, but it was an evil beauty, the +beauty of a witch; and this fate fell upon her, that she feared the dark +and would never be alone after the sun had set. + +When she was recovered from her illness, Noma sat one night in her hut, +and Hokosa sat there also watching her. The evening was warm, but a +bright fire burned in the hut, and she crouched upon a stool by the +fire, glancing continually over her shoulder. + +"Why do you bide by the fire, seeing that it is so hot, Noma?" he asked. + +"Because I fear to be away from the light," she answered; adding, "Oh, +accursed man! for your own ends you have caused me to be bewitched, ah! +and that which was born of me also, and bewitched I am by those shadows +that you bade me seek, which now will never leave me. Nor, is this all. +You swore to me that if I would do your will I should become great, ay! +and you took me from one who would have made me great and whom I should +have pushed on to victory. But now it seems that for nothing I made that +awful voyage into the deeps of death; and for nothing, yet living, am +I become the sport of those that dwell there. How am I greater than I +was--I who am but the second wife of a fallen witch-doctor, who sits +in the sun, day by day, while age gathers on his head like frost upon a +bush? Where are all your high schemes now? Where is the fruit of wisdom +that I gathered for you? Answer, Wizard, whom I have learned to hate, +but from whom I cannot escape!" + +"Truly," said Hokosa in a bitter voice, "for all my sins against them +the heavens have laid a heavy fate upon my head, that thus with flesh +and spirit I should worship a woman who loathes me. One comfort only is +left to me, that you dare not take my life lest another should be added +to those shadows who companion you, and what I bid you, that you must +still do. Ay, you fear the dark, Noma; yet did I command you to rise +and go stand alone through the long night yonder in the burying-place of +kings, why, you must obey. Come, I command you--go!" + +"Nay, nay!" she wailed in an extremity of terror. Yet she rose and +went towards the door sideways, for her hands were outstretched in +supplication to him. + +"Come back," he said, "and listen: If a hunter has nurtured up a fierce +dog, wherewith alone he can gain his livelihood, he tries to tame that +dog by love, does he not? And if it will not become gentle, then, the +brute being necessary to him, he tames it by fear. I am the hunter and, +Noma, you are the hound; and since this curse is on me that I cannot +live without you, why I must master you as best I may. Yet, believe me, +I would not cause you fear or pain, and it saddens me that you should +be haunted by these sick fancies, for they are nothing more. I have seen +such cases before to-day, and I have noted that they can be cured by +mixing with fresh faces and travelling in new countries. Noma, I think +it would be well that, after your late sickness, according to the custom +of the women of our people, you should part from me a while, and go upon +a journey of purification." + +"Whither shall I go and who will go with me?" she asked sullenly. + +"I will find you companions, women discreet and skilled. And as to +where you shall go, I will tell you. You shall go upon an embassy to the +Prince Hafela." + +"Are you not afraid that I should stop there?" she asked again, with a +flash of her eyes. "It is true that I never learned all the story, yet +I thought that the prince was not so glad to hand me back to you as you +would have had me to believe. The price you paid for me must have been +good, Hokosa, and mayhap it had to do with the death of a king." + +"I am not afraid," he answered, setting his teeth, "because I know that +whatever your heart may desire, my will follows you, and while I live +that is a cord you cannot break unless I choose to loose it, Noma. I +command you to be faithful to me and to return to me, and these commands +you must obey. Hearken: you taunted me just now, saying that I sat like +a dotard in the sun and advanced you nothing. Well, I will advance you, +for both our sakes, but mostly for your own, since you desire it, and it +must be done through the Prince Hafela. I cannot leave this kraal, for +day and night I am watched, and before I had gone an hour's journey +I should be seized; also here I have work to do. But the Place of +Purification is secret, and when you reach it you need not bide there, +you can travel on into the mountains till you come to the town of the +Prince Hafela. He will receive you gladly, and you shall whisper this +message in his ear:-- + +"'These are the words of Hokosa, my husband, which he has set in my +mouth to deliver to you, O Prince. Be guided by them and grow great; +reject them and die a wanderer, a little man of no account. But first, +this is the price that you shall swear by the sacred oath to pay to +Hokosa, if his wisdom finds favour in your sight and through it you come +to victory: That after you, the king, he, Hokosa, shall be the first man +in our land, the general of the armies, the captain of the council, the +head of the doctors, and that to him shall be given half the cattle of +Nodwengo, who now is king. Also to him shall be given power to stamp out +the new faith which overruns the land like a foreign weed, and to deal +as he thinks fit with those who cling thereto.' + +"Now, Noma, when he has sworn this oath in your ear, calling down ruin +upon his own head, should he break one word of it, and not before, you +shall continue the message thus: 'These are the other words that Hokosa +set in my mouth: "Know, O Prince, that the king, your brother, grows +very strong, for he is a great soldier, who learned his art in bygone +wars; also the white man that is named Messenger has taught him many +things as to the building of forts and walls and the drilling and +discipline of men. So strong is he that you can scarcely hope to conquer +him in open war--yet snakes may crawl where men cannot walk. Therefore, +Prince, let your part be that of a snake. Do you send an embassy to the +king, your brother and say to him:-- + +"'My brother, you have been preferred before me and set up to be king in +my place, and because of this my heart is bitter, so bitter that I have +gathered my strength to make war upon you. Yet, at the last, I have +taken another council, bethinking me that, if we fight, in the end it +may chance that neither of us will be left alive to rule, and that the +people also will be brought to nothing. To the north there lies a good +country and a wide, where but few men live, and thither I would go, +setting the mountains and the river between us; for there, far beyond +your borders, I also can be a king. Now, to reach this country, I must +travel by the pass that is not far from your Great Place, and I pray +you that you will not attack my _impis_ or the women and children that I +shall send, and a guard before them, to await me in the plain beyond the +mountains, seeing that these can only journey slowly. Let us pass by in +peace, my brother, for so shall our quarrel be ended; but if you do so +much as lift a single spear against me, then I will give you battle, +setting my fortune against your fortune and my god against your God!' + +"Such are the words that the embassy shall deliver into the ears of +the king, Nodwengo, and it shall come about that when he hears them, +Nodwengo, whose heart is gentle and who seeks not war, shall answer +softly, saying:-- + +"'Go in peace, my brother, and live in peace in that land which you +would win.' + +"Then shall you, Hafela, send on the most of your cattle and the women +and the children through that pass in the mountains, bidding them to +await you in the plain, and after a while you shall follow them with +your _impis_. But these shall not travel in war array, for carriers must +bear their fighting shields in bundles and their stabbing spears shall +be rolled up in mats. Now, on the sixth day of your journey you shall +camp at the mouth of the pass which the cattle and the women have +already travelled, and his outposts and spies will bring it to the ears +of the king that your force is sleeping there, purposing to climb the +pass on the morrow. + +"But on that night, so soon as the darkness falls, you must rise up with +your captains and your regiments, leaving your fires burning and men +about your fires, and shall travel very swiftly across the valley, so +that an hour before the dawn you reach the second range of mountains, +and pass it by the gorge which is the burying-place of kings. Here you +shall light a fire, which those who watch will believe to be but the +fire of a herdsman who is acold. But I, Hokosa, also shall be watching, +and when I see that fire I will creep, with some whom I can trust, to +the little northern gate of the outer wall, and we will spear those +that guard it and open the gate, that your army may pass through. Then, +before the regiments can stand to their arms or those within it are +awakened, you must storm the inner walls and by the light of the burning +huts, put the dwellers in the Great Place to the spear, and the rays of +the rising sun shall crown you king. + +"Follow this counsel of mine, O Prince Hafela, and all will go well +with you. Neglect it and be lost. There is but one thing which you need +fear--it is the magic of the Messenger, to whom it is given to read the +secret thoughts of men. But of him take no account, for he is my charge, +and before ever you set a foot within the Great Place he shall have +taken his answer back to Him Who sent him." + +Hokosa finished speaking. + +"Have you heard?" he said to Noma. + +"I have heard." + +"Then speak the message." + +She repeated it word for word, making no fault. "Have no fear," she +added, "I shall forget nothing when I stand before the prince." + +"You are a woman, but your counsel is good. What think you of the plan, +Noma?" + +"It is deep and well laid," she answered, "and surely it would succeed +were it not for one thing. The white man, Messenger, will be too clever +for you, for as you say, he is a reader of the thoughts of men." + +"Can the dead read men's thoughts, or if they can, do they cry them on +the market-place or into the ears of kings?" asked Hokosa. "Have I not +told you that, before I see the signal-fire yonder, the Messenger shall +sleep sound? I have a medicine, Noma, a slow medicine that none can +trace." + +"The Messenger may sleep sound, Hokosa, and yet perchance he may pass +on his message to another and, with it, his magic. Who can say? Still, +husband, strike on for power and greatness and revenge, letting the blow +fall where it will." + + + +CHAPTER XIII + +THE BASKET OF FRUIT + +Three days later it was announced that according to the custom of the +women of the People of Fire, Noma having given birth to a still-born +child, was about to start upon a journey to the Mount of Purification. +Here she would abide awhile and make sacrifice to the spirits of her +ancestors, that they might cease to be angry with her and in future +protect her from such misfortunes. This not unusual domestic incident +excited little comment, although it was remarked that the four matrons +by whom she was to be accompanied, in accordance with the tribal +etiquette, were all of them the wives of soldiers who had deserted to +Hafela. Indeed, the king himself noticed as much when Hokosa made the +customary formal application to him to sanction the expedition. + +"So be it," he said, "though myself I have lost faith in such rites. +Also, Hokosa, I think it likely that although your wife goes out with +company, she will return alone." + +"Why, King?" asked Hokosa. + +"For this reason--that those who travel with her have husbands yonder at +the town of the Prince Hafela, and the Mount of Purification is on the +road thither. Having gone so far, they may go farther. Well, let +them go, for I desire to have none among my people whose hearts turn +otherwhere, and it would not be wonderful if they should choose to seek +their lords. But perchance, Hokosa, there are some in this town who may +use them as messengers to the prince"--and he looked at him keenly. + +"I think not, King," said Hokosa. "None but a fool would make use of +women to carry secret words or tidings. Their tongues are too long and +their memories too bad, or too uncertain." + +"Yet I have heard, Hokosa, that you have made use of women in many a +strange work. Say now, what were you doing upon a night a while ago +with that fair witch-wife if yours yonder in the burying-place of kings, +where it is not lawful that you should set your foot? Nay, deny it not. +You were seen to enter the valley after midnight and to return thence +at the dawn, and it was seen also that as she came homewards your wife +walked as one who is drunken, and she, whom it is not easy to frighten, +wore a face of fear. Man, I do not trust you, and were I wise I should +hunt you hence, or keep you so close that you could scarcely move +without my knowledge. + +"Why should I trust you?" Nodwengo went on vehemently. "Can a wizard +cease from wizardry, or a plotter from his plots? No, not until the +waters run upward and the sun shines at night; not until repentance +touches you and your heart is changed, which I should hold as much a +marvel. You were my father's friend and he made you great; yet you could +plan with my brother to poison him, your king. Nay, be silent; I know +it, though I have said nothing of it because one that is dear to me has +interceded for you. You were the priest of the false god, and with that +god are fallen from your place, yet you have not renounced him. You sit +still in your kraal and pretend to be asleep, but your slumber is that +of the serpent which watches his time to strike. How do I know that +you will not poison me as you would have poisoned my father, or stir up +rebellion against me, or bring my brother's _impis_ on my head?" + +"If the King thinks any of these things of his servant," answered Hokosa +in a humble voice, but with dignity, "his path is plain: let him put me +to death and sleep in peace. Who am I that I should full the ears of +a king with my defence against these charges, or dare to wrangle with +him?" + +"Long ago I should have put you to death, Hokosa," answered Nodwengo +sternly, "had it not been that one has pleaded for you, declaring that +in you there is good which will overcome the evil, and that you who now +are an axe to cut down my throne, in time to come shall be a roof-tree +for its support. Also, the law that I obey does not allow me to take +the blood of men save upon full proof, and against you as yet I have +no proof. Still, Hokosa, be warned in time and let your heart be turned +before the grave claims your body and the Wicked One your soul." + +"I thank you, King, for your gentle words and your tender care for my +well-being both on earth and after I shall leave it. But I tell you, +King, that I had rather die as your father would have killed me in the +old days, or your brother would kill me now, did either of them hate or +fear me, than live on in safety, owing my life to a new law and a new +mercy that do not befit the great ones of the world. King, I am your +servant," and giving him the royal salute, Hokosa rose and left his +presence. + +"At the least there goes a man," said Nodwengo, as he watched him +depart. + +"Of whom do you speak, King?" asked Owen, who at that moment entered the +royal house. + +"Of him whom you must have touched in the door-way, Messenger, Hokosa +the wizard," answered the king, and he told him of what had passed +between them. "I said," he added, "that he was a man, and so he is; yet +I hold that I have done wrong to listen to your pleading and to spare +him, for I am certain that he will bring bloodshed upon me and trouble +on the Faith. Think now, Messenger, how full must be that man's heart of +secret rage and hatred, he who was so great and is now so little! Will +he not certainly strive to grow great again? Will he not strive to be +avenged upon those who humbled him and the religion they have chosen?" + +"It may be," answered Owen, "but if so, he will not conquer. I tell +you, King, that like water hidden in a rock there is good in this man's +heart, and that I shall yet find a rod wherewith to cause it to gush out +and refresh the desert." + +"It is more likely that he will find a spear wherewith to cause your +blood to gush out and refresh the jackals," answered the king grimly; +"but be it as you will. And now, what of your business?" + +"This, King: John, my servant, has returned from the coast countries, +and he brings me a letter saying that before long three white teachers +will follow him to take up the work which I have begun. I pray that when +they come, for my sake and for the sake of the truth that I have taught +you, you will treat them kindly and protect them, remembering that at +first they can know little of your language or your customs." + +"I will indeed," said the king, with much concern. "But tell me, +Messenger, why do you speak of yourself as of one who soon will be but a +memory? Do you purpose to leave us?" + +"No, King, but I believe that ere long I shall be recalled. I have given +my message, my task is well-nigh ended and I must be turning home. Save +for your sakes I do not sorrow at this, for to speak truth I grow very +weary," and he smiled sadly. + +***** + +Hokosa went home alarmed and full of bitterness, for he had never +guessed that the "servant of the Messenger," as he called Nodwengo the +King, knew so much about him and his plans. His fall was hard to him, +but to be thus measured up, weighed, and contemptuously forgiven was +almost more than he could bear. It was the white prophet who had done +this thing; he had told Nodwengo of his, Hokosa's, share in the plot to +murder the late King Umsuka, though how he came to know of that matter +was beyond guessing. He had watched him, or caused him to be watched, +when he went forth to consult spirits in the place of the dead; he had +warned Nodwengo against him. Worst of all, he had dared to treat him +with contempt; had pleaded for his life and safety, so that he was +spared as men spare a snake from which the charmer has drawn the fangs. +When they met in the gate of the king's house yonder this white thief, +who had stolen his place and power, had even smiled upon him and greeted +him kindly, and doubtless while he smiled, by aid of the magic he +possessed, had read him through and gone on to tell the story to the +king. Well, of this there should be an end; he would kill the Messenger, +or himself be killed. + +When Hokosa reached his kraal he found Noma sitting beneath a fruit tree +that grew in it, idly employed in stringing beads, for the work of the +household she left to his other wife, Zinti, an old and homely woman who +thought more of the brewing of the beer and the boiling of the porridge +than of religions or politics or of the will of kings. Of late Noma had +haunted the shadow of this tree, for beneath it lay that child which had +been born to her. + +"Does it please the king to grant leave for my journey?" she asked, +looking up. + +"Yes, it pleases him." + +"I am thankful," she answered, "for I think that if I bide here much +longer, with ghosts and memories for company, I shall go mad," and +she glanced at a spot near by, where the earth showed signs of recent +disturbance. + +"He gives leave," Hokosa went on, taking no notice of her speech, "but +he suspects us. Listen----" and he told her of the talk that had passed +between himself and the king. + +"The white man has read you as he reads in his written books," she +answered, with a little laugh. "Well, I said that he would be too clever +for you, did I not? It does not matter to me, for to-morrow I go upon my +journey, and you can settle it as you will." + +"Ay!" answered Hokosa, grinding his teeth, "it is true that he has read +me; but this I promise you, that all books shall soon be closed to him. +Yet how is it to be done without suspicion or discovery? I know many +poisons, but all of them must be administered, and let him work never so +cunningly, he who gives a poison can be traced." + +"Then cause some other to give it and let him bear the blame," suggested +Noma languidly. + +Hokosa made no answer, but walking to the gate of the kraal, which was +open, he leaned against it lost in thought. As he stood thus he saw a +woman advancing towards him, who carried on her head a small basket of +fruit, and knew her for one of those whose business it was to wait upon +the Messenger in his huts, or rather in his house, for by now he had +built himself a small house, and near it a chapel. This woman saw Hokosa +also and looked at him sideways, as though she would like to stop and +speak to him, but feared to do so. + +"Good morrow to you, friend," he said. "How goes it with your husband +and your house?" + +Now Hokosa knew well that this woman's husband had taken a dislike to +her and driven her from his home, filling her place with one younger and +more attractive. At the question the woman's lips began to tremble, and +her eyes swam with tears. + +"Ah! great doctor," she said, "why do you ask me of my husband? Have you +not heard that he has driven me away and that another takes my place?" + +"Do I hear all the gossip of this town?" asked Hokosa, with a smile. +"But come in and tell me the story; perchance I may be able to help you, +for I have charms to compel the fancy of such faithless ones." + +The woman looked round, and seeing that there was no one in sight, she +slipped swiftly through the gate of the kraal, which he closed behind +her. + +"Noma," said Hokosa, "here is one who tells me that her husband has +deserted her, and who comes to seek my counsel. Bring her milk to +drink." + +"There are some wives who would not find that so great an evil," replied +Noma mockingly, as she rose to do his bidding. + +Hokosa winced at the sarcasm, and turning to his visitor, said:-- + +"Now tell me your tale; but say first, why are you so frightened?" + +"I am frightened, master," she answered, "lest any should have seen +me enter here, for I have become a Christian, and the Christians are +forbidden to consult the witch-doctors, as we were wont to do. For my +case, it is----" + +"No need to set it out," broke in Hokosa, waving his hand. "I see it +written on your face; your husband has put you away and loves another +woman, your own half-sister whom you brought up from a child." + +"Ah! master, you have heard aright." + +"I have not heard, I look upon you and I see. Fool, am I not a wizard? +Tell me----" and taking dust into his hand, he blew the grains this way +and that, regarding them curiously. "Yes, it is so. Last night you crept +to your husband's hut--do you remember, a dog growled at you as you +passed the gate?--and there in front of the hut he sat with his new +wife. She saw you coming, but pretending not to see, she threw her arms +about his neck, kissing and fondling him before your eyes, till you +could bear it no longer, and revealed yourself, upbraiding them. Then +your rival taunted you and stirred up the man with bitter words, till at +length he took a stick and beat you from the door, and there is a mark +of it upon your shoulder." + +"It is true, it is too true!" she groaned. + +"Yes, it is true. And now, what do you wish from me?" + +"Master, I wish a medicine to make my husband hate my rival and to draw +his heart back to me." + +"That must be a strong medicine," said Hokosa, "which will turn a man +from one who is young and beautiful to one who is past her youth and +ugly." + +"I am as I am," answered the poor woman, with a touch of natural +dignity, "but at least I have loved him and worked for him for fifteen +long years." + +"And that is why he would now be rid of you, for who cumbers his kraal +with old cattle?" + +"And yet at times they are the best, Master. Wrinkles and smooth skin +seem strange upon one pillow," she added, glancing at Noma, who came +from the hut carrying a bowl of milk in her hand. + +"If you seek counsel," said Hokosa quickly, "why do you not go to the +white man, that Messenger in whom you believe, and ask him for a potion +to turn your husband's heart?" + +"Master, I have been to him, and he is very good to me, for when I was +driven out he gave me work to do and food. But he told me that he had no +medicine for such cases, and that the Great Man in the sky alone could +soften the breast of my husband and cause my sister to cease from her +wickedness. Last night I went to see whether He would do it, and you +know what befell me there." + +"That befell you which befalls all fools who put their trust in words +alone. What will you pay me, woman, if I give you the medicine which you +seek?" + +"Alas, master, I am poor. I have nothing to offer you, for when I would +not stay in my husband's kraal to be a servant to his new wife, he took +the cow and the five goats that belonged to me, as, I being childless, +according to our ancient law he had the right to do." + +"You are bold who come to ask a doctor to minister to you, bearing no +fee in your hand," said Hokosa. "Yet, because I have pity on you, I will +be content with very little. Give me that basket of fruit, for my wife +has been sick and loves its taste." + +"I cannot do that, Master," answered the woman, "for it is sent by my +hand as a present to the Messenger, and he knows this and will eat of it +after he has made prayer to-day. Did I not give it to him, it would be +discovered that I had left it here with you." + +"Then begone without your medicine," said Hokosa, "for I need such +fruit." + +The woman rose and said, looking at him wistfully:-- + +"Master, if you will be satisfied with other fruits of this same sort, I +know where I can get them for you." + +"When will you get them?" + +"Now, within an hour. And till I return I will leave these in pledge +with you; but these and no other I must give to the Messenger, for he +has already seen them and might discover the difference; also I have +promised so to do." + +"As you will," said Hokosa. "If you are with the fruit within an hour, +the medicine will be ready for you, a medicine that shall not fail." + + + +CHAPTER XIV + +THE EATING OF THE FRUIT + +The woman slipped away secretly. When she had gone Hokosa bade his wife +bring the basket of fruit into the hut. + +"It is best that the butcher should kill the ox himself," she answered +meaningly. + +He carried in the basket and set it on the floor. + +"Why do you speak thus, Noma?" he asked. + +"Because I will have no hand in the matter, Hokosa. I have been the tool +of a wizard, and won little joy therefrom. The tool of a murderer I will +not be!" + +"If I kill, it is for the sake of both of us," he said passionately. + +"It may be so, Hokosa, or for the sake of the people, or for the sake +of Heaven above--I do not know and do not care; but I say, do your own +killing, for I am sure that even less luck will hang to it than hangs to +your witchcraft." + +"Of all women you are the most perverse!" he said, stamping his foot +upon the ground. + +"Thus you may say again before everything is done, husband; but if it +be so, why do you love me and tie me to you with your wizardry? Cut the +knot, and let me go my way while you go yours." + +"Woman, I cannot; but still I bid you beware, for, strive as you will, +my path must be your path. Moreover, till I free you, you cannot lift +voice or hand against me." + +Then, while she watched him curiously, Hokosa fetched his medicines and +took from them some powder fine as dust and two tiny crowquills. Placing +a fruit before him, he inserted one of these quills into its substance, +and filling the second with the powder, he shook its contents into it +and withdrew the tube. This process he repeated four times on each of +the fruits, replacing them one by one in the basket. So deftly did he +work upon them, that however closely they were scanned none could guess +that they had been tampered with. + +"Will it kill at once?" asked Noma. + +"No, indeed; but he who eats these fruits will be seized on the third +day with dysentery and fever, and these will cling to him till within +seven weeks--or if he is very strong, three months--he dies. This is the +best of poisons, for it works through nature and can be traced by none." + +"Except, perchance, by that Spirit Whom the white man worships, and Who +also works through nature, as you learned, Hokosa, when He rolled the +lightning back upon your head, shattering your god and beating down your +company." + +Then of a sudden terror seized the wizard, and springing to his feet, he +cursed his wife till she trembled before him. + +"Vile woman, and double-faced!" he said, "why do you push me forward +with one hand and with the other drag me back? Why do you whisper evil +counsel into one ear and into the other prophesy of misfortunes to come? +Had it not been for you, I should have let this business lie; I should +have taken my fate and been content. But day by day you have taunted me +with my fall and grieved over the greatness that you have lost, till +at length you have driven me to this. Why cannot you be all good or all +wicked, or at the least, through righteousness and sin, faithful to my +interest and your own?" + +"Because I hate you, Hokosa, and yet can strike you only through my +tongue and your mad love for me. I am fast in your power, but thus at +least I can make you feel something of my own pain. Hark! I hear that +woman at the gate. Will you give her back the basket, or will you not? +Whatever you may choose to do, do not say in after days that I urged you +to the deed." + +"Truly you are great-hearted!" he answered, with cold contempt; "one for +whom I did well to enter into treachery and sin! So be it: having gone +so far upon it, come what may, I will not turn back from this journey. +Let in that fool!" + +Presently the woman stood before them, bearing with her another basket +of fruit. + +"These are what you seek, Master," she said, "though I was forced to win +them by theft. Now give me my own and the medicine and let me go." + +He gave her the basket, and with it, wrapped in a piece of kidskin, some +of the same powder with which he had doctored the fruits. + +"What shall I do with this?" she asked. + +"You must find means to sprinkle it upon your sister's food, and +thereafter your husband shall come to hate even the sight of her." + +"But will he come to love me again?" + +Hokosa shrugged his shoulders. + +"I know not," he answered; "that is for you to see to. Yet this is sure, +that if a tree grows up before the house of a man, shutting it off from +the sunlight, when that tree is cut down the sun shines upon his house +again." + +"It is nothing to the sun on what he shines," said the woman. + +"If the saying does not please you, then forget it. I promise you this +and no more, that very soon the man shall cease to turn to your rival." + +"The medicine will not harm her?" asked the woman doubtfully. "She has +worked me bitter wrong indeed, yet she is my sister, whom I nursed +when she was little, and I do not wish to do her hurt. If only he will +welcome me back and treat me kindly, I am willing even that she should +dwell on beneath my husband's roof, bearing his children, for will they +not be of my own blood?" + +"Woman," answered Hokosa impatiently, "you weary me with your talk. Did +I say that the charm would hurt her? I said that it would cause your +husband to hate the sight of her. Now begone, taking or leaving it, and +let me rest. If your mind is troubled, throw aside that medicine, and go +soothe it with such sights as you saw last night." + +On hearing this the woman sprang up, hid away the poison in her hair, +and taking her basket of fruit, passed from the kraal as secretly as she +had entered it. + +"Why did you give her death-medicine?" asked Noma of Hokosa, as he stood +staring after her. "Have you a hate to satisfy against the husband or +the girl who is her rival?" + +"None," he answered, "for they have never crossed my path. Oh, foolish +woman! cannot you read my plan?" + +"Not altogether, Husband." + +"Listen then: this woman will give to her sister a medicine of which in +the end she must die. She may be discovered or she may not, but it is +certain that she will be suspected, seeing that the bitterness of the +quarrel between them is known. Also she will give to the Messenger +certain fruits, after eating of which he will be taken sick and in due +time die, of just such a disease as that which carries off the woman's +rival. Now, if any think that he is poisoned, which I trust none will, +whom will they suppose to have poisoned him, though indeed they can +never prove the crime?" + +"The plan is clever," said Noma with admiration, "but in it I see a +flaw. The woman will say that she had the drug from you, or, at the +least, will babble of her visit to you." + +"Not so," answered Hokosa, "for on this matter the greatest talker in +the world would keep silence. Firstly, she, being a Christian, dare not +own that she has visited a witch-doctor. Secondly, the fruit she brought +in payment was stolen, therefore she will say nothing of it. Thirdly, +to admit that she had medicine from me would be to admit her guilt, and +that she will scarcely do even under torture, which by the new law it is +not lawful to apply. Moreover, none saw her come here, and I should deny +her visit." + +"The plan is very clever," said Noma again. + +"It is very clever," he repeated complacently; "never have I made a +better one. Now throw those fruits to the she goats that are in the +kraal, and burn the basket, while I go and talk to some in the Great +Place, telling them that I have returned from counting my cattle on the +mountain, whither I went after I had bowed the knee in the house of the +king." + +***** + +Two hours later, Hokosa, having made a wide detour and talked to sundry +of his acquaintances about the condition of his cattle, might have been +seen walking slowly along the north side of the Great Place towards his +own kraal. His path lay past the chapel and the little house that Owen +had built to dwell in. This house was furnished with a broad verandah, +and upon it sat the Messenger himself, eating his evening meal. Hokosa +saw him, and a great desire entered his heart to learn whether or no +he had partaken of the poisoned fruit. Also it occurred to him that it +would be wise if, before the end came, he could contrive to divert all +possible suspicion from himself, by giving the impression that he was +now upon friendly terms with the great white teacher and not disinclined +even to become a convert to his doctrine. + +For a moment he hesitated, seeking an excuse. One soon suggested itself +to his ready mind. That very morning the king had told him not obscurely +that Owen had pleaded for his safety and saved him from being put upon +his trial on charges of witchcraft and murder. He would go to him, now +at once, playing the part of a grateful penitent, and the White Man's +magic must be keen indeed if it availed to pierce the armour of his +practised craft. + +So Hokosa went up and squatted himself down native fashion among a +little group of converts who were waiting to see their teacher upon one +business or another. He was not more than ten paces from the verandah, +and sitting thus he saw a sight that interested him strangely. Having +eaten a little of a dish of roasted meat, Owen put out his hand and +took a fruit from a basket that the wizard knew well. At this moment he +looked up and recognised Hokosa. + +"Do you desire speech with me, Hokosa?" he asked in his gentle voice. +"If so, be pleased to come hither." + +"Nay, Messenger," answered Hokosa, "I desire speech with you indeed, but +it is ill to stand between a hungry man and his food." + +"I care little for my food," answered Owen; "at the least it can wait," +and he put down the fruit. + +Then suddenly a feeling to which the wizard had been for many years a +stranger took possession of him--a feeling of compunction. That man was +about to partake of what would cause his death--of what he, Hokosa, had +prepared in order that it should cause his death. He was good, he was +kindly, none could allege a wrong deed against him; and, foolishness +though it might be, so was the doctrine that he taught. Why should he +kill him? It was true that never till that moment had he hesitated, by +fair means or foul, to remove an enemy or rival from his path. He +had been brought up in this teaching; it was part of the education of +wizards to be merciless, for they reigned by terror and evil craft. +Their magic lay chiefly in clairvoyance and powers of observation +developed to a pitch that was almost superhuman, and the best of +their weapons was poison in infinite variety, whereof the guild alone +understood the properties and preparation. Therefore there was nothing +strange, nothing unusual in this deed of devilish and cunning murder +that the sight of its doing should stir him thus, and yet it did stir +him. He was minded to stop the plot, to let things take their course. + +Some sense of the futility of all such strivings came home to him, and +as in a glass, for Hokosa was a man of imagination, he foresaw their +end. A little success, a little failure, it scarcely mattered which, and +then--that end. Within twenty years, or ten, or mayhap even one, what +would this present victory or defeat mean to him? Nothing so far as +he was concerned; that is, nothing so far as his life of to-day was +concerned. Yet, if he had another life, it might mean everything. There +was another life; he knew it, who had dragged back from its borders the +spirits of the dead, though what might be the state and occupations of +those dead he did not know. Yet he believed--why he could not tell--that +they were affected vitally by their acts and behaviour here; and his +intelligence warned him that good must always flow from good, and evil +from evil. To kill this man was evil, and of it only evil could come. + +What did he care whether Hafela ruled the nation or Nodwengo, and +whether it worshipped the God of the Christians or the god of Fire--who, +by the way, had proved himself so singularly inefficient in the hour of +trial. Now that he thought of it, he much preferred Nodwengo to Hafela, +for the one was a just man and the other a tyrant; and he himself was +more comfortable as a wealthy private person than he had been as a head +medicine-man and a chief of wizards. He would let things stand; he would +prevent the Messenger from eating of that fruit. A word could do it; he +had but to suggest that it was unripe or not wholesome at this season of +the year, and it would be cast aside. + +All these reflections, or their substance, passed through Hokosa's +mind in a few instants of time, and already he was rising to go to +the verandah and translate their moral into acts, when another thought +occurred to him--How should he face Noma with this tale? He could give +up his own ambitions, but could he bear her mockery, as day by day +she taunted him with his faint-heartedness and reproached him with his +failure to regain greatness and to make her great? He forgot that he +might conceal the truth from her; or rather, he did not contemplate such +concealment, of which their relations were too peculiar and too intimate +to permit. She hated him, and he worshipped her with a half-inhuman +passion--a passion so unnatural, indeed, that it suggested the horrid +and insatiable longings of the damned--and yet their souls were naked +to each other. It was their fate that they could hide nothing each from +each--they were cursed with the awful necessity of candour. + +It would be impossible that he should keep from Noma anything that he +did or did not do; it would be still more impossible that she should +conceal from him even such imaginings and things as it is common for +women to hold secret. Her very bitterness, which it had been policy for +her to cloak or soften, would gush from her lips at the sight of him; +nor, in the depth of his rage and torment, could he, on the other hand, +control the ill-timed utterance of his continual and overmastering +passion. It came to this, then: he must go forward, and against his +better judgment, because he was afraid to go back, for the whip of +a woman's tongue drove him on remorselessly. It was better that the +Messenger should die, and the land run red with blood, than that he +should be forced to endure this scourge. + +So with a sigh Hokosa sank back to the ground and watched while Owen ate +three of the poisoned fruits. After a pause, he took a fourth and bit +into it, but not seeming to find it to his taste, he threw it to a child +that was waiting by the verandah for any scraps which might be left over +from his meal. The child caught it, and devoured it eagerly. + +Then, smiling at the little boy's delight, the Messenger called to +Hokosa to come up and speak with him. + + + +CHAPTER XV + +NOMA COMES TO HAFELA + +Hokosa advanced to the verandah and bowed to the white man with grave +dignity. + +"Be seated," said Owen. "Will you not eat? though I have nothing to +offer you but these," and he pushed the basket of fruits towards him, +adding, "The best of them, I fear, are already gone." + +"I thank you, no, Messenger; such fruits are not always wholesome at +this season of the year. I have known them to breed dysentery." + +"Indeed," said Owen. "If so, I trust that I may escape. I have suffered +from that sickness, and I think that another bout of it would kill me. +In future I will avoid them. But what do you seek with me, Hokosa? Enter +and tell me," and he led the way into a little sitting-room. + +"Messenger," said the wizard, with deep humility, "I am a proud man; I +have been a great man, and it is no light thing to me to humble myself +before the face of my conqueror. Yet I am come to this. To-day when I +was in audience with the king, craving a small boon of his graciousness, +he spoke to me sharp and bitter words. He told me that he had been +minded to put me on trial for my life because of various misdoings which +are alleged against me in the past, but that you had pleaded for me +and that for this cause he spared me. I come to thank you for your +gentleness, Messenger, for I think that had I been in your place I +should have whispered otherwise in the ear of the king." + +"Say no more of it, friend," said Owen kindly, "We are all of us +sinners, and it is my place to push back your ancient sins, not to drag +them into the light of day and clamour for their punishment. It is true +I know that you plotted with the Prince Hafela to poison Umsuka the +King, for it was revealed to me. It chanced, however, that I was able +to recover Umsuka from his sickness, and Hafela is fled, so why should +I bring up the deed against you? It is true that you still practise +witchcraft, and that you hate and strive against the holy Faith which I +preach; but you were brought up to wizardry and have been the priest of +another creed, and these things plead for you. + +"Also, Hokosa, I can see the good and evil struggling in your soul, and +I pray and I believe that in the end the good will master the evil; +that you who have been pre-eminent in sin will come to be pre-eminent +in righteousness. Oh! be not stubborn, but listen with your ear, and +let your heart be softened. The gate stands open, and I am the guide +appointed to show you the way without reward or fee. Follow them ere it +be too late, that in time to come when my voice is stilled you also may +be able to direct the feet of wanderers into the paths of peace. It is +the hour of prayer; come with me, I beg of you, and listen to some few +words of the message of my lips, and let your spirit be nurtured with +them, and the Sun of Truth arise upon its darkness." + +Hokosa heard, and before this simple eloquence his wisdom sank +confounded. More, his intelligence was stirred, and a desire came upon +him to investigate and examine the canons of a creed that could produce +such men as this. He made no answer, but waiting while Owen robed +himself, he followed him to the chapel. It was full of new-made +Christians who crowded even the doorways, but they gave place to him, +wondering. Then the service began--a short and simple service. First +Owen offered up some prayer for the welfare of the infant Church, for +the conversion of the unbelieving, for the safety of the king and the +happiness of the people. Then John, the Messenger's first disciple, read +aloud from a manuscript a portion of the Scripture which his master had +translated. It was St. Paul's exposition of the resurrection from the +dead, and the grandeur of its thoughts and language were by no means +lost upon Hokosa, who, savage and heathen though he might be, was also a +man of intellect. + +The reading over, Owen addressed the congregation, taking for his text, +"Thy sin shall find thee out." Being now a master of the language, +he preached very well and earnestly, and indeed the subject was not +difficult to deal with in the presence of an audience many of whose +pasts had been stepped in iniquities of no common kind. As he talked of +judgment to come for the unrepentant, some of his hearers groaned and +even wept; and when, changing his note, he dwelt upon the blessed future +state of those who earned forgiveness, their faces were lighted up with +joy. + +But perhaps among all those gathered before him there were none more +deeply interested than Hokosa and one other, that woman to whom he +had sold the poison, and who, as it chanced, sat next to him. Hokosa, +watching her face as he was skilled to do, saw the thrusts of the +preacher go home, and grew sure that already in her jealous haste she +had found opportunity to sprinkle the medicine upon her rival's food. +She believed it to be but a charm indeed, yet knowing that in using +such charms she had done wickedly, she trembled beneath the words of +denunciation, and rising at length, crept from the chapel. + +"Truly, her sin will find her out," thought Hokosa to himself, and +then in a strange half-impersonal fashion he turned his thoughts to +the consideration of his own case. Would _his_ sin find him out? he +wondered. Before he could answer that question, it was necessary first +to determine whether or no he had committed a sin. The man before +him--that gentle and yet impassioned man--bore in his vitals the seed +of death which he, Hokosa, had planted there. Was it wrong to have done +this? It depended by which standard the deed was judged. According to +his own code, the code on which he had been educated and which hitherto +he had followed with exactness, it was not wrong. That code taught +the necessity of self-aggrandisement, or at least and at all costs the +necessity of self-preservation. This white preacher stood in his path; +he had humiliated him, Hokosa, and in the end, either of himself or +through his influences, it was probable that he would destroy him. +Therefore he must strike before in his own person he received a mortal +blow, and having no other means at his command, he struck through +treachery and poison. + +That was his law which for many generations had been followed and +respected by his class with the tacit assent of the nation. According to +this law, then, he had done no wrong. But now the victim by the altar, +who did not know that already he was bound upon the altar, preached a +new and a very different doctrine under which, were it to be believed, +he, Hokosa, was one of the worst of sinners. The matter, then, resolved +itself to this: which of these two rules of life was the right rule? +Which of them should a man follow to satisfy his conscience and to +secure his abiding welfare? Apart from the motives that swayed him, as a +mere matter of ethics, this problem interested Hokosa not a little, and +he went homewards determined to solve it if he might. That could be done +in one way only--by a close examination of both systems. The first he +knew well; he had practised it for nearly forty years. Of the second +he had but an inkling. Also, if he would learn more of it he must make +haste, seeing that its exponent in some short while would cease to be in +a position to set it out. + +"I trust that you will come again," said Owen to Hokosa as they left the +chapel. + +"Yes, indeed, Messenger," answered the wizard; "I will come every day, +and if you permit it, I will attend your private teachings also, for I +accept nothing without examination, and I greatly desire to study this +new doctrine of yours, root and flower and fruit." + +***** + +On the morrow Noma started upon her journey. As the matrons who +accompanied her gave out with a somewhat suspicious persistency, its +ostensible object was to visit the Mount of Purification, and there by +fastings and solitude to purge herself of the sin of having given birth +to a stillborn child. For amongst savage peoples such an accident is +apt to be looked upon as little short of a crime, or, at the least, as +indicating that the woman concerned is the object of the indignation +of spirits who need to be appeased. To this Mount, Noma went, and there +performed the customary rites. + +"Little wonder," she thought to herself, "that the spirits were angry +with her, seeing that yonder in the burying-ground of kings she had +dared to break in upon their rest." + +From the Place of Purification she travelled on ten days' journey with +her companions till they reached the mountain fastness where Hafela had +established himself. The town and its surroundings were of extraordinary +strength, and so well guarded that it was only after considerable +difficulty and delay that the women were admitted. Hearing of her +arrival and that she had words for him, Hafela sent for Noma at once, +receiving her by night and alone in his principal hut. She came and +stood before him, and he looked at her beauty with admiring eyes, for he +could not forget the woman whom the cunning of Hokosa had forced him to +put away. + +"Whence come you, pretty one?" he asked, "and wherefore come you? Are +you weary of your husband, that you fly back to me? If so, you are +welcome indeed; for know, Noma, that I still love you." + +"Ay, Prince, I am weary of my husband sure enough; but I do not fly to +you, for he holds me fast to him with bonds that you cannot understand, +and fast to him while he lives I must remain." + +"What hinders, Noma, that having got you here I should keep you here? +The cunning and magic of Hokosa may be great, but they will need to be +still greater to win you from my arms." + +"This hinders, Prince, that you are playing for a higher stake than that +of a woman's love, and if you deal thus by me and my husband, then of a +surety you will lose the game." + +"What stake, Noma?" + +"The stake of the crown of the People of Fire." + +"And why should I lose if I take you as a wife?" + +"Because Hokosa, seeing that I do not return and learning from his spies +why I do not return, will warn the king, and by many means bring all +your plans to nothing. Listen now to the words of Hokosa that he has +set between my lips to deliver to you"--and she repeated to him all the +message without fault or fail. + +"Say it again," he said, and she obeyed. + +Then he answered:-- + +"Truly the skill of Hokosa is great, and well he knows how to set a +snare; but I think that if by his counsel I should springe the bird, he +will be too clever a man to keep upon the threshold of my throne. He +who sets one snare may set twain, and he who sits by the threshold may +desire to enter the house of kings wherein there is no space for two to +dwell." + +"Is this the answer that I am to take back to Hokosa?" asked Noma. "It +will scarcely bind him to your cause, Prince, and I wonder that you dare +to speak it to me who am his wife." + +"I dare to speak it to you, Noma, because, although you be his wife, all +wives do not love their lords; and I think that, perchance in days to +come, you would choose rather to hold the hand of a young king than that +of a witch-doctor sinking into eld. Thus shall you answer Hokosa: You +shall say to him that I have heard his words and that I find them very +good, and will walk along the path which he has made. Here before you I +swear by the oath that may not be broken--the sacred oath, calling down +ruin upon my head should I break one word of it--that if by his aid I +succeed in this great venture, I will pay him the price he asks. After +myself, the king, he shall be the greatest man among the people; he +shall be general of the armies; he shall be captain of the council +and head of the doctors, and to him shall be given half the cattle of +Nodwengo. Also, into his hand I will deliver all those who cling to this +faith of the Christians, and, if it pleases him, he shall offer them as +a sacrifice to his god. This I swear, and you, Noma, are witness to the +oath. Yet it may chance that after he, Hokosa, has gathered up all +this pomp and greatness, he himself shall be gathered up by Death, that +harvest-man whom soon or late will garner every ear;" and he looked at +her meaningly. + +"It may be so, Prince," she answered. + +"It may be so," he repeated, "and when----" + +"When it is so, then, Prince, we will talk together, but not till then. +Nay, touch me not, for were he to command me, Hokosa has this power over +me that I must show him all that you have done, keeping nothing back. +Let me go now to the place that is made ready for me, and afterwards you +shall tell me again and more fully the words that I must say to Hokosa +my husband." + +***** + +On the morrow Hafela held a secret council of his great men, and the +next day an embassy departed to Nodwengo the king, taking to him that +message which Hokosa, through Noma his wife, had put into the lips +of the prince. Twenty days later the embassy returned saying that it +pleased the king to grant the prayer of his brother Hafela, and bringing +with it the tidings that the white man, Messenger, had fallen sick, and +it was thought that he would die. + +So in due course the women and children of the people of Hafela started +upon their journey towards the new land where it was given out that they +should live, and with them went Noma, purposing to leave them as they +drew near the gates of the Great Place of the king. A while after, +Hafela and his _impis_ followed with carriers bearing their fighting +shields in bundles, and having their stabbing spears rolled up in mats. + + + +CHAPTER XVI + +THE REPENTANCE OF HOKOSA + +Hokosa kept his promise. On the morrow of his first attendance there he +was again to be seen in the chapel, and after the service was over he +waited on Owen at his house and listened to his private teaching. Day +by day he appeared thus, till at length he became master of the whole +doctrine of Christianity, and discovered that that which at first had +struck him as childish and even monstrous, now presented itself to him +in a new and very different light. The conversion of Hokosa came upon +him through the gate of reason, not as is usual among savages--and some +who are not savage--by that of the emotions. Given the position of a +universe torn and groaning beneath the dual rule of Good and Evil, +two powers of well-nigh equal potency, he found no great difficulty in +accepting this tale of the self-sacrifice of the God of Good that He +might wring the race He loved out of the conquering grasp of the god of +Ill. There was a simple majesty about this scheme of redemption which +appealed to one side of his nature. Indeed, Hokosa felt that under +certain conditions and in a more limited fashion he would have been +capable of attempting as much himself. + +Once his reason was satisfied, the rest followed in a natural sequence. +Within three weeks from the hour of his first attendance at the chapel +Hokosa was at heart a Christian. + +He was a Christian, although as yet he did not confess it; but he was +also the most miserable man among the nation of the Sons of Fire. The +iniquities of his past life had become abominable to him; but he had +committed them in ignorance, and he understood that they were not beyond +forgiveness. Yet high above them all towered one colossal crime which, +as he believed, could never be pardoned to him in this world or the +next. He was the treacherous murderer of the Messenger of God; he was +in the very act of silencing the Voice that had proclaimed truth in the +dark places of his soul and the dull ears of his countrymen. + +The deed was done; no power on earth could save his victim. Within a +week from the day of eating that fatal fruit Owen began to sicken, then +the dysentery had seized him which slowly but surely was wasting out +his life. Yet he, the murderer, was helpless, for with this form of the +disease no medicine could cope. With agony in his heart, an agony that +was shared by thousands of the people, Hokosa watched the decrease of +the white man's strength, and reckoned the days that would elapse before +the end. Having such sin as thus upon his soul, though Owen entreated +him earnestly, he would not permit himself to be baptised. Twice he +went near to consenting, but on each occasion an ominous and terrible +incident drove him from the door of mercy. + +Once, when the words "I will" were almost on his lips, a woman broke in +upon their conference bearing a dying boy in her arms. + +"Save him," she implored, "save him, Messenger, for he is my only son!" + +Owen looked at him and shook his head. + +"How came he like this?" he asked. + +"I know not, Messenger, but he has been sick ever since he ate of a +certain fruit which you gave to him;" and she recalled to his mind +the incident of the throwing of a fruit to the child, which she had +witnessed. + +"I remember," said Owen. "It is strange, but I also have been sick from +the day that I ate of those fruits; yes, and you, Hokosa, warned me +against them." + +Then he blessed the boy and prayed over him till he died; but when +afterwards he looked round for Hokosa, it was to find that he had gone. + +Some eight days later, having to a certain extent recovered from this +shock, Hokosa went one morning to Owen's house and talked to him. + +"Messenger," he said, "is it necessary to baptism that I should confess +all my sins to you? If so, I can never be baptised, for there is +wickedness upon my hands which I am unable to tell into the ear of +living man." + +Owen thought and answered:-- + +"It is necessary that you should repent all of your sins, and that +you should confess them to heaven; it is not necessary that you should +confess them to me, who am but a man like yourself." + +"Then I will be baptised," said Hokosa with a sigh of relief. + +At this moment, as it chanced, their interview was again interrupted, +for runners came from the king requesting the immediate presence of the +Messenger, if he were well enough to attend, upon a matter connected +with the trial of a woman for murder. Thinking that he might be of +service, Owen, leaning on the shoulder of Hokosa, for already he was too +weak to walk far, crept to the litter which was waiting for him, and was +borne to the place of judgment that was before the house of the king. +Hokosa followed, more from curiosity than for any other reason, for +he had heard of no murder being committed, and his old desire to be +acquainted with everything that passed was still strong on him. The +people made way for him, and he seated himself in the first line of +spectators immediately opposite to the king and three other captains +who were judges in the case. So soon as Owen had joined the judges, +the prisoner was brought before them, and to his secret horror Hokosa +recognised in her that woman to whom he had given the poison in exchange +for the basket of fruit. + +Now it seemed to Hokosa that his doom was on him, for she would +certainly confess that she had the drug from him. He thought of flight +only to reject the thought, for to fly would be to acknowledge himself +an accessory. No, he would brazen it out, for after all his word was as +good as hers. With the prisoner came an accuser, her husband, who seemed +sick, and he it was who opened the case against her. + +"This woman," he said, "was my wife. I divorced her for barrenness, as +I have a right to do according to our ancient law, and I took another +woman to wife, her half-sister. This woman was jealous; she plagued me +continually, and insulted her sister, so that I was forced to drive her +away. After that she came to my house, and though they said nothing +of it at the time, she was seen by two servants of mine to sprinkle +something in the bowl wherein our food was cooking. Subsequently my +wife, this woman's half-sister, was taken ill with dysentery. I also +was taken ill with dysentery, but I still live to tell this story before +you, O King, and your judges, though I know not for how long I live. My +wife died yesterday, and I buried her this morning. I accuse the woman +of having murdered her, either by witchcraft or by means of a medicine +which she sprinkled on the food, or by both. I have spoken." + +"Have you anything to say?" asked the king of the prisoner. "Are you +guilty of the crime whereof this man who was your husband charges you, +or does he lie?" + +Then the woman answered in a low and broken voice:-- + +"I am guilty, King. Listen to my story:" and she told it all as she told +it to Hokosa. "I am guilty," she added, "and may the Great Man in the +sky, of Whom the Messenger has taught us, forgive me. My sister's blood +is upon my hands, and for aught I know the blood of my husband yonder +will also be on my hands. I seek no mercy; indeed, it is better that I +should die; but I would say this in self-defence, that I did not think +to kill my sister. I believed that I was giving to her a potion which +would cause her husband to hate her and no more." + +Here she looked round and her eyes met those of Hokosa. + +"Who told you that this was so?" asked one of the judges. + +"A witch-doctor," she answered, "from whom I bought the medicine in the +old days, long ago, when Umsuka was king." + +Hokosa gasped. Why should this woman have spared him? + +No further question was asked of her, and the judges consulted together. +At length the king spoke. + +"Woman," he said, "you are condemned to die. You will be taken to the +Doom Tree, and there be hanged. Out of those who are assembled to try +you, two, the Messenger and myself, have given their vote in favour of +mercy, but the majority think otherwise. They say that a law has been +passed against murder by means of witchcraft and secret medicine, and +that should we let you go free, the people will make a mock of that law. +So be it. Go in peace. To-morrow you must die, and may forgiveness await +you elsewhere." + +"I ask nothing else," said the woman. "It is best that I should die." + +Then they led her away. As she passed Hokosa she turned and looked him +full in the eyes, till he dropped his head abashed. Next morning she was +executed, and he learned that her last words were: "Let it come to +the ears of him who sold me the poison, telling me that it was but +a harmless drug, that as I hope to be forgiven, so I forgive him, +believing that my silence may win for him time for repentance, before he +follows on the road I tread." + +Now, when Hokosa heard these words he shut himself up in his house for +three days, giving out that he was sick. Nor would he go near to Owen, +being altogether without hope, and not believing that baptism or any +other rite could avail to purge such crimes as his. Truly his sin had +found him out, and the burden of it was intolerable. So intolerable did +it become, that at length he determined to be done with it. He could +live no more. He would die, and by his own hand, before he was called +upon to witness the death of the man whom he had murdered. To this end +he made his preparations. For Noma he left no message; for though his +heart still hungered after her, he knew well that she hated him and +would rejoice at his death. + +When all was ready he sat down to think a while, and as he thought, a +man entered his hut saying that the Messenger desired to see him. At +first he was minded not to go, then it occurred to him that it would be +well if he could die with a clean heart. Why should he not tell all to +the white man, and before he could be delivered up to justice take +that poison which he had prepared? It was impossible that he should be +forgiven, yet he desired that his victim should learn how deep was his +sorrow and repentance, before he proved it by preceding him to death. So +he rose and went. + +He found Owen in his house, lying in a rude chair and propped up by +pillows of bark. Now he was wasted almost to a shadow, and in the pale +pinched face his dark eyes, always large and spiritual, shone with +unnatural lustre, while his delicate hands were so thin that when he +held them up in blessing the light showed through them. + +"Welcome, friend," he said. "Tell me, why have you deserted me of late? +Have you been ill?" + +"No, Messenger," answered Hokosa, "that is, not in my body. I have been +sick at heart, and therefore I have not come." + +"What, Hokosa, do your doubts still torment you? I thought that my +prayers had been heard, and that power had been given me to set them at +rest for ever. Man, let me hear the trouble, and swiftly, for cannot you +who are a doctor see that I shall not be here for long to talk with you? +My days are numbered, Hokosa, and my work is almost done." + +"I know it," answered Hokosa. "And, Messenger, _my_ days are also +numbered." + +"How is this?" asked Owen, "seeing that you are well and strong. Does an +enemy put you in danger of your life?" + +"Yes, Messenger, and I myself am that enemy; for to-day I, who am no +longer fit to live, must die by my own hand. Nay, listen and you will +say that I do well, for before I go I would tell you all. Messenger, you +are doomed, are you not? Well, it was I who doomed you. That fruit which +you ate a while ago was poisoned, and by my hand, for I am a master of +such arts. From the beginning I hated you, as well I might, for had you +not worsted me and torn power from my grasp, and placed the people and +the king under the rule of another God? Therefore, when all else failed, +I determined to murder you, and I did the deed by means of that woman +who not long ago was hung for the killing of her sister, though in truth +she was innocent." And he told him what had passed between himself and +the woman, and told him also of the plot which he had hatched to kill +Nodwengo and the Christians, and to set Hafela on the throne. + +"She was innocent," he went on, "but I am guilty. How guilty you and I +know alone. Do you remember that day when you ate the fruit, how +after it I accompanied you to the church yonder and listened to your +preaching? 'Your sin shall find you out,' you said, and of a surety mine +has found me out. For, Messenger, it came about that in listening to +you then and afterwards, I grew to love you and to believe the words you +taught, and therefore am I of all men the most miserable, and therefore +must I, who have been great and the councillor of kings, perish +miserably by the death of a dog. + +"Now curse me, and let me go." + + + +CHAPTER XVII + +THE LOOSING OF NOMA + +When Owen heard that it was Hokosa who had poisoned him, he groaned and +hid his face in his hands, and thus he remained till the evil tale was +finished. Now he lifted his head and spoke, but not to Hokosa. + +"O God," he said, "I thank Thee that at the cost of my poor life Thou +hast been pleased to lead this sinner towards the Gate of Righteousness, +and to save alive those whom Thou hast sent me to gather to Thy Fold." + +Then he looked at Hokosa and said:-- + +"Unhappy man, is not your cup full enough of crime, and have you not +sufficiently tempted the mercy of Heaven, that you would add to all your +evil deeds that of self-murder?" + +"It is better to die to-day by my own hand," answered Hokosa, "than +to-morrow among the mockery of the people to fall a victim to your +vengeance, Messenger." + +"Vengeance! Did I speak to you of vengeance? Who am I that I should take +vengeance upon one who has repented? Hokosa, freely do I forgive you +all, even as in some few days I hope to be forgiven. Freely and fully +from my heart do I forgive you, nor shall my lips tell one word of the +sin that you have worked against me." + +Now, when Hokosa heard those words, for a moment he stared stupefied; +then he fell upon his knees before Owen, and bowing his head till it +touched the teacher's feet, he burst into bitter weeping. + +"Rise and hearken," said Owen gently. "Weep not because I have shown +kindness to you, for that is my duty and no more, but for your sins in +your own heart weep now and ever. Yet for your comfort I tell you that +if you do this, of a surety they shall be forgiven to you. _Hokosa, you +have indeed lost that which you loved, and henceforth you must follow +after that which you did not desire. In the very grave of error you have +found truth, and from the depths of sin you shall pluck righteousness. +Ay, that Cross which you deemed accursed shall lift you up on high, for +by it you shall be saved._" + +Hokosa heard and shivered. + +"Who set those words between your lips, Messenger?" he whispered. + +"Who set them, Hokosa? Nay, I know not--or rather, I know well. He set +them Who teaches us to speak all things that are good." + +"It must be so, indeed," replied Hokosa. "Yet I have heard them before; +I have heard them from the lips of the dead, and with them went this +command: that when they fell upon my ears again I should 'take them for +a sign, and let my heart be turned.'" + +"Tell me that tale," said Owen. + +So he told him, and this time it was the white man who trembled. + +"Horrible has been your witchcraft, O Son of Darkness!" said Owen, when +he had finished; "yet it would seem that it was permitted to you to find +truth in the pit of sorcery. Obey, obey, and let your heart be turned. +The dead told you that you should be set high above the nation and its +king, and that saying I cannot read, though it may be fulfilled in some +fashion of which to-day you do not think. At the least, the other saying +is true, that in the end comes judgment, and that there shall the +sin and the atonement strive together; therefore for judgment prepare +yourself. And now depart, for I must talk with the king as to this +matter of the onslaught of Hafela." + +"Then, that will be the signal for my death, for what king can forgive +one who has plotted such treachery against him?" said Hokosa. + +"Fear not," answered Owen, "I will soften his heart. Go you into the +church and pray, for there you shall be less tempted; but before you go, +swear to me that you will work no evil on yourself." + +"I swear it, Messenger, since now I desire to live, if only for awhile, +seeing that death shuts every door." + +Then he went to the church and waited there. An hour later he was +summoned, and found the king seated with Owen. + +"Man," said Nodwengo, "I am told by the Messenger here that you have +knowledge of a plot which my brother the Prince Hafela has made to fall +treacherously upon me and put me and my people to the spear. How you +come to be acquainted with the plot, and what part you have played +in it, I will not now inquire, for so much have I promised to the +Messenger. Yet I warn you it will be well that you should tell me all +you know, and that should you lie to me or attempt to deceive me, then +you shall surely die." + +"King, hear all the truth," answered Hokosa in a voice of desperate +calm. "I have knowledge of the plot, for it was I who wove it; but +whether or not Hafela will carry it out altogether I cannot say, for +as yet no word has reached me from him. King, this was the plan that I +made." And he told him everything. + +"It is fortunate for you, Hokosa," said Nodwengo grimly when he had +finished, "that I gave my word to the Messenger that no harm should come +to you, seeing that you have repented and confessed. This is certain, +that Hafela has listened to your evil counsels, for I gave my consent to +his flight from this land with all his people, and already his women +and children have crossed the mountain path in thousands. Well, this +I swear, that their feet shall tread it no more, for where they are +thither he shall go to join them, should he chance to live to do so. +Hokosa, begone, and know that day and night you will be watched. Should +you so much as dare to approach one of the gates of the Great Place, +that moment you shall die." + +"Have no fear, O King," said Hokosa humbly, "for I have emptied all my +heart before you. The past is the past, and cannot be recalled. For the +future, while it pleases you to spare me, I am the most loyal of your +servants." + +"Can a man empty a spring with a pitcher?" asked the king +contemptuously. "By to-morrow this heart of yours may be full again +with the blackest treachery, O master of sin and lies. Many months ago I +spared you at the prayer of the Messenger; and now at his prayer I spare +you again, yet in doing so I think that I am foolish." + +"Nay, I will answer for him," broke in Owen. "Let him stay here with me, +and set your guard without my gates." + +"How do I know that he will not murder you, friend?" asked the king. +"This man is a snake whom few can nurse with safety." + +"He will not murder me," said Owen smiling, "because his heart is turned +from evil to good; also, there is little need to murder a dying man." + +"Nay, speak not so," said the king hastily; "and as for this man, be it +as you will. Come, I must take counsel with my captains, for our danger +is near and great." + +So it came about that Hokosa stayed in the house of Owen. + +On the morrow the Great Place was full of the bustle of preparation, and +by dawn of the following day an _impi_ of some seventeen thousand spears +had started to ambush Hafela and his force in a certain wooded defile +through which he must pass on his way to the mountain pass where his +women and children were gathered. The army was not large, at least in +the eyes of the People of Fire who, before the death of Umsuka and the +break up of the nation, counted their warriors by tens of thousands. +But after those events the most of the regiments had deserted to Hafela, +leaving to Nodwengo not more than two-and-twenty thousand spears upon +which he could rely. Of these he kept less than a third to defend the +Great Place against possible attacks, and all the rest he sent to fall +upon Hafela far away, hoping there to make an end of him once and for +all. This counsel the king took against the better judgment of many of +his captains, and as the issue proved, it was mistaken. + +When Owen told Hokosa of it, that old general shrugged his shoulders. + +"The king would have done better to keep his regiments at home," he +said, "and fight it out with Hafela here, where he is well prepared. +Yonder the country is very wide, and broken, and it may well chance that +the _impi_ will miss that of Hafela, and then how can the king defend +this place with a handful, should the prince burst upon him at the head +of forty thousand men? But who am I that I should give counsel for which +none seek?" + +"As God wills, so shall it befall," answered Owen wearily; "but oh! the +thought of all this bloodshed breaks my heart. I trust that its beatings +may be stilled before my eyes behold the evil hour." + +On the evening of that day Hokosa was baptised. The ceremony took place, +not in the church, for Owen was too weak to go there, but in the +largest room of his house and before some few witnesses chosen from the +congregation. Even as he was being signed with the sign of the cross, +a strange and familiar attraction caused the convert to look up, and +behold, before him, watching all with mocking eyes, stood Noma his wife. +At length the rite was finished, and the little audience melted away, +all save Noma, who stood silent and beautiful as a statue, the light of +mockery still gleaming in her eyes. Then she spoke, saying:-- + +"I greet you, Husband. I have returned from doing your business afar, +and if this foolishness is finished, and the white man can spare you, I +would talk with you alone." + +"I greet you, Wife," answered Hokosa. "Say out your say, for none are +present save us three, and from the Messenger here I have no secrets." + +"What, Husband, none? Do you ever talk to him of certain fruit that you +ripened in a garden yonder?" + +"From the Messenger I have no secrets," repeated Hokosa in a heavy +voice. + +"Then his heart must be full of them indeed, and it is little wonder +that he seems sick," replied Noma, gibing. "Tell me, Hokosa, is it true +that you have become a Christian, or would you but fool the white man +and his following?" + +"It is true." + +At the words her graceful shape was shaken with a little gust of silent +laughter. + +"The wizard has turned saint," she said. "Well, then, what of the +wizard's wife?" + +"You were my wife before I became Christian; if the Messenger permits +it, you can still abide with me." + +"If the Messenger permits it! So you have come to this, Hokosa, that you +must ask the leave of another man as to whether or no you should keep +your own wife! There is no other thing that I could not have thought of +you, but this I would never have believed had I not heard it from your +lips. Say now, do you still love me, Hokosa?" + +"You know well that I love you, now and always," he answered, in a voice +that sounded like a groan; "as you know that for love of you I have done +many sins from which otherwise I should have turned aside." + +"Grieve not over them, Hokosa; after all, in such a count as yours they +will make but little show. Well, if you love me, I hate you, though +through your witchcraft your will yet has the mastery of mine. I demand +of you now that you should loose that bond, for I do not desire to +become a Christian; and surely, O most good and holy man, having one +wife already, it will not please you henceforth to live in sin with a +heathen woman." + +Now Hokosa turned to Owen:-- + +"In the old days," he said, "I could have answered her; but now I am +fallen; or raised up--at the least I am changed and cannot. O prophet of +Heaven, tell me what I shall do." + +"Sever the bond that you have upon her and let her go," answered Owen. +"This love of yours is unnatural, unholy and born of witchcraft; have +done with it, or if you cannot, at the least deny it, for such a woman, +a woman who hates you, can work you no good. Moreover, since she is a +second wife, you being a Christian, are bound to free her should she so +desire." + +"She can work me no good, Messenger, that I know; but I know also that +while she struggles in the net of my will she can work me no evil. If I +loose the net and the fish swims free, it may be otherwise." + +"Loose it," answered Owen, "and leave the rest to Providence. +Henceforth, Hokosa, do right, and take no thought for the morrow, for +the morrow is with God, and what He decrees, that shall befall." + +"I hear you," said Hokosa, "and I obey." For a while he rocked himself +to and fro, staring at the ground, then he lifted his head and spoke:-- + +"Woman," he said, "the knot is untied and the spell is broken. Begone, +for I release you and I divorce you. Flesh of my flesh have you been, +and soul of my soul, for in the web of sorceries are we knit together. +Yet be warned and presume not too far, for remember that which I have +laid down I can take up, and that should I choose to command, you must +still obey. Farewell, you are free." + +Noma heard, and with a sigh of ecstasy she sprang into the air as a +slave might do from whom the fetters have been struck off. + +"Ay," she cried, "I am free! I feel it in my blood, I who have lain in +bondage, and the voice of freedom speaks in my heart and the breath of +freedom blows in my nostrils. I am free from you, O dark and accursed +man; but herein lies my triumph and revenge--_you_ are not free from me. +In obedience to that white fool whom you have murdered, you have loosed +me; but you I will not loose and could not if I would. Listen now, +Hokosa: you love me, do you not?--next to this new creed of yours, I am +most of all to you. Well, since you have divorced me, I will tell you, I +go straight to another man. Now, look your last on me; for you love me, +do you not?" and she slipped the mantle from her shoulders and except +for her girdle stood before him naked, and smiled. + +"Well," she went on, resuming her robe, "the last words of those we love +are always dear to us; therefore, Hokosa, you who were my husband, I +leave mine with you. You are a coward and a traitor, and your doom shall +be that of a coward and a traitor. For my sake you betrayed Umsuka, your +king and benefactor; for your own sake you betrayed Nodwengo, who spared +you; and now, for the sake of your miserable soul, you have betrayed +Hafela to Nodwengo. Nay, I know the tale, do not answer me, but the end +of it--ah! that is yet to learn. Lie there, snake, and lick the hand +that you have bitten, but I, the bird whom you have loosed, I fly +afar--taking your heart with me!" and suddenly she turned and was gone. + +Presently Hokosa spoke in a thick voice:-- + +"Messenger," he said, "this cross that you have given me to bear is +heavy indeed." + +"Yes, Hokosa," answered Owen, "for to it your sins are nailed." + + + +CHAPTER XVIII + +THE PASSING OF OWEN + +Once she was outside of Owen's house, Noma did not tarry. First she +returned to Hokosa's kraal, where she had already learnt from his head +wife, Zinti, and others the news of his betrayal of the plot of Hafela, +of his conversion to the faith of the Christians, and of the march +of the _impi_ to ambush the prince. Here she took a little spear, and +rolling up in a skin blanket as much dried meat as she could carry, +she slipped unnoticed from the kraal. Her object was to escape from the +Great Place, but this she did not try to do by any of the gates, knowing +them to be guarded. Some months ago, before she started on her embassy, +she had noted a weak spot in the fence, where dogs had torn a hole +through which they passed out to hunt at night. To this spot she made +her way under cover of the darkness--for though she still greatly feared +to be alone at night, her pressing need conquered her fears--and found +that the hole was yet there, for a tall weed growing in its mouth had +caused it to be overlooked by those whose duty it was to mend the fence. +With her assegai she widened it a little, then drew her lithe shape +through it, and lying hidden till the guard had passed, climbed the two +stone walls beyond. Once she was free of the town, she set her course by +the stars and started forward at a steady run. + +"If my strength holds I shall yet be in time to warn him," she muttered +to herself. "Ah! friend Hokosa, this new madness of yours has blunted +your wits that once were sharp enough. You have set me free, and now you +shall learn how I can use my freedom. Not for nothing have I been your +pupil, Hokosa the fox." + +Before the dawn broke Noma was thirty miles from the Great Place, and +before the next dawn she was a hundred. At sunset on that second day she +stood among mountains. To her right stretched a great defile, a rugged +place of rocks and bush, wherein she knew that the regiments of the king +were hid in ambush. Perchance she was too late, perchance the _impi_ of +Hafela had already passed to its doom in yonder gorge. Swiftly she ran +forward on to the trail which led to the gorge, to find that it had been +trodden by many feet and recently. Moving to and fro she searched the +spoor with her eyes, then rose with a sigh of joy. It was old, and +marked the passage of the great company of women and children and their +thousands of cattle which, in execution of the plot, had travelled this +path some days before. Either the _impi_ had not yet arrived, or it had +gone by some other road. Weary as she was, Noma followed the old spoor +backwards. A mile or more away it crossed the crest of a hog-backed +mountain, from whose summit she searched the plain beyond, and not in +vain, for there far beneath her twinkled the watch-fires of the army of +Hafela. + +Three hours later a woman, footsore and utterly exhausted, staggered +into the camp, and waving aside the spears that were lifted to stab her, +demanded to be led to the prince. Presently she was there. + +"Who is this woman?" asked the great warrior; for, haggard as she was +with travel, exhaustion, and the terror of her haunted loneliness, he +did not know her in the uncertain firelight. + +"Hafela," she said, "I am Noma who was the wife of Hokosa, and for whole +nights and days I have journeyed as no woman ever journeyed before, to +tell you of the treachery of Hokosa and to save you from your doom." + +"What treachery and what doom?" asked the prince. + +"Before I answer you that question, Hafela, you must pay me the price of +my news." + +"Let me hear the price, Noma." + +"It is this, Prince: First, the head of Hokosa, who has divorced me, +when you have caught him." + +"That I promise readily. What more?" + +"Secondly, the place of your chief wife to-day; and a week hence, when +I shall have made you king, the name and state of Queen of the People of +Fire with all that hangs thereto." + +"You are ambitious, woman, and know well how to drive a bargain. Well, +if you can ask, I can give, for I have ever loved you, and your mind is +great as your body is beautiful. If through your help I should become +King of the People of Fire, you shall be their Queen, I swear it by the +spirits of my fathers and by my own head. And now--your tidings." + +"These are they, Hafela. Hokosa has turned Christian and betrayed the +plot to Nodwengo; and the great gorge yonder but three hours march away +is ambushed. To-morrow you and your people would have been cut off there +had I not run so fast and far to warn you, after which the _impis_ +of Nodwengo were commanded to follow your women and cattle over the +mountain pass and capture them." + +"This is news indeed," said the prince. "Say now, how many regiments are +hidden in the gorge?" + +"Eight." + +"Well, I have fourteen; so, being warned, there is little to fear. I +will catch these rats in their own hole." + +"I have a better plan," said Noma; "it is this: leave six regiments +posted upon the brow of yonder hill and let them stay there. Then when +the generals of Nodwengo see that they do not enter the gorge, they will +believe that the ambush is discovered, and, after waiting one day or +perhaps two, will move out to give battle, thinking that before them is +all your strength. But command your regiments to run and not to fight, +drawing the army of Nodwengo after them. Meanwhile, yes, this very +night, you yourself with all the men that are left to you must march +upon the Great Place, which, though it be strong, can be stormed, for it +is defended by less than five thousand soldiers. There, having taken it, +you shall slay Nodwengo, proclaiming yourself king, and afterwards, by +the help of the _impi_ that you leave here which will march onward to +your succour, you can deal with yonder army." + +"A great scheme truly," said Hafela in admiration; "but how do I know +whether all this tale is true, or whether you do but set a snare for +me?" + +"Bid scouts go out and creep into yonder gully," answered Noma, "and you +will see whether or no I have spoken falsely. For the rest, I am in your +hands, and if I lie you can take my life in payment." + +"If I march upon the Great Place, it must be at midnight when none see +me go," said Hafela, "and what will you do then, Noma, who are too weary +to travel again so soon?" + +"I will be borne in a litter till my strength comes back to me," she +answered. "And now give me to eat and let me rest while I may." + +***** + +Five hours later, Hafela with the most of his army, a force of something +over twenty thousand men, was journeying swiftly but by a circuitous +route towards the Great Place of the king. On the crest of the hill +facing the gorge, as Noma had suggested, he left six regiments with +instructions to fly before Nodwengo's generals, and when they had led +them far enough, to follow him as swiftly as they were able. These +orders, or rather the first part of them, they carried out, for as it +chanced after two days' flight, the king's soldiers got behind them by +a night march, and falling on them at dawn, killed half of them and +dispersed the rest. Then it was that Nodwengo's generals learned for +the first time that they were following one wing of Hafela's army only, +while the main body was striking at the heart of the kingdom, and turned +their faces homewards in fear and haste. + +***** + +On the morning after the flight of Noma, Owen passed into the last stage +of his sickness, and it became evident, both to himself and to those +who watched him, that at the most he could not live for more than a few +days. For his part, he accepted his doom joyfully, spending the time +which was left to him in writing letters that were to be forwarded to +England whenever an opportunity should arise. Also he set down on paper +a statement of the principal events of his strange mission, and other +information for the guidance of his white successors, who by now should +be drawing near to the land of the Amasuka. In the intervals of these +last labours, from time to time he summoned the king and the wisest and +trustiest of them whom he had baptised to his bedside, teaching them +what they should do when he was gone, and exhorting them to cling to the +Faith. + +On the afternoon of the fourth day from that of the baptism of Hokosa he +fell into a quiet sleep, from which he did not wake till sundown. + +"Am I still here?" he asked wondering, of John and Hokosa who watched at +his bedside. "From my dreams I thought that it was otherwise. John, send +a messenger to the king and ask of him to assemble the people, all who +care to come, in the open place before my house. I am about to die, and +first I would speak with them." + +John went weeping upon his errand, leaving Owen and Hokosa alone. + +"Tell me know what shall I do?" said Hokosa in a voice of despair, +"seeing that it is I and no other who have brought this death upon you." + +"Fret not, my brother," answered Owen, "for this and other things you +did in the days of your blindness, and it was permitted that you should +do them to an end. Kneel down now, that I may absolve you from your sins +before I pass away; for I tell you, Hokosa, I believe that ere many days +are over you must walk on the same path which I travel to-night." + +"Is it so?" Hokosa answered. "Well, I am glad, for I have no longer any +lust of life." + +Then he knelt down and received the absolution. + +Now John returned and Nodwengo with him, who told him that the people +were gathering in hundreds according to his wish. + +"Then clothe me in my robes and let us go forth," he said, "for I would +speak my last words in the ears of men." + +So they put the surplice and hood upon his wasted form and went out, +John preceding him holding on high the ivory crucifix, while the king +and Hokosa supported him, one on either side. + +Without his gate stood a low wooden platform, whence at times Owen had +been accustomed to address any congregation larger than the church would +contain. On this platform he took his seat. The moon was bright above +him, and by it he could see that already his audience numbered some +thousands of men, women and children. The news had spread that the +wonderful white man, Messenger, wished to take his farewell of the +nation, though even now many did not understand that he was dying, but +imagined that he was about to leave the country, or, for aught they +knew, to vanish from their sight into Heaven. For a moment Owen looked +at the sea of dusky faces, then in the midst of an intense stillness, he +spoke in a voice low indeed but clear and steady:-- + +"My children," he said, "hear my last words to you. More than three +years ago, in a far, far land and upon such a night as this, a Voice +spoke to me from above commanding me to seek you out, to turn you from +your idolatry and to lighten your darkness. I listened to the Voice, and +hither I journeyed across sea and land, though how this thing might be +done I could not guess. But to Him Who sent me all things are possible, +and while yet I lingered upon the threshold of your country, in a dream +were revealed to me events that were to come. So I appeared before you +boldly, and knowing that he had been poisoned and that I could cure +him, I drew back your king from the mouth of death, and you said to +yourselves: 'Behold a wizard indeed! Let us hear him.' Then I gave +battle to your sorcerers yonder upon the plain, and from the foot of the +Cross I teach, the lightnings were rolled back upon them and they were +not. Look now, their chief stands at my side, among my disciples one +of the foremost and most faithful. Afterwards troubles arose: your king +died a Christian, and many of the people fell away; but still a remnant +remained, and he who became king was converted to the truth. Now I +have sown the seed, and the corn is ripe before my eyes, but it is not +permitted that I should reap the harvest. My work is ended, my task is +done, and I, the Messenger, return to make report to Him Who sent the +message. + +"Hear me yet a little while, for soon shall my voice be silent. 'I come +not to bring peace, but a sword,'--so said the Master Whom I preach, and +so say I, the most unworthy of His servants. Salvation cannot be bought +at a little price; it must be paid for by the blood and griefs of +men, and in blood and griefs must you pay, O my children. Through much +tribulation must you also enter the kingdom of God. Even now the heathen +is at your gates, and many of you shall perish on his spears, but I tell +you that he shall not conquer. Be faithful, cling to the Cross, and do +not dare to doubt your Lord, for He will be your Captain and you shall +be His people. Cleave to your king, for he is good; and in the day of +trial listen to the counsel of this Hokosa who once was the first of +evil-doers, for with him goes my spirit, and he is my son in the spirit. + +"My children, fare you well! Forget me not, for I have loved you; or if +you will, forget me, but remember my teaching and hearken to those who +shall tread upon the path I made. The peace of God be with you, the +blessing of God be upon you, and the salvation of God await you, as it +awaits me to-night! Friends, lead me hence to die." + +They turned to him, but before their hands touched him Thomas Owen fell +forward upon the breast of Hokosa and lay there a while. Then suddenly, +for the last time, he lifted himself and cried aloud:-- + +"I have fought a good fight! I have finished my course! I have kept the +faith! Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness . . . +and not to me only, but to all those who love His appearing." + +Then his head fell back, his dark eyes closed, and the Messenger was +dead. + +Hokosa, the man who had murdered him, having lifted him up to show him +to the people, amidst a sound of mighty weeping, took the body in his +arms and bore it thence to make it ready for burial. + + + +CHAPTER XIX + +THE FALL OF THE GREAT PLACE + +On the morrow at sundown all that remained of Thomas Owen was laid to +rest before the altar of the little church, Nodwengo the king and Hokosa +lowering him into the grave, while John, his first disciple, read over +him the burial service of the Christians, which it had been one of the +dead man's last labours to translate into the language of the Amasuka. + +Before the ceremony was finished, a soldier, carrying a spear in his +hand, pushed his way through the dense and weeping crowd, and having +saluted, whispered something into the ear of the king. Nodwengo started, +and, with a last look of farewell at the face of his friend, left the +chapel, accompanied by some of his generals who were present, muttering +to Hokosa that he was to follow when all was done. Accordingly, some +few minutes later, he went and was admitted into the Council Hut, +where captains and messengers were to be seen arriving and departing +continuously. + +"Hokosa," said the king, "you have dealt treacherously with me in the +past, but I believe now that your heart is true; at the least I follow +the commands of our dead master and trust you. Listen: the outposts have +sighted an _impi_ of many regiments advancing towards the Great Place, +though whether or no it be my own _impi_ returning victorious from the +war with my brother, I cannot say. There is this against it, however, +that a messenger has but just arrived reporting that the generals have +perceived the host of Hafela encamped upon a ridge over against the +gorge where they awaited him. If that be so, they can scarcely have +given him battle, for the messenger is swift of foot and has travelled +night and day. Yet how can this be the _impi_ of Hafela, who, say the +generals, is encamped upon the ridge?" + +"He may have left the ridge, King, having been warned of the ambush." + +"It cannot be, for when the runner started his fires burned there and +his soldiers were gathered round them." + +"Then perhaps his captains sit upon the ridge with some portion of his +strength to deceive those who await him in the gorge; while, knowing +that here men are few, he himself swoops down on you with the main body +of his _impi_." + +"At least we shall learn presently," answered the king; "but if it be +as I fear and we are outwitted, what is there that we can do against so +many?" + +Now one of the captains proposed that they should stay where they were +and hold the place. + +"It is too large," answered the king, "they will burst the fences and +break our line." + +Another suggested that they should fly and, avoiding the regiments of +Hafela in the darkness of the night, should travel swiftly in search of +the main army that had been sent to lie in ambush. + +"What," said Nodwengo, "leaving the aged and the women and children to +perish, for how can we take such a multitude? No, I will have none of +this plan." + +Then Hokosa spoke. "King," he said, "listen to my counsel: Command now +that all the women and the old men, taking with them such cattle and +food as are in the town, depart at once into the Valley of Death and +collect in the open space that lies beyond the Tree of Doom, near the +spring of water that is there. The valley is narrow and the cliffs are +steep, and it may chance that by the help of Heaven we shall be able to +hold it till the army returns to relieve us, to seek which messengers +must be sent at once with these tidings." + +"The plan is good," said the king, though none had thought of it; "but +so we shall lose the town." + +"Towns can be rebuilt," answered Hokosa, "but who may restore the lives +of men?" + +As the words left his lips, a runner burst into the council, crying: +"King, the _impi_ is that of Hafela, and the prince heads it in person. +Already his outposts rest upon the Plain of Fire." + +Then Nodwengo rose and issued his orders, commanding that all the +ineffective population of the town, together with such food and cattle +as could be gathered, should retreat at once into the Valley of Death. +By this time the four or five thousand soldiers who were left in the +Great Place had been paraded on the open ground in front of the king's +house, where they stood, still and silent, in the moonlight. Nodwengo +and the captains went out to them, and as they saw him come they lifted +their spears like one man, giving him the royal salute of "King!" He +held up his hand and addressed them. + +"Soldiers," he said, "we have been outwitted. My _impi_ is afar, and +that of Hafela is at our gates. Yonder in the valley, though we be +few, we can defend ourselves till succour reaches us, which already +messengers have gone out to seek. But first we must give time for the +women and children, the sick and the aged, to withdraw with food and +cattle; and this we can do in one way only, by keeping Hafela at bay +till they have passed the archway, all of them. Now, soldiers, for the +sake of your own lives, of your honour and of those you love, swear to +me, in the holy Name which we have been taught to worship, that you will +fight out this great fight without fear or faltering." + +"We swear it in the holy Name, and by your head, King," roared the +regiments. + +"Then victory is already ours," answered Nodwengo. "Follow me, Children +of Fire!" and shaking his great spear, he led the way towards that +portion of the outer fence upon which Hafela was advancing. + +By now the town behind them was a scene of almost indescribable tumult +and confusion, for the companies detailed to the task were clearing the +numberless huts of their occupants, and collecting women, children and +oxen in thousands, preparatory to driving them into the defile. Panic +had seized many of these poor creatures, who, in imagination, already +saw themselves impaled upon the cruel spears of Hafela's troops, and +indeed in not a few instances believed those who were urging them +forward to be the enemy. Women shrieked and wrung their hands, children +wailed piteously, oxen lowed, and the infirm and aged vented their +grief in groans and cries to Heaven, or their ancient god, for mercy. +In truth, so difficult was the task of marshalling this motley array +at night, numbering as it did ten or twelve thousand souls, that a full +hour went by before the mob even began to move, slowly and uncertainly, +towards the place of refuge, whereof the opening was so narrow that but +few of them could pass it at a time. + +Meanwhile Hafela was developing the attack. Forming his great army into +the shape of a wedge he raised his battle-cry and rushed down on the +first line of fortifications, which he stormed without difficulty, +for they were defended by a few skirmishers only. Next he attacked the +second line, and carried it after heavy fighting, then hurled himself +upon the weakest point of the main fence of the vast kraal. Here it was +that the fray began in earnest, for here Nodwengo was waiting for him. +Thrice the thousands rolled on in the face of a storm of spears, and +thrice they fell back from the wide fence of thorns and the wall of +stone behind it. By now the battle had raged for about an hour and a +half, and it was reported to the king that the first of the women and +children had passed the archway into the valley, and that nearly all of +them were clear of the eastern gate of the town. + +"Then it is time that we follow them," said the king, "for if we wait +here until the warriors of Hafela are among us, our retreat will become +a rout and soon there will be none left to follow. Let one company," and +he named it, "hold the fence for a while to give us time to withdraw, +taking the wounded with us." + +"We hear you, king," said one of that company, "but our captain is +killed." + +"Who among you will take over the command of these men and hold the +breach?" asked Nodwengo of the group of officers about him. + +"I, King," answered old Hokosa, lifting his spear, "for I care not +whether I live or die." + +"Go to, boaster!" cried another. "Who among us cares whether he lives or +dies when the king commands?" + +"That we shall know to-morrow," said Hokosa quietly, and the soldiers +laughed at the retort. + +"So be it," said the king, and while silently and swiftly he led off the +regiments, keeping in the shadow of the huts, Hokosa and his hundred +men posted themselves behind the weakened fence and wall. Now, for the +fourth time the attacking regiment came forward grimly, on this occasion +led by the prince himself. As they drew near, Hokosa leapt upon the +wall, and standing there in the bright moonlight where all could see +him, he called to them to halt. Instinctively they obeyed him. + +"Is it Hafela whom I see yonder?" he asked. + +"Ah! it is I," answered the prince. "What would you with me, wizard and +traitor?" + +"This only, Hafela: I would ask you what you seek here?" + +"That which you promised me, Hokosa, the crown of my father and certain +other things." + +"Then get you back, Hafela, for you shall never win them.. Have I +prophesied falsely to you at any time? Not so--neither do I prophesy +falsely now. Get you back whence you came, and your wolves with you, +else shall you bide here for ever." + +"Do you dare to call down evil on me, Wizard?" shouted the prince +furiously. "Your wife is mine, and now I take your life also," and with +all his strength he hurled at him the great spear he held. + +It hissed past Hokosa's head, touching his ear, but he never flinched +from the steel. + +"A poor cast, Prince," he said laughing; "but so it must have been, for +I am guarded by that which you cannot see. My wife you have, and she +shall be your ruin; my life you may take, but ere it leaves me, Hafela, +I shall see you dead and your army scattered. The Messenger is passed +away, but his power has fallen upon me and I speak the truth to you, O +Prince and warriors, who are--already dead." + +Now a shriek of dismay and fury rose from the hundreds who heard this +prophesy of ill, for of Hokosa and his magic they were terribly afraid. + +"Kill him! Kill the wizard!" they shouted, and a rain of spears rushed +towards him on the wall. + +They rushed towards him, they passed above, below, around; but, of them +all, not one touched him. + +"Did I not tell you that I was guarded by That which you cannot see?" +Hokosa asked contemptuously. Then slowly he descended from the wall +amidst a great silence. + +"When men are scarce the tongue must play a part," he explained to his +companions, who stared at him wondering. "By now the king and those +with him should have reached the eastern gate; whereas, had we fought at +once, Hafela would be hard upon his heels, for we are few, and who can +hold a buffalo with a rope of grass? Yet I think that I spoke truth +when I told him that the garment of the Messenger has fallen upon my +shoulders, and that death awaits him and his companions, as it awaits +me also and many of us. Now, friends, be ready, for the bull charges +and soon we must feel his horns. This at least is left to you, to die +gloriously." + +While he was still speaking the first files of the regiment rushed upon +the fence, tearing aside the thorns with their hands till a passage was +made through them. Then they sprang upon the wall, there to be met +by the spears of Hokosa and his men thrusting upward from beneath its +shelter. Time after time they sprang, and time after time they fell back +dead or wounded, till at last, dashing forward in one dense column, they +poured over the stones as the rising tide pours over the rocks on the +sea-shore, driving the defenders before them by the sheer weight of +numbers. + +"This game is played!" cried Hokosa. "Fly now to the eastern gate, for +here we can do nothing more." + +So they fled, those who survived of them, and after them came the +thousands of the foe, sacking and firing the deserted town as they +advanced. + +Hokosa and his men, or rather the half of them, reached the gate and +passed it in safety, barring it after them, and thereby delaying the +attackers till they could burst their way through. Now hundreds of huts +were afire, and the flames spread swiftly, lighting up the country far +and wide. In the glare of them, Hokosa could see that already a full +two-thirds of the crowd of fugitives had passed the narrow arch; while +Nodwengo and the soldiers were drawn up in companies upon the steep and +rocky slope that led to it, protecting their retreat. + +He advanced to the king and reported himself. + +"So you have lived through it," said Nodwengo. + +"I shall die when my hour comes, and not before," Hokosa answered. "We +did well yonder, and yet the most of us are alive to tell the tale, for +I knew when and how to go. Be ready, king, for the foe press us close, +and that mob behind us crawls onward like a snail." + +As he spoke the pursuers broke through the fence and gate of the burning +town, and once more the fight began. They had the advantage of numbers; +but Nodwengo and his troops stood in a wide road upon higher ground +protected on either side by walls, and were, moreover, rested, not +breathless and weary with travel like the men of Hafela. Slowly, +fighting, every inch of the way, Nodwengo was pushed back, and slowly +the long ant-like line of women and sick and cattle crept through the +opening in the rock, till at length all of them were gone. + +"It is time," said Nodwengo, glancing behind him, "for our arms grow +weary." + +Then he gave orders, and company by company the defending force followed +on the path of the fugitives, till at length amidst a roar of rage and +disappointment, the last of them vanished through the arch, Hokosa among +them, and the place was blocked with stones, above which shone a hedge +of spears. + + + +CHAPTER XX + +NOMA SETS A SNARE + +Thus ended the first night's battle, since for this time the enemy had +fought enough. Nodwengo and his men had also had enough, for out of the +five thousand of them some eleven hundred were killed or wounded. Yet +they might not rest, for all that night, assisted by the women, they +laboured, building stone walls across the narrowest parts of the valley. +Also the cattle, women and children were moved along the gorge, which in +shape may be compared to a bottle with two necks, one at either end, +and encamped in the opening of the second neck, where was the spring +of water. This spot was chosen both because here alone water could be +obtained, without which they could not hold out more than a single day, +and because the koppie whereon grew the strange-looking euphorbia known +as the Tree of Doom afforded a natural rampart against attack. + +Shortly after dawn, while the soldiers were resting and eating of +such food as could be procured--for the most part strips of raw or +half-cooked meat cut from hastily killed cattle--the onslaught was +renewed with vigour, Hafela directing his efforts to the forcing of the +natural archway. But, strive as he would, this he could not do, for it +was choked with stones and thorns and guarded by brave men. + +"You do but waste your labour, Hafela," said Noma, who stood by him +watching the assault. + +"What then is to be done?" he asked, "for unless we come at them we +cannot kill them. It was clever of them to take refuge in this hole. I +thought surely that they would fight it out yonder, beneath the fences +of the Great Place." + +"Ah!" she answered, "you forgot that they had Hokosa on their side. Did +you then think to catch him sleeping? This retreat was Hokosa's counsel. +I learned it from the lips of that wounded captain before they killed +him. Now, it seems that there are but two paths to follow, and you can +choose between them. The one is to send a regiment a day and a half's +journey across the cliff top to guard the further mouth of the valley +and to wait till these jackals starve in their hole, for certainly they +can never come out." + +"It has started six hours since," said Hafela, "and though the +precipices are steep, having the moon to travel by, it should reach the +river mouth of the valley before dawn to-morrow, cutting Nodwengo off +from the plains, if indeed he should dare to venture out upon them, +which, with so small a force, he will not do. Yet this first plan +of yours must fail, Noma, seeing that before they starve within, the +generals of Nodwengo will be back upon us from the mountains, catching +us between the hammer and the anvil, and I know not how that fight would +go." + +"Yet, soon or late, it must be fought." + +"Nay," he answered, "for my hope is that should the _impi_ return to +find Nodwengo dead, they will surrender and acknowledge me as king, who +am the first of the blood royal. But what is your second plan?" + +By way of answer, she pointed to the cliff above them. On the right-hand +side, facing the archway, was a flat ledge overhanging the valley, at a +height of about a hundred feet. + +"If you can come yonder," she said, "it will be easy to storm this gate, +for there lie rocks in plenty, and men cannot fight when stones are +dropping on their heads." + +"But how can we come to that home of vultures, where never man has set +a foot? Look, the cliff above is sheer; no rock-rabbit could stand upon +it." + +With her eye Noma measured the distance from the brink of the precipice +to the broad ledge commanding the valley. + +"Sixty paces, not more," she said. "Well, yonder are oxen in plenty, and +out of their hides ropes can be made, and out of ropes a ladder, down +which men may pass; ten, or even five, would be enough." + +"Well thought of Noma," said Hafela. "Hokosa told us last night that to +him had passed the wisdom of the Messenger; but if this be so, I think +that to you has passed the guile of Hokosa." + +"It seems to me that some of it abides with him," answered Noma +laughing. + +Then the prince gave orders, and, with many workers of hides toiling at +it, within two hours the ladder was ready, its staves, set twenty inches +apart, being formed of knob-kerries, or the broken shafts of stabbing +spears. Now they lowered it from the top of the precipice so that its +end rested upon the ledge, and down it came several men, who swung upon +its giddy length like spiders on a web. Reaching this great shelf in +safety and advancing to the edge of it, these men started a boulder, +which, although as it chanced it hurt no one, fell in the midst of a +group of the defenders and bounded away through them. + +"Now we must be going," said Hokosa, looking up, "for no man can fight +against rocks, and our spears cannot reach those birds. Had the army +been taught the use of the bow, as I counselled in the past days, we +might still have held the archway; but they called it a woman's weapon, +and would have none of it." + +As he spoke another stone fell, crushing the life out of a man who stood +next to him. Then they retreated to the first wall, which had been piled +up during the night, where it was not possible to roll rocks upon them +from the cliffs above. This wall, and others reared at intervals behind +it, they set to work to strengthen as much as they could, making the +most of the time that was left to them before the enemy could clear the +way and march on to attack. + +Presently Hafela's men were through and sweeping down upon them with +a roar, thinking to carry the wall at a single rush. But in this they +failed; indeed, it as only after an hour's hard fighting and by the +expedient of continually attacking the work with fresh companies that at +length they stormed the wall. + +When Hokosa saw that he could no longer hold the place, but before the +foe was upon him, he drew off his soldiers to the second wall, a quarter +of a mile or more away, and here the fight began again. And so it went +on for hour after hour, as one by one the fortifications were carried +by the weight of numbers, for the attackers fought desperately under the +eye of their prince, caring nothing for the terrible loss they suffered +in men. Twice the force of the defenders was changed by order of +Nodwengo, fresh men being sent from the companies held in reserve to +take the places of those who had borne the brunt of the battle. This +indeed it was necessary to do, seeing that it was impossible to carry +water to so many, and in that burning valley men could not fight for +long athirst. Only Hokosa stayed on, for they brought him drink in +a gourd, and wherever the fray was fiercest there he was always; nor +although spears were rained upon him by hundreds, was he touched by one +of them. + +At length as the night fell the king's men were driven back from their +last scherm in the western half of the valley, across the open space +back upon the koppie where stood the Tree of Doom. Here they stayed a +while till, overmatched and outworn, they were pushed from its rocks +across the narrow stretch of broken ground into the shelter of the great +stone scherm or wall that ran from side to side of the further neck of +the valley, whereon thousands of women and such men as could be spared +had been working incessantly during the past night and day. + +It was as he retreated among the last upon this wall that Hokosa caught +sight of Noma for the first time since they parted in the house of the +Messenger. In the forefront of his troops, directing the attack, was +Hafela the prince, and at his side stood Noma, carrying in her hand a +little shield and a spear. At this moment also she saw him and called +aloud to him:-- + +"You have fought well, Wizard, but to-morrow all your magic shall avail +you nothing, for it will be your last day upon this earth." + +"Ay, Noma," he answered, "and yours also." + +Then of a sudden a company of the king's men rushed from the shelter of +the wall upon the attackers driving them back to the koppie and killing +several, so that in the confusion and gathering darkness Hokosa lost +sight of her, though a man at his side declared that he saw her fall +beneath the thrust of an assegai. Thus ended the second day. + +Now when the watch had been set the king and his captains took counsel +together, for their hearts were heavy. + +"Listen," said Nodwengo: "out of five thousand soldiers a thousand have +been killed and a thousand lie among us wounded. Hark to the groaning of +them! Also we have with us women and children and sick to the number of +twelve thousand, and between us and those who would butcher them every +one there stands but a single wall. Nor is this the worst of it: the +spring cannot supply the wants of so great a multitude in this hot +place, and it is feared that presently the water will be done. What +way shall we turn? If we surrender to Hafela, perhaps he will spare the +lives of the women and children; but whatever he may promise, the most +of us he will surely slay. If we fight and are defeated, then once +his regiments are among us, all will be slain according to the ancient +custom of our people. I have bethought me that we might retreat through +the valley, but the river beyond is in flood; also it is certain that +before this multitude could reach it, the prince will have sent a force +to cut us off while he himself harasses our rear. Now let him who has +counsel speak." + +"King, I have counsel," said Hokosa. "What were the words that the +Messenger spoke to us before he died? Did he not say: 'Even now the +heathen is at your gates, and many of you shall perish on his spears; +but I tell you that he shall not conquer'? Did he not say: 'Be faithful, +cling to the Cross, and do not dare to doubt your Lord, for He will +protect you, and your children after you, and He will be your Captain +and you shall be His people'? Did he not bid you also to listen to my +counsel? Then listen to it, for it is his: Your case seems desperate, +but have no fear, and take no thought for the morrow, for all shall yet +be well. Let us now pray to Him that the Messenger has revealed to us, +and Whom now he implores on our behalf in that place where he is to +guide us and to save us, for then surely He will hearken to our prayer." + +"So be it," said Nodwengo, and going out he stood upon a pillar of stone +in the moonlight and offered up his supplication in the hearing of the +multitude. + +Meanwhile, those of the camp of Hafela were also taking counsel. They +had fought bravely indeed, and carried the schanses; but at great cost, +since for every man that Nodwengo had lost, three of theirs had fallen. +Moreover, they were in evil case with weariness and the want of water, +as each drop they drank must be carried to them from the Great Place in +bags made of raw hide, which caused it to stink, for they had but few +gourds with them. + +"Now it is strange," said Hafela, "that these men should fight so +bravely, seeing that they are but a handful. There can be scarce three +thousand of them left, and yet I doubt not that before we carry those +last walls of theirs as many of us or more will be done. Ay! and after +they are done with, we must meet their great _impi_ when it returns, and +of what will befall us then I scarcely like to think." + +"Ill-fortune will befall you while Hokosa lives," broke in Noma. "Had it +not been for him, this trouble would have been done with by now; but +he is a wizard, and by his wizardries he defeats us and puts heart into +Nodwengo and the warriors. You, yourself, have seen him this day defying +us, not once but many times, for upon his flesh steel has no power. Ay! +and this is but the beginning of evil, for I am sure that he leads you +into some deep trap where you shall perish everlastingly. Did he not +himself declare that the power of that dead white worker of miracles has +fallen upon him, and who can fight against magic?" + +"Who, indeed?" said Hafela humbly; for like all savages he was +very superstitious, and, moreover, a sincere believer in Hokosa's +supernatural capacities. "This wizard is too strong for us; he is +invulnerable, and as I know well he can read the secret thoughts of men +and can suck wisdom from the dead, while to his eyes the darkness is no +blind." + +"Nay, Hafela," answered Noma, "there is one crack in his shield. Hear +me: if we can but catch him and hold him fast we shall have no need to +fear him more, and I think that I know how to bait the trap." + +"How will you bait it?" asked Hafela. + +"Thus. Midway between the koppie and the wall behind which lie the men +of the king stands a flat rock, and all about that rock are stretched +the bodies of dead soldiers. Now, this is my plan: that when next one +of those dark storm-clouds passes over the face of the moon six of the +strongest of our warriors should creep upon their bellies down this way +and that, as though they were also numbered with the slain. This done, +you shall despatch a herald to call in the ears of the king that you +desire to treat with him of peace. Then he will answer that if this be +so you can come beneath the walls of his camp, and your herald shall +refuse, saying that you fear treachery. But he must add that if Nodwengo +will bid Hokosa to advance alone to the flat rock, you will bid me, +Noma, whom none can fear, to do likewise, and that there we can talk in +sight of both armies, and returning thence, make report to you and to +Nodwengo. Afterwards, so soon as Hokosa has set his foot upon the rock, +those men who seem to be dead shall spring upon him and drag him to +our camp, where we can deal with him; for once the wizard is taken, the +cause of Nodwengo is lost." + +"A good pitfall," said the prince; "but will Hokosa walk into the trap?" + +"I think so, Hafela, for three reasons. He is altogether without fear; +he will desire, if may be, to make peace on behalf of the king; and he +has this strange weakness, that he still loves me, and will scarcely +suffer an occasion of speaking with me to go past, although he has +divorced me." + +"So be it," said the prince; "the game can be tried, and if it fails, +why we lose nothing, whereas if it succeeds we gain Hokosa, which is +much; for with you I think that our arms will never prosper while that +accursed wizard sits yonder weaving his spells against us, and bringing +our men to death by hundreds and by thousands." + +Then he gave his orders, and presently, when a cloud passed over the +face of the moon, six chosen men crept forward under the lee of the flat +rock and threw themselves down here and there amongst the dead. + +Soon the cloud passed, and the herald advanced across the open space +blowing a horn, and waving a branch in his hand to show that he came +upon a mission of peace. + + + +CHAPTER XXI + +HOKOSA IS LIFTED UP + +"What would you?" asked Hokosa of the herald as he halted a short +spear-cast from the wall. + +"My master, the Prince Hafela, desires to treat with your master, +Nodwengo. Many men have fallen on either side, and if this war goes on, +though victory must be his at last, many more will fall. Therefore, if +any plan can be found, he desires to spare their lives." + +Now Hokosa spoke with the king, and answered:-- + +"Then let Hafela come beneath the wall and we will talk with him." + +"Not so," answered the herald. "Does a buck walk into an open pit? Were +the prince to come here it might chance that your spears would talk with +him. Let Nodwengo follow me to the camp yonder, where we promise him +safe conduct." + +"Not so," answered Hokosa. "'Does a buck walk into an open pit?' Set out +your message, and we will consider it." + +"Nay, I am but a common man without authority; but I am charged to make +you another offer, and if you will not hear it then there is an end. +Let Hokosa advance alone to that flat rock you see yonder, and there he +shall be met, also alone, by one having power to talk with him, namely, +by the Lady Noma, who was once his wife. Thus they can confer together +midway between the camps and in full sight of both of them, nor, no man +being near, can he find cause to be afraid of an unarmed girl. What say +you?" + +Hokosa turned and talked with the king. + +"I think it well that you should not go," said Nodwengo. "The offer +seems fair, and the stone is out of reach of their spears; still, +behind it may lurk a scheme to kill or capture you, for Hafela is very +cunning." + +"It may be so, King," answered Hokosa; "still, my heart tells me it is +wisest that I should do this thing, for our case is desperate, and if I +do it not, that may be the cause of the death of all of us to-morrow. +At the worst, I am but one man, and it matters little what may chance to +me; nor shall I come to any harm unless it is the will of Heaven that it +should be so; and be sure of this, that out of the harm will arise good, +for where I go there the spirit of the Messenger goes with me. Remember +that he bade you listen to my counsel while I remain with you, seeing +that I do not speak of my own wisdom. Therefore let me go, and if it +should chance that I am taken, trouble not about the matter, for thus it +will be fated to some great end. Above all, though often enough I have +been a traitor in the past, do not dream that I betray you, keeping in +mind that so to do would be to betray my own soul, which very soon must +render its account on high." + +"As you will, Hokosa," answered the king. "And now tell those rebel dogs +that on these terms only will I make peace with them--that they withdraw +across the mountains by the path which their women and children have +taken, leaving this land for ever without lifting another spear against +us. If they will do this, notwithstanding all the wickedness and +slaughter that they have worked, I will send command to my _impi_ to let +them go unharmed. If they will not do this, I put my trust in the God I +worship and will fight this fray out to the end, knowing that if I and +my people perish, they shall perish also." + +Now Nodwengo himself spoke to the herald who was waiting beyond the +wall. + +"Go back to him you serve," he said, "and say that Hokosa will meet her +who was his wife upon the flat stone and talk with her in the sight of +both armies, bearing my word with him. At the sound of the blowing of a +horn shall each of them advance unarmed and alone from either camp. Say +to my brother also that it will indeed be ill for him if he attempts +treachery upon Hokosa, for the man who causes his blood to flow will +surely die, and after death shall be accursed for ever." + +The herald went, and presently a horn was blown. + +"Now it comes into my mind that we part for the last time," said +Nodwengo in a troubled voice as he took the hand of Hokosa. + +"It may be so, King; in my heart I think that it is so; yet I do not +altogether grieve thereat, for the burden of my past sins crushes me, +and I am weary and seek for rest. Yet we do not part for the last time, +because whatever chances, in the end I shall make my report to you +yonder"--and he pointed upwards. "Reign on for long years, King--reign +well and wisely, clinging to the Faith, for thus at the last shall you +reap your reward. Farewell!" + +Now again the horn blew, and in the bright moonlight the slight figure +of Noma could be seen advancing towards the stone. + +Then Hokosa sprang from the wall and advanced also, till at the same +moment they climbed upon the stone. + +"Greeting, Hokosa," said Noma, and she stretched out her hand to him. + +By way of answer he placed his own behind his back, saying: "To your +business, woman." Yet his eyes searched her face--the face which in his +folly he still loved; and thus it came about that he never saw sundry of +the dead bodies, which lay in the shadow of the stone, begin to quicken +into life, and inch by inch to arise, first to their knees and next to +their feet. He never saw or heard them, yet, as the words left his lips, +they sprang upon him from every side, holding him so that he could not +move. + +"Away with him!" cried Noma with a laugh of triumph; and at her command +he was half-dragged and half-carried across the open space and thrust +violently over a stone wall into the camp of Hafela. + +Now Nodwengo and his soldiers saw what had happened, and with a shout of +"Treachery!" some hundreds of them leapt into the plain and began to run +towards the koppie to rescue their envoy. + +Hokosa heard the shout, and wrenching himself round, beheld them. + +"Back!" he cried in a clear, shrill voice. "Back! children of Nodwengo, +and leave me to my fate, for the foe waits for you by thousands behind +the wall!" + +A soldier struck him across the mouth, bidding him be silent; but his +warning had come to the ears of Nodwengo, causing him and his warriors +to halt and begin a retreat. It was well that they did so, for seeing +that they would not come on, from under the shelter of the wall and +of every rock and stone soldiers jumped up by companies and charged, +driving them back to their own schanse. But the king's men had the start +of them, and had taken shelter behind it, whence they greeted them with +a volley of spears, killing ten and wounding twice as many more. + +Now it was Hokosa's turn to laugh, and laugh he did, saying:-- + +"My taking is well paid for already, Prince. A score of your best +warriors is a heavy price to give for the carcase of one weary and aging +man. But since I am here among you, captured with so much pain and loss, +tell me of your courtesy why I have been brought." + +Then the prince shook his spear at him and cursed him. + +"Would you learn, wizard and traitor?" he cried. "We have caught you +because we know well that while you stay yonder your magic counsel will +prevail against our might; whereas, when once we hold you fast, Nodwengo +will wander to his ruin like a blind and moonstruck man, for you were to +him both eyes and brain." + +"I understand," said Hokosa calmly. "But, Prince, how if I left my +wisdom behind me?" + +"That may not be," answered Hafela, "since even a wizard cannot throw +his thoughts into the heart of another from afar." + +"Ah! you think so, Prince. Well, ask Noma yonder if I cannot throw my +thoughts into her heart from afar: though of late I have not chosen +to do so, having put aside such spells. But let it pass, and tell me, +having taken me, what is it you propose to do with me? First, however, +I will give you for nothing some of that wisdom which you grudge to +Nodwengo the king. Be advised by me, Prince, and take the terms that he +offers to you--namely, to turn this very night and begone from the land +without harm or hindrance. Will you receive my gift, Hafela?" + +"What will happen if I refuse it?" asked the prince slowly. + +Now Hokosa looked at the dust at his feet, then he gazed upwards +searching the heavens, and answered:-- + +"Did not I tell you yesterday? I think that this will happen. I +think--but who can be quite sure of the future, Hafela?--that you and +the most of your army by this hour to-morrow night will be lying fast +asleep about this place, with jackals for your bedfellows." + +The prince heard and trembled at his words, for he believed that if he +willed it, Hokosa could prophesy the truth. + +"Accursed dog!" he said. "I am minded to be guided by your saying; but +be sure of this, that if I follow it, you shall stay here to sleep with +jackals, yes, this very night." + +Then Noma broke in. + +"Be not mad, Hafela!" she said. "Will you listen to the lies that this +renegade tells to work upon your fears? Will you abandon victory when it +lies within your grasp, and in place of a great king become a fugitive +whom all men mock at, an outcast to be hunted down at leisure by that +brother against whom you dared to rebel, but on whom you did not dare +to shut your hand when he lay in its hollow? Silence the tongue of this +captive rogue for ever and become a man again, with the heart of a man." + +"Now," said Hokosa gently; "many would find it hard to believe that I +reared this woman from childhood, nursing her with my own hands when +she was sick and giving her of the best I had; that afterwards, when +you stole her from me, Prince, I sinned deeply to win her back. That +I married her and sinned yet more deeply to give her the greatness she +desired; and at last, of my own will, I loosed the bonds by which I held +her, although I could not thrust her memory from my heart. Yet I have +earned it all, for I made her the tool of my witchcraft, and therefore +it is just that she should turn and rend me. Well, if you like it, take +her counsel, Prince, and let mine go, for I care nothing which you take; +only, forgive me if I prophesy once more and for the last time--I am +sure that Nodwengo yonder spoke truth when he bade your herald tell +me that he who causes my blood to flow shall surely die and for it be +called to a strict account. Prince, I am a Christian now, and believe +me, whatever you may do, I seek no revenge upon you; having been myself +forgiven so much, in my turn I have learned to forgive. Yet it may be +ill for that man who causes my blood to flow." + +"Let him be strangled," said a captain who stood near by, "and then +there will be no blood in the matter." + +"Friend," answered Hokosa, "you should have been not a soldier but a +pleader of causes. True it is then that the prince will only cause my +life to fly, but whether that is a smaller sin I leave you to judge." + +"Keep him prisoner," said another, "till we learn how these matters +end." + +"Nay," answered Hafela, "for then he will surely outwit us and escape. +Noma, what shall we do with this man who was your husband? Tell us, for +you should know best how to deal with him." + +"Let me think," she answered, and she looked first at the ground beneath +her, next around her, then upwards toward the skies. + +Now they stood at the foot of the koppie, on the flat top of which grew +the great Tree of Doom, that for generations had served the People of +Fire as a place of execution of their criminals, or of those who fell +under the ban of the king or of the witch-doctors. Among and above the +finger-like fronds of this strange and dreadful-looking tree towered +that white dead limb shaped like a cross, which Owen had pointed out +to his disciple John, taking it to be a sign and a promise. This cross +stood out clear against the sinking moon. It caught Noma's eye, and a +devilish thought entered into her heart. + +"You would keep this fellow alive?" she said, "and yet you would +not suffer him to escape. See, there above you is a cross such as he +worships. Bind him to it as he says the Man whom he worships was bound, +and let that dead Man help him if he may." + +The prince and those about Noma shrank back a little in horror. They +were cruel men rendered more cruel by their superstitious fear of one +whom they believed to be uncanny; one to whom they attributed inhuman +powers which he was exercising to their destruction, but still this +doom seemed dreadful to them. Noma read their minds and went on +passionately:-- + +"You deem me unmerciful, but you do not know what I have suffered at +this wizard's hands. For his sake and because of him I am haunted. For +his own purposes he opened the gates of Distance, he sent me down among +the dwellers in Death, causing me to interpret their words for him. I +did so, but the dwellers came back out of Death with me, and from that +hour they have not left me, nor will they ever leave me; for night by +night they sojourn at my side, tormenting me with terrors. He has +told me that through my mouth that spirit whom he drew into my body +prophesied that he should be 'lifted up above the people.' Let the +prophecy be fulfilled, let him be lifted up, for then perchance the +ghosts will depart from me and I shall win peace and sleep. Also, thus +alone can you hold him safe and yet shed no blood." + +"Be it so," said the prince. "When we plotted together of the death of +the king, and as your price, Hokosa, you bargained for the girl whom I +had chosen to wife, did I not warn you that this witch of many spells, +who holds both our hearts in her little hands, should yet hound you to +death and mock you while you perished by an end of shame? What did I +tell you, Hokosa?" + +Now when he heard his fate, Hokosa bowed his head and trembled a little. +Then he lifted it, and exclaimed in a clear voice:-- + +"It is true, Prince, but I will add to your words. She shall bring +_both_ of us to death. For me, I am honoured indeed in that there has +been allotted to me that same end which my Master chose. To that cross +let my sins be fastened and with them my body." + +Now the moon sank, but in the darkness men were found who dared to climb +the tree, taking with them strips of raw hide. They reached the top of +it, four of them, and seating themselves upon the arms of the cross, +they let down a rope, the noose of which was placed about the body of +Hokosa. As it tightened upon him, he turned his calm and dreadful eyes +on to the eyes of Noma and said to her:-- + +"Woman, I do not reproach you; but I lay this fate upon you, that you +shall watch me die. Thereafter, let God deal with you as He may choose." + +Now, when she heard these words Noma shrieked aloud, for of a sudden she +felt that the power of the will of Hokosa, from which she had been freed +by him, had once more fallen upon her, and that come what might she was +doomed to obey his last commands. + +Little by little the soldiers drew him up and in the darkness they bound +him fast there upon the lofty cross. Then they descended and left him, +and would have led Noma with them from the tree. But this they could +not do, for always she broke from them screaming, and fled back to its +shadow. + +Then, seeing that she was bewitched, Hafela commanded that they should +bind a cloth about her mouth and leave her there till her senses +returned to her in the sunlight--for none of them dared to stop with +her in the shadow of that tree, since the odours of it were poisonous to +man. Also they believed the place to be haunted by evil spirits. + + + +CHAPTER XXII + +THE VICTORY OF THE CROSS + +The sun rose suddenly over the edge of the cliffs, and while it was yet +deep shadow in the valley, its red light struck upon the white cross of +perished wood that towered above the Tree of Doom and on the black +shape of Hokosa crucified to it living. The camp of the king saw and +understood, and from every throat of the thousands of men, women and +children gathered there, went up a roar of rage and horror. The king +lifted his hand, and silence fell upon the place; then he mounted on the +wall and cried aloud:-- + +"Do you yet live, Hokosa, or is it your body only that those traitors +have fastened to the tree?" + +Back came the answer through the clear still air:-- + +"I live, O King!" + +"Endure then a little while," called Nodwengo, "and we will storm the +tree and save you." + +"Nay," answered Hokosa, "you cannot save me; yet before I die I shall +see you saved." + +Then his words were lost in tumult, for the third day's fighting began. +Desperately the regiments of Hafela rushing across the open space, +hurled themselves upon the fortifications, which, during the night, had +been strengthened by the building of two inner walls. Nor was this all, +for suddenly a cry told those in front that the regiment which Hafela +had despatched across the mountains had travelled up the eastern neck of +the valley, and were attacking the position in their rear. Well was it +for Nodwengo now that he had listened to the counsel of Hokosa, and, +wearied as his soldiers were, had commanded that here also a great wall +should be built. + +For two hours the fight raged, and then on either side the foe fell +back, not beaten indeed, though their dead were many, but to rest and +take counsel. But now a new trouble arose: from all the camp of Nodwengo +there went up a moan of pain to Heaven, for since the evening of +yesterday the spring had given out, and they had found no water +wherewith to wet their lips. During the night they bore it; but now the +sun beating down on the black rocks with fearful force scorched them to +the marrow, till they began to wither like fallen leaves, and already +wounded men and children died, while the warriors cut the throats of +oxen and drank their blood. + +Hokosa hanging on his cross heard this moaning and divined its cause. + +"Be of good comfort, children of Nodwengo," he cried; "for I will pray +that rain be sent upon you." And he lifted his head and prayed. + +Now, whether it was by chance or whether his prayer was heard, who can +say? At least it happened that immediately thereafter clouds began to +gather and to thicken in the blue of Heaven, and within two hours rain +fell in torrents, so that every one could drink his fill, and the spring +being replenished at its sources, flowed again strongly. + +After the rain came cold and moaning winds, and after the wind a great +gloom and thunder. + +Now, taking advantage of the shadow, the regiments of Hafela renewed +their attack, and this time they carried the first of the three walls, +for its defenders grew feeble and few in number. There they paused a +while, and save for the cries of the wounded and of frightened women, +the silence was great. + +"Let your hearts be filled up!" cried the voice of Hokosa through the +silence; "for the sunlight shines upon the plain of the Great Place +yonder, and in it I see the sheen of spears. The _impi_ travels to your +aid, O children of Nodwengo." + +Now, at this tidings the people of the king shouted for joy; but +Hafela called to his regiments to make an end of them, and they hurled +themselves upon the second wall, fighting desperately. Again and again +they were beaten back, and again and again they came on, till at +length they carried this wall also, driving its defenders, or those who +remained alive of them, into the third entrenchment, and paused to rest +awhile. + +"Pray for us, O Prophet who are set on high!" cried a voice from the +camp, "for if succour do not reach us speedily, we are sped." + +Before the echoes of the voice had died away, a flash of lightning +flared through the gloom, and in the light of it Hokosa saw that the +king's _impi_ was rushing up the gorge. + +"Fight on! Fight on!" he called in answer. "I have prayed to Heaven, and +your succour is at hand." + +Then, with a howl of rage, Hafela's regiments hurled themselves upon +the third and last entrenchment, attacking it at once in front and rear. +Twice they nearly carried it, but each time the wild scream of Hokosa +on high was heard above the din, conjuring its defenders to fight on and +fear not, for Heaven had sent them help. They fought as men have seldom +fought before, and with them fought the women and even the children. +They were few and the foe was still many, but they listened to the +urging of him whom they believed to be inspired in his death-agony upon +the cross above them, and still they held their own. Twice portions of +the wall were torn down, but they filled the breach with the corpses of +the dead, ay! and with the bodies of the living, for the wounded, +the old men and the very women piled themselves there in the place of +stones. No such fray was told of in the annals of the People of Fire as +this, the last stand of Nodwengo against the thousands of Hafela. Now +all the shouting had died away, for men had no breath left wherewith to +shout, only from the gloomy place of battle came low groans and the deep +sobbing sighs of warriors gripped in the death-hug. + +"_Fight on! Fight on!_" shrilled the voice of Hokosa on high. "Lo! +the skies are open to my dying sight, and I see the _impis_ of Heaven +sweeping to succour you. _Behold!_" + +They dashed the sweat from their eyes and looked forth, and as they +looked, the pall of gloom was lifted, and in the golden glow of +many-shafted light, they saw, not the legions of Heaven indeed, but the +regiments of Nodwengo rushing round the bend of the valley, as dogs rush +upon a scent, with heads held low and spears outstretched. + +Hafela saw them also. + +"Back to the koppie," he cried, "there to die like men, for the +wizardries of Hokosa have been too strong for us, and lost is this my +last battle and the crown I came to seek!" + +They obeyed, and all that were left of them, some ten thousand men, they +ran to the koppie and formed themselves upon it, ring above ring, and +here the soldiers of Nodwengo closed in upon them. + +Again and for the last time the voice of Hokosa rang out above the fray. + +"Nodwengo," he cried, "with my passing breath I charge you have mercy +and spare these men, so many of them as will surrender. The day of +bloodshed has gone by, the fray is finished, the Cross has conquered. +Let there be peace in the land." + +All men heard him, for his piercing scream, echoed from the precipices, +came to the ears of each. All men heard him, and, even in that fierce +hour of vengeance, all obeyed. The spear that was poised was not thrown, +and the kerry lifted over the fallen did not descend to dash away his +life. + +"Hearken, Hafela!" called the king, stepping forward from the ranks of +the attackers. "He whom you have set on high to bring defeat upon you +charges me to give you peace, and in the name of the conquering Cross I +give peace. All who surrender shall dwell henceforth in my shadow, nor +shall the head or the heel of one of them be harmed, although their sin +is great. One life only will I take, the life of that witch who +brought your armies down upon me to burn my town and slay my people +by thousands, and who but last night betrayed Hokosa to his death of +torment. All shall go free, I say, save the witch; and for you, you +shall be given cattle and such servants as will cling to you to the +number of a hundred, and driven from the land. Now, what say you? Will +you yield or be slain? Swift with your answer; for the sun sinks, and +ere it is set there must be an end in this way or in that." + +The regiments of Hafela heard, and shouted in answer as with one +voice:-- + +"We take your mercy, King! We fought bravely while we could, and now we +take your mercy, King!" + +"What say you, Hafela?" repeated Nodwengo, addressing the prince, who +stood upon a point of rock above him in full sight of both armies. + +Hafela turned and looked at Hokosa hanging high in mid-air. + +"What say I?" he answered in a slow and quiet voice. "I say that the +Cross and its Prophet have been too strong for me, and that I should +have done well to follow the one and to listen to the counsel of the +other. My brother, you tell me that I may go free, taking servants with +me. I thank you and I will go--alone." + +And setting the handle of his spear upon the rock, with a sudden +movement he fell forward, transfixing his heart with its broad blade, +and lay still. + +"At least he died like one of the blood-royal of the Sons of Fire!" +cried Nodwengo, while the armies stood silent and awestruck, "and with +the blood-royal he shall be buried. Lay down your arms, you who followed +him and fought for him, fearing nothing, and give over to me the witch +that she may be slain." + +"She hides under the tree yonder!" cried a voice. + +"Go up and take her," said Nodwengo to some of his captains. + +Now Noma, crouched on the ground beneath the tree, had seen and heard +all that passed. Perceiving the captains making their way towards her +through the lines of the soldiers, who opened out a path for them, she +rose and for a moment stood bewildered. Then, as though drawn by some +strange attraction, she turned, and seizing hold of the creeper that +clung about it, she began to climb the Tree of Doom swiftly. Up she went +while all men watched, higher and higher yet, till passing out of the +finger-like foliage she reached the cross of dead wood whereto Hokosa +hung, and placing her feet upon one arm of it, stood there, supporting +herself by the broken top of the upright. + +Hokosa was not yet dead, though he was very near to death. Lifting his +glazing eyes, he knew her and said, speaking thickly:-- + +"What do you here, Noma, and wherefore have you come?" + +"I come because you draw me," she answered, "and because they seek my +life below." + +"Repent, repent!" he whispered, "there is yet time and Heaven is very +merciful." + +She heard, and a fury seized her. + +"Be silent, dog!" she cried. "Having defied your God so long, shall I +grovel to Him at the last? Having hated you so much, shall I seek your +forgiveness now? At least of one thing I am glad--it was I who brought +you here, and with me and through me you shall die." + +Then, placing one foot upon his bent head as if in scorn, she leaned +forward, her long hair flying to the wind, and cursed Nodwengo and his +people, naming them renegades and apostates, and cursed the soldiers of +Hafela, naming them cowards, calling down upon them the malison of their +ancestors. + +Hokosa heard and muttered:-- + +"For your soul's sake, woman, repent! repent, ere it be too late!" + +"Repent!" she screamed, catching at his words. "Thus do I repent!" +and drawing the knife from her girdle, she leant over him and drove it +hilt-deep into his breast. + +Then with a sudden movement she sprang upwards and outwards into the +air, and rushing down through a hundred feet of space, was struck dead +upon that very rock where the corpse of Hafela lay. + +Now, beneath the agony of the life Hokosa lifted his head for the last +time, crying in a great voice:-- + +"Messenger, I come, be you my guide," and with the words his soul +passed. + +"All is over and ended," said a voice. "Soldiers, salute the king with +the royal salute." + +"Nay," answered Nodwengo. "Salute me not, salute the Cross and him who +hangs thereon." + +So, while the rays of the setting sun shone about it, regiment by +regiment that great army rushed past the koppie, and pausing opposite to +the cross and its burden, they rendered to it the royal salute of kings. + +***** + +Then the night fell, and thus through the power of Faith that now, as of +old, is the only true and efficient magic, was accomplished the mission +to the Sons of Fire of the Saint and Martyr, Thomas Owen, and of his +murderer and disciple, the Wizard Hokosa. + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Wizard, by H. 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RIDER HAGGARD + + + + +DEDICATION + +To the Memory of the Child + +Nada Burnham, + + who "bound all to her" and, while her father cut his way through + the hordes of the Ingobo Regiment, perished of the hardships of + war at Buluwayo on 19th May, 1896, I dedicate these tales--and + more particularly the last, that of a Faith which triumphed over + savagery and death. + +H. Rider Haggard. + + Ditchingham. + + + +AUTHOR'S NOTE + + Of the three stories that comprise this volume[*], one, "The + Wizard," a tale of victorious faith, first appeared some years ago + as a Christmas Annual. Another, "Elissa," is an attempt, difficult + enough owing to the scantiness of the material left to us by time, + to recreate the life of the ancient Phnician Zimbabwe, whose + ruins still stand in Rhodesia, and, with the addition of the + necessary love story, to suggest circumstances such as might have + brought about or accompanied its fall at the hands of the + surrounding savage tribes. The third, "Black Heart and White + Heart," is a story of the courtship, trials and final union of a + pair of Zulu lovers in the time of King Cetywayo. + +[*] This text was prepared from a volume published in 1900 titled + "Black Heart and White Heart, and Other Stories."--JB. + + + + + +THE WIZARD + + + +CHAPTER I + +THE DEPUTATION + +Has the age of miracle quite gone by, or is it still possible to the +Voice of Faith calling aloud upon the earth to wring from the dumb +heavens an audible answer to its prayer? Does the promise uttered by +the Master of mankind upon the eve of the end--"Whoso that believeth +in Me, the works that I do he shall do also . . . and whatsoever ye +shall ask in My name, that will I do"--still hold good to such as do +ask and do believe? + +Let those who care to study the history of the Rev. Thomas Owen, and +of that strange man who carried on and completed his work, answer this +question according to their judgment. + +***** + +The time was a Sunday afternoon in summer, and the place a church in +the Midland counties. It was a beautiful church, ancient and spacious; +moreover, it had recently been restored at great cost. Seven or eight +hundred people could have found sittings in it, and doubtless they had +done so when Busscombe was a large manufacturing town, before the +failure of the coal supply and other causes drove away its trade. Now +it was much what it had been in the time of the Normans, a little +agricultural village with a population of 300 souls. Out of this +population, including the choir boys, exactly thirty-nine had elected +to attend church on this particular Sunday; and of these, three were +fast asleep and four were dozing. + +The Rev. Thomas Owen counted them from his seat in the chancel, for +another clergyman was preaching; and, as he counted, bitterness and +disappointment took hold of him. The preacher was a "Deputation," sent +by one of the large missionary societies to arouse the indifferent to +a sense of duty towards their unconverted black brethren in Africa, +and incidentally to collect cash to be spent in the conversion of the +said brethren. The Rev. Thomas Owen himself suggested the visit of the +Deputation, and had laboured hard to secure him a good audience. But +the beauty of the weather, or terror of the inevitable subscription, +prevailed against him. Hence his disappointment. + +"Well," he thought, with a sigh, "I have done my best, and I must make +it up out of my own pocket." + +Then he settled himself to listen to the sermon. + +The preacher, a battered-looking individual of between fifty and sixty +years of age, was gaunt with recent sickness, patient and +unimaginative in aspect. He preached extemporarily, with the aid of +notes; and it cannot be said that his discourse was remarkable for +interest, at any rate in its beginning. Doubtless the sparse +congregation, so prone to slumber, discouraged him; for offering +exhortations to empty benches is but weary work. Indeed he was +meditating the advisability of bringing his argument to an abrupt +conclusion when, chancing to glance round, he became aware that he had +at least one sympathetic listener, his host, the Rev. Thomas Owen. + +From that moment the sermon improved by degrees, till at length it +reached a really high level of excellence. Ceasing from rhetoric, the +speaker began to tell of his own experience and sufferings in the +Cause amongst savage tribes; for he himself was a missionary of many +years standing. He told how once he and a companion had been sent to a +nation, who named themselves the Sons of Fire because their god was +the lightning, if indeed they could be said to boast any gods other +than the Spear and the King. In simple language he narrated his +terrible adventures among these savages, the murder of his companion +by command of the Council of Wizards, and his own flight for his life; +a tale so interesting and vivid that even the bucolic sleepers +awakened and listened open-mouthed. + +"But this is by the way," he went on; "for my Society does not ask you +to subscribe towards the conversion of the Children of Fire. Until +that people is conquered--which very likely will not be for +generations, seeing that they live in Central Africa, occupying a +territory that white men do not desire--no missionary will dare again +to visit them." + +At this moment something caused him to look a second time at Thomas +Owen. He was leaning forward in his place listening eagerly, and a +strange light filled the large, dark eyes that shone in the pallor of +his delicate, nervous face. + +"There is a man who would dare, if he were put to it," thought the +Deputation to himself. Then he ended his sermon. + +That evening the two men sat at dinner in the rectory. It was a very +fine rectory, beautifully furnished; for Owen was a man of taste which +he had the means to gratify. Also, although they were alone, the +dinner was good--so good that the poor broken-down missionary, sipping +his unaccustomed port, a vintage wine, sighed aloud in admiration and +involuntary envy. + +"What is the matter?" asked Owen. + +"Nothing, Mr. Owen;" then, of a sudden thawing into candour, he added: +"that is, everything. Heaven forgive me; but I, who enjoy your +hospitality, am envious of you. Don't think too hardly of me; I have a +large family to support, and if only you knew what a struggle my life +is, and has been for the last twenty years, you would not, I am sure. +But you have never experienced it, and could not understand. 'The +labourer is worthy of his hire.' Well, my hire is under two hundred a +year, and eight of us must live--or starve--on it. And I have worked, +ay, until my health is broken. A labourer indeed! I am a very hodman, +a spiritual Sisyphus. And now I must go back to carry my load and roll +my stone again and again among those hopeless savages till I die of it +--till I die of it!" + +"At least it is a noble life and death!" exclaimed Owen, a sudden fire +of enthusiasm burning in his dark eyes. + +"Yes, viewed from a distance. Were you asked to leave this living of +two thousand a year--I see that is what they put it at in Crockford-- +with its English comforts and easy work, that /you/ might lead that +life and attain that death, then you would think differently. But why +should I bore you with such talk? Thank Heaven that your lines are +cast in pleasant places. Yes, please, I will take one more glass; it +does me good." + +"Tell me some more about that tribe you were speaking of in your +sermon, the 'Sons of Fire' I think you called them," said Owen, as he +passed him the decanter. + +So, with an eloquence induced by the generous wine and a quickened +imagination, the Deputation told him--told him many strange things and +terrible. For this people was an awful people: vigorous in mind and +body, and warriors from generation to generation, but superstition- +ridden and cruel. They lived in the far interior, some months' journey +by boat and ox-waggon from the coast, and of white men and their ways +they knew but little. + +"How many of them are there?" asked Owen. + +"Who can say?" he answered. "Nearly half-a-million, perhaps; at least +they pretend that they can put sixty thousand men under arms." + +"And did they treat you badly when you first visited them?" + +"Not at first. They received us civilly enough; and on a given day we +were requested to explain to the king and the Council of Wizards the +religion which we came to teach. All that day we explained and all the +next--or rather my friend did, for I knew very little of the language +--and they listened with great interest. At last the chief of the +wizards and the first prophet to the king rose to question us. He was +named Hokosa, a tall, thin man, with a spiritual face and terrible +calm eyes. + +"'You speak well, son of a White Man,' he said, 'but let us pass from +words to deeds. You tell us that this God of yours, whom you desire +that we should take as our God, so that you may become His chief +prophets in the land, was a wizard such as we are, though grater than +we are; for not only did He know the past and the future as we do, but +also He could cure those who were smitten with hopeless sickness, and +raise those who were dead, which we cannot do. You tell us, moreover, +that by faith those who believe on Him can do works as great as He +did, and that you do believe on Him. Therefore we will put you to the +proof. Ho! there, lead forth that evil one.' + +"As he spoke a man was placed before us, one who had been convicted of +witchcraft or some other crime. + +"'Kill him!' said Hokosa. + +"There was a faint cry, a scuffle, a flashing of spears, and the man +lay still before us. + +"'Now, followers of the new God,' said Hokosa, 'raise him from the +dead as your Master did!' + +"In vain did we offer explanations. + +"'Peace!' said Hokosa at length, 'your words weary us. Look now, +either you have preached to us a false god and are liars, or you are +traitors to the King you preach, since, lacking faith in Him, you +cannot do such works as He gives power to do to those who have faith +in Him. Out of your own mouths are you judged, White Men. Choose which +horn of the bull you will, you hang to one of them, and it shall +pierce you. This is the sentence of the king, I speak it who am the +king's mouth: That you, White Man, who have spoken to us and cheated +us these two weary days, be put to death, and that you, his companion +who have been silent, be driven from the land.' + +"I can hardly bear to tell the rest of it, Mr. Owen. They gave my poor +friend ten minutes to 'talk to his Spirit,' then they speared him +before my face. After it was over, Hokosa spoke to me, saying:-- + +"'Go back, White Man, to those who sent you, and tell them the words +of the Sons of Fire: That they have listened to the message of peace, +and though they are a people of warriors, yet they thank them for that +message, for in itself it sounds good and beautiful in their ears, if +it be true. Tell them that having proved you liars, they dealt with +you as all honest men seek that liars should be dealt with. Tell them +that they desire to hear more of this matter, and if one can be sent +to them who has no false tongue; who in all things fulfills the +promises of his lips, that they will hearken to him and treat him +well, but that for such as you they keep a spear.'" + +"And who went after you got back?" asked Owen, who was listening with +the deepest interest. + +"Who went? Do you suppose that there are many mad clergymen in Africa, +Mr. Owen? Nobody went." + +"And yet," said Owen, speaking more to himself than to his guest, "the +man Hokosa was right, and the Christian who of a truth believes the +promises of our religion should trust to them and go." + +"Then perhaps you would like to undertake the mission, Mr. Owen," said +the Deputation briskly; for the reflection stung him, unintentional as +it was. + +Owen started. + +"That is a new idea," he said. "And now perhaps you wish to go to bed; +it is past eleven o'clock." + + + +CHAPTER II + +THOMAS OWEN + +Thomas Owen went to his room, but not to bed. Taking a Bible from the +table, he consulted reference after reference. + +"The promise is clear," he said aloud presently, as he shut the book; +"clear and often repeated. There is no escape from it, and no +possibility of a double meaning. If it is not true, then it would seem +that nothing is true, and that every Christian in the world is tricked +and deluded. But if it /is/ true, why do we never hear of miracles? +The answer is easy: Because we have not faith enough to work them. The +Apostles worked miracles; for they had seen, therefore their faith was +perfect. Since their day nobody's faith has been quite perfect; at +least I think not. The physical part of our nature prevents it. Or +perhaps the miracles still happen, but they are spiritual miracles." + +Then he sat down by the open window, and gazing at the dreamy beauty +of the summer night, he thought, for his soul was troubled. Once +before it had been troubled thus; that was nine years ago, for now he +was but little over thirty. Then a call had come to him, a voice had +seemed to speak to his ears bidding him to lay down great possessions +to follow whither Heaven should lead him. Thomas Owen had obeyed the +voice; though, owing to circumstances which need not be detailed, to +do so he was obliged to renounce his succession to a very large +estate, and to content himself with a younger son's portion of thirty +thousand pounds and the reversion to the living which he had now held +for some five years. + +Then and there, with singular unanimity and despatch, his relations +came to the conclusion that he was mad. To this hour, indeed, those +who stand in his place and enjoy the wealth and position that were his +by right, speak of him as "poor Thomas," and mark their disapprobation +of his peculiar conduct by refusing with an unvarying steadiness to +subscribe even a single shilling to a missionary society. How "poor +Thomas" speaks of them in the place where he is we may wonder, but as +yet we cannot know--probably with the gentle love and charity that +marked his every action upon earth. But this is by the way. + +He had entered the Church, but what had he done in its shadow? This +was the question which Owen asked himself as he sat that night by the +open window, arraigning his past before the judgment-seat of +conscience. For three years he had worked hard somewhere in the slums; +then this living had fallen to him. He had taken it, and from that day +forward his record was very much of a blank. The parish was small and +well ordered; there was little to do in it, and the Salvation Army had +seized upon and reclaimed two of the three confirmed drunkards it +could boast. + +His guest's saying echoed in his brain like the catch of a tune--"that +/you/ might lead that life and attain that death." Supposing that he +were bidden so to do now, this very night, would he indeed "think +differently"? He had become a priest to serve his Maker. How would it +be were that Maker to command that he should serve Him in this extreme +and heroic fashion? Would he flinch from the steel, or would he meet +it as the martyrs met it of old? + +Physically he was little suited to such an enterprise, for in +appearance he was slight and pale, and in constitution delicate. Also, +there was another reason against the thing. High Church and somewhat +ascetic in his principles, in the beginning he had admired celibacy, +and in secret dedicated himself to that state. But at heart Thomas was +very much a man, and of late he had come to see that which is +against nature is presumably not right, though fanatics may not +hesitate to pronounce it wrong. Possibly this conversion to more +genial views of life was quickened by the presence in the +neighbourhood of a young lady whom he chanced to admire; at least it +is certain that the mere thought of seeing her no more for ever smote +him like a sword of sudden pain. + +***** + +That very night--or so it seemed to him, and so he believed--the Angel +of the Lord stood before him as he was wont to stand before the men of +old, and spoke a summons in his ear. How or in what seeming that +summons came Thomas Owen never told, and we need not inquire. At the +least he heard it, and, like the Apostles, he arose and girded his +loins to obey. For now, in the hour of trial, it proved that this +man's faith partook of the nature of their faith. It was utter and +virgin; it was not clogged with nineteenth-century qualifications; it +had never dallied with strange doctrines, or kissed the feet of +pinchbeck substitutes for God. In his heart he believed that the +Almighty, without intermediary, but face to face, had bidden him to go +forth into the wilderness there to perish. So he bowed his head and +went. + +On the following morning at breakfast Owen had some talk with his +friend the Deputation. + +"You asked me last night," he said quietly, "whether I would undertake +a mission to that people of whom you were telling me--the Sons of +Fire. Well, I have been thinking it over, and come to the conclusion +that I will do so----" + +At this point the Deputation, concluding that his host must be mad, +moved quietly but decidedly towards the door. + +"Wait a moment," went on Owen, in a matter-of-fact voice, "the dog- +cart will not be round for another three-quarters of an hour. Tell me, +if it were offered to you, and on investigation you proved suitable, +would you care to take over this living?" + +"Would I care to take over this living?" gasped the astonished +Deputation. "Would I care to walk down that garden and find myself in +Heaven? But why are you making fun of me?" + +"I am not making fun of you. If I go to Africa I must give up the +living, of which I own the advowson, and it occurred to me that it +might suit you--that is all. You have done your share; your health is +broken, and you have many dependent upon you. It seems right, +therefore, that you should rest, and that I should work. If I do no +good yonder, at the least you and yours will be a little benefited." + +***** + +That same day Owen chanced to meet the lady who has been spoken of as +having caught his heart. He had meant to go away without seeing her, +but fortune brought them together. Hitherto, whilst in reality leading +him on, she had seemed to keep him at a distance, with the result that +he did not know that it was her fixed intention to marry him. To her, +with some hesitation, he told his plans. Surprised and frightened into +candour, the lady reasoned with him warmly, and when reason failed to +move him she did more. By some subtle movement, with some sudden word, +she lifted the veil of her reserve and suffered him to see her heart. +"If you will not stay for aught else," said her troubled eyes, "then, +love, stay for me." + +For a moment he was shaken. Then he answered the look straight out, as +was his nature. + +"I never guessed," he said. "I did not presume to hope--now it is too +late! Listen! I will tell you what I have told no living soul, though +thereafter you may think me mad. Weak and humble as I am, I believe +myself to have received a Divine mission. I believe that I shall +execute it, or bring about its execution, but at the ultimate cost of +my own life. Still, in such a service two are better than one. If you +--can care enough--if you----" + +But the lady had already turned away, and was murmuring her farewell +in accents that sounded like a sob. Love and faith after this sort +were not given to her. + +Of all Owen's trials this was the sharpest. Of all his sacrifices this +was the most complete. + + + +CHAPTER III + +THE TEMPTATION + +Two years have gone by all but a few months, and from the rectory in a +quiet English village we pass to a scene in Central, or South Central, +Africa. + +On the brow of a grassy slope dotted over with mimosa thorns, and +close to a gushing stream of water, stands a house, or rather a hut, +built of green brick and thatched with grass. Behind this hut is a +fence of thorns, rough but strong, designed to protect all within it +from the attacks of lions and other beasts of prey. At present, save +for a solitary mule eating its provender by the wheel of a tented ox- +waggon, it is untenanted, for the cattle have not yet been kraaled for +the night. Presently Thomas Owen enters this enclosure by the back +door of the hut, and having attended to the mule, which whinnies at +the sight of him, goes to the gate and watches there till he sees his +native boys driving the cattle up the slope of the hill. At length +they arrive, and when he has counted them to make sure that none are +missing, and in a few kind words commended the herds for their +watchfulness, he walks to the front of the house and, seating himself +upon a wooden stool set under a mimosa tree that grows near the door, +he looks earnestly towards the west. + +The man has changed somewhat since last we saw him. To begin with, he +has grown a beard, and although the hot African sun has bronzed it +into an appearance of health, his face is even thinner than it was, +and therein the great spiritual eyes shine still more strangely. + +At the foot of the slope runs a wide river, just here broken into +rapids where the waters make an angry music. Beyond this river +stretches a vast plain bounded on the horizon by mountain ranges, each +line of them rising higher than the other till their topmost and more +distant peaks melt imperceptibly into the tender blue of the heavens. +This is the land of the Sons of Fire, and yonder amid the slopes of +the nearest hills is the great kraal of their king, Umsuka, whose +name, being interpreted, means The Thunderbolt. + +In the very midst of the foaming rapids, and about a thousand yards +from the house lies a space of rippling shallow water, where, unless +it chances to be in flood, the river can be forded. It is this ford +that Owen watches so intently. + +"John should have been back twelve hours ago," he mutters to himself. +"I pray that no harm has befallen him at the Great Place yonder." + +Just then a tiny speck appears far away on the plain. It is a man +travelling towards the water at a swinging trot. Going into the hut, +Owen returns with a pair of field-glasses, and through them +scrutinises the figure of the man. + +"Heaven be praised! It is John," he mutters, with a sigh of relief. +"Now, I wonder what answer he brings?" + +Half an hour later John stands before him, a stalwart native of the +tribe of the Amasuka, the People of Fire, and with uplifted hand +salutes him, giving him titles of honour. + +"Praise me not, John," said Owen; "praise God only, as I have taught +you to do. Tell me, have you seen the king, and what is his word?" + +"Father," he answered, "I journeyed to the great town, as you bade me, +and I was admitted before the majesty of the king; yes, he received me +in the courtyard of the House of Women. With his guards, who stood at +a distance out of hearing, there were present three only; but oh! +those three were great, the greatest in all the land after the king. +They were Hafela, the king that is to come, the prince Nodwengo, his +brother, and Hokosa the terrible, the chief of the wizards; and I tell +you, father, that my blood dried up and my heart shrivelled when they +turned their eyes upon me, reading the thoughts of my heart." + +"Have I not told you, John, to trust in God, and fear nothing at the +hands of man?" + +"You told me, father, but still I feared," answered the messenger +humbly. "Yet, being bidden to it, I lifted my forehead from the dust +and stood upon my feet before the king, and delivered to him the +message which you set between my lips." + +"Repeat the message, John." + +"'O King,' I said, 'beneath those footfall the whole earth shakes, +whose arms stretch round the world and whose breath is the storm, I, +whose name is John, am sent by the white man whose name is Messenger' +--for by that title you bade me make you known--'who for a year has +dwelt in the land that your spears have wasted beyond the banks of the +river. These are the words which he spoke to me, O King, that I pass +on to you with my tongue: "To the King Umsuka, lord of the Amasuka, +the Sons of Fire, I, Messenger, who am the servant and the ambassador +of the King of Heaven, give greeting. A year ago, King, I sent to you +saying that the message which was brought by that white man whom you +drove from your land had reached the ears of Him whom I serve, the +High and Holy One, and that, speaking in my heart, He had commanded me +to take up the challenge of your message. Here am I, therefore, ready +to abide by the law which you have laid down; for if guile or lies be +found in me, then let me travel from your land across the bridge of +spears. Still, I would dwell a little while here where I am before I +pass into the shadow of your rule and speak in the ears of your people +as I have been bidden. Know, King, that first I would learn your +tongue, and therefore I demand that one of your people may be sent to +dwell with me and to teach me that tongue. King, you heard my words +and you sent me a man to dwell with me, and that man has taught me +your tongue, and I also have taught him, converting him to my faith +and giving him a new name, the name of John. King, now I seek your +leave to visit you, and to deliver into your ears the words with which +I, Messenger, am charged. I have spoken."' + +"Thus I, John, addressed the great ones, my father, and they listened +in silence. When I had done they spoke together, a word here and a +word there. Then Hokosa, the king's mouth, answered me, telling the +thought of the king: 'You are a bold man, you whose name is John, but +who once had another name--you, my servant, who dare to appear before +me, and to make it known to me that you have been turned to a new +faith and serve another king than I. Yet because you are bold, I +forgive you. Go back now to that white man who is named Messenger and +who comes upon an embassy to me from the Lord of Heaven, and bid him +come in peace. Yet warn him once again that here also we know +something of the Powers that are not seen, here also we have our +wizards who draw wisdom from the air, who tame the thunderbolt and +compel the rain, and that he must show himself greater than all of +these if he would not pass hence by the bridge of spears. Let him, +therefore, take counsel with his heart and with Him he serves, if such +a One there is, and let him come or let him stay away as it shall +please him.'" + +"So be it," said Owen; "the words of the king are good, and to-morrow +we will start for the Great Place." + +John heard and assented, but without eagerness. + +"My father," he said, in a doubtful and tentative voice, "would it not +perhaps be better to bide here awhile first?" + +"Why?" asked Owen. "We have sown, and now is the hour to reap." + +"It is so, my father, but as I ran hither, full of the king's words, +it came into my mind that now is not the time to convert the Sons of +Fire. There is trouble brewing at the Great Palace, father. Listen, +and I will tell you; as I have heard, so I will tell you. You know +well that our King Umsuka has two sons, Hafela and Nodwengo; and of +these Hafela is the heir-apparent, the fruit of the chief wife of the +king, and Nodwengo is sprung from another wife. Now Hafela is proud +and cruel, a warrior of warriors, a terrible man, and Nodwengo is +gentle and mild, like to his mother whom the king loves. Of late it +has been discovered that Hafela, weary of waiting for power, has made +a plot to depose his father and to kill Nodwengo, his brother, so that +the land and those who dwell in it may become his without question. +This plot the king knows--I had it from one of his women, who is my +sister--and he is very wroth, yet he dare do little, for he grows old +and timid, and seeks rest, not war. Yet he is minded, if he can find +the heart, to go back upon the law and to name Nodwengo as his heir +before all the army at the feast of the first-fruits, which shall be +held on the third day from to-night. This Hafela knows, and Nodwengo +knows it also, and each of them has summoned his following, numbering +thousands and tens of thousands of spears, to attend this feast of the +first-fruits. That feast may well be a feast of vultures, my father, +and when the brothers and their regiments rush together fighting for +the throne, what will chance to the white man who comes at such a +moment to preach a faith of peace, and to his servant, one John, who +led him there?" + +"I do not know," answered Owen, "and it troubles me not at all. I go +to carry out my mission, and in this way or in that it will be carried +out. John, if you are fearful or unbelieving leave me to go alone." + +"Nay, father, I am not fearful; yet, father, I would have you +understand. Yonder there are men who can work wizardry. /Wow!/ I know, +for I have seen it, and they will demand from you magic greater than +their magic." + +"What of it, John?" + +"Only this, my father, that if they ask and you fail to give, they +will kill you. You teach beautiful things, but say, are you a wizard? +When the child of a woman yonder lay dead, you could not raise it as +did the Christ; when the oxen were sick with the pest, you could not +cure them; or at least, my father, you did not, although you wept for +the child and were sorry at the loss of the oxen. Now, my father, if +perchance they ask you to do such things as these yonder, or die, say +what will happen?" + +"One of two things, John: either I shall die or I shall do the +things." + +"But"--hesitated John--"surely you do not believe that----" and he +broke off. + +Owen turned round and looked at his disciple with kindling eyes. "I do +believe, O you of little faith!" he said. "I do believe that yonder I +have a mission, and that He Whom I serve will give me power to carry +out that mission. You are right, I can work no miracles; but He can +work miracles Whom everything in heaven and earth obeys, and if there +is need He will work them through me, His instrument. Or perhaps He +will not work them, and I shall die, because thus His ends will best +be forwarded. At the least I go in faith, fearing nothing, for what +has he to fear who knows the will of God and does it? But to you who +doubt, I say--leave me!" + +The man spread out his hands in deprecation; his thick lips trembled a +little, and something like a tear appeared at the corners of his eyes. + +"Father," he said, "am I a coward that you should talk to me thus? I, +who for twenty years have been a soldier of my king and for ten a +captain in my regiment? These scars show whether or no I am a coward," +and he pointed to his breast, "but of them I will not speak. I am no +coward, else I had not gone upon that errand of yours. Why, then, +should you reproach me because my ears are not so open as yours, as my +heart has not understanding? I worship that God of Whom you have +taught me, but He never speaks to me as He does to you. I never meet +Him as I walk at night; He leaves me quite alone. Therefore it is that +I fear that when the hour of trial comes He may desert you; and unless +He covers you with His shield, of this I am sure, that the spear is +forged which shall blush red in your heart, my father. It is for you +that I fear, who are so gentle and tender; not for myself, who am well +accustomed to look in the eyes of Death, and who expect no more than +death." + +"Forgive me," said Owen hastily, for he was moved; "and be sure that +the shield will be over us till the time comes for us to pass whither +we shall need none." + +***** + +That night Owen rose from the task at which he was labouring slowly +and painfully--a translation of passages from the Gospel of St. John +into the language of the Amasuka--and going to the open window-place +of the hut, he rested his elbows upon it and thought, staring with +empty eyes into the blackness of the night. Now it was as he sat thus +that a great agony of doubt took possession of his soul. The strength +which hitherto had supported him seemed to be withdrawn, and he was +left, as John had said, "quite alone." Strange voices seemed to +whisper in his ears, reproaching and reviling him; temptations long +ago trampled under foot rose again in might, alluring him. + +"Fool," said the voices, "get you hence before it is too late. You +have been mad; you who dreamed that for your sake, to satisfy your +pride, the Almighty will break His silence and strain His law. Are you +then better, or greater, or purer than millions who have gone before +you, that for you and you alone this thing should be done? Why, were +it not that you are mad, you would be among the chief of sinners; you +who dare to ask that the Powers of Heaven should be set within your +feeble hand, that the Angels of Heaven should wait upon your mortal +breath. Worm that you are, has God need of such as you? If it is His +will to turn the heart of yonder people He will do it, but not by +means of /you/. You and the servant whom you are deluding to his death +will perish miserably, and this alone shall be the fruit of your +presumptuous sin. Get you back out of this wilderness before the +madness takes you afresh. You are still young, you have wealth; look +where She stands yonder whom you desire. Get you back, and forget your +folly in her arms." + +These thoughts, and many others of like nature, tore Owen's soul in +that hour of strange and terrible temptation. He seemed to see himself +standing before the thousands of the savage nation he went to save, +and to hear the mocking voices of their witch-finders commanding him, +if he were a true man and the servant of that God of Whom he prated, +to give them a sign, only a little sign; perhaps to move a stone +without touching it with his hand, or to cause a dead bough to +blossom. + +Then he would beseech Heaven with frantic prayers, and in vain, till +at length, amidst a roar of laughter, he, the false prophet and the +liar, was led out to his doom. He saw the piteous wondering look of +the believer whom he had betrayed to death; he saw the fierce faces +and the spears on high. Seeing all this his spirit broke, and, just as +the little clock in the room behind him struck the first stroke of +midnight, with a great and bitter cry to God to give him back the +faith and strength that he had lost, Owen's head fell forward and he +sank into a swoon there upon the window-place. + + + +CHAPTER IV + +THE VISION + +Was it swoon or sleep? + +At least it seemed to Owen that presently once again he was gazing +into the dense intolerable blackness of the night. Then a marvel came +to pass, for the blackness opened, or rather on it, framed and +surrounded by it, there appeared a vision. It was the vision of a +native town, having a great bare space in the centre of it encircled +by hundreds or thousands of huts. But there was no one stirring about +the huts, for it was night--not this his night of trial indeed, since +now the sky was strewn with innumerable stars. Everything was silent +about that town, save that now and again a dog barked or a fretful +child wailed within a hut, or the sentries as they passed saluted each +other in the name of the king. + +Among all those hundreds of huts, to Owen it seemed that his attention +was directed to one which stood apart surrounded with a fence. Now the +interior of the hut opened itself to him. It was not lighted, yet with +his spirit sense he could see its every detail: the polished floor, +the skin rugs, the beer gourds, the shields and spears, the roof-tree +of red wood, and the dried lizard hanging from the thatch, a charm to +ward off evil. In this hut, seated face to face halfway between the +centre-post and the door-hole, were two men. The darkness was deep +about them, and they whispered to each other through it; but in his +dream this was no bar to Owen's sight. He could discern their faces +clearly. + +One of them was that of a man of about thirty-five years of age. In +stature he was almost a giant. He wore a kaross of leopard skins, and +on his wrists and ankles were rings of ivory, the royal ornaments. His +face was fierce and powerful; his eyes, which were set far apart, +rolled so much that at times they seemed all white; and his fingers +played nervously with the handle of a spear that he carried in his +right hand. His companion was of a different stamp; a person of more +than fifty years, he was tall and spare in figure, with delicately +shaped hands and feet. His hair and little beard were tinged with +grey, his face was strikingly handsome, nervous and expressive, and +his forehead both broad and high. But more remarkable still were his +eyes, which shone with a piercing brightness, almost grey in colour, +steady as the flame of a well-trimmed lamp, and so cold that they +might have been precious stones set in the head of a statue. + +"Must I then put your thoughts in words?" said this man in a clear +quick whisper. "Well, so be it; for I weary of sitting here in the +dark waiting for water that will not flow. Listen, Prince; you come to +talk to me of the death of a king--is it not so? Nay do not start. Why +are you affrighted when you hear upon the lips of another the plot +that these many months has been familiar to your breast?" + +"Truly, Hokosa, you are the best of wizards, or the worst," answered +the great man huskily. "Yet this once you are mistaken," he added with +a change of voice. "I came but to ask you for a charm to turn my +father's heart----" + +"To dust? Prince, if I am mistaken, why am I the best of wizards, or +the worst, and why did your jaw drop and your face change at my words, +and why do you even now touch your dry lips with your tongue? Yes, I +know that it is dark here, yet some can see in it, and I am one of +them. Ay, Prince, and I can see your mind also. You would be rid of +your father: he has lived too long. Moreover his love turns to +Nodwengo, the good and gentle; and perhaps--who can say?--it is even +in his thought, when all his regiments are about him two days hence, +to declare that you, Prince, are deposed, and that your brother, +Nodwengo, shall be king in your stead. Now, Nodwengo you cannot kill; +he is too well loved and too well guarded. If he died suddenly, his +dead lips would call out 'Murder!' in the ears of all men; and, +Prince, all eyes would turn to you, who alone could profit by his end. +But if the king should chance to die--why he is old, is he not? and +such things happen to the old. Also he grows feeble, and will not +suffer the regiments to be doctored for war, although day by day they +clamour to be led to battle; for he seeks to end his years in peace." + +"I say that you speak folly," answered the prince with vehemence. + +"Then, Son of the Great One, why should you waste time in listening to +me? Farewell, Hafela the Prince, first-born of the king, who in a day +to come shall carry the shield of Nodwengo; for he is good and gentle, +and will spare your life--if I beg it of him." + +Hafela stretched out his hand through the darkness, and caught Hokosa +by the wrist. + +"Stay," he whispered, "it is true. The king must die; for if he does +not die within three days, I shall cease to be his heir. I know it +through my spies. He is angry with me; he hates me, and he loves +Nodwengo and the mother of Nodwengo. But if he dies before the last +day of the festival, then that decree will never pass his lips, and +the regiments will never roar out the name of Nodwengo as the name of +the king to come. He must die, I tell you, Hokosa, and--by your hand." + +"By /my/ hand, Prince! Nay; what have you to offer me in return for +such a deed as this? Have I not grown up in Umsuka's shadow, and shall +I cut down the tree that shades me?" + +"What have I to offer you? This: that next to myself you shall be the +greatest in the land, Hokosa." + +"That I am already, and whoever rules it, that I must always be. I, +who am the chief of wizards; I, the reader of men's hearts; I, the +hearer of men's thoughts! I, the lord of the air and the lightning; I, +the invulnerable. If you would murder, Prince, then do the deed; do it +knowing that I have your secret, and that henceforth you who rule +shall be my servant. Nay, you forget that I can see in the dark; lay +down that assegai, or, by my spirit, prince as you are, I will blast +you with a spell, and your body shall be thrown to the kites, as that +of one who would murder his king and father!" + +The prince heard and shook, his cheeks sank in, the muscles of his +great form seemed to collapse, and he grovelled on the floor of the +hut. + +"I know your magic," he groaned; "use it for me, not against me! What +is there that I can offer you, who have everything except the throne, +whereon you cannot sit, seeing that you are not of the blood-royal?" + +"Think," said Hokosa. + +For a while the prince thought, till presently his form straightened +itself, and with a quick movement he lifted up his head. + +"Is it, perchance, my affianced wife?" he whispered; "the lady Noma, +whom I love, and who, according to our custom, I shall wed as the +queen to be after the feast of first-fruits? Oh! say it not, Hokosa." + +"I say it," answered the wizard. "Listen, Prince. The lady Noma is the +only child of my blood-brother, my friend, with whom I was brought up, +he who was slain at my side in the great war with the tribes of the +north. She was my ward: she was more; for through her--ah! you know +not how--I held my converse with the things of earth and air, the very +spirits that watch us now in this darkness, Hafela. Thus it happened, +that before ever she was a woman, her mind grew greater than the mind +of any other woman, and her thought became my thought, and my thought +became her thought, for I and no other am her master. Still I waited +to wed her till she was fully grown; and while I waited I went upon an +embassy to the northern tribes. Then it was that you saw the maid in +visiting at my kraal, and her beauty and her wit took hold of you; and +in the council of the king, as you have a right to do, you named her +as your head wife, the queen to be. + +"The king heard and bowed his head; he sent and took her, and placed +her in the House of the Royal Women, there to abide till this feast of +the first-fruits, when she shall be given to you in marriage. Yes, he +sent her to that guarded house wherein not even I may set my foot. +Although I was afar, her spirit warned me, and I returned, but too +late; for she was sealed to you of the blood-royal, and that is a law +which may not be broken. + +"Hafela, I prayed you to return her to me, and you mocked me. I would +have brought you to your death, but it could not have availed me: for +then, by that same law, which may not be broken, she who was sealed to +you must die with you; and though thereafter her spirit would sit with +me till I died also, it was not enough, since I who have conquered +all, yet cannot conquer the fire that wastes my heart, nor cease to +long by night and day for a woman who is lost to me. Then it was, +Hafela, that I plotted vengeance against you. I threw my spell over +the mind of the king, till he learnt to hate you and your evil deeds; +and I, even I, have brought it about that your brother should be +preferred before you, and that you shall be the servant in his house. +This is the price that you must pay for her of whom you have robbed +me; and by my spirit and her spirit you shall pay! Yet listen. Hand +back the girl, as you may do--for she is not yet your wife--and choose +another for your queen, and I will undo all that I have done, and I +will find you a means, Hafela, to carry out your will. Ay, before six +suns have set, the regiments rushing past you shall hail you King of +the Nation of the Amasuka, Lord of the ancient House of Fire!" + +"I cannot," groaned the prince; "death were better than this!" + +"Ay, death were better; but you shall not die, you shall live a +servant, and your name shall become a mockery, a name for women to +make rhymes on." + +Now the prince sprang up. + +"Take her!" he hissed; "take her! you, who are an evil ghost; you, +beneath whose eyes children wail, and at whose passing the hairs on +the backs of hounds stand up! Take her, priest of death and ill; but +take my curse with her! Ah! I also can prophecy; and I tell you that +this woman whom you have taught, this witch of many spells, whose +glance can shrivel the hearts of men, shall give you to drink of your +own medicine; ay, she shall dog you to the death, and mock you while +you perish by an end of shame!" + +"What," laughed the wizard, "have I a rival in my own arts? Nay, +Hafela, if you would learn the trade, pay me well and I will give you +lessons. Yet I counsel you not; for you are flesh, nothing but flesh, +and he who would rule the air must cultivate the spirit. Why, I tell +you, Prince, that even the love for her who is my heart, the lady whom +we both would wed, partaking of the flesh as, alas! it does, has cost +me half my powers. Now let us cease from empty scoldings, and strike +our bargain. + +"Listen. On the last day of the feast, when all the regiments are +gathered to salute the king there in his Great Place according to +custom, you shall stand forth before the king and renounce Noma, and +she shall pass back to the care of my household. You yourself shall +bring her to where I stand, and as I take her from you I will put into +your hand a certain powder. Then you shall return to the side of the +king, and after our fashion shall give him to drink the bowl of the +first-fruits; but as you stir the beer, you will let fall into it that +powder which I have given you. The king will drink, and what he leaves +undrunk you will throw out upon the dust. + +"Now he will rise to give out to the people his royal decree, whereby, +Prince, you are to be deposed from your place as heir, and your +brother, Nodwengo, is to be set in your seat. But of that decree never +a word shall pass his lips; if it does, recall your saying and take +back the lady Noma from where she stands beside me. I tell you that +never a word will pass his lips; for even as he rises a stroke shall +take him, such a stroke as often falls upon the fat and aged, and he +will sink to the ground snoring through his nostrils. For a while +thereafter--it may be six hours, it may be twelve--he shall lie +insensible, and then a cry will arise that the king is dead!" + +"Ay," said Hafela, "and that I have poisoned him!" + +"Why, Prince? Few know what is in your father's mind, and with those, +being king, you will be able to deal. Also this is the virtue of the +poison which I choose, that it is swift, yet the symptoms of it are +the symptoms of a natural sickness. But that your safety and mine may +be assured, I have made yet another plan, though of this there will be +little need. You were present two days since when a runner came from +the white man who sojourns beyond our border, he who seeks to teach +us, the Children of Fire, a new faith, and gives out that he is the +messenger of the King of heaven. This runner asked leave for the white +man to visit the Great Place, and, speaking in the king's name, I gave +him leave. But I warned his servant that if his master came, a sign +should be required of him to show that he was a true man, and had of +the wisdom of the King of Heaven; and that if he failed therein, then +that he should die as that white liar died who visited us in bygone +years. + +"Now I have so ordered that this white man, passing through the Valley +of Death yonder, shall reach the Great Place not long before the king +drinks of the cup of the first-fruits. Then if any think that +something out of nature has happened to the king, they will surely +think also that this strange prayer-doctor has wrought the evil. Then +also I will call for a sign from the white man, praying of him to +recover the king of his sickness; and when he fails, he shall be slain +as a worker of spells and the false prophet of a false god, and so we +shall be rid of him and his new faith, and you shall be cleared of +doubt. Is not the plan good, Prince?" + +"It is very good, Hokosa--save for one thing only." + +"For what thing?" + +"This: the white man who is named Messenger might chance to be a true +prophet of a true God, and to recover the king." + +"Oho, let him do it, if he can; but to do it, first he must know the +poison and its antidote. There is but one, and it is known to me only +of all men in this land. When he has done that, then I, yes, even I, +Hokosa, will begin to inquire concerning this God of his, who shows +Himself so mighty in person of His messenger." And he laughed low and +scornfully. + +"Prince, farewell! I go forth alone, whither you dare not follow at +this hour, to seek that which we shall need. One word--think not to +play me false, or to cheat me of my price; for whate'er betides, be +sure of this, that hour shall be the hour of your dooming. Hail to +you, Son of the King! Hail! and farewell." Then, removing the door- +board, the wizard passed from the hut and was gone. + +***** + +The vision changed. Now there appeared a valley walled in on either +side with sloping cliffs of granite; a desolate place, sandy and, save +for a single spring, without water, strewn with boulders of rock, some +of them piled fantastically one upon the other. At a certain spot this +valley widened out, and in the mouth of the space thus formed, midway +between the curved lines of the receding cliffs, stood a little hill +or koppie, also built up of boulders. It was a place of death; for all +around the hill, and piled in hundreds between the crevices of its +stones, lay the white bones of men. + +Nor was this all. Its summit was flat, and in the midst of it stood a +huge tree. Even had it not been for the fruit which hung from its +branches, the aspect of that tree must have struck the beholder as +uncanny, even as horrible. The bark on its great bole was leprous +white; and from its gaunt and spreading rungs rose branches that +subdivided themselves again and again, till at last they terminated in +round green fingers, springing from grey, flat slabs of bark, in shape +not unlike that of a human palm. Indeed, from a little distance this +tree, especially if viewed by moonlight, had the appearance of bearing +on it hundreds or thousands of the arms and hands of men, all of them +stretched imploringly to Heaven. + +Well might they seem to do so, seeing that to its naked limbs hung the +bodies of at least twenty human beings who had suffered death by order +of the king or his captains, or by the decree of the company of +wizards, whereof Hokosa was the chief. There on the Hill of Death +stood the Tree of Death; and that in its dank shade, or piled upon the +ground beneath it, hung and lay the pitiful remnants of the multitudes +who for generations had been led thither to their doom. + +Now, in Owen's vision a man was seen approaching by the little pathway +that ran up the side of the mount--the Road of Lost Footsteps it was +called. It was Hokosa the wizard. Outside the circle of the tree he +halted, and drawing a tanned skin from a bundle of medicines which he +carried, he tied it about his mouth; for the very smell of that tree +is poisonous and must not be suffered to reach the lungs. + +Presently he was under the branches, where once again he halted; this +time it was to gaze at the body of an old man which swung to and fro +in the night breeze. + +"Ah! friend," he muttered, "we strove for many years, but it seems +that I have conquered at the last. Well, it is just; for if you could +have had your way, your end would have been my end." + +Then very leisurely, as one who is sure that he will not be +interrupted, Hokosa began to climb the tree, till at length some of +the green fingers were within his reach. Resting his back against a +bough, one by one he broke off several of them, and averting his face +so that the fumes of it might not reach him, he caused the thick milk- +white juice that they contained to trickle into the mouth of a little +gourd which was hung about his neck by a string. When he had collected +enough of the poison and carefully corked the gourd with a plug of +wood, he descended the tree again. At the great fork where the main +branches sprang from the trunk, he stood a while contemplating a +creeping plant which ran up them. It was a plant of naked stem, like +the tree it grew upon; and, also like the tree, its leaves consisted +of bunches of green spikes having a milky juice. + +"Strange," he said aloud, "that Nature should set the bane and the +antidote side by side, the one twined about the other. Well, so it is +in everything; yes, even in the heart of man. Shall I gather some of +this juice also? No; for then I might repent and save him, remembering +that he has loved me, and thus lose her I seek, her whom I must win +back or be withered. Let the messenger of the King of Heaven save him, +if he can. This tree lies on his path; perchance he may prevail upon +its dead to tell him of the bane and of the antidote." And once more +the wizard laughed mockingly. + +***** + +The vision passed. At this moment Thomas Owen, recovering from his +swoon, lifted his head from the window-place. The night before him was +as black as it had been, and behind him the little American clock was +still striking the hour of midnight. Therefore he could not have +remained insensible for longer than a few seconds. + +A few seconds, yet how much he had seen in them. Truly his want of +faith had been reproved--truly he also had been "warned of God in a +dream,"--truly "his ears had been opened and his instruction sealed." +His soul had been "kept back from the pit," and his life from +"perishing by the sword"; and the way of the wicked had been made +clear to him "in a dream, in a vision of the night when deep sleep +falleth upon men." + +Not for nothing had he endured that agony, and not for nothing had he +struggled in the grip of doubt. + + + +CHAPTER V + +THE FEAST OF THE FIRST-FRUITS + +On the third morning from this night whereof the strange events have +been described, an ox-waggon might have been seen outspanned on the +hither side of those ranges of hills that were visible from the river. +These mountains, which although not high are very steep, form the +outer barrier and defence of the kingdom of the Amasuka. Within five +hundred yards of where the waggon stood, however, a sheer cliffed +gorge, fire-riven and water-hewn, pierced the range, and looking on +it, Owen knew it for the gorge of his dream. Night and day the mouth +of it was guarded by a company of armed soldiers, whose huts were +built high on outlook places in the mountains, whence their keen eyes +could scan the vast expanses of plain. A full day before it reached +them, they had seen the white-capped waggon crawling across the veldt, +and swift runners had reported its advent to the king at his Great +Place. + +Back came the word of the king that the white man, with the waggon and +his servant, were to be led on towards the Great Place at such speed +as would bring him there in time for him to behold the last ceremony +of the feast of first-fruits; but, for the present, that the waggon +itself and the oxen were to be left at the mouth of the gorge, in +charge of a guard, who would be answerable for them. + +Now, on this morning the captain of the guard and his orderlies +advanced to the waggon and stood in front of it. They were splendid +men, armed with great spears and shields, and adorned with feather +head-dresses and all the wild finery of their regiment. Owen descended +from the waggon and came to meet them, and so for a few moments they +remained, face to face, in silence. A strange contrast they presented +as they stood there; the bare-headed white man frail, delicate, +spiritual of countenance, and the warriors great, grave, powerful, a +very embodiment of the essence of untamed humanity, an incarnate +presentation of the spirit of savage warfare. + +"How are you named, White Man?" asked the captain. + +"Chief, I am named Messenger." + +"The peace of the king be with you, Messenger," said the captain, +lifting his spear. + +"The peace of God be with you, Chief," answered Owen, holding up his +hands in blessing. + +"Who is God?" asked the captain. + +"Chief, He is the King I serve, and His word is between my lips." + +"Then pass on, Messenger of God, and deliver the word of God your King +into the ears of my king, at his Great Place yonder. Pass on riding +the beast you have brought with you, for the way is rough; but your +waggon, your oxen, and your servants, save this man only who is of the +Children of Fire, must stay here in my keeping. Fear not, Messenger, I +will hold them safe." + +"I do not fear, Chief, there is honour in your eyes." + +***** + +Some hours later, Owen, mounted on his mule, was riding through the +gorge, a guard in front of and behind him, and with them carriers who +had been sent to bear his baggage. At his side walked his disciple +John, and his face was sad. + +"Why are you still afraid?" asked Owen. + +"Ah! father, because this is a place of fear. Here in this valley men +are led to die; presently you will see." + +"I have seen," answered Owen. "Yonder where we shall halt is a mount, +and on that mount stands a tree; it is called the Tree of Death, and +it stretches a thousand hands to Heaven, praying for mercy that does +not come, and from its boughs there hangs fruit, a fruit of dead men-- +yes, twenty of them hang there this day." + +"How know you these things, my father," asked the man amazed, "seeing +that I have never spoken to you of them?" + +"Nay," he answered, "God has spoken to me. My God and your God." + +Another hour passed, and they were resting by the spring of water, +near to the shadow of the dreadful tree, for in that gorge the sun +burned fiercely. John counted the bodies that swung upon it, and again +looked fearfully at Owen, for there were twenty of them. + +"I desire to go up to that tree," Owen said to the guard. + +"As you will, Messenger," answered their leader; "I have no orders to +prevent you from so doing. Still," he added with a solemn smile, "it +is a place that few seek of their own will, and, because I like you +well, Messenger, I pray it may never be my duty to lead you there of +the king's will." + +Then Owen went up to the tree and John with him, only John would not +pass beneath the shadow of its branches; but stood by wondering, while +his master bound a handkerchief about his mouth. + +"How did he know that the breath of the tree is poisonous?" John +wondered. + +Owen walked to the bole of the tree, and breaking off some of the +finger-like leaves of the creeper that twined about it, he pressed +their milky juice into a little bottle that he had made ready. Then he +returned quickly, for the sights and odours of the place were not to +be borne. + +Outside the circle of the branches he halted, and removed the +handkerchief from his mouth. + +"Be of good cheer," he said to John, "and if it should chance that I +am called away before my words come true, yet remember my words. I +tell you that this Tree of Death shall become the Tree of Life for all +the children of your people. Look! there above you is its sign and +promise." + +John lifted his eyes, following the line of Owen's outstretched hand, +and saw this. High up upon the tree, and standing clear of all the +other branches, was one straight, dead limb, and from this dead limb +two arms projected at right angles, also dead and snapped off short. +Had a carpenter fashioned a cross of wood and set it there, its +proportions could not have been more proper and exact. It was very +strange to find this symbol of the Christian hope towering above that +place of human terror, and stranger still was the purpose which it +must serve in a day to come. + +Owen and John returned to the guard in silence, and presently they set +forward on their journey. At length, passing beneath a natural arch of +rock, they were out of the Valley of Death, and before them, not five +hundred paces away, appeared the fence of the Great Place. + +This Great Place stood upon a high plateau, in the lap of the +surrounding hills, all of which were strongly fortified with schanses, +pitfalls, and rough walls of stone. That plateau may have measured +fifteen miles in circumference, and the fence of the town itself was +about four miles in circumference. Within the fence and following its +curve, for it was round, stood thousands of dome-shaped huts carefully +set out in streets. Within these again was a stout stockade of timber, +enclosing a vast arena of trodden earth, large enough to contain all +the cattle of the People of Fire in times of danger, and to serve as a +review ground for their /impis/ in times of peace or festival. + +At the outer gate of the kraal there was a halt, while the keepers of +the gate despatched a messenger to their king to announce the advent +of the white man. Of this pause Owen took advantage to array himself +in the surplice and hood which he had brought with him in readiness +for that hour. Then he gave the mule to John to lead behind him. + +"What do you, Messenger?" asked the leader of the guard, astonished. + +"I clothe myself in my war-dress," he answered. + +"Where then is your spear, Messenger?" + +"Here," said Owen, presenting to his eyes a crucifix of ivory, most +beautifully carved. + +"I perceive that you are of the family of wizards," said the man, and +fell back. + +Now they entered the kraal and passed for three hundred yards or more +through rows of huts, till they reached the gate of the stockade, +which was opened to them. Once within it, Owen saw a wonderful sight, +such a sight as few white men have seen. The ground of the enormous +oval before him was not flat. Either from natural accident or by +design it sloped gently upwards, so that the spectator, standing by +the gate or at the head of it before the house of the king, could take +in its whole expanse, and, if his sight were keen enough, could see +every individual gathered there. + +On the particular day of Owen's arrival it was crowded with regiments, +twelve of them, all dressed in their different uniforms and bearing +shields to match, not one of which was less than 2500 strong. At this +moment the regiments were massed in deep lines, each battalion by +itself, on either side of the broad roadway that ran straight up the +kraal to where the king, his sons, his advisers and guards, together +with the company of wizards, were placed in front of the royal house. + +There they stood in absolute silence, like tens of thousands of bronze +statues, and Owen perceived that either they were resting or that they +were gathered thus to receive him. That the latter was the case soon +became evident, for as he appeared, a white spot at the foot of the +slope, countless heads turned and myriads of eyes fastened themselves +upon him. For an instant he was dismayed; there was something +terrifying in this numberless multitude of warriors, and the thought +of the task that he had undertaken crushed his spirit. Then he +remembered, and shaking off his fear and doubt, alone, save for his +disciple John, holding the crucifix aloft, he walked slowly up the +wide road towards the place where he guessed that the king must be. +His arm was weary ere ever he reached it, but at length he found +himself standing before a thickset old man, who was clad in leopard +skins and seated upon a stool of polished wood. + +"It is the king," whispered John behind him. + +"Peace be to you," said Owen, breaking the silence. + +"The wish is good, may it be fulfilled," answered the king in a deep +voice, sighing as he said the words. "Yet yours is a strange +greeting," he added. "Whence came you, White Man, how are you named, +and what is your mission to me and to my people?" + +"King, I come from beyond the sea; I am named Messenger, and my +mission is to deliver to you the saying of God, my King and--yours." + +At these words a gasp of astonishment went up from those who stood +within hearing, expecting as they did to see them rewarded by instant +death. But Umsuka only said:-- + +"'My King and yours'? Bold words, Messenger. Where then is this King +to whom I, Umsuka, should bow the knee?" + +"He is everywhere--in the heavens, on the earth, and below the earth." + +"If He is everywhere, then He is here. Show me the likeness of this +King, Messenger." + +"Behold it," Owen answered, thrusting forward the crucifix. + +Now all the great ones about the king stared at this figure of a dying +man crowned with thorns and hanging on a cross, and then drew up their +lips to laugh. But that laugh never left them; a sudden impulse, a +mysterious wave of feeling choked it in their throats. A sense of the +strangeness of the contrast between themselves in their armed +multitudes and this one white-robed man in his loneliness took hold of +them, and with it another sense of something not far removed from +fear. + +"A wizard indeed," they thought in their hearts, and what they thought +the king uttered. + +"I perceive," he said, "that you are either mad, White Man, or you are +a prince of wizards. Mad you do not seem to be, for your eyes are +calm, therefore a wizard you must be. Well, stand behind me: by-and-by +I will hear your message and ask of you to show me your powers; but +before then there are things which I must do. Are the lads ready? Ho, +you, loose the bull!" + +At the command a line of soldiers moved from the right, forming itself +up in front of the king and his attendants, revealing a number of +youths, of from sixteen to seventeen years of age, armed with sticks +only, who stood in companies outside a massive gate. Presently this +gate was opened, and through it, with a mad bellow, rushed a wild +buffalo bull. On seeing them the brute halted, and for a few moments +stood pawing the earth and tearing it with its great horns. Then it +put down its head and charged. Instead of making way for it, uttering +a shrill whistling sound, the youths rushed at the beast, striking +with their sticks. + +Another instant, and one of them appeared above the heads of his +companions, thrown high into the air, to be followed by a second and a +third. Now the animal was through the throng and carrying a poor boy +on its horn, whence presently he fell dead; through and through the +ranks of the regiments it charged furiously backward and forward. + +Watching it fascinated, Owen noted that it was a point of honour for +no man to stir before its rush; there they stood, and if the bull +gored them, there they fell. At length, exhausted and terrified, the +brute headed back straight up the lane where the main body of the +youths were waiting for it. Now it was among them, and, reckless of +wounds or death, they swarmed about it like bees, seizing it by legs, +nose, horns and tail, till with desperate efforts they dragged it to +the ground and beat the life out of it with their sticks. This done, +they formed up before the king and saluted him. + +"How many are killed?" he asked. + +"Eight in all," was the answer, "and fifteen gored." + +"A good bull," he said with a smile; "that of last year killed but +five. Well, the lads fought him bravely. Let the dead be buried, the +hurt tended, or, if their harms are hopeless, slain, and to the rest +give a double ration of beer. Ho, now, fall back, men, and make a +space for the Bees and the Wasps to fight in." + +Some orders were given and a great ring was formed, leaving an arena +clear that may have measured a hundred and fifty yards in diameter. +Then suddenly, from opposite sides, the two regiments, known as the +Bees and the Wasps respectively, rushed upon each other, uttering +their war-cries. + +"I put ten head of cattle on the Bees; who wagers on the Wasps?" cried +the king. + +"I, Lord," answered the Prince Hafela, stepping forward. + +"You, Prince!" said the king with a quick frown. "Well, you are right +to back them, they are your own regiment. Ah! they are at it." + +By this time the scene was that of a hell broken loose upon the earth. +The two regiments, numbering some 5000 men in all, had come together, +and the roar of their meeting shields was like the roar of thunder. +They were armed with kerries only, and not with spears, for the fight +was supposed to be a mimic one; but these weapons they used with such +effect that soon hundreds of them were down dead or with shattered +skulls and bruised limbs. Fiercely they fought, while the whole army +watched, for their rivalry was keen and for many months they had known +that they were to be pitted one against the other on this day. +Fiercely they fought, while the captains cried their orders, and the +dust rose up in clouds as they swung to and fro, breast thrusting +against breast. At length the end came; the Bees began to give, they +fell back ever more quickly till their retreat was a rout, and, +leaving many stretched upon the ground, amid the mocking cries of the +army they were driven to the fence, by touching which they obtained +peace at the hands of their victors. + +The king saw, and his somewhat heavy, quiet face grew alive with rage. + +"Search and see," he said, "if the captain of the Bees is alive and +unhurt." + +Messengers went to do his bidding, and presently they returned, +bringing with them a man of magnificent appearance and middle age, +whose left arm had been broken by a blow from a kerry. With his right +hand he saluted first the king, then the Prince Nodwengo, a kindly- +faced, mild-eyed man, in whose command he was. + +"What have you to say?" asked the king, in a cold voice of anger. +"Know you that you have cost me ten head of the royal white cattle?" + +"King, I have nothing to say," answered the captain calmly, "except +that my men are cowards." + +"That is certainly so," said the king. "Let all the wounded among them +be carried away; and for you, captain, who turn my soldiers into +cowards, you shall die a dog's death, hanging to-morrow on the Tree of +Doom. As for your regiment, I banish it to the fever country, there to +hunt elephants for three years, since it is not fit to fight with +men." + +"It is well," replied the captain, "since death is better than shame. +Only King, I have done you good service in the past; I ask that it may +be presently and by the spear." + +"So be it," said the king. + +"I crave his life, father," said the Prince Nodwengo; "he is my +friend." + +"A prince should not choose cowards for his friends," replied the +king; "let him be killed, I say." + +Then Owen, who had been watching and listening, his heart sick with +horror, stood forward and said:-- + +"King, in the name of Him I serve, I conjure you to spare this man and +those others that are hurt, who have done no crime except to be driven +back by soldiers stronger than themselves." + +"Messenger," answered the king, "I bear with you because you are +ignorant. Know that, according to our customs, this crime is the +greatest of crimes, for here we show no mercy to the conquered." + +"Yet you should do so," said Owen, "seeing that you also must ere long +be conquered by death, and then how can you expect mercy who have +shown none?" + +"Let him be killed!" said the king. + +"King!" cried Owen once more, "do this deed, and I tell you that +before the sun is down great evil will overtake you." + +"Do you threaten me, Messenger? Well, we will see. Let him be killed, +I say." + +Then the man was led away; but, before he went he found time to thank +Owen and Nodwengo the prince, and to call down good fortune upon them. + + + +CHAPTER VI + +THE DRINKING OF THE CUP + +Now the king's word was done, the anger went out of his eyes, and once +more his countenance grew weary. A command was issued, and, with the +most perfect order, moving like one man, the regiments changed their +array, forming up battalion upon battalion in face of the king, that +they might give him the royal salute so soon as he had drunk the cup +of the first-fruits. + +A herald stood forward and cried:-- + +"Hearken, you Sons of Fire! Hearken, you Children of Umsuka, Shaker of +the Earth! Have any of you a boon to ask of the king?" + +Men stood forward, and having saluted, one by one asked this thing or +that. The king heard their requests, and as he nodded or turned his +head away, so they were granted or refused. + +When all had done, the Prince Hafela came forward, lifted his spear, +and cried:-- + +"A boon, King!" + +"What is it?" asked his father, eyeing him curiously. + +"A small matter, King," he replied. "A while ago I named a certain +woman, Noma, the ward of Hokosa the wizard, and she was sealed to me +to fill the place of my first wife, the queen that is to be. She +passed into the House of the Royal Women, and, by your command, King, +it was fixed that I should marry her according to our customs +to-morrow, after the feast of the first-fruits is ended. King, my +heart is changed towards that woman; I no longer desire to take her to +wife, and I pray that you will order that she shall now be handed back +to Hokosa her guardian." + +"You blow hot and cold with the same mouth, Hafela," said Umsuka, "and +in love or war I do not like such men. What have you to say to this +demand, Hokosa?" + +Now Hokosa stepped forward from where he stood at the head of the +company of wizards. His dress, like that of his companions, was +simple, but in its way striking. On his shoulders he wore a cloak of +shining snakeskin; about his loins was a short kilt of the same +material; and round his forehead, arms and knees were fillets of +snakeskin. At his side hung his pouch of medicines, and in his hand he +held no spear, but a wand of ivory, whereof the top was roughly carved +so as to resemble the head of a cobra reared up to strike. + +"King," he said, "I have heard the words of the prince, and I do not +think that this insult should have been put upon the Lady Noma, my +ward, or upon me, her guardian. Still, let it be, for I would not that +one should pass from under the shadow of my house whither she is not +welcome. Without my leave the prince named this woman as his queen, as +he had the right to do; and without my leave he unnames her, as he has +the right to do. Were the prince a common man, according to custom he +should pay a fine of cattle to be held by me in trust for her whom he +discards; but this is a matter that I leave to you, King." + +"You do well, Hokosa," answered Umsuka, "to leave this to me. Prince, +you would not wish the fine that you should pay to be that of any +common man. With the girl shall be handed over two hundred head of +cattle. More, I will do justice: unless she herself consents, she +shall not be put away. Let the Lady Noma be summoned." + +Now the face of Hafela grew sullen, and watching, Owen saw a swift +change pass over that of Hokosa. Evidently he was not certain of the +woman. Presently there was a stir, and from the gates of the royal +house the Lady Noma appeared, attended by women, and stood before the +king. She was a tall and lovely girl, and the sunlight flashed upon +her bronze-hued breast and her ornaments of ivory. Her black hair was +fastened in a knot upon her neck, her features were fine and small, +her gait was delicate and sure as that of an antelope, and her eyes +were beautiful and full of pride. There she stood before the king, +looking round her like a stag. Seeing her thus, Owen understood how it +came about that she held two men so strangely different in the hollow +of her hand, for her charm was of a nature to appeal to both of them-- +a charm of the spirit as well as of the flesh. And yet the face was +haughty, a face that upon occasion might even become cruel. + +"You sent for me and I am here, O King," she said, in a slow and quiet +voice. + +"Listen, girl," answered the king. "A while ago the Prince Hafela, my +son, named you as her who should be his queen, whereon you were taken +and placed in the House of the Royal Women, to abide the day of your +marriage, which should be to-morrow." + +"It is true that the prince has honoured me thus, and that you have +been pleased to approve of his choice," she said, lifting her +eyebrows. "What of it, O King?" + +"This, girl: the prince who was pleased to honour you is now pleased +to dishonour you. Here, in the presence of the council and army, he +prays of me to annul his sealing to you, and to send you back to the +house of your guardian, Hokosa the wizard." + +Noma started, and her face grew hard. + +"Is it so?" she said. "Then it would seem that I have lost favour in +the eyes of my lord the prince, or that some fairer woman has found +it." + +"Of these matters I know nothing," replied the king; "but this I know, +that if you seek justice you shall have it. Say but the word, and he +to whom you were promised in marriage shall take you in marriage, +whether he wills or wills it not." + +At this speech, the face of Hafela was suddenly lit up as with the +fire of hope, while over that of Hokosa there passed another subtle +change. The girl glanced at them both and was silent for a while. Her +breast heaved and her white teeth bit upon her lip. To Owen, who noted +all, it was clear that rival passions were struggling in her heart: +the passion of power and the passion of love, or of some emotion which +he did not understand. Hokosa fixed his calm eyes upon her with a +strange intensity of gaze, and while he gazed his form quivered with a +suppressed excitement, much as a snake quivers that is about to strike +its prey. To the careless eye there was nothing remarkable about his +look and attitude; to the observer it was evident that both were full +of extraordinary purpose. He was talking to the girl, not with words, +but in some secret language that he and she understood alone. She +started as one starts who catches the tone of a well-remembered voice +in a crowd of strangers, and lifting her eyes from the ground, whither +she had turned them in meditation, she looked up at Hokosa. + +Instantly her face began to change. The haughtiness and anger went out +of it, it grew troubled, the lips parted in a sigh. First she bent her +head and body towards him, then without more ado she walked to where +he stood and took him by the hand. Here, at some whispered word or +sign, she seemed to recover herself, and again resuming the character +of a proud offended beauty, she curtseyed to Umsuka, and spoke:-- + +"O King, as you see, I have made my choice. I will not force myself +upon a man who scorns me, no, not even to share his place and power, +though it is true that I love them both. Nay, I will return to Hokosa +my guardian, and to his wife, Zinti, who has been as my mother, and +with them be at peace." + +"It is well," said the king, "and perhaps, girl, your choice is wise; +perhaps your loss is not so great as you have thought. Hafela, take +you the hand of Hokosa and release the girl back to him according to +the law, promising in the ears of men before the first month of winter +to pay him two hundred head of cattle as forfeit, to be held by him in +trust for the girl." + +In a sullen voice, his lips trembling with rage, Hafela did as the +king commanded; and when the hands of the conspirators unclasped, Owen +perceived that in that of the prince lay a tiny packet. + +"Mix me the cup of the first-fruits, and swiftly," said the king +again, "for the sun grows low in the heavens, and ere it sinks I have +words to say." + +Now a polished gourd filled with native beer was handed to Nodwengo, +the second son of the king, and one by one the great councillors +approached, and, with appropriate words, let fall into it offerings +emblematic of fertility and increase. The first cast in a grain of +corn; the second, a blade of grass; the third, a shaving from an ox's +horn; the fourth, a drop of water; the fifth, a woman's hair; the +sixth, a particle of earth; and so on, until every ingredient was +added to it that was necessary to the magic brew. + +Then Hokosa, as chief of the medicine men, blessed the cup according +to the ancient forms, praying that he whose body was the heavens, +whose eyes were lightning, and whose voice was thunder, the spirit +whom they worshipped, might increase and multiply to them during the +coming year all those fruits and elements that were present in the +cup, and that every virtue which they contained might comfort the body +of the king. + +His prayer finished, it was the turn of Hafela to play his part as the +eldest born of the king. Kneeling over the cup which stood upon the +ground, a spear was handed to him that had been made red hot in the +fire. Taking the spear, he stabbed with it towards the four quarters +of the horizon; then, muttering some invocation, he plunged it into +the bowl, stirring its contents till the iron grew black. Now he threw +aside the spear, and lifting the bowl in both hands, he carried it to +his father and offered it to him. + +Although he had been unable to see him drop the poison into the cup, a +glance at Hafela told Owen that it was there; for though he kept his +face under control, he could not prevent his hands from twitching or +the sweat from starting upon his brow and breast. + +The king rose, and taking the bowl, held it on high, saying:-- + +"In this cup, which I drink on behalf of the nation, I pledge you, my +people." + +It was the signal for the royal salute, for which each regiment had +been prepared. As the last word left the king's lips, every one of the +thirty thousand men present in that great place began to rattle his +kerry against the surface of his ox-hide shield. At first the sound +produced resembled that of the murmur of the sea; but by slow and just +degrees it grew louder and ever louder, till the roar of it was like +the deepest voice of thunder, a sound awe-inspiring, terrible. + +Suddenly, when its volume was most, four spears were thrown into the +air, and at this signal every man ceased to beat upon his shield. In +the place itself there was silence, but from the mountains around the +echoes still crashed and volleyed. When the last of them had died +away, the king brought the cup to the level of his lips. Owen saw, and +knowing its contents, was almost moved to cry out in warning. Indeed, +his arm was lifted and his mouth was open, when by chance he noted +Hokosa watching him, and remembered. To act now would be madness, his +time had not yet come. + +The cup touched the king's lips, and at the sign from every throat in +that countless multitude sprang the word "/King!/" and every foot +stamped upon the ground, shaking the solid earth. Thrice the monarch +drank, and thrice this tremendous salute, the salute of the whole +nation to its ruler, was repeated, each time more loudly than the +last. Then pouring the rest of the liquor on the ground, Umsuka set +aside the cup, and in the midst of a silence that seemed deep after +the crash of the great salute, he began to address the multitude:-- + +"Hearken, Councillors and Captains, and you, my people, hearken. As +you know, I have two sons, calves of the Black Bull, princes of the +land--my son Hafela, the eldest born, and my son Nodwengo, his half- +brother----" + +At this point the king began to grow confused. He hesitated, passing +his hand over his eyes, then slowly and with difficulty repeated those +words which he had already said. + +"We hear you, Father," cried the councillors in encouragement, as for +the second time he paused. While they still spoke, the veins in the +king's neck were seen to swell suddenly, foam flecked with blood burst +from his lips, and he fell headlong to the ground. + + + +CHAPTER VII + +THE RECOVERY OF THE KING + +For a moment there was silence, then a great cry arose--a cry of "Our +father is dead!" Presently with it were mingled other and angrier +shouts of "The king is murdered!" and "He is bewitched, the white +wizard has bewitched the king! He prophesied evil upon him, and now he +has bewitched him!" + +Meanwhile the captains and councillors formed a ring about Umsuka, and +Hokosa bending over him examined him. + +"Princes and Councillors," he said presently, "your father yet lives, +but his life is like the life of a dying fire and soon he must be +dead. This is sure, that one of two things has befallen him: either +the heat has caused the blood to boil in his veins and he is smitten +with a stroke from heaven, such as men who are fat and heavy sometimes +die of; or he has been bewitched by a wicked wizard. Yonder stands +one," and he pointed to Owen, "who not an hour ago prophesied that +before the sun was down great evil should overtake the king. The sun +is not yet down, and great evil has overtaken him. Perchance, Princes +and Councillors, this white prophet can tell us of the matter." + +"Perchance I can," answered Owen calmly. + +"He admits it!" cried some. "Away with him!" + +"Peace!" said Owen, holding the crucifix towards those whose spears +threatened his life. + +They shrank back, for this symbol of a dying man terrified them who +could not guess its significance. + +"Peace," went on Owen, "and listen. Be sure of this, Councillors, that +if I die, your king will die; whereas if I live, your king may live. +You ask me of this matter. Where shall I begin? Shall I begin with the +tale of two men seated together some nights ago in a hut so dark that +no eyes could see in it, save perchance the eyes of a wizard? What did +they talk of in that hut, and who were those men? They talked, I +think, of the death of a king and of the crowning of a king. They +talked of a price to be paid for a certain medicine; and one of them +had a royal air, and one----" + +"Will ye hearken to this wild babbler while your king lies dying +before your eyes?" broke in Hokosa, in a shrill, unnatural voice; for +almost palsied with fear as he was at Owen's mysterious words, he +still retained his presence of mind. "Listen now: what is he, and what +did he say? He is one who comes hither to preach a new faith to us; he +comes, he says, on an embassy from the King of Heaven, who has power +over all things, and who, so these white men preach, can give power to +His servants. Well, let this one cease prating and show us his +strength, as he has been warned he would be called upon to do. Let him +give us a sign. There before you lies your king, and he is past the +help of man; even I cannot help him. Therefore, let this messenger +cure him, or call upon his God to cure him; that seeing, we may know +him to be a true messenger, and one sent by that King of whom he +speaks. Let him do this now before our eyes, or let him perish as a +wizard who has bewitched the king. Do you hear my words, Messenger, +and can you draw this one back from between the Gates of Death?" + +"I hear them," answered Owen quietly; "and I can--or if I cannot, then +I am willing to pay the penalty with my life. You who are a doctor say +that your king is as one who is already dead, so that whatever I may +do I cannot hurt him further. Therefore I ask this of you, that you +stand round and watch, but molest me neither by word nor deed while I +attempt his cure. Do you consent?" + +"It is just; we consent," said the councillors. "Let us see what the +white man can do, and by the issue let him be judged." But Hokosa +stared at Owen wondering, and made no answer. + +"Bring some clean water to me in a gourd," said Owen. + +It was brought and given to him. He looked round, searching the faces +of those about him. Presently his eye fell upon the Prince Nodwengo, +and he beckoned to him, saying:-- + +"Come hither, Prince, for you are honest, and I would have you to help +me, and no other man." + +The prince stepped forward and Owen gave him the gourd of water. Then +he drew out the little bottle wherein he had stored the juice of the +creeper, and uncorking it, he bade Nodwengo fill it up with water. +This done, he clasped his hands, and lifting his eyes to heaven, he +prayed aloud in the language of the Amasuka. + +"O God," he prayed, "upon whose business I am here, grant, I beseech +Thee, that by Thy Grace power may be given to me to work this miracle +in the face of these people, to the end that I may win them to cease +from their iniquities, to believe upon Thee, the only true God, and to +save their souls alive. Amen." + +Having finished his prayer, he took the bottle and shook it; then he +commanded Nodwengo to sit upon the ground and hold his father's head +upon his knee. Now, as all might see by many signs, the king was upon +the verge of death, for his lips were purple, his breathing was rare +and stertorous, and his heart stood well-nigh still. + +"Open his mouth and hold down the tongue," said Owen. + +The prince obeyed, pressing down the tongue with a snuff spoon. Then +placing the neck of the bottle as far into the throat as it would +reach, Owen poured the fluid it contained into the body of the king, +who made a convulsive movement and instantly seemed to die. + +"He is dead," said one; "away with the false prophet!" + +"It may be so, or it may not be so," answered Owen. "Wait for the half +of an hour; then, if he shows no sign of life, do what you will with +me." + +"It is well," they said; "so be it." + +Slowly the minutes slipped by, while the king lay like a corpse before +them, and outside of that silent ring the soldiers murmured as the +wind. The sun was sinking fast, and Hokosa watched it, counting the +seconds. At length he spoke:-- + +"The half of the hour that you demanded is dead, White Man, as dead as +the king; and now the time has come for you to die also," and he +stretched out his hand to take him. + +Owen looked at his watch and replied:-- + +"There is still another minute; and you, Hokosa, who are skilled in +medicines, may know that this antidote does not work so swiftly as the +bane." + +The shot was a random one, but it told, for Hokosa fell back and was +silent. + +The seconds passed on as the minute hand of the watch went round from +ten to twenty, from twenty to thirty, from thirty to forty. A few more +instants and the game was played. Had that dream of his been vain +imagining, and was all his faith nothing but a dream wondered Owen? +Well, if so, it would be best that he should die. But he did not +believe that it was so; he believed that the Power above him would +intervene to save--not him, indeed, but all this people. + +"Let us make an end," said Hokosa, "the time is done." + +"Yes," said Owen, "the time is done--and /the king lives!/" + +Even as he spoke the pulses in the old man's forehead were seen to +throb, and the veins in his neck to swell as they had swollen after he +had swallowed the poison; then once more they shrank to their natural +size. Umsuka stirred a hand, groaned, sat up, and spoke:-- + +"What has chanced to me?" he said. "I have descended into deep +darkness, now once again I see light." + +No one answered, for all were staring, terrified and amazed, at the +Messenger--the white wizard to whom had been given power to bring men +back from the gate of death. At length Owen said:-- + +"This has chanced to you, King: that evil which I prophesied to you if +you refused to listen to the voice of mercy has fallen upon you. By +now you would have been dead, had it not pleased Him Whom I serve, +working through me, His messenger, to bring you back to look upon the +sun. Thank Him, therefore, and worship Him, for He alone is Master of +the Earth," and he held the crucifix before his eyes. + +The humbled monarch lifted his hand--he who for many years had made +obeisance to none--and saluted the symbol, saying:-- + +"Messenger, I thank Him and I worship Him, though I know Him not. Say +now, how did His magic work upon me to make me sick to death and to +recover me?" + +"By the hand of man, King, and by the virtues that lie hid in Nature. +Did you not drink of a cup, and were not many things mixed in the +draught? Was it not but now in your mind to speak words that should +bring down the head of pride and evil, and lift up the head of truth +and goodness?" + +"O White Man, how know you these things?" gasped the king. + +"I know them, it is enough. Say, who was it that stirred the bowl, +King, and who gave you to drink?" + +Now Umsuka staggered to his feet, and cried aloud in a voice that was +thick with rage:-- + +"By my head and the heads of my fathers I smell the plot! My son, the +Prince Hafela, has learned my counsel, and would have slain me before +I said words that should set him beneath the feet of Nodwengo. Seize +him, captains, and let him be brought before me for judgment!" + +Men looked this way and that to carry out the command of the king, but +Hafela was gone. Already he was upon the hillside, running as a man +has rarely run before--his face set towards that fastness in the +mountains where he could find refuge among his mother's tribesmen and +the regiments which he commanded. Of late they had been sent thither +by the king that they might be far from the Great Place when their +prince was disinherited. + +"He is fled," said one; "I saw him go." + +"Pursue him and bring him back, dead or alive!" thundered the king. "A +hundred head of cattle to the man who lays hand upon him before he +reaches the /impi/ of the North, for they will fight for him!" + +"Stay!" broke in Owen. "Once before this day I prayed of you, King, to +show mercy, and you refused it. Will you refuse me a second time? +Leave him his life who has lost all else." + +"That he may rebel against me? Well, White Man, I owe you much, and +for this time your wisdom shall be my guide, though my heart speaks +against such gentleness. Hearken, councillors and people, this is my +decree: that Hafela, my son, who would have murdered me, be deposed +from his place as heir to my throne, and that Nodwengo, his brother, +be set in that place, to rule the People of Fire after me when I die." + +"It is good, it is just!" said the council. "Let the king's word be +done." + +"Hearken again," said Umsuka. "Let this white man, who is named +Messenger, be placed in the House of Guests and treated with all +honour; let oxen be given him from the royal herds and corn from the +granaries, and girls of noble blood for wives if he wills them. +Hokosa, into your hand I deliver him, and, great though you are, know +this, that if but a hair of his head is harmed, with your goods and +your life you shall answer for it, you and all your house." + +"Let the king's word be done," said the councillors again. + +"Heralds," went on Umsuka, "proclaim that the feast of the first- +fruits is ended, and my command is that every regiment should seek its +quarters, taking with it a double gift of cattle from the king, who +has been saved alive by the magic of this white man. And now, +Messenger, farewell, for my head grows weary. To-morrow I will speak +with you." + +Then the king was led away into the royal house, and save those who +were quartered in it, the regiments passed one by one through the +gates of the kraal, singing their war-songs as they went. Darkness +fell upon the Great Place, and through it parties of men might be seen +dragging thence the corpses of those who had fallen in the fight with +sticks, or been put to death thereafter by order of the king. + +"Messenger," said Hokosa, bowing before Owen, "be pleased to follow +me." Then he led him to a little kraal numbering five or six large and +beautifully made huts, which stood by itself, within its own fence, at +the north end of the Great Place, not far from the house of the king. +In front of the centre hut a fire was burning, and by its light women +appeared cleaning out the huts and bringing food and water. + +"Here you may rest in safety, Messenger," said Hokosa, "seeing that +night and day a guard from the king's own regiment will stand before +your doors." + +"I do not need them," answered Owen, "for none can harm me till my +hour comes. I am a stranger here and you are a great man; yet, Hokosa, +which of us is the safest this night?" + +"Your meaning?" said Hokosa sharply. + +"O man!" answered Owen, "when in a certain hour you crept up the +valley yonder, and climbing the Tree of Death gathered its poison, +went I not with you? When, before that hour, you sat in yonder hut +bargaining with the Prince Hafela--the death of a king for the price +of a girl--was I not with you? Nay, threaten me not--in your own words +I say it--'lay down that assegai, or by my spirit your body shall be +thrown to the kites, as that of one who would murder the king'--and +the king's guest!" + +"White Man," whispered Hokosa throwing down the spear, "how can these +things be? I was alone in the hut with the prince, I was alone beneath +the Tree of Doom, and you, as I know well, were beyond the river. Your +spies must be good, White Man." + +"My spirit is my only spy, Hokosa. My spirit watched you, and from +your own lips he learned the secret of the bane and of the antidote. +Hafela mixed the poison as you taught him; I gave the remedy, and +saved the king alive." + +Now the knees of Hokosa grew weak beneath him, and he leaned against +the fence of the kraal for support. + +"I have skill in the art," he said hoarsely; "but, Messenger, your +magic is more than mine, and my life is forfeit to you. To-morrow +morning, you will tell the king all, and to-morrow night I shall hang +upon the dreadful Tree. Well, so be it; I am overmatched at my own +trade, and it is best that I should die. You have plotted well and you +have conquered, and to you belong my place and power." + +"It was you who plotted, and not I, Hokosa. Did you not contrive that +I should reach the Great Place but a little before the poison was +given to the king, so that upon me might be laid the crime of his +bewitching? Did you not plan also that I should be called upon to cure +him--a thing you deemed impossible--and when I failed that I should be +straightway butchered?" + +"Seeing that it is useless to lie to you, I confess that it was so," +answered Hokosa boldly. + +"It was so," repeated Owen; "therefore, according to your law your +life is forfeit, seeing that you dug a pit to snare the innocent feet. +But I come to tell you of a new law, and that which I preach I +practise. Hokosa, I pardon you, and if you will put aside your evil- +doing, I promise you that no word of all your wickedness shall pass my +lips." + +"It has not been my fashion to take a boon at the hand of any man, +save of the king only," said the wizard in a humble voice; "but now it +seems that I am come to this. Tell me, White Man, what is the payment +that you seek of me?" + +"None, Hokosa, except that you cease from evil and listen with an open +heart to that message which I am sworn to deliver to you and to all +your nation. Also you would do well to put away that fair woman whose +price was the murder of him that fed you." + +"I cannot do it," answered the wizard. "I will listen to your +teaching, but I will not rob my heart of her it craves alone. White +Man, I am not like the rest of my nation. I have not sought after +women; I have but one wife, and she is old and childless. Now, for the +first time in my days, I love this girl--ah, you know not how!--and I +will take her, and she shall be the mother of my children." + +"Then, Hokosa, you will take her to your sorrow," answered Owen +solemnly, "for she will learn to hate you who have robbed her of +royalty and rule, giving her wizardries and your grey hairs in place +of them." + +And thus for that night they parted. + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +THE FIRST TRIAL BY FIRE + +On the following day, while Owen sat eating his morning meal with a +thankful heart, a messenger arrived saying that the king would receive +him whenever it pleased him to come. He answered that he would be with +him before noon, for already he had learned that among natives one +loses little by delay. A great man, they think, is rich in time, and +hurries only to wait upon his superiors. + +At the appointed hour a guard came to lead him to the royal house, and +thither Owen went, followed by John bearing a Bible. Umsuka was seated +beneath a reed roof supported by poles and open on all sides; behind +him stood councillors and attendants, and by him were Nodwengo the +prince, and Hokosa, his mouth and prophet. Although the day was hot, +he wore a kaross or rug of wild catskins, and his face showed that the +effects of the poisoned draught were still upon him. At the approach +of Owen he rose with something of an effort, and, shaking him by the +hand, thanked him for his life, calling him "doctor of doctors." + +"Tell me, Messenger," he added, "how it was that you were able to cure +me, and who were in the plot to kill me? There must have been more +than one," and he rolled his eyes round with angry suspicion. + +"King," answered Owen, "if I knew anything of this matter, the Power +that wrote it on my mind has wiped it out again, or, at the least, has +forbidden me to speak of its secret. I saved you, it is enough; for +the rest, the past is the past, and I come to deal with the present +and the future." + +"This white man keeps his word," thought Hokosa to himself, and he +looked at him thanking him with his eyes. + +"So be it," answered the king; "after all, it is wise not to stir a +dung-heap, for there we find little beside evil odours and the nests +of snakes. Now, what is your business with me, and why do you come +from the white man's countries to visit me? I have heard of those +countries, they are great and far away. I have heard of the white men +also--wonderful men who have all knowledge; but I do not desire to +have anything to do with them, for whenever they meet black people +they eat them up, taking their lands and making them slaves. Once, +some years ago, two of you white people visited us here, but perhaps +you know that story." + +"I know it," answered Owen; "one of those men you murdered, and the +other you sent back with a message which he delivered into my ears +across the waters; thousands of miles away." + +"Nay," answered the king, "we did not murder him; he came to us with +the story of a new God who could raise the dead and work other +miracles, and gave such powers to His servants. So a man was slain and +we begged of him to bring him back to life; and since he could not, we +killed him also because he was a liar." + +"He was no liar," said Owen; "since he never told you that he had +power to open the mouth of the grave. Still, Heaven is merciful, and +although you murdered him that was sent to you, his Master has chosen +me to follow in his footsteps. Me also you may murder if you will, and +then another and another; but still the messengers shall come, till at +last your ears are opened and you listen. Only, for such deeds your +punishment must be heavy." + +"What is the message, White Man?" + +"A message of peace, of forgiveness, and of life beyond the grave, of +life everlasting. Listen, King. Yesterday you were near to death; say +now, had you stepped over the edge of it, where would you be this +day?" + +Umsuka shrugged his shoulders. "With my fathers, White Man." + +"And where are your fathers?" + +"Nay, I know not--nowhere, everywhere: the night is full of them; in +the night we hear the echo of their voices. When they are angry they +haunt the thunder-cloud, and when they are pleased they smile in the +sunshine. Sometimes also they appear in the shape of snakes, or visit +us in dreams, and then we offer them sacrifice. Yonder on the hillside +is a haunted wood; it is full of their spirits, White Man, but they +cannot talk, they only mutter, and their footfalls sound like the +dropping of heavy rain, for they are strengthless and unhappy, and in +the end they fade away." + +"So you say," answered Owen, "who are not altogether without +understanding, yet know little, never having been taught. Now listen +to me," and very earnestly he preached to him and those about him of +peace, of forgiveness, and of life everlasting. + +"Why should a God die miserably upon a cross?" asked the king at +length. + +"That through His sacrifice men might become as gods," answered Owen. +"Believe in Him and He will save you." + +"How can we do that," asked the king again, "when already we have a +god? Can we desert one god and set up another?" + +"What god, King?" + +"I will show him to you, White Man. Let my litter be brought." + +The litter was brought and the king entered it with labouring breath. +Passing through the north gate of the Great Place, the party ascended +a slope of the hill that lay beyond it till they reached a flat plain +some hundreds of yards in width. On this plain vegetation grew +scantily, for here the bed rock of ironstone, denuded with frequent +and heavy rains, was scarcely hidden by a thin crust of earth. On the +further side of the plain, however, and separated from it by a little +stream, was a green bank of deep soft soil, beyond which lay a gloomy +valley full of great trees, that for many generations had been the +burying-place of the kings of the Amasuka. + +"This is the house of the god," said the king. + +"A strange house," answered Owen, "and where is he that dwells in it?" + +"Follow me and I will show you, Messenger; but be swift, for already +the sky grows dark with coming tempest." + +Now at the king's command the bearers bore him across the sere plateau +towards a stone that lay almost in its centre. Presently they halted, +and, pointing to this mass, the king said:-- + +"Behold the god!" + +Owen advanced and examined the object. A glance told him that this god +of the Amasuka was a meteoric stone of unusual size. Most of such +stones are mere shapeless lumps, but this one bore a peculiar +resemblance to a seated human being holding up one arm towards the +sky. So strange was this likeness that, other reasons apart, it seemed +not wonderful that savages should regard the thing with awe and +veneration. Rather would it have been wonderful had they not done so. + +"Say now," said Owen to the king when he had inspected the stone, +"what is the history of this dumb god of yours, and why do you worship +him?" + +"Follow me across the stream and I will tell you, Messenger," answered +the king, again glancing at the sky. "The storm gathers, and when it +breaks none are safe upon this plain except the heaven doctors such as +Hokosa and his companions who can bind the lightning." + +So they went and when they reached the further side of the stream +Umsuka descended from his litter. + +"Messenger," he said, "this is the story of the god as it has come +down to us. From the beginning our land has been scourged with +lightning above all other lands, and with the floods of rain that +accompany the lightning. In the old days the Great Place of the king +was out yonder among the mountains, but every year fire from heaven +fell upon it, destroying much people: and at length in a great tempest +the house of the king of that day was smitten and burned, and his +wives and children were turned to ashes. Then that king held a council +of his wizards and fire-doctors, and these having consulted the +spirits of their forefathers, retired into a place apart to fast and +pray; yes, it was in yonder valley, the burying ground of kings, that +they hid themselves. Now on the third night the God of Fire appeared +to the chief of the doctors in his sleep, and he was shaped like a +burning brand and smoke went up from him. Out of the smoke he spoke to +the doctor, saying: 'For this reason it is that I torment your people, +that they hate me and curse at me and pay me little honour.' + +"In his dream the doctor answered: 'How can the people honour a god +that they do not see?' Then the god said: 'Rise up now in the night, +all the company of you, and go take your stand upon the banks of +yonder stream, and I will fall down in fire from heaven, and there on +the plain you shall find my image. Then let your king move his Great +Place into the valley beneath the plain, and henceforth my bolts shall +spare it and him. Only, month by month you shall make prayers and +offerings to me; moreover, the name of the people shall be changed, +for it shall be called the People of Fire.' + +"Now the doctor rose, and having awakened his companions, he told them +of his vision. Then they all of them went down to the banks of this +stream where we now stand. And as they waited there a great tempest +burst over them, and in the midst of that tempest they saw the flaming +figure of a man descend from heaven, and when he touched the earth it +shook. The morning came and there upon the plain before them, where +there had been nothing, sat the likeness of the god as it sits to-day +and shall sit for ever. So the name of this people was changed, and +the king's Great Place was built where it now is. + +"Since that day, Messenger, no hut has been burned and no man killed +in or about the Great Place by fire from heaven, which falls only here +where the god is, though away among the mountains and elsewhere men +are sometimes killed. But wait a while and you shall see with your +eyes. Hokosa, do you, whom the lightning will not touch, take that +pole of dead wood and set it up yonder in the crevice of the rock not +far from the figure of the god." + +"I obey," said Hokosa, "although I have brought no medicines with me. +Perhaps," he added with a faint sneer, "the white man, who is so great +a wizard, will not be afraid to accompany me." + +Now Owen saw that all those present were looking at him curiously. It +was evident they believed that he would not dare to accept the +challenge. Therefore he answered at once and without hesitation:-- + +"Certainly I will come; the pole is heavy for one man to carry, and +where Hokosa goes, there I can go also." + +"Nay, nay, Messenger," said the king, "the lightning knows Hokosa and +will turn from him, but you are a stranger to it and it will eat you +up." + +"King," answered Owen, "I do not believe that Hokosa has any power +over the lightning. It may strike him or it may strike me; but unless +my God so commands, it will strike neither of us." + +"On your head be it, White Man," said Hokosa, with cold anger. "Come, +aid me with the pole." + +Then they lifted the dead tree, and between them carried it into the +middle of the plain, where they set it up in a crevice of the rock. By +this time the storm was almost over them, and watching it Owen +perceived that the lightnings struck always along the bank of the +stream, doubtless following a hidden line of the bed of ironstone. + +"It is but a very little storm," said Hokosa contemptuously, "such as +visit us almost every afternoon at this period of the year. Ah! White +Man, I would that you could see one of our great tempests, for these +are worth beholding. This I fear, however, that you will never do, +seeing it is likely that within some few minutes you will have passed +back to that King who sent you here, with a hole in your head and a +black mark down your spine." + +"That we shall learn presently, Hokosa," answered Owen; "for my part, +I pray that no such fate may overtake you." + +Now Hokosa moved himself away, muttering and pointing with his +fingers, but Owen remained standing within about thirty yards of the +pole. Suddenly there came a glare of light, and the pole was split +into fragments; but although the shock was perceptible, they remained +unhurt. Almost immediately a second flash leaped from the cloud, and +Owen saw Hokosa stagger and fall to his knees. "The man is struck," he +thought to himself, but it was not so, for recovering his balance, the +wizard walked back to the stream. + +Owen never stirred. From boyhood courage had been one of his good +qualities, but it was a courage of the spirit rather than of the +flesh. For instance, at this very moment, so far as his body was +concerned, he was much afraid, and did not in the least enjoy standing +upon an ironstone plateau at the imminent risk of being destroyed by +lightning. But even if he had not had an end to gain, he would have +scorned to give way to his human frailties; also, now as always, his +faith supported him. As it happened the storm, which was slight, +passed by, and no more flashes fell. When it was over he walked back +to where the king and his court were standing. + +"Messenger," said Umsuka, "you are not only a great doctor, you are +also a brave man, and such I honour. There is no one among us here, +not being a lord of the lightning, who would have dared to stand upon +that place with Hokosa while the flashes fell about him. Yet you have +done it; it was Hokosa who was driven away. You have passed the trial +by fire, and henceforth, whether we refuse your message or accept it, +you are great in this land." + +"There is no need to praise me, King," answered Owen. "The risk is +something; but I knew that I was protected from it, seeing that I +shall not die until my hour comes, and it is not yet. Listen now: your +god yonder is nothing but a stone such as I have often seen before, +for sometimes in great tempests they come to earth from the clouds. +You are not the first people that have worshipped such a stone, but +now we know better. Also this plain before you is full of iron, and +iron draws the lightning. That is why it never strikes your town +below. The iron attracts it more strongly than earth and huts of +straw. Again, while the pole stood I was in little danger, for the +lightning strikes the highest thing; but after the pole was shattered +and Hokosa wisely went away, then I was in some danger, only no +flashes fell. I am not a magician, King, but I know some things that +you do not know, and I trust in One whom I shall lead you to trust +also." + +"We will talk of this more hereafter," said the king hurriedly, "for +one day, I have heard and seen enough. Also I do not believe your +words, for I have noted ever that those who are the greatest wizards +of all say continually that they have no magic power. Hokosa, you have +been famous in your day, but it seems that henceforth you who have led +must follow." + +"The battle is not yet fought, King," answered Hokosa. "To-day I met +the lightnings without my medicines, and it was a little storm; when I +am prepared with my medicines and the tempest is great, then I will +challenge this white man to face me yonder, and then in that hour /my/ +god shall show his strength and /his/ God shall not be able to save +him." + +"That we shall see when the time comes," answered Owen, with a smile. + +That night as Owen sat in his hut working at the translation of St. +John, the door was opened and Hokosa entered. + +"White Man," said the wizard, "you are too strong for me, though +whence you have your power I know not. Let us make a bargain. Show me +your magic and I will show you mine, and we will rule the land between +us. You and I are much akin--we are great; we have the spirit sight; +we know that there are things beyond the things we see and hear and +feel; whereas, for the rest, they are fools, following the flesh +alone. I have spoken." + +"Very gladly will I show you my magic, Hokosa," answered Owen +cheerfully, "since, to speak truth, though I know you to be wicked, +and guess that you would be glad to be rid of me by fair means or +foul; yet I have taken a liking for you, seeing in you one who from a +sinner may grow into a saint. + +"This then is my magic: To love God and serve man; to eschew wizardry, +wealth, and power; to seek after holiness, poverty and humility; to +deny your flesh, and to make yourself small in the sight of men, that +so perchance you may grow great in the sight of Heaven and save your +soul alive." + +"I have no stomach for that lesson," said Hokosa. + +"Yet you shall live to hunger for it," answered Owen. And the wizard +went away angered but wondering. + + + +CHAPTER IX + +THE CRISIS + +Now, day by day for something over a month Owen preached the Gospel +before the king, his councillors, and hundreds of the head men of the +nation. They listened to him attentively, debating the new doctrine +point by point; for although they might be savages, these people were +very keen-witted and subtle. Very patiently did Owen sow, and at +length to his infinite joy he also gathered in his first-fruit. One +night as he sat in his hut labouring as usual at the work of +translation, wherein he was assisted by John whom he had taught to +read and write, the Prince Nodwengo entered and greeted him. For a +while he sat silent watching the white man at his task, then he +said:-- + +"Messenger, I have a boon to ask of you. Can you teach me to +understand those signs which you set upon the paper, and to make them +also as does John your servant?" + +"Certainly," answered Owen; "if you will come to me at noon to-morrow, +we will begin." + +The prince thanked him, but he did not go away. Indeed, from his +manner Owen guessed that he had something more upon his mind. At +length it came out. + +"Messenger," he said, "you have told us of baptism whereby we are +admitted into the army of your King; say, have you the power of this +rite?" + +"I have." + +"And is your servant here baptised?" + +"He is." + +"Then if he who is a common man can be baptised, why may not I who am +a prince?" + +"In baptism," answered Owen, "there is no distinction between the +highest and the lowest; but if you believe, then the door is open and +through it you can join the company of Heaven." + +"Messenger, I do believe," answered the prince humbly. + +Then Owen was very joyful, and that same night, with John for a +witness, he baptised the prince, giving him the new name of +Constantine, after the first Christian emperor. + +On the following day Nodwengo, in the presence of Owen, who on this +point would suffer no concealment, announced to the king that he had +become a Christian. Umsuka heard, and for a while sat silent. Then he +said in a troubled voice:-- + +"Truly, Messenger, in the words of that Book from which you read to +us, I fear that you have come hither to bring, 'not peace but a +sword.' Now when the witch-doctors and the priests of fire learn this, +that he whom I have chosen to succeed me has become the servant of +another faith, they will stir up the soldiers and there will be civil +war. I pray you, therefore, keep the matter secret, at any rate for a +while, seeing that the lives of many are at stake." + +"In this, my father," answered the prince, "I must do as the Messenger +bids me; but if you desire it, take from me the right of succession +and call back my brother from the northern mountains." + +"That by poison or the spear he may put all of us to death, Nodwengo! +Be not afraid; ere long when he learns all that is happening here, +your brother Hafela will come from the northern mountains, and the +spears of his /impis/ shall be countless as the stars of the sky. +Messenger, you desire to draw us to the arms of your God--and myself, +I am at times minded to follow the path of my son Nodwengo and seek a +refuge there--but say, will they be strong enough to protect us from +Hafela and the warriors of the north? Already he gathers his clans, +and already my captains desert to him. By-and-by, in the spring-time-- +may I be dead before the day--he will roll down upon us like a flood +of water----" + +"To fall back like waters from a wall of rock," answered Owen. "'Let +not your heart be troubled,' for my Master can protect His servants, +and He will protect you. But first you must confess Him openly, as +your son has done." + +"Nay, I am too old to hurry," said the king with a sigh. "Your tale +seems full of promise to one who is near the grave; but how can I know +that it is more than a dream? And shall I abandon the worship of my +fathers and change, or strive to change, the customs of my people to +follow after dreams? Nodwengo has chosen his part, and I do not blame +him; yet, for the present I beseech you both to keep silence on this +matter, lest to save bloodshed I should be driven to side against +you." + +"So be it, King," said Owen; "but I warn you that Truth has a loud +voice, and that it is hard to hide the shining of a light in a dark +place, nor does it please my Lord to be denied by those who confess +Him." + +"I am weary," replied the old king, and they saluted him and went. + +In obedience to the wish of Umsuka his father, the conversion of +Nodwengo was kept secret, and yet--none knew how--the thing leaked +out. Soon the women in their huts, and the soldiers by their watch- +fires, whispered it in each other's ears that he who was appointed to +be their future ruler had become a servant of the unknown God. That he +had forsworn war and all the delights of men; that he would take but +one wife and appear before the army, not in the uniform of a general, +but clad in a white robe, and carry, not the broad spear, but a cross +of wood. Swiftly the strange story flew from mouth to mouth, yet it +was not altogether believed till it chanced that one day when he was +reviewing a regiment, a soldier who was drunk with beer openly +insulted the prince, calling him "a coward who worshipped a coward." + +Now men held their breaths, waiting to see this fool led away to die +by torture of the ant-heap or some other dreadful doom. But the prince +only answered: + +"Soldier, you are drunk, therefore I forgive you your words. Whether +He Whom you blaspheme will forgive you, I know not. Get you gone!" + +The warriors stared and murmured, for by those words, wittingly or +unwittingly, their general had confessed his faith, and that day they +made ribald songs about him in the camp. But on the morrow when they +learned how that the man whom the prince spared had been seized by a +lion and taken away as he sat at night with his companions in the +bivouac, his mouth full of boasting of his own courage in offering +insult to the prince and the new faith, then they looked at each other +askance and said little more of the matter. Doubtless it was chance, +and yet this Spirit Whom the Messenger preached was one of Whom it +seemed wisest not to speak lightly. + +But still the trouble grew, for by now the witch-doctors, with Hokosa +at the head of them, were frightened for their place and power, and +fomented it both openly and in secret. Of the women they asked what +would become of them when men were allowed to take but one wife? Of +the heads of kraals, how they would grow wealthy when their daughters +ceased to be worth cattle? Of the councillors and generals, how the +land could be protected from its foes when they were commanded to lay +down the spear? Of the soldiers, whose only trade was war, how it +would please them to till the fields like girls? Dismay took hold of +the nation, and although they were much loved, there was open talk of +killing or driving away the king and Nodwengo who favoured the white +man, and of setting up Hafela in their place. + +At length the crisis came, and in this fashion. The Amasuka, like many +other African tribes, had a strange veneration for certain varieties +of snakes which they declared to be possessed by the spirits of their +ancestors. It was a law among them that if one of these snakes entered +a kraal it must not be killed, or even driven away, under pain of +death, but must be allowed to share with the human occupants any hut +that it might select. As a result of this enforced hospitality deaths +from snake-bite were numerous among the people; but when they happened +in a kraal its owners met with little sympathy, for the doctors +explained that the real cause of them was the anger of some ancestral +spirit towards his descendants. Now, before John was despatched to +instruct Owen in the language of the Amasuka a certain girl was sealed +to him as his future wife, and this girl, who during his absence had +been orphaned, he had married recently with the approval of Owen, who +at this time was preparing her for baptism. On the third morning after +his marriage John appeared before his master in the last extremity of +grief and terror. + +"Help me, Messenger!" he cried, "for my ancestral spirit has entered +our hut and bitten my wife as she lay asleep." + +"Are you mad?" asked Owen. "What is an ancestral spirit, and how can +it have bitten your wife?" + +"A snake," gasped John, "a green snake of the worst sort." + +Then Owen remembered the superstition, and snatching blue-stone and +spirits of wine from his medicine chest, he rushed to John's hut. As +it happened, he was fortunately in time with his remedies and +succeeded in saving the woman's life, whereby his reputation as a +doctor and a magician, already great, was considerably enlarged. + +"Where is the snake?" he asked when at length she was out of danger. + +"Yonder, under the kaross," answered John, pointing to a skin rug +which lay in the corner. + +"Have you killed it?" + +"No, Messenger," answered the man, "I dare not. Alas! we must live +with the thing here in the hut till it chooses to go away." + +"Truly," said Owen, "I am ashamed to think that you who are a +Christian should still believe so horrible a superstition. Does your +faith teach you that the souls of men enter into snakes?" + +Now John hung his head; then snatching a kerry, he threw aside the +kaross, revealing a great green serpent seven or eight feet long. With +fury he fell upon the reptile, killed it by repeated blows, and hurled +it into the courtyard outside the house. + +"Behold, father," he said, "and judge whether I am still +superstitious." Then his countenance fell and he added: "Yet my life +must pay for this deed, for it is an ancient law among us that to harm +one of these snakes is death." + +"Have no fear," said Owen, "a way will be found out of this trouble." + +That afternoon Owen heard a great hubbub outside his kraal, and going +to see what was the matter, he found a party of the witch-doctors +dragging John towards the place of judgment, which was by the king's +house. Thither he followed to discover that the case was already in +course of being opened before the king, his council, and a vast +audience of the people. Hokosa was the accuser. In brief and pregnant +sentences, producing the dead snake in proof of his argument, he +pointed out the enormity of the offence against the laws of the +Amasuka wherewith the prisoner was charged, demanding that the man who +had killed the house of his ancestral spirit should instantly be put +to death. + +"What have you to say?" asked the king of John. + +"This, O King," replied John, "that I am a Christian, and to me that +snake is nothing but a noxious reptile. It bit my wife, and had it not +been for the medicine of the Messenger, she would have perished of the +poison. Therefore I killed it before it could harm others." + +"It is a fair answer," said the king. "Hokosa, I think that this man +should go free." + +"The king's will is the law," replied Hokosa bitterly; "but if the law +were the king's will, the decision would be otherwise. This man has +slain, not a snake, but that which held the spirit of an ancestor, and +for the deed he deserves to die. Hearken, O King, for the business is +larger than it seems. How are we to be governed henceforth? Are we to +follow our ancient rules and customs, or must we submit ourselves to a +new rule and a new custom? I tell you, O King, that the people murmur; +they are without light, they wander in the darkness, they cannot +understand. Play with us no more, but let us hear the truth that we +may judge of this matter." + +Umsuka looked at Owen, but made no reply. + +"I will answer you, Hokosa," said Owen, "for I am the spring of all +this trouble, and at my command that man, my disciple, killed yonder +snake. What is it? It is nothing but a reptile; no human spirit ever +dwelt within it as you imagine in your superstition. You ask to hear +the truth; day by day I have preached it in your ears and you have not +listened, though many among you have listened and understood. What is +it that you seek?" + +"We seek, Messenger, to be rid of you, your fantasies and your +religion; and we demand that our king should expel you and restore the +ancient laws, or failing this, that you should prove your power openly +before us all. Your word, O King!" + +Umsuka thought for a while and answered:-- + +"This is my word, Hokosa: I will not drive the Messenger from the +land, for he is a good man; he saved my life, and there is virtue in +his teaching, towards which I myself incline. Yet it is just that he +should be asked to prove his power, so that an end may be put to doubt +and all of us may learn what god we are to worship." + +"How can I prove my power," asked Owen, "further than I have proved it +already? Does Hokosa desire to set up his god against my God--the +false against the true?" + +"I do," answered the wizard with passion, "and according to the issue +let the judgment be. Let us halt no longer between two opinions, let +us become wholly Christian or rest wholly heathen, for to be divided +is to be destroyed. The magic of the Messenger is great; once and for +all let us learn if it is more than our magic. Let us put him and his +doctrines to the trial by fire." + +"What is the trial by fire?" asked Owen. + +"You have seen something of it, White Man, but not much. This is the +trial by fire: to stand yonder before the face of the god of thunder +when a great tempest rages--not such a storm as you saw, but a storm +that splits the heavens--and to come thence unscathed. Listen: I who +am a 'heaven-herd,' I who know the signs of the weather, tell you that +within two days such a tempest as this will break upon us. Then White +Man, I and my companions will be ready to meet you on the plain. Take +the cross by which you swear and set it up yonder and stand by it, and +with you your converts, Nodwengo the prince, and this man whom you +have named John, if they dare to go. Over against you, around the +symbol of the god by which we swear, will stand I and my company, and +we will pray our god and you shall pray your God. Then the storm will +break upon us, and when it is ended we shall learn which of us remain +alive. If you and your cross are shattered, to us will be the victory; +if we are laid low, take it for your own. Your judgment, King!" + +Again Umsuka thought and answered:-- + +"So be it. Messenger, hear me. There is no need for you to accept this +challenge; but if you will not accept it, then go from my country in +peace, taking with you those who cleave to you. If on the other hand +you do accept it, these shall be the stakes: that if you pass the +trial unharmed, and the fire-doctors are swept away, your creed shall +be my creed and the creed of the land; but if the fire-doctors prevail +against you, then it shall be death or banishment to any who profess +that creed. Now choose!" + +"I have chosen," said Owen. "I will meet Hokosa and his company on the +Place of fire whenever he may appoint, but for the others I cannot +say." + +"We will come with you," said Nodwengo and John, with one voice; +"where you go, Messenger, we will surely follow." + + + +CHAPTER X + +THE SECOND TRIAL BY FIRE + +When this momentous discussion was finished, as usual Owen preached +before the king, expounding the Scriptures and taking for his subject +the duty of faith. As he went back to his hut he saw that the snake +which John had killed had been set upon a pole in that part of the +Great Place which served as a market, and that hundreds of natives +were gathered beneath it gesticulating and talking excitedly. + +"See the work of Hokosa," he thought to himself. "Moses set up a +serpent to save the people; yonder wizard sets up one to destroy +them." + +That evening Owen had no heart for his labours, for his mind was heavy +at the prospect of the trial which lay before him. Not that he cared +for his own life, for of this he scarcely thought; it was the +prospects of his cause which troubled him. It seemed much to expect +that Heaven again should throw over him the mantle of its especial +protection, and yet if it did not do so there was an end of his +mission among the People of Fire. Well, he did not seek this trial--he +would have avoided it if he could, but it had been thrust upon him, +and he was forced to choose between it and the abandonment of the work +which he had undertaken with such high hopes and pushed so far toward +success. He did not choose the path, it had been pointed out to him to +walk upon; and if it ended in a precipice, at least he would have done +his best. + +As he thought thus John entered the hut, panting. + +"What is the matter?" Owen asked. + +"Father, the people saw and pursued me because of the death of that +accursed snake. Had I not run fast and escaped them, I think they +would have killed me." + +"At least you have escaped, John; so be comforted and return thanks." + +"Father," said the man presently, "I know that you are great, and can +do many wonderful things, but have you in truth power over lightning?" + +"Why do you ask?" + +"Because a great tempest is brewing, and if you have not we shall +certainly be killed when we stand yonder on the Place of Fire." + +"John," he said, "I cannot speak to the lightning in a voice which it +can hear. I cannot say to it 'go yonder,' or 'come hither,' but He Who +made it can do so. Why do you tempt me with your doubts? Have I not +told you the story of Elijah the prophet and the priests of Baal? Did +Elijah's Master forsake him, and shall He forsake us? Also this is +certain, that all the medicine of Hokosa and his wizards will not turn +a lightning flash by the breadth of a single hair. God alone can turn +it, and for the sake of His cause among these people I believe that He +will do so." + +Thus Owen spoke on till, in reproving the weakness of another, he felt +his own faith come back to him and, remembering the past and how he +had been preserved in it, the doubt and trouble went out of his mind +to return no more. + +The third day--the day of trial--came. For sixty hours or more the +heat of the weather had been intense; indeed, during all that time the +thermometer in Owen's hut, notwithstanding the protection of a thick +hatch, had shown the temperature to vary between a maximum of 113 and +a minimum of 101 degrees. Now, in the early morning, it stood at 108. + +"Will the storm break to-day?" asked Owen of Nodwengo, who came to +visit him. + +"They say so, Messenger, and I think it by the feel of the air. If so, +it will be a very great storm, for the heaven is full of fire. Already +Hokosa and the doctors are at their rites upon the plain yonder, but +there will be no need to join them till two hours after midday." + +"Is the cross ready?" asked Owen. + +"Yes, and set up. It is a heavy cross; six men could scarcely carry +it. Oh! Messenger, I am not afraid--and yet, have you no medicine? If +not, I fear that the lightning will fall upon the cross as it fell +upon the pole and then----" + +"Listen, Nodwengo," said Owen, "I know a medicine, but I will not use +it. You see that waggon chain? Were one end of it buried in the ground +and the other with a spear blade made fast to it hung to the top of +the cross, we could live out the fiercest storm in safety. But I say +that I will not use it. Are we witch doctors that we should take +refuge in tricks? No, let faith be our shield, and if it fail us, then +let us die. Pray now with me that it may not fail us." + +***** + +It was afternoon. All round the Field of Fire were gathered thousands +upon thousands of the people of the Amasuka. The news of this duel +between the God of the white man and their god had travelled far and +wide, and even the very aged who could scarcely crawl and the little +ones who must be carried were collected there to see the issue. Nor +had they need to fear disappointment, for already the sky was half +hidden by dense thunder-clouds piled ridge on ridge, and the hush of +the coming tempest lay upon the earth. Round about the meteor stone +which they called a god, each of them stirring a little gourd of +medicine that was placed upon the ground before him, but uttering no +word, were gathered Hokosa and his followers to the number of twenty. +They were all of them arrayed in their snakeskin dresses and other +wizard finery. Also each man held in his hand a wand fashioned from a +human thigh-bone. In front of the stone burned a little fire, which +now and again Hokosa fed with aromatic leaves, at the same time +pouring medicine from his bowl upon the holy stone. Opposite the +symbol of the god, but at a good distance from it, a great cross of +white wood was set up in the rock by a spot which the witch-doctors +themselves had chosen. Upon the banks of the stream, in the place +apart, were the king, his councillors and the regiment on guard, and +with them Owen, the Prince Nodwengo and John. + +"The storm will be fierce," said the king uneasily, glancing at the +western sky, upon whose bosom the blue lightnings played with an +incessant flicker. Then he bade those about him stand back, and +calling Owen and the prince to him, said: "Messenger, my son tells me +that your wisdom knows a plan whereby you may be preserved from the +fury of the tempest. Use it, I pray of you, Messenger, that your life +may be saved, and with it the life of the only son who is left to me." + +"I cannot," answered Owen, "for thus by doubting Him I should tempt my +Master. Still, it is not laid upon the prince to accompany through +this trial. Let him stay here, and I alone will stand beneath the +cross." + +"Stay, Nodwengo," implored the old man. + +"I did not think to live to hear my father bid me, one of the royal +blood of the Amasuka, to desert my captain in the hour of battle and +hide myself in the grass like a woman," answered the prince with a +bitter smile. "Nay, it may be that death awaits me yonder, but nothing +except death shall keep me back from the venture." + +"It is well spoken," said the king; "be it as you will." + +Now the company of wizards, leaving their medicine-pots upon the +ground, formed themselves in a treble line, and marching to where the +king stood, they saluted him. Then they sang the praises of their god, +and in a song that had been prepared, heaped insult upon the God of +the white man and upon the messenger who preached Him. To all of this +Owen listened in silence. + +"He is a coward!" cried their spokesman; "he has not a word to say. He +skulks there in his white robes behind the majesty of the king. Let +him go forth and stand by his piece of wood. He dare not go! He thinks +the hillside safer. Come out, little White Man, and we will show you +how we manage the lightnings. Ah! they shall fly about you like spears +in battle. You shall throw yourself upon the ground and shriek in +terror, and then they will lick you up and you shall be no more, and +there will be an end of you and the symbol of your God." + +"Cease your boastings," said the king shortly, "and get you back to +your place, knowing that if it should chance that the white man +conquers you will be called upon to answer for these words." + +"We shall be ready, O King," they cried; and amidst the cheers of the +vast audience they marched back to their station, still singing the +blasphemous mocking song. + +Now to the west all the heavens were black as night, though the +eastern sky still showed blue and cloudless. Nature lay oppressed with +silence--silence intense and unnatural; and so great was the heat that +the air danced visibly above the ironstone as it dances about a +glowing stove. Suddenly the quietude was broken by a moaning sound of +wind; the grass stirred, the leaves of the trees began to shiver, and +an icy breath beat upon Owen's brow. + +"Let us be going," he said, and lifting the ivory crucifix above his +head, he passed the stream and walked towards the wooden cross. After +him came the Prince Nodwengo, wearing his royal dress of leopard skin, +and after him, John, arrayed in a linen robe. + +As the little procession appeared to their view some of the soldiers +began to mock, but almost instantly the laughter died away. Rude as +they were, these savages understood that here was no occasion for +their mirth, that the three men indeed seemed clothed with a curious +dignity. Perhaps it was their slow and quiet gait, perhaps a sense of +the errand upon which they were bound; or it may have been the strange +unearthly light that fell upon them from over the edge of the storm +cloud; at the least, as the multitude became aware, their appearance +was impressive. They reached the cross and took up their stations +there, Owen in front of it, Nodwengo to the right, and John to the +left. + +Now a sharp squall of strong wind swept across the space, and with it +came a flaw of rain. It passed by, and the storm that had been +muttering and growling in the distance began to burst. The great +clouds seemed to grow and swell, and from the breast of them swift +lightnings leapt, to be met by other lightnings rushing upwards from +the earth. The air was filled with a tumult of uncertain wind and a +hiss as of distant rain. Then the batteries of thunder were opened, +and the world shook with their volume. Down from on high the flashes +fell blinding and incessant, and by the light of them the fire-doctors +could be seen running to and fro, pointing now here and now there with +their wands of human bones, and pouring the medicines from their +gourds upon the ground and upon each other. Owen and his two +companions could be seen also, standing quietly with clasped hands, +while above them towered the tall white cross. + +At length the storm was straight over head. Slowly it advanced in its +awe-inspiring might as flash after flash, each more fantastic and +horrible than the last, smote upon the floor of ironstone. It played +about the shapes of the doctors, who in the midst of it looked like +devils in an inferno. It crept onwards towards the station of the +cross, but--/it never reached the cross/. + +One flash struck indeed within fifty paces of where Owen stood. Then +of a sudden a marvel happened, or something which to this day the +People of Fire talk of as a marvel, for in an instant the rain began +to pour like a wall of water stretching from earth to heaven, and the +wind changed. It had been blowing from the west, now it blew from the +east with the force of a gale. + +It blew and rolled the tempest back upon itself, causing it to return +to the regions whence it had gathered. At the very foot of the cross +its march was stayed; there was the water-line, as straight as if it +had been drawn with a rule. The thunder-clouds that were pressed +forward met the clouds that were pressed back, and together they +seemed to come to earth, filling the air with a gloom so dense that +the eye could not pierce it. To the west was a wall of blackness +towering to the heavens; to the east, light, blue and unholy, gleamed +upon the white cross and the figures of its watchers. + +For some seconds--twenty or more--there was a lull, and then it seemed +as though all hell had broken loose upon the world. The wall of +blackness became a wall of flame, in which strange and ardent shapes +appeared ascending and descending; the thunder bellowed till the +mountains rocked, and in one last blaze, awful and indescribable, the +skies melted into a deluge of fire. In the flare of it Owen thought +that he saw the figures of men falling this way and that, then he +staggered against the cross for support and his senses failed him. + +***** + +When they returned again, he perceived the storm being drawn back from +the face of the pale earth like a pall from the face of the dead, and +he heard a murmur of fear and wonder rising from ten thousand throats. + +***** + +Well might they fear and wonder, for of the twenty and one wizards +eleven were dead, four were paralysed by shock, five were flying in +their terror, and one, Hokosa himself, stood staring at the fallen, a +very picture of despair. Nor was this all, for the meteor stone with a +human shape which for generations the People of Fire had worshipped as +a god, lay upon the plain in fused and shattered fragments. + +The people saw, and a sound as of a hollow groan of terror went up +from them. Then they were silent. For a while Owen and his companions +were silent also, since their hearts were too full for speech. Then he +said:-- + +"As the snake fell harmless from the hand of Paul, so has the +lightning turned back from me, who strive to follow in his footsteps, +working death and dismay among those who would have harmed us. May +forgiveness be theirs who were without understanding. Brethren, let us +return and make report to the king." + +Now, as they had come, so they went back; first Owen with the +crucifix, next to him Nodwengo, and last of the three John. They drew +near to the king, when suddenly, moved by a common impulse, the +thousands of the people upon the banks of the stream with one accord +threw themselves upon their knees before Owen, calling him God and +offering him worship. Infected by the contagion, Umsuka, his guard and +his councillors followed their example, so that of all the multitude +Hokosa alone remained upon his feet, standing by his dishonoured and +riven deity. + +"Rise!" cried Owen aghast. "Would you do sacrilege, and offer worship +to a man? Rise, I command you!" + +Then the king rose, saying:-- + +"You are no man, Messenger, you are a spirit." + +"He is a spirit," repeated the multitude after him. + +"I am /not/ a spirit, I am yet a man," cried Owen again, "but the +Spirit Whom I serve has made His power manifest in me His servant, and +your idols are smitten with the sword of His power, O ye Sons of Fire! +Hokosa still lives, let him be brought hither." + +They fetched Hokosa, and he stood before them. + +"You have seen, Wizard," said the king. "What have you to say?" + +"Nothing," answered Hokosa, "save that victory is to the Cross, and to +the white man who preaches it, for his magic is greater than our +magic. By his command the tempest was stayed, and the boasts we hurled +fell back upon our heads and the head of our god to destroy us." + +"Yes," said the king, "victory is to the Cross, and henceforth the +Cross shall be worshipped in this land, or at least no other god shall +be worshipped. Let us be going. Come with me, Messenger, Lord of the +Lightning." + + + +CHAPTER XI + +THE WISDOM OF THE DEAD + +On the morrow Owen baptised the king, many of his councillors, and +some twenty others whom he considered fit to receive the rite. Also he +despatched his first convert John, with other messengers, on a three +months' journey to the coast, giving them letters acquainting the +bishop and others with his marvellous success, and praying that +missionaries might be sent to assist him in his labours. + +Now day by day the Church grew till it numbered hundreds of souls, and +thousands more hovered on its threshold. From dawn to dark Owen +toiled, preaching, exhorting, confessing, gathering in his harvest; +and from dark to midnight he pored over his translation of the +Scriptures, teaching Nodwengo and a few others how to read and write +them. But although his efforts were crowned with so signal and +extraordinary a triumph, he was well aware of the dangers that +threatened the life of the infant Church. Many accepted it indeed, and +still more tolerated it; but there remained multitudes who regarded +the new religion with suspicion and veiled hatred. Nor was this +strange, seeing that the hearts of men are not changed in an hour or +their ancient customs easily overset. + +On one point, indeed, Owen had to give way. The Amasuka were a +polygamous people; all their law and traditions were interwoven with +polygamy, and to abolish that institution suddenly and with violence +would have brought their social fabric to the ground. Now, as he knew +well, the missionary Church declares in effect that no man can be both +a Christian and a polygamist; therefore among the followers of that +custom the missionary Church makes but little progress. Not without +many qualms and hesitations, Owen, having only the Scriptures to +consult, came to a compromise with his converts. If a man already +married to more than one wife wished to become a Christian, he +permitted him to do so upon the condition that he took no more wives; +while a man unmarried at the time of his conversion might take one +wife only. This decree, liberal as it was, caused great +dissatisfaction among both men and women. But it was as nothing +compared to the feeling that was evoked by Owen's preaching against +all war not undertaken in self-defence, and against the strict laws +which he prevailed upon the king to pass, suppressing the practice of +wizardry, and declaring the chief or doctor who caused a man to be +"smelt out" and killed upon charges of witchcraft to be guilty of +murder. + +At first whenever Owen went abroad he was surrounded by thousands of +people who followed him in the expectation that he would work +miracles, which, after his exploits with the lightning, they were well +persuaded that he could do if he chose. But he worked no more +miracles; he only preached to them a doctrine adverse to their customs +and foreign to their thoughts. + +So it came about that in time, when the novelty was gone off and the +story of his victory over the Fire-god had grown stale, although the +work of conversion went on steadily, many of the people grew weary of +the white man and his doctrines. Soon this weariness found expression +in various ways, and in none more markedly than by the constant +desertions from the ranks of the king's regiments. At first, by Owen's +advice, the king tolerated these desertions; but at length, having +obtained information that an entire regiment purposed absconding at +dawn, he caused it to be surrounded and seized by night. Next morning +he addressed that regiment, saying:-- + +"Soldiers, you think that because I have become a Christian and will +not permit unnecessary bloodshed, I am also become a fool. I will +teach you otherwise. One man in every twenty of you shall be killed, +and henceforth any soldier who attempts to desert will be killed +also!" + +The order was carried out, for Owen could not find a word to say +against it, with the result that desertions almost ceased, though not +before the king had lost some eight or nine thousand of his best +soldiers. Worst of all, these soldiers had gone to join Hafela in his +mountain fastnesses; and the rumour grew that ere long they would +appear again, to claim the crown for him or to take it by force of +arms. + +Now too a fresh complication arose. The old king sickened of his last +illness, and soon it became known that he must die. A month later die +he did, passing away peacefully in Owen's arms, and with his last +breath exhorting his people to cling to the Christian religion; to +take Nodwengo for their king and to be faithful to him. + +The king died, and that same day was buried by Owen in the gloomy +resting-place of the blood-royal of the People of Fire, where a +Christian priest now set foot for the first time. + +On the morrow Nodwengo was proclaimed king with much ceremony in face +of the people and of all the army that remained to him. One captain +raised a cry for Hafela his brother. Nodwengo caused him to be seized +and brought before him. + +"Man," he said, "on this my coronation day I will not stain my hand +with blood. Listen. You cry upon Hafela, and to Hafela you shall go, +taking him this message. Tell him that I, Nodwengo, have succeeded to +the crown of Umsuka, my father, by his will and the will of the +people. Tell him it is true that I have become a Christian, and that +Christians follow not after war but peace. Tell him, however, that +though I am a Christian I have not forgotten how to fight or how to +rule. It has reached my ears that it is his purpose to attack me with +a great force which he is gathering, and to possess himself of my +throne. If he should choose to come, I shall be ready to meet him; but +I counsel him against coming, for it will be to find his death. Let +him stay where he is in peace, and be my subject; or let him go afar +with those that cleave to him, and set up a kingdom of his own, for +then I shall not follow him; but let him not dare to lift a spear +against me, his sovereign, since if he does so he shall be treated as +a rebel and find the doom of a rebel. Begone, and show your face here +no more!" + +The man crept away crestfallen; but all who heard that speech broke +into cheering, which, as its purport was repeated from rank to rank, +spread far and wide; for now the army learned that in becoming a +Christian, Nodwengo had not become a woman. Of this indeed he soon +gave them ample proof. The old king's grip upon things had been lax, +that of Nodwengo was like iron. He practised no cruelties, and did +injustice to none; but his discipline was severe, and soon the +regiments were brought to a greater pitch of proficiency than they had +ever reached before, although they were now allowed to marry when they +pleased, a boon that hitherto had been denied to them. Moreover, by +Owen's help, he designed an entirely new system of fortification of +the kraal and surrounding hills, which would, it was thought, make the +place impregnable. These and many other acts, equally vigorous and +far-seeing, put new heart into the nation. Also the report of them put +fear into Hafela, who, it was rumoured, had now given up all idea of +attack. + +Some there were, however, who looked upon these changes with little +love, and Hokosa was one of them. After his defeat in the duel by +fire, for a while his spirit was crushed. Hitherto he had more or less +been a believer in the protecting influence of his own god or fetish, +who would, as he thought, hold his priests scatheless from the +lightning. Often and often had he stood in past days upon that plain +while the great tempests broke around his head, and returned thence +unharmed, attributing to sorcery a safety that was really due to +chance. From time to time indeed a priest was killed; but, so his +companions held, the misfortune resulted invariably from the man's +neglect of some rite, or was a mark of the anger of the heavens. + +Now Hokosa had lived to see all these convictions shattered: he had +seen the lightning, which he pretended to be able to control, roll +back upon him from the foot of the Christian cross, reducing his god +to nothingness and his companions to corpses. + +At first Hokosa was dismayed, but as time went on hope came back to +him. Stripped of his offices and power, and from the greatest in the +nation, after the king, become one of small account, still no harm or +violence was attempted towards him. He was left wealthy and in peace, +and living thus he watched and listened with open eyes and ears, +waiting till the tide should turn. It seemed that he would not have +long to wait, for reasons that have been told. + +"Why do you sit here like a vulture on a rock," asked the girl Noma, +whom he had taken to wife, "when you might be yonder with Hafela, +preparing him by your wisdom for the coming war?" + +"Because I am a king-vulture, and I wait for the sick bull to die," he +answered, pointing to the Great Place beneath him. "Say, why should I +bring Hafela to prey upon a carcase I have marked down for my own?" + +"Now you speak well," said Noma; "the bull suffers from a strange +disease, and when he is dead another must lead the herd." + +"That is so," answered her husband, "and, therefore, I am patient." + +It was shortly after this conversation that the old king died, with +results very different from those which Hokosa had anticipated. +Although he was a Christian, to his surprise Nodwengo showed that he +was also a strong ruler, and that there was little chance of the +sceptre slipping from his hand--none indeed while the white teacher +was there to guide him. + +"What will you do now, Hokosa?" asked Noma his wife upon a certain +day. "Will you turn to Hafela after all?" + +"No," answered Hokosa; "I will consult my ancient lore. Listen. +Whatever else is false, this is true: that magic exists, and I am its +master. For a while it seemed to me that the white man was greater at +the art than I am; but of late I have watched him and listened to his +doctrines, and I believe that this is not so. It is true that in the +beginning he read my plans in a dream, or otherwise; it is true that +he hurled the lightning back upon my head; but I hold that these +things were accidents. Again and again he has told us that he is not a +wizard; and if this be so, he can be overcome." + +"How, husband?" + +"How? By wizardry. This very night, Noma, with your help I will +consult the dead, as I have done in bygone time, and learn the future +from their lips which cannot lie." + +"So be it; though the task is hateful to me, and I hate you who force +me to it." + +Noma answered thus with passion, but her eyes shone as she spoke: for +those who have once tasted the cup of magic are ever drawn to drink of +it again, even when they fear the draught. + +**** + +It was midnight, and Hokosa with his wife stood in the burying-ground +of the kings of the Amasuka. Before Owen came upon his mission it was +death to visit this spot except upon the occasion of the laying to +rest of one of the royal blood, or to offer the annual sacrifice to +the spirits of the dead. Even beneath the bright moon that shone upon +it the place seemed terrible. Here in the bosom of the hills was an +amphitheatre, surrounded by walls of rock varying from five hundred to +a thousand feet in height. In this amphitheatre grew great mimosa +thorns, and above them towered pillars of granite, set there not by +the hand of man but by nature. It would seem that the Amasuka, led by +some fine instinct, had chosen these columns as fitting memorials of +their kings, at the least a departed monarch lay at the foot of each +of them. + +The smallest of these unhewn obelisks--it was about fifty feet high-- +marked the resting-place of Umsuka; and deep into its granite Owen +with his own hand had cut the dead king's name and date of death, +surmounting his inscription with a symbol of the cross. + +Towards this pillar Hokosa made his way through the wet grass, +followed by Noma his wife. Presently they were there, standing one +upon each side of a little mound of earth more like an ant-heap than a +grave; for, after the custom of his people, Umsuka had been buried +sitting. At the foot of each of the pillars rose a heap of similar +shape, but many times as large. The kings who slept there were +accompanied to their resting-places by numbers of their wives and +servants, who had been slain in solemn sacrifice that they might +attend their Lord whithersoever he should wander. + +"What is that you desire and would do?" asked Noma, in a hushed voice. +Bold as she was, the place and the occasion awed her. + +"I desire wisdom from the dead!" he answered. "Have I not already told +you, and can I not win it with your help?" + +"What dead, husband?" + +"Umsuka the king. Ah! I served him living, and at the last he drove me +away from his side. Now he shall serve me, and out of the nowhere I +will call him back to mine." + +"Will not this symbol defeat you?" and Noma pointed at the cross hewn +in the granite. + +At her words a sudden gust of rage seemed to shake the wizard. His +still eyes flashed, his lips turned livid, and with them he spat upon +the cross. + +"It has no power," he said. "May it be accursed, and may he who +believes therein hang thereon! It has no power; but even if it had, +according to the tale of that white liar, such things as I would do +have been done beneath its shadow. By it the dead have been raised-- +ay! dead kings have been dragged from death and forced to tell the +secrets of the grave. Come, come, let us to the work." + +"What must I do, husband?" + +"You shall sit you there, even as a corpse sits, and there for a +little while you shall die--yes, your spirit shall leave you--and I +will fill your body with the soul of him who sleeps beneath;; and +through your lips I will learn his wisdom, to whom all things are +known." + +"It is terrible! I am afraid!" she said. "Cannot this be done +otherwise?" + +"It cannot," he answered. "The spirits of the dead have no shape or +form; they are invisible, and can speak only in dreams or through the +lips of one in whose pulses life still lingers, though soul and body +be already parted. Have no fear. Ere his ghost leaves you it shall +recall your own, which till the corpse is cold stays ever close at +hand. I did not think to find a coward in you, Noma." + +"I am not a coward, as you know well," she answered passionately, "for +many a deed of magic have we dared together in past days. But this is +fearsome, to die that my body may become the home of the ghost of a +dead man, who perchance, having entered it, will abide there, leaving +my spirit houseless, or perchance will shut up the doors of my heart +in such fashion that they never can be opened. Can it not be done by +trance as aforetime? Tell me, Hokosa, how often have you thus talked +with the dead?" + +"Thrice, Noma." + +"And what chanced to them through whom you talked?" + +"Two lived and took no harm; the third died, because the awakening +medicine lacked power. Yet fear nothing; that which I have with me is +of the best. Noma, you know my plight: I must win wisdom or fall for +ever, and you alone can help me; for under this new rule, I can no +longer buy a youth or maid for purposes of witchcraft, even if one +could be found fitted to the work. Choose then: shall we go back or +forward? Here trance will not help us; for those entranced cannot read +the future, nor can they hold communion with the dead, being but +asleep. Choose, Noma." + +"I have chosen," she answered. "Never yet have I turned my back upon a +venture, nor will I do so now. Come life, come death, I will submit me +to your wish, though there are few women who would dare as much for +any man. Nor in truth do I do this for you, Hokosa; I do it because I +seek power, and thus only can we win it who are fallen. Also I love +all things strange, and desire to commune with the dead and to know +that, if for some few minutes only, at least my woman's breast has +held the spirit of a king. Yet, I warn you, make no fault in your +magic; for should I die beneath it, then I, who desire to live on and +to be great, will haunt you and be avenged upon you!" + +"Oh! Noma," he said, "if I believed that there was any danger for you, +should I ask you to suffer this thing?--I, who love you more even than +you love power, more than my life, more than anything that is or ever +can be." + +"I know it, and it is to that I trust," the woman answered. "Now +begin, before my courage leaves me." + +"Good," he said. "Seat yourself there upon the mound, resting your +head against the stone." + +She obeyed; and taking thongs of hide which he had made ready, Hokosa +bound her wrists and ankles, as these people bind the wrists and +ankles of corpses. Then he knelt before her, staring into her face +with his solemn eyes and muttering: "Obey and sleep." + +Presently her limbs relaxed, and her head fell forward. + +"Do you sleep?" he asked. + +"I sleep. Whither shall I go? It is the true sleep--test me." + +"Pass to the house of the white man, my rival. Are you with him?" + +"I am with him." + +"What does he?" + +"He lies in slumber on his bed, and in his slumber he mutters the name +of a woman, and tells her that he loves her, but that duty is more +than love. Oh! call me back I cannot stay; a Presence guards him, and +thrusts me thence." + +"Return," said Hokosa starting. "Pass through the earth beneath you +and tell me what you see." + +"I see the body of the king; but were it not for his royal ornaments +none would know him now." + +"Return," said Hokosa, "and let the eyes of your spirit be open. Look +around you and tell me what you see." + +"I see the shadows of the dead," she answered; "they stand about you, +gazing at you with angry eyes; but when they come near you, something +drives them back, and I cannot understand what it is they say." + +"Is the ghost of Umsuka among them?" + +"It is among them." + +"Bid him prophesy the future to me." + +"I have bidden him, but he does not answer. If you would hear him +speak, it must be through the lips of my body; and first my body must +be emptied of my ghost, that his may find a place therein." + +"Say, can his spirit be compelled?" + +"It can be compelled, or that part of it which still hover near this +spot, if you dare to speak the words you know. But first its house +must be made ready. Then the words must be spoken, and all must be +done before a man can count three hundred; for should the blood begin +to clot about my heart, it will be still for ever." + +"Hearken," said Hokosa. "When the medicine that I shall give does its +work, and the spirit is loosened from your body, let it not go afar, +no, whatever tempts or threatens it, and suffer not that the death- +cord be severed, lest flesh and ghost be parted for ever." + +"I hear, and I obey. Be swift, for I grow weary." + +Then Hokosa took from his pouch two medicines: one a paste in a box, +the other a fluid in a gourd. Taking of the paste he knelt upon the +grave before the entranced woman and swiftly smeared it upon the +mucous membrane of the mouth and throat. Also he thrust pellets of it +into the ears, the nostrils, and the corners of the eyes. + +The effect was almost instantaneous. A change came over the girl's +lovely face, the last awful change of death. Her cheeks fell in, her +chin dropped, her eyes opened, and her flesh quivered convulsively. +The wizard saw it all by the bright moonlight. Then he took up his +part in this unholy drama. + +All that he did cannot be described, because it is indescribable. The +Witch of Endor repeated no formula, but she raised the dead; and so +did Hokosa the wizard. But he buried his face in the grey dust of the +grave, he blew with his lips into the dust, he clutched at the dust +with his hands, and when he raised his face again, lo! it was grey +like the dust. Now began the marvel; for, though the woman before him +remained a corpse, from the lips of that corpse a voice issued, and +its sound was horrible, for the accent and tone of it were masculine, +and the instrument through which it spoke--Noma's throat--was +feminine. Yet it could be recognised as the voice of Umsuka the dead +king. + +"Why have you summoned me from my rest, Hokosa?" muttered the voice +from the lips of the huddled corpse. + +"Because I would learn the future, Spirit of the king," answered the +wizard boldly, but saluting as he spoke. "You are dead, and to your +sight all the Gates are opened. By the power that I have, I command +you to show me what you see therein concerning myself, and to point +out to me the path that I should follow to attain my ends and the ends +of her in whose breast you dwell." + +At once the answer came, always in the same horrible voice:-- + +"Hearken to your fate for this world, Hokosa the wizard. You shall +triumph over your rival, the white man, the messenger; and by your +hand he shall perish, passing to his appointed place where you must +meet again. By that to which you cling you shall be betrayed, ah! you +shall lose that which you love and follow after that which you do not +desire. In the grave of error you shall find truth, from the deeps of +sin you shall pluck righteousness. When these words fall upon your +ears again, then, Wizard, take them for a sign and let your heart be +turned. That which you deem accursed shall lift you up on high. High +shall you be set above the nation and its king, and from age to age +the voice of the people shall praise you. Yet in the end comes +judgment; and there shall the sin and the atonement strive together, +and in that hour, Wizard, you shall----" + +Thus the voice spoke, strongly at first, but growing ever more feeble +as the sparks of life departed from the body of the woman, till at +length it ceased altogether. + +"What shall chance to me in that hour?" Hokosa asked eagerly, placing +his ears against Noma's lips. + +No answer came; and the wizard knew that if he would drag his wife +back from the door of death he must delay no longer. Dashing the sweat +from his eyes with one hand, with the other he seized the gourd of +fluid that he had placed ready, and thrusting back her head, he poured +of its contents down her throat and waited a while. She did not move. +In an extremity of terror he snatched a knife, and with a single cut +severed a vein in her arm, then taking some of the fluid that remained +in the gourd in his hand, he rubbed it roughly upon her brow and +throat and heart. Now Noma's fingers stirred, and now, with horrible +contortions and every symptom of agony, life returned to her. The +blood flowed from her wounded arm, slowly at first, then more fast, +and lifting her head she spoke. + +"Take me hence," she cried, "or I shall go mad; for I have seen and +heard things too terrible to be spoken!" + +"What have you seen and heard?" he asked, while he cut the thongs +which bound her wrists and feet. + +"I do not know," Noma answered weeping; "the vision of them passes +from me; but all the distances of death were open to my sight; yes, I +travelled through the distances of death. In them I met him who was +the king, and he lay cold within me, speaking to my heart; and as he +passed from me he looked upon the child which I shall bear and cursed +it, and surely accursed it shall be. Take me hence, O you most evil +man, for of your magic I have had enough, and from this day forth I am +haunted!" + +"Have no fear," answered Hokosa; "you have made the journey whence but +few return; and yet, as I promised you, you have returned to wear the +greatness you desire and that I sent you forth to win; for henceforth +we shall be great. Look, the dawn is breaking--the dawn of life and +the dawn of power--and the mists of death and of disgrace roll back +before us. Now the path is clear, the dead have shown it to me, and of +wizardry I shall need no more." + +"Ay!" answered Noma, "but night follows dawn as the dawn follows +night; and through the darkness and the daylight, I tell you, Wizard, +henceforth I am haunted! Also, be not so sure, for though I know not +what the dead have spoken to you, yet it lingers on my mind that their +words have many meanings. Nay, speak to me no more, but let us fly +from this dread home of ghosts, this habitation of the spirit-folk +which we have violated." + +So the wizard and his wife crept from that solemn place, and as they +went they saw the dawn-beams lighting upon the white cross that was +reared in the Plain of Fire. + + + +CHAPTER XII + +THE MESSAGE OF HOKOSA + +The weeks passed by, and Hokosa sat in his kraal weaving a great plot. +None suspected him any more, for though he did not belong to it, he +was heard to speak well of the new faith, and to acknowledge that the +god of fire which he had worshipped was a false god. He was humble +also towards the king, but he craved to withdraw himself from all +matters of the State, saying that now he had but one desire--to tend +his herds and garden, and to grow old in peace with the new wife whom +he had chosen and whom he loved. Owen, too, he greeted courteously +when he met him, sending him gifts of corn and cattle for the service +of his church. Moreover, when a messenger came from Hafela, making +proposals to him, he drove him away and laid the matter before the +council of the king. Yet that messenger, who was hunted from the +kraal, took back a secret word for Hafela's ear. + +"It is not always winter," was the word, "and it may chance that in +the springtime you shall hear from me." And again, "Say to the Prince +Hafela, that though my face towards him is like a storm, yet behind +the clouds the sun shines ever." + +At length there came a day when Noma, his wife, was brought to bed. +Hokosa, her husband, tended her alone, and when the child was born he +groaned aloud and would not suffer her to look upon its face. Yet, +lifting herself, she saw. + +"Did I not tell you it was accursed?" she wailed. "Take it away!" and +she sank back in a swoon. So he took the child, and buried it deep in +the cattle-yard by night. + +After this it came about that Noma, who, though her mind owned the +sway of his, had never loved him over much, hated her husband Hokosa. +Yet he had this power over her that she could not leave him. But he +loved her more and more, and she had this power over him that she +could always draw him to her. Great as her beauty had ever been, after +the birth of the child it grew greater day by day, but it was an evil +beauty, the beauty of a witch; and this fate fell upon her, that she +feared the dark and would never be alone after the sun had set. + +When she was recovered from her illness, Noma sat one night in her +hut, and Hokosa sat there also watching her. The evening was warm, but +a bright fire burned in the hut, and she crouched upon a stool by the +fire, glancing continually over her shoulder. + +"Why do you bide by the fire, seeing that it is so hot, Noma?" he +asked. + +"Because I fear to be away from the light," she answered; adding, "Oh, +accursed man! for your own ends you have caused me to be bewitched, +ah! and that which was born of me also, and bewitched I am by those +shadows that you bade me seek, which now will never leave me. Nor, is +this all. You swore to me that if I would do your will I should become +great, ay! and you took me from one who would have made me great and +whom I should have pushed on to victory. But now it seems that for +nothing I made that awful voyage into the deeps of death; and for +nothing, yet living, am I become the sport of those that dwell there. +How am I greater than I was--I who am but the second wife of a fallen +witch-doctor, who sits in the sun, day by day, while age gathers on +his head like frost upon a bush? Where are all your high schemes now? +Where is the fruit of wisdom that I gathered for you? Answer, Wizard, +whom I have learned to hate, but from whom I cannot escape!" + +"Truly," said Hokosa in a bitter voice, "for all my sins against them +the heavens have laid a heavy fate upon my head, that thus with flesh +and spirit I should worship a woman who loathes me. One comfort only +is left to me, that you dare not take my life lest another should be +added to those shadows who companion you, and what I bid you, that you +must still do. Ay, you fear the dark, Noma; yet did I command you to +rise and go stand alone through the long night yonder in the burying- +place of kings, why, you must obey. Come, I command you--go!" + +"Nay, nay!" she wailed in an extremity of terror. Yet she rose and +went towards the door sideways, for her hands were outstretched in +supplication to him. + +"Come back," he said, "and listen: If a hunter has nurtured up a +fierce dog, wherewith alone he can gain his livelihood, he tries to +tame that dog by love, does he not? And if it will not become gentle, +then, the brute being necessary to him, he tames it by fear. I am the +hunter and, Noma, you are the hound; and since this curse is on me +that I cannot live without you, why I must master you as best I may. +Yet, believe me, I would not cause you fear or pain, and it saddens me +that you should be haunted by these sick fancies, for they are nothing +more. I have seen such cases before to-day, and I have noted that they +can be cured by mixing with fresh faces and travelling in new +countries. Noma, I think it would be well that, after your late +sickness, according to the custom of the women of our people, you +should part from me a while, and go upon a journey of purification." + +"Whither shall I go and who will go with me?" she asked sullenly. + +"I will find you companions, women discreet and skilled. And as to +where you shall go, I will tell you. You shall go upon an embassy to +the Prince Hafela." + +"Are you not afraid that I should stop there?" she asked again, with a +flash of her eyes. "It is true that I never learned all the story, yet +I thought that the prince was not so glad to hand me back to you as +you would have had me to believe. The price you paid for me must have +been good, Hokosa, and mayhap it had to do with the death of a king." + +"I am not afraid," he answered, setting his teeth, "because I know +that whatever your heart may desire, my will follows you, and while I +live that is a cord you cannot break unless I choose to loose it, +Noma. I command you to be faithful to me and to return to me, and +these commands you must obey. Hearken: you taunted me just now, saying +that I sat like a dotard in the sun and advanced you nothing. Well, I +will advance you, for both our sakes, but mostly for your own, since +you desire it, and it must be done through the Prince Hafela. I cannot +leave this kraal, for day and night I am watched, and before I had +gone an hour's journey I should be seized; also here I have work to +do. But the Place of Purification is secret, and when you reach it you +need not bide there, you can travel on into the mountains till you +come to the town of the Prince Hafela. He will receive you gladly, and +you shall whisper this message in his ear:-- + +"'These are the words of Hokosa, my husband, which he has set in my +mouth to deliver to you, O Prince. Be guided by them and grow great; +reject them and die a wanderer, a little man of no account. But first, +this is the price that you shall swear by the sacred oath to pay to +Hokosa, if his wisdom finds favour in your sight and through it you +come to victory: That after you, the king, he, Hokosa, shall be the +first man in our land, the general of the armies, the captain of the +council, the head of the doctors, and that to him shall be given half +the cattle of Nodwengo, who now is king. Also to him shall be given +power to stamp out the new faith which overruns the land like a +foreign weed, and to deal as he thinks fit with those who cling +thereto.' + +"Now, Noma, when he has sworn this oath in your ear, calling down ruin +upon his own head, should he break one word of it, and not before, you +shall continue the message thus: 'These are the other words that +Hokosa set in my mouth: "Know, O Prince, that the king, your brother, +grows very strong, for he is a great soldier, who learned his art in +bygone wars; also the white man that is named Messenger has taught him +many things as to the building of forts and walls and the drilling and +discipline of men. So strong is he that you can scarcely hope to +conquer him in open war--yet snakes may crawl where men cannot walk. +Therefore, Prince, let your part be that of a snake. Do you send an +embassy to the king, your brother and say to him:-- + +"'My brother, you have been preferred before me and set up to be king +in my place, and because of this my heart is bitter, so bitter that I +have gathered my strength to make war upon you. Yet, at the last, I +have taken another council, bethinking me that, if we fight, in the +end it may chance that neither of us will be left alive to rule, and +that the people also will be brought to nothing. To the north there +lies a good country and a wide, where but few men live, and thither I +would go, setting the mountains and the river between us; for there, +far beyond your borders, I also can be a king. Now, to reach this +country, I must travel by the pass that is not far from your Great +Place, and I pray you that you will not attack my /impis/ or the women +and children that I shall send, and a guard before them, to await me +in the plain beyond the mountains, seeing that these can only journey +slowly. Let us pass by in peace, my brother, for so shall our quarrel +be ended; but if you do so much as lift a single spear against me, +then I will give you battle, setting my fortune against your fortune +and my god against your God!' + +"Such are the words that the embassy shall deliver into the ears of +the king, Nodwengo, and it shall come about that when he hears them, +Nodwengo, whose heart is gentle and who seeks not war, shall answer +softly, saying:-- + +"'Go in peace, my brother, and live in peace in that land which you +would win.' + +"Then shall you, Hafela, send on the most of your cattle and the women +and the children through that pass in the mountains, bidding them to +await you in the plain, and after a while you shall follow them with +your /impis/. But these shall not travel in war array, for carriers +must bear their fighting shields in bundles and their stabbing spears +shall be rolled up in mats. Now, on the sixth day of your journey you +shall camp at the mouth of the pass which the cattle and the women +have already travelled, and his outposts and spies will bring it to +the ears of the king that your force is sleeping there, purposing to +climb the pass on the morrow. + +"But on that night, so soon as the darkness falls, you must rise up +with your captains and your regiments, leaving your fires burning and +men about your fires, and shall travel very swiftly across the valley, +so that an hour before the dawn you reach the second range of +mountains, and pass it by the gorge which is the burying-place of +kings. Here you shall light a fire, which those who watch will believe +to be but the fire of a herdsman who is acold. But I, Hokosa, also +shall be watching, and when I see that fire I will creep, with some +whom I can trust, to the little northern gate of the outer wall, and +we will spear those that guard it and open the gate, that your army +may pass through. Then, before the regiments can stand to their arms +or those within it are awakened, you must storm the inner walls and by +the light of the burning huts, put the dwellers in the Great Place to +the spear, and the rays of the rising sun shall crown you king. + +"Follow this counsel of mine, O Prince Hafela, and all will go well +with you. Neglect it and be lost. There is but one thing which you +need fear--it is the magic of the Messenger, to whom it is given to +read the secret thoughts of men. But of him take no account, for he is +my charge, and before ever you set a foot within the Great Place he +shall have taken his answer back to Him Who sent him." + +Hokosa finished speaking. + +"Have you heard?" he said to Noma. + +"I have heard." + +"Then speak the message." + +She repeated it word for word, making no fault. "Have no fear," she +added, "I shall forget nothing when I stand before the prince." + +"You are a woman, but your counsel is good. What think you of the +plan, Noma?" + +"It is deep and well laid," she answered, "and surely it would succeed +were it not for one thing. The white man, Messenger, will be too +clever for you, for as you say, he is a reader of the thoughts of +men." + +"Can the dead read men's thoughts, or if they can, do they cry them on +the market-place or into the ears of kings?" asked Hokosa. "Have I not +told you that, before I see the signal-fire yonder, the Messenger +shall sleep sound? I have a medicine, Noma, a slow medicine that none +can trace." + +"The Messenger may sleep sound, Hokosa, and yet perchance he may pass +on his message to another and, with it, his magic. Who can say? Still, +husband, strike on for power and greatness and revenge, letting the +blow fall where it will." + + + +CHAPTER XIII + +THE BASKET OF FRUIT + +Three days later it was announced that according to the custom of the +women of the People of Fire, Noma having given birth to a still-born +child, was about to start upon a journey to the Mount of Purification. +Here she would abide awhile and make sacrifice to the spirits of her +ancestors, that they might cease to be angry with her and in future +protect her from such misfortunes. This not unusual domestic incident +excited little comment, although it was remarked that the four matrons +by whom she was to be accompanied, in accordance with the tribal +etiquette, were all of them the wives of soldiers who had deserted to +Hafela. Indeed, the king himself noticed as much when Hokosa made the +customary formal application to him to sanction the expedition. + +"So be it," he said, "though myself I have lost faith in such rites. +Also, Hokosa, I think it likely that although your wife goes out with +company, she will return alone." + +"Why, King?" asked Hokosa. + +"For this reason--that those who travel with her have husbands yonder +at the town of the Prince Hafela, and the Mount of Purification is on +the road thither. Having gone so far, they may go farther. Well, let +them go, for I desire to have none among my people whose hearts turn +otherwhere, and it would not be wonderful if they should choose to +seek their lords. But perchance, Hokosa, there are some in this town +who may use them as messengers to the prince"--and he looked at him +keenly. + +"I think not, King," said Hokosa. "None but a fool would make use of +women to carry secret words or tidings. Their tongues are too long and +their memories too bad, or too uncertain." + +"Yet I have heard, Hokosa, that you have made use of women in many a +strange work. Say now, what were you doing upon a night a while ago +with that fair witch-wife if yours yonder in the burying-place of +kings, where it is not lawful that you should set your foot? Nay, deny +it not. You were seen to enter the valley after midnight and to return +thence at the dawn, and it was seen also that as she came homewards +your wife walked as one who is drunken, and she, whom it is not easy +to frighten, wore a face of fear. Man, I do not trust you, and were I +wise I should hunt you hence, or keep you so close that you could +scarcely move without my knowledge. + +"Why should I trust you?" Nodwengo went on vehemently. "Can a wizard +cease from wizardry, or a plotter from his plots? No, not until the +waters run upward and the sun shines at night; not until repentance +touches you and your heart is changed, which I should hold as much a +marvel. You were my father's friend and he made you great; yet you +could plan with my brother to poison him, your king. Nay, be silent; I +know it, though I have said nothing of it because one that is dear to +me has interceded for you. You were the priest of the false god, and +with that god are fallen from your place, yet you have not renounced +him. You sit still in your kraal and pretend to be asleep, but your +slumber is that of the serpent which watches his time to strike. How +do I know that you will not poison me as you would have poisoned my +father, or stir up rebellion against me, or bring my brother's /impis/ +on my head?" + +"If the King thinks any of these things of his servant," answered +Hokosa in a humble voice, but with dignity, "his path is plain: let +him put me to death and sleep in peace. Who am I that I should full +the ears of a king with my defence against these charges, or dare to +wrangle with him?" + +"Long ago I should have put you to death, Hokosa," answered Nodwengo +sternly, "had it not been that one has pleaded for you, declaring that +in you there is good which will overcome the evil, and that you who +now are an axe to cut down my throne, in time to come shall be a roof- +tree for its support. Also, the law that I obey does not allow me to +take the blood of men save upon full proof, and against you as yet I +have no proof. Still, Hokosa, be warned in time and let your heart be +turned before the grave claims your body and the Wicked One your +soul." + +"I thank you, King, for your gentle words and your tender care for my +well-being both on earth and after I shall leave it. But I tell you, +King, that I had rather die as your father would have killed me in the +old days, or your brother would kill me now, did either of them hate +or fear me, than live on in safety, owing my life to a new law and a +new mercy that do not befit the great ones of the world. King, I am +your servant," and giving him the royal salute, Hokosa rose and left +his presence. + +"At the least there goes a man," said Nodwengo, as he watched him +depart. + +"Of whom do you speak, King?" asked Owen, who at that moment entered +the royal house. + +"Of him whom you must have touched in the door-way, Messenger, Hokosa +the wizard," answered the king, and he told him of what had passed +between them. "I said," he added, "that he was a man, and so he is; +yet I hold that I have done wrong to listen to your pleading and to +spare him, for I am certain that he will bring bloodshed upon me and +trouble on the Faith. Think now, Messenger, how full must be that +man's heart of secret rage and hatred, he who was so great and is now +so little! Will he not certainly strive to grow great again? Will he +not strive to be avenged upon those who humbled him and the religion +they have chosen?" + +"It may be," answered Owen, "but if so, he will not conquer. I tell +you, King, that like water hidden in a rock there is good in this +man's heart, and that I shall yet find a rod wherewith to cause it to +gush out and refresh the desert." + +"It is more likely that he will find a spear wherewith to cause your +blood to gush out and refresh the jackals," answered the king grimly; +"but be it as you will. And now, what of your business?" + +"This, King: John, my servant, has returned from the coast countries, +and he brings me a letter saying that before long three white teachers +will follow him to take up the work which I have begun. I pray that +when they come, for my sake and for the sake of the truth that I have +taught you, you will treat them kindly and protect them, remembering +that at first they can know little of your language or your customs." + +"I will indeed," said the king, with much concern. "But tell me, +Messenger, why do you speak of yourself as of one who soon will be but +a memory? Do you purpose to leave us?" + +"No, King, but I believe that ere long I shall be recalled. I have +given my message, my task is well-nigh ended and I must be turning +home. Save for your sakes I do not sorrow at this, for to speak truth +I grow very weary," and he smiled sadly. + +***** + +Hokosa went home alarmed and full of bitterness, for he had never +guessed that the "servant of the Messenger," as he called Nodwengo the +King, knew so much about him and his plans. His fall was hard to him, +but to be thus measured up, weighed, and contemptuously forgiven was +almost more than he could bear. It was the white prophet who had done +this thing; he had told Nodwengo of his, Hokosa's, share in the plot +to murder the late King Umsuka, though how he came to know of that +matter was beyond guessing. He had watched him, or caused him to be +watched, when he went forth to consult spirits in the place of the +dead; he had warned Nodwengo against him. Worst of all, he had dared +to treat him with contempt; had pleaded for his life and safety, so +that he was spared as men spare a snake from which the charmer has +drawn the fangs. When they met in the gate of the king's house yonder +this white thief, who had stolen his place and power, had even smiled +upon him and greeted him kindly, and doubtless while he smiled, by aid +of the magic he possessed, had read him through and gone on to tell +the story to the king. Well, of this there should be an end; he would +kill the Messenger, or himself be killed. + +When Hokosa reached his kraal he found Noma sitting beneath a fruit +tree that grew in it, idly employed in stringing beads, for the work +of the household she left to his other wife, Zinti, an old and homely +woman who thought more of the brewing of the beer and the boiling of +the porridge than of religions or politics or of the will of kings. Of +late Noma had haunted the shadow of this tree, for beneath it lay that +child which had been born to her. + +"Does it please the king to grant leave for my journey?" she asked, +looking up. + +"Yes, it pleases him." + +"I am thankful," she answered, "for I think that if I bide here much +longer, with ghosts and memories for company, I shall go mad," and she +glanced at a spot near by, where the earth showed signs of recent +disturbance. + +"He gives leave," Hokosa went on, taking no notice of her speech, "but +he suspects us. Listen----" and he told her of the talk that had +passed between himself and the king. + +"The white man has read you as he reads in his written books," she +answered, with a little laugh. "Well, I said that he would be too +clever for you, did I not? It does not matter to me, for to-morrow I +go upon my journey, and you can settle it as you will." + +"Ay!" answered Hokosa, grinding his teeth, "it is true that he has +read me; but this I promise you, that all books shall soon be closed +to him. Yet how is it to be done without suspicion or discovery? I +know many poisons, but all of them must be administered, and let him +work never so cunningly, he who gives a poison can be traced." + +"Then cause some other to give it and let him bear the blame," +suggested Noma languidly. + +Hokosa made no answer, but walking to the gate of the kraal, which was +open, he leaned against it lost in thought. As he stood thus he saw a +woman advancing towards him, who carried on her head a small basket of +fruit, and knew her for one of those whose business it was to wait +upon the Messenger in his huts, or rather in his house, for by now he +had built himself a small house, and near it a chapel. This woman saw +Hokosa also and looked at him sideways, as though she would like to +stop and speak to him, but feared to do so. + +"Good morrow to you, friend," he said. "How goes it with your husband +and your house?" + +Now Hokosa knew well that this woman's husband had taken a dislike to +her and driven her from his home, filling her place with one younger +and more attractive. At the question the woman's lips began to +tremble, and her eyes swam with tears. + +"Ah! great doctor," she said, "why do you ask me of my husband? Have +you not heard that he has driven me away and that another takes my +place?" + +"Do I hear all the gossip of this town?" asked Hokosa, with a smile. +"But come in and tell me the story; perchance I may be able to help +you, for I have charms to compel the fancy of such faithless ones." + +The woman looked round, and seeing that there was no one in sight, she +slipped swiftly through the gate of the kraal, which he closed behind +her. + +"Noma," said Hokosa, "here is one who tells me that her husband has +deserted her, and who comes to seek my counsel. Bring her milk to +drink." + +"There are some wives who would not find that so great an evil," +replied Noma mockingly, as she rose to do his bidding. + +Hokosa winced at the sarcasm, and turning to his visitor, said:-- + +"Now tell me your tale; but say first, why are you so frightened?" + +"I am frightened, master," she answered, "lest any should have seen me +enter here, for I have become a Christian, and the Christians are +forbidden to consult the witch-doctors, as we were wont to do. For my +case, it is----" + +"No need to set it out," broke in Hokosa, waving his hand. "I see it +written on your face; your husband has put you away and loves another +woman, your own half-sister whom you brought up from a child." + +"Ah! master, you have heard aright." + +"I have not heard, I look upon you and I see. Fool, am I not a wizard? +Tell me----" and taking dust into his hand, he blew the grains this +way and that, regarding them curiously. "Yes, it is so. Last night you +crept to your husband's hut--do you remember, a dog growled at you as +you passed the gate?--and there in front of the hut he sat with his +new wife. She saw you coming, but pretending not to see, she threw her +arms about his neck, kissing and fondling him before your eyes, till +you could bear it no longer, and revealed yourself, upbraiding them. +Then your rival taunted you and stirred up the man with bitter words, +till at length he took a stick and beat you from the door, and there +is a mark of it upon your shoulder." + +"It is true, it is too true!" she groaned. + +"Yes, it is true. And now, what do you wish from me?" + +"Master, I wish a medicine to make my husband hate my rival and to +draw his heart back to me." + +"That must be a strong medicine," said Hokosa, "which will turn a man +from one who is young and beautiful to one who is past her youth and +ugly." + +"I am as I am," answered the poor woman, with a touch of natural +dignity, "but at least I have loved him and worked for him for fifteen +long years." + +"And that is why he would now be rid of you, for who cumbers his kraal +with old cattle?" + +"And yet at times they are the best, Master. Wrinkles and smooth skin +seem strange upon one pillow," she added, glancing at Noma, who came +from the hut carrying a bowl of milk in her hand. + +"If you seek counsel," said Hokosa quickly, "why do you not go to the +white man, that Messenger in whom you believe, and ask him for a +potion to turn your husband's heart?" + +"Master, I have been to him, and he is very good to me, for when I was +driven out he gave me work to do and food. But he told me that he had +no medicine for such cases, and that the Great Man in the sky alone +could soften the breast of my husband and cause my sister to cease +from her wickedness. Last night I went to see whether He would do it, +and you know what befell me there." + +"That befell you which befalls all fools who put their trust in words +alone. What will you pay me, woman, if I give you the medicine which +you seek?" + +"Alas, master, I am poor. I have nothing to offer you, for when I +would not stay in my husband's kraal to be a servant to his new wife, +he took the cow and the five goats that belonged to me, as, I being +childless, according to our ancient law he had the right to do." + +"You are bold who come to ask a doctor to minister to you, bearing no +fee in your hand," said Hokosa. "Yet, because I have pity on you, I +will be content with very little. Give me that basket of fruit, for my +wife has been sick and loves its taste." + +"I cannot do that, Master," answered the woman, "for it is sent by my +hand as a present to the Messenger, and he knows this and will eat of +it after he has made prayer to-day. Did I not give it to him, it would +be discovered that I had left it here with you." + +"Then begone without your medicine," said Hokosa, "for I need such +fruit." + +The woman rose and said, looking at him wistfully:-- + +"Master, if you will be satisfied with other fruits of this same sort, +I know where I can get them for you." + +"When will you get them?" + +"Now, within an hour. And till I return I will leave these in pledge +with you; but these and no other I must give to the Messenger, for he +has already seen them and might discover the difference; also I have +promised so to do." + +"As you will," said Hokosa. "If you are with the fruit within an hour, +the medicine will be ready for you, a medicine that shall not fail." + + + +CHAPTER XIV + +THE EATING OF THE FRUIT + +The woman slipped away secretly. When she had gone Hokosa bade his +wife bring the basket of fruit into the hut. + +"It is best that the butcher should kill the ox himself," she answered +meaningly. + +He carried in the basket and set it on the floor. + +"Why do you speak thus, Noma?" he asked. + +"Because I will have no hand in the matter, Hokosa. I have been the +tool of a wizard, and won little joy therefrom. The tool of a murderer +I will not be!" + +"If I kill, it is for the sake of both of us," he said passionately. + +"It may be so, Hokosa, or for the sake of the people, or for the sake +of Heaven above--I do not know and do not care; but I say, do your own +killing, for I am sure that even less luck will hang to it than hangs +to your witchcraft." + +"Of all women you are the most perverse!" he said, stamping his foot +upon the ground. + +"Thus you may say again before everything is done, husband; but if it +be so, why do you love me and tie me to you with your wizardry? Cut +the knot, and let me go my way while you go yours." + +"Woman, I cannot; but still I bid you beware, for, strive as you will, +my path must be your path. Moreover, till I free you, you cannot lift +voice or hand against me." + +Then, while she watched him curiously, Hokosa fetched his medicines +and took from them some powder fine as dust and two tiny crowquills. +Placing a fruit before him, he inserted one of these quills into its +substance, and filling the second with the powder, he shook its +contents into it and withdrew the tube. This process he repeated four +times on each of the fruits, replacing them one by one in the basket. +So deftly did he work upon them, that however closely they were +scanned none could guess that they had been tampered with. + +"Will it kill at once?" asked Noma. + +"No, indeed; but he who eats these fruits will be seized on the third +day with dysentery and fever, and these will cling to him till within +seven weeks--or if he is very strong, three months--he dies. This is +the best of poisons, for it works through nature and can be traced by +none." + +"Except, perchance, by that Spirit Whom the white man worships, and +Who also works through nature, as you learned, Hokosa, when He rolled +the lightning back upon your head, shattering your god and beating +down your company." + +Then of a sudden terror seized the wizard, and springing to his feet, +he cursed his wife till she trembled before him. + +"Vile woman, and double-faced!" he said, "why do you push me forward +with one hand and with the other drag me back? Why do you whisper evil +counsel into one ear and into the other prophesy of misfortunes to +come? Had it not been for you, I should have let this business lie; I +should have taken my fate and been content. But day by day you have +taunted me with my fall and grieved over the greatness that you have +lost, till at length you have driven me to this. Why cannot you be all +good or all wicked, or at the least, through righteousness and sin, +faithful to my interest and your own?" + +"Because I hate you, Hokosa, and yet can strike you only through my +tongue and your mad love for me. I am fast in your power, but thus at +least I can make you feel something of my own pain. Hark! I hear that +woman at the gate. Will you give her back the basket, or will you not? +Whatever you may choose to do, do not say in after days that I urged +you to the deed." + +"Truly you are great-hearted!" he answered, with cold contempt; "one +for whom I did well to enter into treachery and sin! So be it: having +gone so far upon it, come what may, I will not turn back from this +journey. Let in that fool!" + +Presently the woman stood before them, bearing with her another basket +of fruit. + +"These are what you seek, Master," she said, "though I was forced to +win them by theft. Now give me my own and the medicine and let me go." + +He gave her the basket, and with it, wrapped in a piece of kidskin, +some of the same powder with which he had doctored the fruits. + +"What shall I do with this?" she asked. + +"You must find means to sprinkle it upon your sister's food, and +thereafter your husband shall come to hate even the sight of her." + +"But will he come to love me again?" + +Hokosa shrugged his shoulders. + +"I know not," he answered; "that is for you to see to. Yet this is +sure, that if a tree grows up before the house of a man, shutting it +off from the sunlight, when that tree is cut down the sun shines upon +his house again." + +"It is nothing to the sun on what he shines," said the woman. + +"If the saying does not please you, then forget it. I promise you this +and no more, that very soon the man shall cease to turn to your +rival." + +"The medicine will not harm her?" asked the woman doubtfully. "She has +worked me bitter wrong indeed, yet she is my sister, whom I nursed +when she was little, and I do not wish to do her hurt. If only he will +welcome me back and treat me kindly, I am willing even that she should +dwell on beneath my husband's roof, bearing his children, for will +they not be of my own blood?" + +"Woman," answered Hokosa impatiently, "you weary me with your talk. +Did I say that the charm would hurt her? I said that it would cause +your husband to hate the sight of her. Now begone, taking or leaving +it, and let me rest. If your mind is troubled, throw aside that +medicine, and go soothe it with such sights as you saw last night." + +On hearing this the woman sprang up, hid away the poison in her hair, +and taking her basket of fruit, passed from the kraal as secretly as +she had entered it. + +"Why did you give her death-medicine?" asked Noma of Hokosa, as he +stood staring after her. "Have you a hate to satisfy against the +husband or the girl who is her rival?" + +"None," he answered, "for they have never crossed my path. Oh, foolish +woman! cannot you read my plan?" + +"Not altogether, Husband." + +"Listen then: this woman will give to her sister a medicine of which +in the end she must die. She may be discovered or she may not, but it +is certain that she will be suspected, seeing that the bitterness of +the quarrel between them is known. Also she will give to the Messenger +certain fruits, after eating of which he will be taken sick and in due +time die, of just such a disease as that which carries off the woman's +rival. Now, if any think that he is poisoned, which I trust none will, +whom will they suppose to have poisoned him, though indeed they can +never prove the crime?" + +"The plan is clever," said Noma with admiration, "but in it I see a +flaw. The woman will say that she had the drug from you, or, at the +least, will babble of her visit to you." + +"Not so," answered Hokosa, "for on this matter the greatest talker in +the world would keep silence. Firstly, she, being a Christian, dare +not own that she has visited a witch-doctor. Secondly, the fruit she +brought in payment was stolen, therefore she will say nothing of it. +Thirdly, to admit that she had medicine from me would be to admit her +guilt, and that she will scarcely do even under torture, which by the +new law it is not lawful to apply. Moreover, none saw her come here, +and I should deny her visit." + +"The plan is very clever," said Noma again. + +"It is very clever," he repeated complacently; "never have I made a +better one. Now throw those fruits to the she goats that are in the +kraal, and burn the basket, while I go and talk to some in the Great +Place, telling them that I have returned from counting my cattle on +the mountain, whither I went after I had bowed the knee in the house +of the king." + +***** + +Two hours later, Hokosa, having made a wide detour and talked to +sundry of his acquaintances about the condition of his cattle, might +have been seen walking slowly along the north side of the Great Place +towards his own kraal. His path lay past the chapel and the little +house that Owen had built to dwell in. This house was furnished with a +broad verandah, and upon it sat the Messenger himself, eating his +evening meal. Hokosa saw him, and a great desire entered his heart to +learn whether or no he had partaken of the poisoned fruit. Also it +occurred to him that it would be wise if, before the end came, he +could contrive to divert all possible suspicion from himself, by +giving the impression that he was now upon friendly terms with the +great white teacher and not disinclined even to become a convert to +his doctrine. + +For a moment he hesitated, seeking an excuse. One soon suggested +itself to his ready mind. That very morning the king had told him not +obscurely that Owen had pleaded for his safety and saved him from +being put upon his trial on charges of witchcraft and murder. He would +go to him, now at once, playing the part of a grateful penitent, and +the White Man's magic must be keen indeed if it availed to pierce the +armour of his practised craft. + +So Hokosa went up and squatted himself down native fashion among a +little group of converts who were waiting to see their teacher upon +one business or another. He was not more than ten paces from the +verandah, and sitting thus he saw a sight that interested him +strangely. Having eaten a little of a dish of roasted meat, Owen put +out his hand and took a fruit from a basket that the wizard knew well. +At this moment he looked up and recognised Hokosa. + +"Do you desire speech with me, Hokosa?" he asked in his gentle voice. +"If so, be pleased to come hither." + +"Nay, Messenger," answered Hokosa, "I desire speech with you indeed, +but it is ill to stand between a hungry man and his food." + +"I care little for my food," answered Owen; "at the least it can +wait," and he put down the fruit. + +Then suddenly a feeling to which the wizard had been for many years a +stranger took possession of him--a feeling of compunction. That man +was about to partake of what would cause his death--of what he, +Hokosa, had prepared in order that it should cause his death. He was +good, he was kindly, none could allege a wrong deed against him; and, +foolishness though it might be, so was the doctrine that he taught. +Why should he kill him? It was true that never till that moment had he +hesitated, by fair means or foul, to remove an enemy or rival from his +path. He had been brought up in this teaching; it was part of the +education of wizards to be merciless, for they reigned by terror and +evil craft. Their magic lay chiefly in clairvoyance and powers of +observation developed to a pitch that was almost superhuman, and the +best of their weapons was poison in infinite variety, whereof the +guild alone understood the properties and preparation. Therefore there +was nothing strange, nothing unusual in this deed of devilish and +cunning murder that the sight of its doing should stir him thus, and +yet it did stir him. He was minded to stop the plot, to let things +take their course. + +Some sense of the futility of all such strivings came home to him, and +as in a glass, for Hokosa was a man of imagination, he foresaw their +end. A little success, a little failure, it scarcely mattered which, +and then--that end. Within twenty years, or ten, or mayhap even one, +what would this present victory or defeat mean to him? Nothing so far +as he was concerned; that is, nothing so far as his life of to-day was +concerned. Yet, if he had another life, it might mean everything. +There was another life; he knew it, who had dragged back from its +borders the spirits of the dead, though what might be the state and +occupations of those dead he did not know. Yet he believed--why he +could not tell--that they were affected vitally by their acts and +behaviour here; and his intelligence warned him that good must always +flow from good, and evil from evil. To kill this man was evil, and of +it only evil could come. + +What did he care whether Hafela ruled the nation or Nodwengo, and +whether it worshipped the God of the Christians or the god of Fire-- +who, by the way, had proved himself so singularly inefficient in the +hour of trial. Now that he thought of it, he much preferred Nodwengo +to Hafela, for the one was a just man and the other a tyrant; and he +himself was more comfortable as a wealthy private person than he had +been as a head medicine-man and a chief of wizards. He would let +things stand; he would prevent the Messenger from eating of that +fruit. A word could do it; he had but to suggest that it was unripe or +not wholesome at this season of the year, and it would be cast aside. + +All these reflections, or their substance, passed through Hokosa's +mind in a few instants of time, and already he was rising to go to the +verandah and translate their moral into acts, when another thought +occurred to him--How should he face Noma with this tale? He could give +up his own ambitions, but could he bear her mockery, as day by day she +taunted him with his faint-heartedness and reproached him with his +failure to regain greatness and to make her great? He forgot that he +might conceal the truth from her; or rather, he did not contemplate +such concealment, of which their relations were too peculiar and too +intimate to permit. She hated him, and he worshipped her with a half- +inhuman passion--a passion so unnatural, indeed, that it suggested the +horrid and insatiable longings of the damned--and yet their souls were +naked to each other. It was their fate that they could hide nothing +each from each--they were cursed with the awful necessity of candour. + +It would be impossible that he should keep from Noma anything that he +did or did not do; it would be still more impossible that she should +conceal from him even such imaginings and things as it is common for +women to hold secret. Her very bitterness, which it had been policy +for her to cloak or soften, would gush from her lips at the sight of +him; nor, in the depth of his rage and torment, could he, on the other +hand, control the ill-timed utterance of his continual and +overmastering passion. It came to this, then: he must go forward, and +against his better judgment, because he was afraid to go back, for the +whip of a woman's tongue drove him on remorselessly. It was better +that the Messenger should die, and the land run red with blood, than +that he should be forced to endure this scourge. + +So with a sigh Hokosa sank back to the ground and watched while Owen +ate three of the poisoned fruits. After a pause, he took a fourth and +bit into it, but not seeming to find it to his taste, he threw it to a +child that was waiting by the verandah for any scraps which might be +left over from his meal. The child caught it, and devoured it eagerly. + +Then, smiling at the little boy's delight, the Messenger called to +Hokosa to come up and speak with him. + + + +CHAPTER XV + +NOMA COMES TO HAFELA + +Hokosa advanced to the verandah and bowed to the white man with grave +dignity. + +"Be seated," said Owen. "Will you not eat? though I have nothing to +offer you but these," and he pushed the basket of fruits towards him, +adding, "The best of them, I fear, are already gone." + +"I thank you, no, Messenger; such fruits are not always wholesome at +this season of the year. I have known them to breed dysentery." + +"Indeed," said Owen. "If so, I trust that I may escape. I have +suffered from that sickness, and I think that another bout of it would +kill me. In future I will avoid them. But what do you seek with me, +Hokosa? Enter and tell me," and he led the way into a little sitting- +room. + +"Messenger," said the wizard, with deep humility, "I am a proud man; I +have been a great man, and it is no light thing to me to humble myself +before the face of my conqueror. Yet I am come to this. To-day when I +was in audience with the king, craving a small boon of his +graciousness, he spoke to me sharp and bitter words. He told me that +he had been minded to put me on trial for my life because of various +misdoings which are alleged against me in the past, but that you had +pleaded for me and that for this cause he spared me. I come to thank +you for your gentleness, Messenger, for I think that had I been in +your place I should have whispered otherwise in the ear of the king." + +"Say no more of it, friend," said Owen kindly, "We are all of us +sinners, and it is my place to push back your ancient sins, not to +drag them into the light of day and clamour for their punishment. It +is true I know that you plotted with the Prince Hafela to poison +Umsuka the King, for it was revealed to me. It chanced, however, that +I was able to recover Umsuka from his sickness, and Hafela is fled, so +why should I bring up the deed against you? It is true that you still +practise witchcraft, and that you hate and strive against the holy +Faith which I preach; but you were brought up to wizardry and have +been the priest of another creed, and these things plead for you. + +"Also, Hokosa, I can see the good and evil struggling in your soul, +and I pray and I believe that in the end the good will master the +evil; that you who have been pre-eminent in sin will come to be pre- +eminent in righteousness. Oh! be not stubborn, but listen with your +ear, and let your heart be softened. The gate stands open, and I am +the guide appointed to show you the way without reward or fee. Follow +them ere it be too late, that in time to come when my voice is stilled +you also may be able to direct the feet of wanderers into the paths of +peace. It is the hour of prayer; come with me, I beg of you, and +listen to some few words of the message of my lips, and let your +spirit be nurtured with them, and the Sun of Truth arise upon its +darkness." + +Hokosa heard, and before this simple eloquence his wisdom sank +confounded. More, his intelligence was stirred, and a desire came upon +him to investigate and examine the canons of a creed that could +produce such men as this. He made no answer, but waiting while Owen +robed himself, he followed him to the chapel. It was full of new-made +Christians who crowded even the doorways, but they gave place to him, +wondering. Then the service began--a short and simple service. First +Owen offered up some prayer for the welfare of the infant Church, for +the conversion of the unbelieving, for the safety of the king and the +happiness of the people. Then John, the Messenger's first disciple, +read aloud from a manuscript a portion of the Scripture which his +master had translated. It was St. Paul's exposition of the +resurrection from the dead, and the grandeur of its thoughts and +language were by no means lost upon Hokosa, who, savage and heathen +though he might be, was also a man of intellect. + +The reading over, Owen addressed the congregation, taking for his +text, "Thy sin shall find thee out." Being now a master of the +language, he preached very well and earnestly, and indeed the subject +was not difficult to deal with in the presence of an audience many of +whose pasts had been stepped in iniquities of no common kind. As he +talked of judgment to come for the unrepentant, some of his hearers +groaned and even wept; and when, changing his note, he dwelt upon the +blessed future state of those who earned forgiveness, their faces were +lighted up with joy. + +But perhaps among all those gathered before him there were none more +deeply interested than Hokosa and one other, that woman to whom he had +sold the poison, and who, as it chanced, sat next to him. Hokosa, +watching her face as he was skilled to do, saw the thrusts of the +preacher go home, and grew sure that already in her jealous haste she +had found opportunity to sprinkle the medicine upon her rival's food. +She believed it to be but a charm indeed, yet knowing that in using +such charms she had done wickedly, she trembled beneath the words of +denunciation, and rising at length, crept from the chapel. + +"Truly, her sin will find her out," thought Hokosa to himself, and +then in a strange half-impersonal fashion he turned his thoughts to +the consideration of his own case. Would /his/ sin find him out? he +wondered. Before he could answer that question, it was necessary first +to determine whether or no he had committed a sin. The man before him +--that gentle and yet impassioned man--bore in his vitals the seed of +death which he, Hokosa, had planted there. Was it wrong to have done +this? It depended by which standard the deed was judged. According to +his own code, the code on which he had been educated and which +hitherto he had followed with exactness, it was not wrong. That code +taught the necessity of self-aggrandisement, or at least and at all +costs the necessity of self-preservation. This white preacher stood in +his path; he had humiliated him, Hokosa, and in the end, either of +himself or through his influences, it was probable that he would +destroy him. Therefore he must strike before in his own person he +received a mortal blow, and having no other means at his command, he +struck through treachery and poison. + +That was his law which for many generations had been followed and +respected by his class with the tacit assent of the nation. According +to this law, then, he had done no wrong. But now the victim by the +altar, who did not know that already he was bound upon the altar, +preached a new and a very different doctrine under which, were it to +be believed, he, Hokosa, was one of the worst of sinners. The matter, +then, resolved itself to this: which of these two rules of life was +the right rule? Which of them should a man follow to satisfy his +conscience and to secure his abiding welfare? Apart from the motives +that swayed him, as a mere matter of ethics, this problem interested +Hokosa not a little, and he went homewards determined to solve it if +he might. That could be done in one way only--by a close examination +of both systems. The first he knew well; he had practised it for +nearly forty years. Of the second he had but an inkling. Also, if he +would learn more of it he must make haste, seeing that its exponent in +some short while would cease to be in a position to set it out. + +"I trust that you will come again," said Owen to Hokosa as they left +the chapel. + +"Yes, indeed, Messenger," answered the wizard; "I will come every day, +and if you permit it, I will attend your private teachings also, for I +accept nothing without examination, and I greatly desire to study this +new doctrine of yours, root and flower and fruit." + +***** + +On the morrow Noma started upon her journey. As the matrons who +accompanied her gave out with a somewhat suspicious persistency, its +ostensible object was to visit the Mount of Purification, and there by +fastings and solitude to purge herself of the sin of having given +birth to a stillborn child. For amongst savage peoples such an +accident is apt to be looked upon as little short of a crime, or, at +the least, as indicating that the woman concerned is the object of the +indignation of spirits who need to be appeased. To this Mount, Noma +went, and there performed the customary rites. + +"Little wonder," she thought to herself, "that the spirits were angry +with her, seeing that yonder in the burying-ground of kings she had +dared to break in upon their rest." + +From the Place of Purification she travelled on ten days' journey with +her companions till they reached the mountain fastness where Hafela +had established himself. The town and its surroundings were of +extraordinary strength, and so well guarded that it was only after +considerable difficulty and delay that the women were admitted. +Hearing of her arrival and that she had words for him, Hafela sent for +Noma at once, receiving her by night and alone in his principal hut. +She came and stood before him, and he looked at her beauty with +admiring eyes, for he could not forget the woman whom the cunning of +Hokosa had forced him to put away. + +"Whence come you, pretty one?" he asked, "and wherefore come you? Are +you weary of your husband, that you fly back to me? If so, you are +welcome indeed; for know, Noma, that I still love you." + +"Ay, Prince, I am weary of my husband sure enough; but I do not fly to +you, for he holds me fast to him with bonds that you cannot +understand, and fast to him while he lives I must remain." + +"What hinders, Noma, that having got you here I should keep you here? +The cunning and magic of Hokosa may be great, but they will need to be +still greater to win you from my arms." + +"This hinders, Prince, that you are playing for a higher stake than +that of a woman's love, and if you deal thus by me and my husband, +then of a surety you will lose the game." + +"What stake, Noma?" + +"The stake of the crown of the People of Fire." + +"And why should I lose if I take you as a wife?" + +"Because Hokosa, seeing that I do not return and learning from his +spies why I do not return, will warn the king, and by many means bring +all your plans to nothing. Listen now to the words of Hokosa that he +has set between my lips to deliver to you"--and she repeated to him +all the message without fault or fail. + +"Say it again," he said, and she obeyed. + +Then he answered:-- + +"Truly the skill of Hokosa is great, and well he knows how to set a +snare; but I think that if by his counsel I should springe the bird, +he will be too clever a man to keep upon the threshold of my throne. +He who sets one snare may set twain, and he who sits by the threshold +may desire to enter the house of kings wherein there is no space for +two to dwell." + +"Is this the answer that I am to take back to Hokosa?" asked Noma. "It +will scarcely bind him to your cause, Prince, and I wonder that you +dare to speak it to me who am his wife." + +"I dare to speak it to you, Noma, because, although you be his wife, +all wives do not love their lords; and I think that, perchance in days +to come, you would choose rather to hold the hand of a young king than +that of a witch-doctor sinking into eld. Thus shall you answer Hokosa: +You shall say to him that I have heard his words and that I find them +very good, and will walk along the path which he has made. Here before +you I swear by the oath that may not be broken--the sacred oath, +calling down ruin upon my head should I break one word of it--that if +by his aid I succeed in this great venture, I will pay him the price +he asks. After myself, the king, he shall be the greatest man among +the people; he shall be general of the armies; he shall be captain of +the council and head of the doctors, and to him shall be given half +the cattle of Nodwengo. Also, into his hand I will deliver all those +who cling to this faith of the Christians, and, if it pleases him, he +shall offer them as a sacrifice to his god. This I swear, and you, +Noma, are witness to the oath. Yet it may chance that after he, +Hokosa, has gathered up all this pomp and greatness, he himself shall +be gathered up by Death, that harvest-man whom soon or late will +garner every ear;" and he looked at her meaningly. + +"It may be so, Prince," she answered. + +"It may be so," he repeated, "and when----" + +"When it is so, then, Prince, we will talk together, but not till +then. Nay, touch me not, for were he to command me, Hokosa has this +power over me that I must show him all that you have done, keeping +nothing back. Let me go now to the place that is made ready for me, +and afterwards you shall tell me again and more fully the words that I +must say to Hokosa my husband." + +***** + +On the morrow Hafela held a secret council of his great men, and the +next day an embassy departed to Nodwengo the king, taking to him that +message which Hokosa, through Noma his wife, had put into the lips of +the prince. Twenty days later the embassy returned saying that it +pleased the king to grant the prayer of his brother Hafela, and +bringing with it the tidings that the white man, Messenger, had fallen +sick, and it was thought that he would die. + +So in due course the women and children of the people of Hafela +started upon their journey towards the new land where it was given out +that they should live, and with them went Noma, purposing to leave +them as they drew near the gates of the Great Place of the king. A +while after, Hafela and his /impis/ followed with carriers bearing +their fighting shields in bundles, and having their stabbing spears +rolled up in mats. + + + +CHAPTER XVI + +THE REPENTANCE OF HOKOSA + +Hokosa kept his promise. On the morrow of his first attendance there +he was again to be seen in the chapel, and after the service was over +he waited on Owen at his house and listened to his private teaching. +Day by day he appeared thus, till at length he became master of the +whole doctrine of Christianity, and discovered that that which at +first had struck him as childish and even monstrous, now presented +itself to him in a new and very different light. The conversion of +Hokosa came upon him through the gate of reason, not as is usual among +savages--and some who are not savage--by that of the emotions. Given +the position of a universe torn and groaning beneath the dual rule of +Good and Evil, two powers of well-nigh equal potency, he found no +great difficulty in accepting this tale of the self-sacrifice of the +God of Good that He might wring the race He loved out of the +conquering grasp of the god of Ill. There was a simple majesty about +this scheme of redemption which appealed to one side of his nature. +Indeed, Hokosa felt that under certain conditions and in a more +limited fashion he would have been capable of attempting as much +himself. + +Once his reason was satisfied, the rest followed in a natural +sequence. Within three weeks from the hour of his first attendance at +the chapel Hokosa was at heart a Christian. + +He was a Christian, although as yet he did not confess it; but he was +also the most miserable man among the nation of the Sons of Fire. The +iniquities of his past life had become abominable to him; but he had +committed them in ignorance, and he understood that they were not +beyond forgiveness. Yet high above them all towered one colossal crime +which, as he believed, could never be pardoned to him in this world or +the next. He was the treacherous murderer of the Messenger of God; he +was in the very act of silencing the Voice that had proclaimed truth +in the dark places of his soul and the dull ears of his countrymen. + +The deed was done; no power on earth could save his victim. Within a +week from the day of eating that fatal fruit Owen began to sicken, +then the dysentery had seized him which slowly but surely was wasting +out his life. Yet he, the murderer, was helpless, for with this form +of the disease no medicine could cope. With agony in his heart, an +agony that was shared by thousands of the people, Hokosa watched the +decrease of the white man's strength, and reckoned the days that would +elapse before the end. Having such sin as thus upon his soul, though +Owen entreated him earnestly, he would not permit himself to be +baptised. Twice he went near to consenting, but on each occasion an +ominous and terrible incident drove him from the door of mercy. + +Once, when the words "I will" were almost on his lips, a woman broke +in upon their conference bearing a dying boy in her arms. + +"Save him," she implored, "save him, Messenger, for he is my only +son!" + +Owen looked at him and shook his head. + +"How came he like this?" he asked. + +"I know not, Messenger, but he has been sick ever since he ate of a +certain fruit which you gave to him;" and she recalled to his mind the +incident of the throwing of a fruit to the child, which she had +witnessed. + +"I remember," said Owen. "It is strange, but I also have been sick +from the day that I ate of those fruits; yes, and you, Hokosa, warned +me against them." + +Then he blessed the boy and prayed over him till he died; but when +afterwards he looked round for Hokosa, it was to find that he had +gone. + +Some eight days later, having to a certain extent recovered from this +shock, Hokosa went one morning to Owen's house and talked to him. + +"Messenger," he said, "is it necessary to baptism that I should +confess all my sins to you? If so, I can never be baptised, for there +is wickedness upon my hands which I am unable to tell into the ear of +living man." + +Owen thought and answered:-- + +"It is necessary that you should repent all of your sins, and that you +should confess them to heaven; it is not necessary that you should +confess them to me, who am but a man like yourself." + +"Then I will be baptised," said Hokosa with a sigh of relief. + +At this moment, as it chanced, their interview was again interrupted, +for runners came from the king requesting the immediate presence of +the Messenger, if he were well enough to attend, upon a matter +connected with the trial of a woman for murder. Thinking that he might +be of service, Owen, leaning on the shoulder of Hokosa, for already he +was too weak to walk far, crept to the litter which was waiting for +him, and was borne to the place of judgment that was before the house +of the king. Hokosa followed, more from curiosity than for any other +reason, for he had heard of no murder being committed, and his old +desire to be acquainted with everything that passed was still strong +on him. The people made way for him, and he seated himself in the +first line of spectators immediately opposite to the king and three +other captains who were judges in the case. So soon as Owen had joined +the judges, the prisoner was brought before them, and to his secret +horror Hokosa recognised in her that woman to whom he had given the +poison in exchange for the basket of fruit. + +Now it seemed to Hokosa that his doom was on him, for she would +certainly confess that she had the drug from him. He thought of flight +only to reject the thought, for to fly would be to acknowledge himself +an accessory. No, he would brazen it out, for after all his word was +as good as hers. With the prisoner came an accuser, her husband, who +seemed sick, and he it was who opened the case against her. + +"This woman," he said, "was my wife. I divorced her for barrenness, as +I have a right to do according to our ancient law, and I took another +woman to wife, her half-sister. This woman was jealous; she plagued me +continually, and insulted her sister, so that I was forced to drive +her away. After that she came to my house, and though they said +nothing of it at the time, she was seen by two servants of mine to +sprinkle something in the bowl wherein our food was cooking. +Subsequently my wife, this woman's half-sister, was taken ill with +dysentery. I also was taken ill with dysentery, but I still live to +tell this story before you, O King, and your judges, though I know not +for how long I live. My wife died yesterday, and I buried her this +morning. I accuse the woman of having murdered her, either by +witchcraft or by means of a medicine which she sprinkled on the food, +or by both. I have spoken." + +"Have you anything to say?" asked the king of the prisoner. "Are you +guilty of the crime whereof this man who was your husband charges you, +or does he lie?" + +Then the woman answered in a low and broken voice:-- + +"I am guilty, King. Listen to my story:" and she told it all as she +told it to Hokosa. "I am guilty," she added, "and may the Great Man in +the sky, of Whom the Messenger has taught us, forgive me. My sister's +blood is upon my hands, and for aught I know the blood of my husband +yonder will also be on my hands. I seek no mercy; indeed, it is better +that I should die; but I would say this in self-defence, that I did +not think to kill my sister. I believed that I was giving to her a +potion which would cause her husband to hate her and no more." + +Here she looked round and her eyes met those of Hokosa. + +"Who told you that this was so?" asked one of the judges. + +"A witch-doctor," she answered, "from whom I bought the medicine in +the old days, long ago, when Umsuka was king." + +Hokosa gasped. Why should this woman have spared him? + +No further question was asked of her, and the judges consulted +together. At length the king spoke. + +"Woman," he said, "you are condemned to die. You will be taken to the +Doom Tree, and there be hanged. Out of those who are assembled to try +you, two, the Messenger and myself, have given their vote in favour of +mercy, but the majority think otherwise. They say that a law has been +passed against murder by means of witchcraft and secret medicine, and +that should we let you go free, the people will make a mock of that +law. So be it. Go in peace. To-morrow you must die, and may +forgiveness await you elsewhere." + +"I ask nothing else," said the woman. "It is best that I should die." + +Then they led her away. As she passed Hokosa she turned and looked him +full in the eyes, till he dropped his head abashed. Next morning she +was executed, and he learned that her last words were: "Let it come to +the ears of him who sold me the poison, telling me that it was but a +harmless drug, that as I hope to be forgiven, so I forgive him, +believing that my silence may win for him time for repentance, before +he follows on the road I tread." + +Now, when Hokosa heard these words he shut himself up in his house for +three days, giving out that he was sick. Nor would he go near to Owen, +being altogether without hope, and not believing that baptism or any +other rite could avail to purge such crimes as his. Truly his sin had +found him out, and the burden of it was intolerable. So intolerable +did it become, that at length he determined to be done with it. He +could live no more. He would die, and by his own hand, before he was +called upon to witness the death of the man whom he had murdered. To +this end he made his preparations. For Noma he left no message; for +though his heart still hungered after her, he knew well that she hated +him and would rejoice at his death. + +When all was ready he sat down to think a while, and as he thought, a +man entered his hut saying that the Messenger desired to see him. At +first he was minded not to go, then it occurred to him that it would +be well if he could die with a clean heart. Why should he not tell all +to the white man, and before he could be delivered up to justice take +that poison which he had prepared? It was impossible that he should be +forgiven, yet he desired that his victim should learn how deep was his +sorrow and repentance, before he proved it by preceding him to death. +So he rose and went. + +He found Owen in his house, lying in a rude chair and propped up by +pillows of bark. Now he was wasted almost to a shadow, and in the pale +pinched face his dark eyes, always large and spiritual, shone with +unnatural lustre, while his delicate hands were so thin that when he +held them up in blessing the light showed through them. + +"Welcome, friend," he said. "Tell me, why have you deserted me of +late? Have you been ill?" + +"No, Messenger," answered Hokosa, "that is, not in my body. I have +been sick at heart, and therefore I have not come." + +"What, Hokosa, do your doubts still torment you? I thought that my +prayers had been heard, and that power had been given me to set them +at rest for ever. Man, let me hear the trouble, and swiftly, for +cannot you who are a doctor see that I shall not be here for long to +talk with you? My days are numbered, Hokosa, and my work is almost +done." + +"I know it," answered Hokosa. "And, Messenger, /my/ days are also +numbered." + +"How is this?" asked Owen, "seeing that you are well and strong. Does +an enemy put you in danger of your life?" + +"Yes, Messenger, and I myself am that enemy; for to-day I, who am no +longer fit to live, must die by my own hand. Nay, listen and you will +say that I do well, for before I go I would tell you all. Messenger, +you are doomed, are you not? Well, it was I who doomed you. That fruit +which you ate a while ago was poisoned, and by my hand, for I am a +master of such arts. From the beginning I hated you, as well I might, +for had you not worsted me and torn power from my grasp, and placed +the people and the king under the rule of another God? Therefore, when +all else failed, I determined to murder you, and I did the deed by +means of that woman who not long ago was hung for the killing of her +sister, though in truth she was innocent." And he told him what had +passed between himself and the woman, and told him also of the plot +which he had hatched to kill Nodwengo and the Christians, and to set +Hafela on the throne + +"She was innocent," he went on, "but I am guilty. How guilty you and I +know alone. Do you remember that day when you ate the fruit, how after +it I accompanied you to the church yonder and listened to your +preaching? 'Your sin shall find you out,' you said, and of a surety +mine has found me out. For, Messenger, it came about that in listening +to you then and afterwards, I grew to love you and to believe the +words you taught, and therefore am I of all men the most miserable, +and therefore must I, who have been great and the councillor of kings, +perish miserably by the death of a dog. + +"Now curse me, and let me go." + + + +CHAPTER XVII + +THE LOOSING OF NOMA + +When Owen heard that it was Hokosa who had poisoned him, he groaned +and hid his face in his hands, and thus he remained till the evil tale +was finished. Now he lifted his head and spoke, but not to Hokosa. + +"O God," he said, "I thank Thee that at the cost of my poor life Thou +hast been pleased to lead this sinner towards the Gate of +Righteousness, and to save alive those whom Thou hast sent me to +gather to Thy Fold." + +Then he looked at Hokosa and said:-- + +"Unhappy man, is not your cup full enough of crime, and have you not +sufficiently tempted the mercy of Heaven, that you would add to all +your evil deeds that of self-murder?" + +"It is better to die to-day by my own hand," answered Hokosa, "than +to-morrow among the mockery of the people to fall a victim to your +vengeance, Messenger." + +"Vengeance! Did I speak to you of vengeance? Who am I that I should +take vengeance upon one who has repented? Hokosa, freely do I forgive +you all, even as in some few days I hope to be forgiven. Freely and +fully from my heart do I forgive you, nor shall my lips tell one word +of the sin that you have worked against me." + +Now, when Hokosa heard those words, for a moment he stared stupefied; +then he fell upon his knees before Owen, and bowing his head till it +touched the teacher's feet, he burst into bitter weeping. + +"Rise and hearken," said Owen gently. "Weep not because I have shown +kindness to you, for that is my duty and no more, but for your sins in +your own heart weep now and ever. Yet for your comfort I tell you that +if you do this, of a surety they shall be forgiven to you. /Hokosa, +you have indeed lost that which you loved, and henceforth you must +follow after that which you did not desire. In the very grave of error +you have found truth, and from the depths of sin you shall pluck +righteousness. Ay, that Cross which you deemed accursed shall lift you +up on high, for by it you shall be saved./" + +Hokosa heard and shivered. + +"Who set those words between your lips, Messenger?" he whispered. + +"Who set them, Hokosa? Nay, I know not--or rather, I know well. He set +them Who teaches us to speak all things that are good." + +"It must be so, indeed," replied Hokosa. "Yet I have heard them +before; I have heard them from the lips of the dead, and with them +went this command: that when they fell upon my ears again I should +'take them for a sign, and let my heart be turned.'" + +"Tell me that tale," said Owen. + +So he told him, and this time it was the white man who trembled. + +"Horrible has been your witchcraft, O Son of Darkness!" said Owen, +when he had finished; "yet it would seem that it was permitted to you +to find truth in the pit of sorcery. Obey, obey, and let your heart be +turned. The dead told you that you should be set high above the nation +and its king, and that saying I cannot read, though it may be +fulfilled in some fashion of which to-day you do not think. At the +least, the other saying is true, that in the end comes judgment, and +that there shall the sin and the atonement strive together; therefore +for judgment prepare yourself. And now depart, for I must talk with +the king as to this matter of the onslaught of Hafela." + +"Then, that will be the signal for my death, for what king can forgive +one who has plotted such treachery against him?" said Hokosa. + +"Fear not," answered Owen, "I will soften his heart. Go you into the +church and pray, for there you shall be less tempted; but before you +go, swear to me that you will work no evil on yourself." + +"I swear it, Messenger, since now I desire to live, if only for +awhile, seeing that death shuts every door." + +Then he went to the church and waited there. An hour later he was +summoned, and found the king seated with Owen. + +"Man," said Nodwengo, "I am told by the Messenger here that you have +knowledge of a plot which my brother the Prince Hafela has made to +fall treacherously upon me and put me and my people to the spear. How +you come to be acquainted with the plot, and what part you have played +in it, I will not now inquire, for so much have I promised to the +Messenger. Yet I warn you it will be well that you should tell me all +you know, and that should you lie to me or attempt to deceive me, then +you shall surely die." + +"King, hear all the truth," answered Hokosa in a voice of desperate +calm. "I have knowledge of the plot, for it was I who wove it; but +whether or not Hafela will carry it out altogether I cannot say, for +as yet no word has reached me from him. King, this was the plan that I +made." And he told him everything. + +"It is fortunate for you, Hokosa," said Nodwengo grimly when he had +finished, "that I gave my word to the Messenger that no harm should +come to you, seeing that you have repented and confessed. This is +certain, that Hafela has listened to your evil counsels, for I gave my +consent to his flight from this land with all his people, and already +his women and children have crossed the mountain path in thousands. +Well, this I swear, that their feet shall tread it no more, for where +they are thither he shall go to join them, should he chance to live to +do so. Hokosa, begone, and know that day and night you will be +watched. Should you so much as dare to approach one of the gates of +the Great Place, that moment you shall die." + +"Have no fear, O King," said Hokosa humbly, "for I have emptied all my +heart before you. The past is the past, and cannot be recalled. For +the future, while it pleases you to spare me, I am the most loyal of +your servants." + +"Can a man empty a spring with a pitcher?" asked the king +contemptuously. "By to-morrow this heart of yours may be full again +with the blackest treachery, O master of sin and lies. Many months ago +I spared you at the prayer of the Messenger; and now at his prayer I +spare you again, yet in doing so I think that I am foolish." + +"Nay, I will answer for him," broke in Owen. "Let him stay here with +me, and set your guard without my gates." + +"How do I know that he will not murder you, friend?" asked the king. +"This man is a snake whom few can nurse with safety." + +"He will not murder me," said Owen smiling, "because his heart is +turned from evil to good; also, there is little need to murder a dying +man." + +"Nay, speak not so," said the king hastily; "and as for this man, be +it as you will. Come, I must take counsel with my captains, for our +danger is near and great." + +So it came about that Hokosa stayed in the house of Owen. + +On the morrow the Great Place was full of the bustle of preparation, +and by dawn of the following day an /impi/ of some seventeen thousand +spears had started to ambush Hafela and his force in a certain wooded +defile through which he must pass on his way to the mountain pass +where his women and children were gathered. The army was not large, at +least in the eyes of the People of Fire who, before the death of +Umsuka and the break up of the nation, counted their warriors by tens +of thousands. But after those events the most of the regiments had +deserted to Hafela, leaving to Nodwengo not more than two-and-twenty +thousand spears upon which he could rely. Of these he kept less than a +third to defend the Great Place against possible attacks, and all the +rest he sent to fall upon Hafela far away, hoping there to make an end +of him once and for all. This counsel the king took against the better +judgment of many of his captains, and as the issue proved, it was +mistaken. + +When Owen told Hokosa of it, that old general shrugged his shoulders. + +"The king would have done better to keep his regiments at home," he +said, "and fight it out with Hafela here, where he is well prepared. +Yonder the country is very wide, and broken, and it may well chance +that the /impi/ will miss that of Hafela, and then how can the king +defend this place with a handful, should the prince burst upon him at +the head of forty thousand men? But who am I that I should give +counsel for which none seek?" + +"As God wills, so shall it befall," answered Owen wearily; "but oh! +the thought of all this bloodshed breaks my heart. I trust that its +beatings may be stilled before my eyes behold the evil hour." + +On the evening of that day Hokosa was baptised. The ceremony took +place, not in the church, for Owen was too weak to go there, but in +the largest room of his house and before some few witnesses chosen +from the congregation. Even as he was being signed with the sign of +the cross, a strange and familiar attraction caused the convert to +look up, and behold, before him, watching all with mocking eyes, stood +Noma his wife. At length the rite was finished, and the little +audience melted away, all save Noma, who stood silent and beautiful as +a statue, the light of mockery still gleaming in her eyes. Then she +spoke, saying:-- + +"I greet you, Husband. I have returned from doing your business afar, +and if this foolishness is finished, and the white man can spare you, +I would talk with you alone." + +"I greet you, Wife," answered Hokosa. "Say out your say, for none are +present save us three, and from the Messenger here I have no secrets." + +"What, Husband, none? Do you ever talk to him of certain fruit that +you ripened in a garden yonder?" + +"From the Messenger I have no secrets," repeated Hokosa in a heavy +voice. + +"Then his heart must be full of them indeed, and it is little wonder +that he seems sick," replied Noma, gibing. "Tell me, Hokosa, is it +true that you have become a Christian, or would you but fool the white +man and his following?" + +"It is true." + +At the words her graceful shape was shaken with a little gust of +silent laughter. + +"The wizard has turned saint," she said. "Well, then, what of the +wizard's wife?" + +"You were my wife before I became Christian; if the Messenger permits +it, you can still abide with me." + +"If the Messenger permits it! So you have come to this, Hokosa, that +you must ask the leave of another man as to whether or no you should +keep your own wife! There is no other thing that I could not have +thought of you, but this I would never have believed had I not heard +it from your lips. Say now, do you still love me, Hokosa?" + +"You know well that I love you, now and always," he answered, in a +voice that sounded like a groan; "as you know that for love of you I +have done many sins from which otherwise I should have turned aside." + +"Grieve not over them, Hokosa; after all, in such a count as yours +they will make but little show. Well, if you love me, I hate you, +though through your witchcraft your will yet has the mastery of mine. +I demand of you now that you should loose that bond, for I do not +desire to become a Christian; and surely, O most good and holy man, +having one wife already, it will not please you henceforth to live in +sin with a heathen woman." + +Now Hokosa turned to Owen:-- + +"In the old days," he said, "I could have answered her; but now I am +fallen; or raised up--at the least I am changed and cannot. O prophet +of Heaven, tell me what I shall do." + +"Sever the bond that you have upon her and let her go," answered Owen. +"This love of yours is unnatural, unholy and born of witchcraft; have +done with it, or if you cannot, at the least deny it, for such a +woman, a woman who hates you, can work you no good. Moreover, since +she is a second wife, you being a Christian, are bound to free her +should she so desire." + +"She can work me no good, Messenger, that I know; but I know also that +while she struggles in the net of my will she can work me no evil. If +I loose the net and the fish swims free, it may be otherwise." + +"Loose it," answered Owen, "and leave the rest to Providence. +Henceforth, Hokosa, do right, and take no thought for the morrow, for +the morrow is with God, and what He decrees, that shall befall." + +"I hear you," said Hokosa, "and I obey." For a while he rocked himself +to and fro, staring at the ground, then he lifted his head and +spoke:-- + +"Woman," he said, "the knot is untied and the spell is broken. Begone, +for I release you and I divorce you. Flesh of my flesh have you been, +and soul of my soul, for in the web of sorceries are we knit together. +Yet be warned and presume not too far, for remember that which I have +laid down I can take up, and that should I choose to command, you must +still obey. Farewell, you are free." + +Noma heard, and with a sigh of ecstasy she sprang into the air as a +slave might do from whom the fetters have been struck off. + +"Ay," she cried, "I am free! I feel it in my blood, I who have lain in +bondage, and the voice of freedom speaks in my heart and the breath of +freedom blows in my nostrils. I am free from you, O dark and accursed +man; but herein lies my triumph and revenge--/you/ are not free from +me. In obedience to that white fool whom you have murdered, you have +loosed me; but you I will not loose and could not if I would. Listen +now, Hokosa: you love me, do you not?--next to this new creed of +yours, I am most of all to you. Well, since you have divorced me, I +will tell you, I go straight to another man. Now, look your last on +me; for you love me, do you not?" and she slipped the mantle from her +shoulders and except for her girdle stood before him naked, and +smiled. + +"Well," she went on, resuming her robe, "the last words of those we +love are always dear to us; therefore, Hokosa, you who were my +husband, I leave mine with you. You are a coward and a traitor, and +your doom shall be that of a coward and a traitor. For my sake you +betrayed Umsuka, your king and benefactor; for your own sake you +betrayed Nodwengo, who spared you; and now, for the sake of your +miserable soul, you have betrayed Hafela to Nodwengo. Nay, I know the +tale, do not answer me, but the end of it--ah! that is yet to learn. +Lie there, snake, and lick the hand that you have bitten, but I, the +bird whom you have loosed, I fly afar--taking your heart with me!" and +suddenly she turned and was gone. + +Presently Hokosa spoke in a thick voice:-- + +"Messenger," he said, "this cross that you have given me to bear is +heavy indeed." + +"Yes, Hokosa," answered Owen, "for to it your sins are nailed." + + + +CHAPTER XVIII + +THE PASSING OF OWEN + +Once she was outside of Owen's house, Noma did not tarry. First she +returned to Hokosa's kraal, where she had already learnt from his head +wife, Zinti, and others the news of his betrayal of the plot of +Hafela, of his conversion to the faith of the Christians, and of the +march of the /impi/ to ambush the prince. Here she took a little +spear, and rolling up in a skin blanket as much dried meat as she +could carry, she slipped unnoticed from the kraal. Her object was to +escape from the Great Place, but this she did not try to do by any of +the gates, knowing them to be guarded. Some months ago, before she +started on her embassy, she had noted a weak spot in the fence, where +dogs had torn a hole through which they passed out to hunt at night. +To this spot she made her way under cover of the darkness--for though +she still greatly feared to be alone at night, her pressing need +conquered her fears--and found that the hole was yet there, for a tall +weed growing in its mouth had caused it to be overlooked by those +whose duty it was to mend the fence. With her assegai she widened it a +little, then drew her lithe shape through it, and lying hidden till +the guard had passed, climbed the two stone walls beyond. Once she was +free of the town, she set her course by the stars and started forward +at a steady run. + +"If my strength holds I shall yet be in time to warn him," she +muttered to herself. "Ah! friend Hokosa, this new madness of yours has +blunted your wits that once were sharp enough. You have set me free, +and now you shall learn how I can use my freedom. Not for nothing have +I been your pupil, Hokosa the fox." + +Before the dawn broke Noma was thirty miles from the Great Place, and +before the next dawn she was a hundred. At sunset on that second day +she stood among mountains. To her right stretched a great defile, a +rugged place of rocks and bush, wherein she knew that the regiments of +the king were hid in ambush. Perchance she was too late, perchance the +/impi/ of Hafela had already passed to its doom in yonder gorge. +Swiftly she ran forward on to the trail which led to the gorge, to +find that it had been trodden by many feet and recently. Moving to and +fro she searched the spoor with her eyes, then rose with a sigh of +joy. It was old, and marked the passage of the great company of women +and children and their thousands of cattle which, in execution of the +plot, had travelled this path some days before. Either the /impi/ had +not yet arrived, or it had gone by some other road. Weary as she was, +Noma followed the old spoor backwards. A mile or more away it crossed +the crest of a hog-backed mountain, from whose summit she searched the +plain beyond, and not in vain, for there far beneath her twinkled the +watch-fires of the army of Hafela. + +Three hours later a woman, footsore and utterly exhausted, staggered +into the camp, and waving aside the spears that were lifted to stab +her, demanded to be led to the prince. Presently she was there. + +"Who is this woman?" asked the great warrior; for, haggard as she was +with travel, exhaustion, and the terror of her haunted loneliness, he +did not know her in the uncertain firelight. + +"Hafela," she said, "I am Noma who was the wife of Hokosa, and for +whole nights and days I have journeyed as no woman ever journeyed +before, to tell you of the treachery of Hokosa and to save you from +your doom." + +"What treachery and what doom?" asked the prince. + +"Before I answer you that question, Hafela, you must pay me the price +of my news." + +"Let me hear the price, Noma." + +"It is this, Prince: First, the head of Hokosa, who has divorced me, +when you have caught him." + +"That I promise readily. What more?" + +"Secondly, the place of your chief wife to-day; and a week hence, when +I shall have made you king, the name and state of Queen of the People +of Fire with all that hangs thereto." + +"You are ambitious, woman, and know well how to drive a bargain. Well, +if you can ask, I can give, for I have ever loved you, and your mind +is great as your body is beautiful. If through your help I should +become King of the People of Fire, you shall be their Queen, I swear +it by the spirits of my fathers and by my own head. And now--your +tidings." + +"These are they, Hafela. Hokosa has turned Christian and betrayed the +plot to Nodwengo; and the great gorge yonder but three hours march +away is ambushed. To-morrow you and your people would have been cut +off there had I not run so fast and far to warn you, after which the +/impis/ of Nodwengo were commanded to follow your women and cattle +over the mountain pass and capture them." + +"This is news indeed," said the prince. "Say now, how many regiments +are hidden in the gorge?" + +"Eight." + +"Well, I have fourteen; so, being warned, there is little to fear. I +will catch these rats in their own hole." + +"I have a better plan," said Noma; "it is this: leave six regiments +posted upon the brow of yonder hill and let them stay there. Then when +the generals of Nodwengo see that they do not enter the gorge, they +will believe that the ambush is discovered, and, after waiting one day +or perhaps two, will move out to give battle, thinking that before +them is all your strength. But command your regiments to run and not +to fight, drawing the army of Nodwengo after them. Meanwhile, yes, +this very night, you yourself with all the men that are left to you +must march upon the Great Place, which, though it be strong, can be +stormed, for it is defended by less than five thousand soldiers. +There, having taken it, you shall slay Nodwengo, proclaiming yourself +king, and afterwards, by the help of the /impi/ that you leave here +which will march onward to your succour, you can deal with yonder +army." + +"A great scheme truly," said Hafela in admiration; "but how do I know +whether all this tale is true, or whether you do but set a snare for +me?" + +"Bid scouts go out and creep into yonder gully," answered Noma, "and +you will see whether or no I have spoken falsely. For the rest, I am +in your hands, and if I lie you can take my life in payment." + +"If I march upon the Great Place, it must be at midnight when none see +me go," said Hafela, "and what will you do then, Noma, who are too +weary to travel again so soon?" + +"I will be borne in a litter till my strength comes back to me," she +answered. "And now give me to eat and let me rest while I may." + +***** + +Five hours later, Hafela with the most of his army, a force of +something over twenty thousand men, was journeying swiftly but by a +circuitous route towards the Great Place of the king. On the crest of +the hill facing the gorge, as Noma had suggested, he left six +regiments with instructions to fly before Nodwengo's generals, and +when they had led them far enough, to follow him as swiftly as they +were able. These orders, or rather the first part of them, they +carried out, for as it chanced after two days' flight, the king's +soldiers got behind them by a night march, and falling on them at +dawn, killed half of them and dispersed the rest. Then it was that +Nodwengo's generals learned for the first time that they were +following one wing of Hafela's army only, while the main body was +striking at the heart of the kingdom, and turned their faces homewards +in fear and haste. + +***** + +On the morning after the flight of Noma, Owen passed into the last +stage of his sickness, and it became evident, both to himself and to +those who watched him, that at the most he could not live for more +than a few days. For his part, he accepted his doom joyfully, spending +the time which was left to him in writing letters that were to be +forwarded to England whenever an opportunity should arise. Also he set +down on paper a statement of the principal events of his strange +mission, and other information for the guidance of his white +successors, who by now should be drawing near to the land of the +Amasuka. In the intervals of these last labours, from time to time he +summoned the king and the wisest and trustiest of them whom he had +baptised to his bedside, teaching them what they should do when he was +gone, and exhorting them to cling to the Faith. + +On the afternoon of the fourth day from that of the baptism of Hokosa +he fell into a quiet sleep, from which he did not wake till sundown. + +"Am I still here?" he asked wondering, of John and Hokosa who watched +at his bedside. "From my dreams I thought that it was otherwise. John, +send a messenger to the king and ask of him to assemble the people, +all who care to come, in the open place before my house. I am about to +die, and first I would speak with them." + +John went weeping upon his errand, leaving Owen and Hokosa alone. + +"Tell me know what shall I do?" said Hokosa in a voice of despair, +"seeing that it is I and no other who have brought this death upon +you." + +"Fret not, my brother," answered Owen, "for this and other things you +did in the days of your blindness, and it was permitted that you +should do them to an end. Kneel down now, that I may absolve you from +your sins before I pass away; for I tell you, Hokosa, I believe that +ere many days are over you must walk on the same path which I travel +to-night." + +"Is it so?" Hokosa answered. "Well, I am glad, for I have no longer +any lust of life." + +Then he knelt down and received the absolution. + +Now John returned and Nodwengo with him, who told him that the people +were gathering in hundreds according to his wish. + +"Then clothe me in my robes and let us go forth," he said, "for I +would speak my last words in the ears of men." + +So they put the surplice and hood upon his wasted form and went out, +John preceding him holding on high the ivory crucifix, while the king +and Hokosa supported him, one on either side. + +Without his gate stood a low wooden platform, whence at times Owen had +been accustomed to address any congregation larger than the church +would contain. On this platform he took his seat. The moon was bright +above him, and by it he could see that already his audience numbered +some thousands of men, women and children. The news had spread that +the wonderful white man, Messenger, wished to take his farewell of the +nation, though even now many did not understand that he was dying, but +imagined that he was about to leave the country, or, for aught they +knew, to vanish from their sight into Heaven. For a moment Owen looked +at the sea of dusky faces, then in the midst of an intense stillness, +he spoke in a voice low indeed but clear and steady:-- + +"My children," he said, "hear my last words to you. More than three +years ago, in a far, far land and upon such a night as this, a Voice +spoke to me from above commanding me to seek you out, to turn you from +your idolatry and to lighten your darkness. I listened to the Voice, +and hither I journeyed across sea and land, though how this thing +might be done I could not guess. But to Him Who sent me all things are +possible, and while yet I lingered upon the threshold of your country, +in a dream were revealed to me events that were to come. So I appeared +before you boldly, and knowing that he had been poisoned and that I +could cure him, I drew back your king from the mouth of death, and you +said to yourselves: 'Behold a wizard indeed! Let us hear him.' Then I +gave battle to your sorcerers yonder upon the plain, and from the foot +of the Cross I teach, the lightnings were rolled back upon them and +they were not. Look now, their chief stands at my side, among my +disciples one of the foremost and most faithful. Afterwards troubles +arose: your king died a Christian, and many of the people fell away; +but still a remnant remained, and he who became king was converted to +the truth. Now I have sown the seed, and the corn is ripe before my +eyes, but it is not permitted that I should reap the harvest. My work +is ended, my task is done, and I, the Messenger, return to make report +to Him Who sent the message. + +"Hear me yet a little while, for soon shall my voice be silent. 'I +come not to bring peace, but a sword,'--so said the Master Whom I +preach, and so say I, the most unworthy of His servants. Salvation +cannot be bought at a little price; it must be paid for by the blood +and griefs of men, and in blood and griefs must you pay, O my +children. Through much tribulation must you also enter the kingdom of +God. Even now the heathen is at your gates, and many of you shall +perish on his spears, but I tell you that he shall not conquer. Be +faithful, cling to the Cross, and do not dare to doubt your Lord, for +He will be your Captain and you shall be His people. Cleave to your +king, for he is good; and in the day of trial listen to the counsel of +this Hokosa who once was the first of evil-doers, for with him goes my +spirit, and he is my son in the spirit. + +"My children, fare you well! Forget me not, for I have loved you; or +if you will, forget me, but remember my teaching and hearken to those +who shall tread upon the path I made. The peace of God be with you, +the blessing of God be upon you, and the salvation of God await you, +as it awaits me to-night! Friends, lead me hence to die." + +They turned to him, but before their hands touched him Thomas Owen +fell forward upon the breast of Hokosa and lay there a while. Then +suddenly, for the last time, he lifted himself and cried aloud:-- + +"I have fought a good fight! I have finished my course! I have kept +the faith! Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness +. . . and not to me only, but to all those who love His appearing." + +Then his head fell back, his dark eyes closed, and the Messenger was +dead. + +Hokosa, the man who had murdered him, having lifted him up to show him +to the people, amidst a sound of mighty weeping, took the body in his +arms and bore it thence to make it ready for burial. + + + +CHAPTER XIX + +THE FALL OF THE GREAT PLACE + +On the morrow at sundown all that remained of Thomas Owen was laid to +rest before the altar of the little church, Nodwengo the king and +Hokosa lowering him into the grave, while John, his first disciple, +read over him the burial service of the Christians, which it had been +one of the dead man's last labours to translate into the language of +the Amasuka. + +Before the ceremony was finished, a soldier, carrying a spear in his +hand, pushed his way through the dense and weeping crowd, and having +saluted, whispered something into the ear of the king. Nodwengo +started, and, with a last look of farewell at the face of his friend, +left the chapel, accompanied by some of his generals who were present, +muttering to Hokosa that he was to follow when all was done. +Accordingly, some few minutes later, he went and was admitted into the +Council Hut, where captains and messengers were to be seen arriving +and departing continuously. + +"Hokosa," said the king, "you have dealt treacherously with me in the +past, but I believe now that your heart is true; at the least I follow +the commands of our dead master and trust you. Listen: the outposts +have sighted an /impi/ of many regiments advancing towards the Great +Place, though whether or no it be my own /impi/ returning victorious +from the war with my brother, I cannot say. There is this against it, +however, that a messenger has but just arrived reporting that the +generals have perceived the host of Hafela encamped upon a ridge over +against the gorge where they awaited him. If that be so, they can +scarcely have given him battle, for the messenger is swift of foot and +has travelled night and day. Yet how can this be the /impi/ of Hafela, +who, say the generals, is encamped upon the ridge?" + +"He may have left the ridge, King, having been warned of the ambush." + +"It cannot be, for when the runner started his fires burned there and +his soldiers were gathered round them." + +"Then perhaps his captains sit upon the ridge with some portion of his +strength to deceive those who await him in the gorge; while, knowing +that here men are few, he himself swoops down on you with the main +body of his /impi/." + +"At least we shall learn presently," answered the king; "but if it be +as I fear and we are outwitted, what is there that we can do against +so many?" + +Now one of the captains proposed that they should stay where they were +and hold the place. + +"It is too large," answered the king, "they will burst the fences and +break our line." + +Another suggested that they should fly and, avoiding the regiments of +Hafela in the darkness of the night, should travel swiftly in search +of the main army that had been sent to lie in ambush. + +"What," said Nodwengo, "leaving the aged and the women and children to +perish, for how can we take such a multitude? No, I will have none of +this plan." + +Then Hokosa spoke. "King," he said, "listen to my counsel: Command now +that all the women and the old men, taking with them such cattle and +food as are in the town, depart at once into the Valley of Death and +collect in the open space that lies beyond the Tree of Doom, near the +spring of water that is there. The valley is narrow and the cliffs are +steep, and it may chance that by the help of Heaven we shall be able +to hold it till the army returns to relieve us, to seek which +messengers must be sent at once with these tidings." + +"The plan is good," said the king, though none had thought of it; "but +so we shall lose the town." + +"Towns can be rebuilt," answered Hokosa, "but who may restore the +lives of men?" + +As the words left his lips, a runner burst into the council, crying: +"King, the /impi/ is that of Hafela, and the prince heads it in +person. Already his outposts rest upon the Plain of Fire." + +Then Nodwengo rose and issued his orders, commanding that all the +ineffective population of the town, together with such food and cattle +as could be gathered, should retreat at once into the Valley of Death. +By this time the four or five thousand soldiers who were left in the +Great Place had been paraded on the open ground in front of the king's +house, where they stood, still and silent, in the moonlight. Nodwengo +and the captains went out to them, and as they saw him come they +lifted their spears like one man, giving him the royal salute of +"King!" He held up his hand and addressed them. + +"Soldiers," he said, "we have been outwitted. My /impi/ is afar, and +that of Hafela is at our gates. Yonder in the valley, though we be +few, we can defend ourselves till succour reaches us, which already +messengers have gone out to seek. But first we must give time for the +women and children, the sick and the aged, to withdraw with food and +cattle; and this we can do in one way only, by keeping Hafela at bay +till they have passed the archway, all of them. Now, soldiers, for the +sake of your own lives, of your honour and of those you love, swear to +me, in the holy Name which we have been taught to worship, that you +will fight out this great fight without fear or faltering." + +"We swear it in the holy Name, and by your head, King," roared the +regiments. + +"Then victory is already ours," answered Nodwengo. "Follow me, +Children of Fire!" and shaking his great spear, he led the way towards +that portion of the outer fence upon which Hafela was advancing. + +By now the town behind them was a scene of almost indescribable tumult +and confusion, for the companies detailed to the task were clearing +the numberless huts of their occupants, and collecting women, children +and oxen in thousands, preparatory to driving them into the defile. +Panic had seized many of these poor creatures, who, in imagination, +already saw themselves impaled upon the cruel spears of Hafela's +troops, and indeed in not a few instances believed those who were +urging them forward to be the enemy. Women shrieked and wrung their +hands, children wailed piteously, oxen lowed, and the infirm and aged +vented their grief in groans and cries to Heaven, or their ancient +god, for mercy. In truth, so difficult was the task of marshalling +this motley array at night, numbering as it did ten or twelve thousand +souls, that a full hour went by before the mob even began to move, +slowly and uncertainly, towards the place of refuge, whereof the +opening was so narrow that but few of them could pass it at a time. + +Meanwhile Hafela was developing the attack. Forming his great army +into the shape of a wedge he raised his battle-cry and rushed down on +the first line of fortifications, which he stormed without difficulty, +for they were defended by a few skirmishers only. Next he attacked the +second line, and carried it after heavy fighting, then hurled himself +upon the weakest point of the main fence of the vast kraal. Here it +was that the fray began in earnest, for here Nodwengo was waiting for +him. Thrice the thousands rolled on in the face of a storm of spears, +and thrice they fell back from the wide fence of thorns and the wall +of stone behind it. By now the battle had raged for about an hour and +a half, and it was reported to the king that the first of the women +and children had passed the archway into the valley, and that nearly +all of them were clear of the eastern gate of the town. + +"Then it is time that we follow them," said the king, "for if we wait +here until the warriors of Hafela are among us, our retreat will +become a rout and soon there will be none left to follow. Let one +company," and he named it, "hold the fence for a while to give us time +to withdraw, taking the wounded with us." + +"We hear you, king," said one of that company, "but our captain is +killed." + +"Who among you will take over the command of these men and hold the +breach?" asked Nodwengo of the group of officers about him. + +"I, King," answered old Hokosa, lifting his spear, "for I care not +whether I live or die." + +"Go to, boaster!" cried another. "Who among us cares whether he lives +or dies when the king commands?" + +"That we shall know to-morrow," said Hokosa quietly, and the soldiers +laughed at the retort. + +"So be it," said the king, and while silently and swiftly he led off +the regiments, keeping in the shadow of the huts, Hokosa and his +hundred men posted themselves behind the weakened fence and wall. Now, +for the fourth time the attacking regiment came forward grimly, on +this occasion led by the prince himself. As they drew near, Hokosa +leapt upon the wall, and standing there in the bright moonlight where +all could see him, he called to them to halt. Instinctively they +obeyed him. + +"Is it Hafela whom I see yonder?" he asked. + +"Ah! it is I," answered the prince. "What would you with me, wizard +and traitor?" + +"This only, Hafela: I would ask you what you seek here?" + +"That which you promised me, Hokosa, the crown of my father and +certain other things." + +"Then get you back, Hafela, for you shall never win them.. Have I +prophesied falsely to you at any time? Not so--neither do I prophesy +falsely now. Get you back whence you came, and your wolves with you, +else shall you bide here for ever." + +"Do you dare to call down evil on me, Wizard?" shouted the prince +furiously. "Your wife is mine, and now I take your life also," and +with all his strength he hurled at him the great spear he held. + +It hissed past Hokosa's head, touching his ear, but he never flinched +from the steel. + +"A poor cast, Prince," he said laughing; "but so it must have been, +for I am guarded by that which you cannot see. My wife you have, and +she shall be your ruin; my life you may take, but ere it leaves me, +Hafela, I shall see you dead and your army scattered. The Messenger is +passed away, but his power has fallen upon me and I speak the truth to +you, O Prince and warriors, who are--already dead." + +Now a shriek of dismay and fury rose from the hundreds who heard this +prophesy of ill, for of Hokosa and his magic they were terribly +afraid. + +"Kill him! Kill the wizard!" they shouted, and a rain of spears rushed +towards him on the wall. + +They rushed towards him, they passed above, below, around; but, of +them all, not one touched him. + +"Did I not tell you that I was guarded by That which you cannot see?" +Hokosa asked contemptuously. Then slowly he descended from the wall +amidst a great silence. + +"When men are scarce the tongue must play a part," he explained to his +companions, who stared at him wondering. "By now the king and those +with him should have reached the eastern gate; whereas, had we fought +at once, Hafela would be hard upon his heels, for we are few, and who +can hold a buffalo with a rope of grass? Yet I think that I spoke +truth when I told him that the garment of the Messenger has fallen +upon my shoulders, and that death awaits him and his companions, as it +awaits me also and many of us. Now, friends, be ready, for the bull +charges and soon we must feel his horns. This at least is left to you, +to die gloriously." + +While he was still speaking the first files of the regiment rushed +upon the fence, tearing aside the thorns with their hands till a +passage was made through them. Then they sprang upon the wall, there +to be met by the spears of Hokosa and his men thrusting upward from +beneath its shelter. Time after time they sprang, and time after time +they fell back dead or wounded, till at last, dashing forward in one +dense column, they poured over the stones as the rising tide pours +over the rocks on the sea-shore, driving the defenders before them by +the sheer weight of numbers. + +"This game is played!" cried Hokosa. "Fly now to the eastern gate, for +here we can do nothing more." + +So they fled, those who survived of them, and after them came the +thousands of the foe, sacking and firing the deserted town as they +advanced. + +Hokosa and his men, or rather the half of them, reached the gate and +passed it in safety, barring it after them, and thereby delaying the +attackers till they could burst their way through. Now hundreds of +huts were afire, and the flames spread swiftly, lighting up the +country far and wide. In the glare of them, Hokosa could see that +already a full two-thirds of the crowd of fugitives had passed the +narrow arch; while Nodwengo and the soldiers were drawn up in +companies upon the steep and rocky slope that led to it, protecting +their retreat. + +He advanced to the king and reported himself. + +"So you have lived through it," said Nodwengo. + +"I shall die when my hour comes, and not before," Hokosa answered. "We +did well yonder, and yet the most of us are alive to tell the tale, +for I knew when and how to go. Be ready, king, for the foe press us +close, and that mob behind us crawls onward like a snail." + +As he spoke the pursuers broke through the fence and gate of the +burning town, and once more the fight began. They had the advantage of +numbers; but Nodwengo and his troops stood in a wide road upon higher +ground protected on either side by walls, and were, moreover, rested, +not breathless and weary with travel like the men of Hafela. Slowly, +fighting, every inch of the way, Nodwengo was pushed back, and slowly +the long ant-like line of women and sick and cattle crept through the +opening in the rock, till at length all of them were gone. + +"It is time," said Nodwengo, glancing behind him, "for our arms grow +weary." + +Then he gave orders, and company by company the defending force +followed on the path of the fugitives, till at length amidst a roar of +rage and disappointment, the last of them vanished through the arch, +Hokosa among them, and the place was blocked with stones, above which +shone a hedge of spears. + + + +CHAPTER XX + +NOMA SETS A SNARE + +Thus ended the first night's battle, since for this time the enemy had +fought enough. Nodwengo and his men had also had enough, for out of +the five thousand of them some eleven hundred were killed or wounded. +Yet they might not rest, for all that night, assisted by the women, +they laboured, building stone walls across the narrowest parts of the +valley. Also the cattle, women and children were moved along the +gorge, which in shape may be compared to a bottle with two necks, one +at either end, and encamped in the opening of the second neck, where +was the spring of water. This spot was chosen both because here alone +water could be obtained, without which they could not hold out more +than a single day, and because the koppie whereon grew the strange- +looking euphorbia known as the Tree of Doom afforded a natural rampart +against attack. + +Shortly after dawn, while the soldiers were resting and eating of such +food as could be procured--for the most part strips of raw or half- +cooked meat cut from hastily killed cattle--the onslaught was renewed +with vigour, Hafela directing his efforts to the forcing of the +natural archway. But, strive as he would, this he could not do, for it +was choked with stones and thorns and guarded by brave men. + +"You do but waste your labour, Hafela," said Noma, who stood by him +watching the assault. + +"What then is to be done?" he asked, "for unless we come at them we +cannot kill them. It was clever of them to take refuge in this hole. I +thought surely that they would fight it out yonder, beneath the fences +of the Great Place." + +"Ah!" she answered, "you forgot that they had Hokosa on their side. +Did you then think to catch him sleeping? This retreat was Hokosa's +counsel. I learned it from the lips of that wounded captain before +they killed him. Now, it seems that there are but two paths to follow, +and you can choose between them. The one is to send a regiment a day +and a half's journey across the cliff top to guard the further mouth +of the valley and to wait till these jackals starve in their hole, for +certainly they can never come out." + +"It has started six hours since," said Hafela, "and though the +precipices are steep, having the moon to travel by, it should reach +the river mouth of the valley before dawn to-morrow, cutting Nodwengo +off from the plains, if indeed he should dare to venture out upon +them, which, with so small a force, he will not do. Yet this first +plan of yours must fail, Noma, seeing that before they starve within, +the generals of Nodwengo will be back upon us from the mountains, +catching us between the hammer and the anvil, and I know not how that +fight would go." + +"Yet, soon or late, it must be fought." + +"Nay," he answered, "for my hope is that should the /impi/ return to +find Nodwengo dead, they will surrender and acknowledge me as king, +who am the first of the blood royal. But what is your second plan?" + +By way of answer, she pointed to the cliff above them. On the right- +hand side, facing the archway, was a flat ledge overhanging the +valley, at a height of about a hundred feet. + +"If you can come yonder," she said, "it will be easy to storm this +gate, for there lie rocks in plenty, and men cannot fight when stones +are dropping on their heads." + +"But how can we come to that home of vultures, where never man has set +a foot? Look, the cliff above is sheer; no rock-rabbit could stand +upon it." + +With her eye Noma measured the distance from the brink of the +precipice to the broad ledge commanding the valley. + +"Sixty paces, not more," she said. "Well, yonder are oxen in plenty, +and out of their hides ropes can be made, and out of ropes a ladder, +down which men may pass; ten, or even five, would be enough." + +"Well thought of Noma," said Hafela. "Hokosa told us last night that +to him had passed the wisdom of the Messenger; but if this be so, I +think that to you has passed the guile of Hokosa." + +"It seems to me that some of it abides with him," answered Noma +laughing. + +Then the prince gave orders, and, with many workers of hides toiling +at it, within two hours the ladder was ready, its staves, set twenty +inches apart, being formed of knob-kerries, or the broken shafts of +stabbing spears. Now they lowered it from the top of the precipice so +that its end rested upon the ledge, and down it came several men, who +swung upon its giddy length like spiders on a web. Reaching this great +shelf in safety and advancing to the edge of it, these men started a +boulder, which, although as it chanced it hurt no one, fell in the +midst of a group of the defenders and bounded away through them. + +"Now we must be going," said Hokosa, looking up, "for no man can fight +against rocks, and our spears cannot reach those birds. Had the army +been taught the use of the bow, as I counselled in the past days, we +might still have held the archway; but they called it a woman's +weapon, and would have none of it." + +As he spoke another stone fell, crushing the life out of a man who +stood next to him. Then they retreated to the first wall, which had +been piled up during the night, where it was not possible to roll +rocks upon them from the cliffs above. This wall, and others reared at +intervals behind it, they set to work to strengthen as much as they +could, making the most of the time that was left to them before the +enemy could clear the way and march on to attack. + +Presently Hafela's men were through and sweeping down upon them with a +roar, thinking to carry the wall at a single rush. But in this they +failed; indeed, it as only after an hour's hard fighting and by the +expedient of continually attacking the work with fresh companies that +at length they stormed the wall. + +When Hokosa saw that he could no longer hold the place, but before the +foe was upon him, he drew off his soldiers to the second wall, a +quarter of a mile or more away, and here the fight began again. And so +it went on for hour after hour, as one by one the fortifications were +carried by the weight of numbers, for the attackers fought desperately +under the eye of their prince, caring nothing for the terrible loss +they suffered in men. Twice the force of the defenders was changed by +order of Nodwengo, fresh men being sent from the companies held in +reserve to take the places of those who had borne the brunt of the +battle. This indeed it was necessary to do, seeing that it was +impossible to carry water to so many, and in that burning valley men +could not fight for long athirst. Only Hokosa stayed on, for they +brought him drink in a gourd, and wherever the fray was fiercest there +he was always; nor although spears were rained upon him by hundreds, +was he touched by one of them. + +At length as the night fell the king's men were driven back from their +last scherm in the western half of the valley, across the open space +back upon the koppie where stood the Tree of Doom. Here they stayed a +while till, overmatched and outworn, they were pushed from its rocks +across the narrow stretch of broken ground into the shelter of the +great stone scherm or wall that ran from side to side of the further +neck of the valley, whereon thousands of women and such men as could +be spared had been working incessantly during the past night and day. + +It was as he retreated among the last upon this wall that Hokosa +caught sight of Noma for the first time since they parted in the house +of the Messenger. In the forefront of his troops, directing the +attack, was Hafela the prince, and at his side stood Noma, carrying in +her hand a little shield and a spear. At this moment also she saw him +and called aloud to him:-- + +"You have fought well, Wizard, but to-morrow all your magic shall +avail you nothing, for it will be your last day upon this earth." + +"Ay, Noma," he answered, "and yours also." + +Then of a sudden a company of the king's men rushed from the shelter +of the wall upon the attackers driving them back to the koppie and +killing several, so that in the confusion and gathering darkness +Hokosa lost sight of her, though a man at his side declared that he +saw her fall beneath the thrust of an assegai. Thus ended the second +day. + +Now when the watch had been set the king and his captains took counsel +together, for their hearts were heavy. + +"Listen," said Nodwengo: "out of five thousand soldiers a thousand +have been killed and a thousand lie among us wounded. Hark to the +groaning of them! Also we have with us women and children and sick to +the number of twelve thousand, and between us and those who would +butcher them every one there stands but a single wall. Nor is this the +worst of it: the spring cannot supply the wants of so great a +multitude in this hot place, and it is feared that presently the water +will be done. What way shall we turn? If we surrender to Hafela, +perhaps he will spare the lives of the women and children; but +whatever he may promise, the most of us he will surely slay. If we +fight and are defeated, then once his regiments are among us, all will +be slain according to the ancient custom of our people. I have +bethought me that we might retreat through the valley, but the river +beyond is in flood; also it is certain that before this multitude +could reach it, the prince will have sent a force to cut us off while +he himself harasses our rear. Now let him who has counsel speak." + +"King, I have counsel," said Hokosa. "What were the words that the +Messenger spoke to us before he died? Did he not say: 'Even now the +heathen is at your gates, and many of you shall perish on his spears; +but I tell you that he shall not conquer'? Did he not say: 'Be +faithful, cling to the Cross, and do not dare to doubt your Lord, for +He will protect you, and your children after you, and He will be your +Captain and you shall be His people'? Did he not bid you also to +listen to my counsel? Then listen to it, for it is his: Your case +seems desperate, but have no fear, and take no thought for the morrow, +for all shall yet be well. Let us now pray to Him that the Messenger +has revealed to us, and Whom now he implores on our behalf in that +place where he is to guide us and to save us, for then surely He will +hearken to our prayer." + +"So be it," said Nodwengo, and going out he stood upon a pillar of +stone in the moonlight and offered up his supplication in the hearing +of the multitude. + +Meanwhile, those of the camp of Hafela were also taking counsel. They +had fought bravely indeed, and carried the schanses; but at great +cost, since for every man that Nodwengo had lost, three of theirs had +fallen. Moreover, they were in evil case with weariness and the want +of water, as each drop they drank must be carried to them from the +Great Place in bags made of raw hide, which caused it to stink, for +they had but few gourds with them. + +"Now it is strange," said Hafela, "that these men should fight so +bravely, seeing that they are but a handful. There can be scarce three +thousand of them left, and yet I doubt not that before we carry those +last walls of theirs as many of us or more will be done. Ay! and after +they are done with, we must meet their great /impi/ when it returns, +and of what will befall us then I scarcely like to think." + +"Ill-fortune will befall you while Hokosa lives," broke in Noma. "Had +it not been for him, this trouble would have been done with by now; +but he is a wizard, and by his wizardries he defeats us and puts heart +into Nodwengo and the warriors. You, yourself, have seen him this day +defying us, not once but many times, for upon his flesh steel has no +power. Ay! and this is but the beginning of evil, for I am sure that +he leads you into some deep trap where you shall perish everlastingly. +Did he not himself declare that the power of that dead white worker of +miracles has fallen upon him, and who can fight against magic?" + +"Who, indeed?" said Hafela humbly; for like all savages he was very +superstitious, and, moreover, a sincere believer in Hokosa's +supernatural capacities. "This wizard is too strong for us; he is +invulnerable, and as I know well he can read the secret thoughts of +men and can suck wisdom from the dead, while to his eyes the darkness +is no blind." + +"Nay, Hafela," answered Noma, "there is one crack in his shield. Hear +me: if we can but catch him and hold him fast we shall have no need to +fear him more, and I think that I know how to bait the trap." + +"How will you bait it?" asked Hafela. + +"Thus. Midway between the koppie and the wall behind which lie the men +of the king stands a flat rock, and all about that rock are stretched +the bodies of dead soldiers. Now, this is my plan: that when next one +of those dark storm-clouds passes over the face of the moon six of the +strongest of our warriors should creep upon their bellies down this +way and that, as though they were also numbered with the slain. This +done, you shall despatch a herald to call in the ears of the king that +you desire to treat with him of peace. Then he will answer that if +this be so you can come beneath the walls of his camp, and your herald +shall refuse, saying that you fear treachery. But he must add that if +Nodwengo will bid Hokosa to advance alone to the flat rock, you will +bid me, Noma, whom none can fear, to do likewise, and that there we +can talk in sight of both armies, and returning thence, make report to +you and to Nodwengo. Afterwards, so soon as Hokosa has set his foot +upon the rock, those men who seem to be dead shall spring upon him and +drag him to our camp, where we can deal with him; for once the wizard +is taken, the cause of Nodwengo is lost." + +"A good pitfall," said the prince; "but will Hokosa walk into the +trap?" + +"I think so, Hafela, for three reasons. He is altogether without fear; +he will desire, if may be, to make peace on behalf of the king; and he +has this strange weakness, that he still loves me, and will scarcely +suffer an occasion of speaking with me to go past, although he has +divorced me." + +"So be it," said the prince; "the game can be tried, and if it fails, +why we lose nothing, whereas if it succeeds we gain Hokosa, which is +much; for with you I think that our arms will never prosper while that +accursed wizard sits yonder weaving his spells against us, and +bringing our men to death by hundreds and by thousands." + +Then he gave his orders, and presently, when a cloud passed over the +face of the moon, six chosen men crept forward under the lee of the +flat rock and threw themselves down here and there amongst the dead. + +Soon the cloud passed, and the herald advanced across the open space +blowing a horn, and waving a branch in his hand to show that he came +upon a mission of peace. + + + +CHAPTER XXI + +HOKOSA IS LIFTED UP + +"What would you?" asked Hokosa of the herald as he halted a short +spear-cast from the wall. + +"My master, the Prince Hafela, desires to treat with your master, +Nodwengo. Many men have fallen on either side, and if this war goes +on, though victory must be his at last, many more will fall. +Therefore, if any plan can be found, he desires to spare their lives." + +Now Hokosa spoke with the king, and answered:-- + +"Then let Hafela come beneath the wall and we will talk with him." + +"Not so," answered the herald. "Does a buck walk into an open pit? +Were the prince to come here it might chance that your spears would +talk with him. Let Nodwengo follow me to the camp yonder, where we +promise him safe conduct." + +"Not so," answered Hokosa. "'Does a buck walk into an open pit?' Set +out your message, and we will consider it." + +"Nay, I am but a common man without authority; but I am charged to +make you another offer, and if you will not hear it then there is an +end. Let Hokosa advance alone to that flat rock you see yonder, and +there he shall be met, also alone, by one having power to talk with +him, namely, by the Lady Noma, who was once his wife. Thus they can +confer together midway between the camps and in full sight of both of +them, nor, no man being near, can he find cause to be afraid of an +unarmed girl. What say you?" + +Hokosa turned and talked with the king. + +"I think it well that you should not go," said Nodwengo. "The offer +seems fair, and the stone is out of reach of their spears; still, +behind it may lurk a scheme to kill or capture you, for Hafela is very +cunning." + +"It may be so, King," answered Hokosa; "still, my heart tells me it is +wisest that I should do this thing, for our case is desperate, and if +I do it not, that may be the cause of the death of all of us +to-morrow. At the worst, I am but one man, and it matters little what +may chance to me; nor shall I come to any harm unless it is the will +of Heaven that it should be so; and be sure of this, that out of the +harm will arise good, for where I go there the spirit of the Messenger +goes with me. Remember that he bade you listen to my counsel while I +remain with you, seeing that I do not speak of my own wisdom. +Therefore let me go, and if it should chance that I am taken, trouble +not about the matter, for thus it will be fated to some great end. +Above all, though often enough I have been a traitor in the past, do +not dream that I betray you, keeping in mind that so to do would be to +betray my own soul, which very soon must render its account on high." + +"As you will, Hokosa," answered the king. "And now tell those rebel +dogs that on these terms only will I make peace with them--that they +withdraw across the mountains by the path which their women and +children have taken, leaving this land for ever without lifting +another spear against us. If they will do this, notwithstanding all +the wickedness and slaughter that they have worked, I will send +command to my /impi/ to let them go unharmed. If they will not do +this, I put my trust in the God I worship and will fight this fray out +to the end, knowing that if I and my people perish, they shall perish +also." + +Now Nodwengo himself spoke to the herald who was waiting beyond the +wall. + +"Go back to him you serve," he said, "and say that Hokosa will meet +her who was his wife upon the flat stone and talk with her in the +sight of both armies, bearing my word with him. At the sound of the +blowing of a horn shall each of them advance unarmed and alone from +either camp. Say to my brother also that it will indeed be ill for him +if he attempts treachery upon Hokosa, for the man who causes his blood +to flow will surely die, and after death shall be accursed for ever." + +The herald went, and presently a horn was blown. + +"Now it comes into my mind that we part for the last time," said +Nodwengo in a troubled voice as he took the hand of Hokosa. + +"It may be so, King; in my heart I think that it is so; yet I do not +altogether grieve thereat, for the burden of my past sins crushes me, +and I am weary and seek for rest. Yet we do not part for the last +time, because whatever chances, in the end I shall make my report to +you yonder"--and he pointed upwards. "Reign on for long years, King-- +reign well and wisely, clinging to the Faith, for thus at the last +shall you reap your reward. Farewell!" + +Now again the horn blew, and in the bright moonlight the slight figure +of Noma could be seen advancing towards the stone. + +Then Hokosa sprang from the wall and advanced also, till at the same +moment they climbed upon the stone. + +"Greeting, Hokosa," said Noma, and she stretched out her hand to him. + +By way of answer he placed his own behind his back, saying: "To your +business, woman." Yet his eyes searched her face--the face which in +his folly he still loved; and thus it came about that he never saw +sundry of the dead bodies, which lay in the shadow of the stone, begin +to quicken into life, and inch by inch to arise, first to their knees +and next to their feet. He never saw or heard them, yet, as the words +left his lips, they sprang upon him from every side, holding him so +that he could not move. + +"Away with him!" cried Noma with a laugh of triumph; and at her +command he was half-dragged and half-carried across the open space and +thrust violently over a stone wall into the camp of Hafela. + +Now Nodwengo and his soldiers saw what had happened, and with a shout +of "Treachery!" some hundreds of them leapt into the plain and began +to run towards the koppie to rescue their envoy. + +Hokosa heard the shout, and wrenching himself round, beheld them. + +"Back!" he cried in a clear, shrill voice. "Back! children of +Nodwengo, and leave me to my fate, for the foe waits for you by +thousands behind the wall!" + +A soldier struck him across the mouth, bidding him be silent; but his +warning had come to the ears of Nodwengo, causing him and his warriors +to halt and begin a retreat. It was well that they did so, for seeing +that they would not come on, from under the shelter of the wall and of +every rock and stone soldiers jumped up by companies and charged, +driving them back to their own schanse. But the king's men had the +start of them, and had taken shelter behind it, whence they greeted +them with a volley of spears, killing ten and wounding twice as many +more. + +Now it was Hokosa's turn to laugh, and laugh he did, saying:-- + +"My taking is well paid for already, Prince. A score of your best +warriors is a heavy price to give for the carcase of one weary and +aging man. But since I am here among you, captured with so much pain +and loss, tell me of your courtesy why I have been brought." + +Then the prince shook his spear at him and cursed him. + +"Would you learn, wizard and traitor?" he cried. "We have caught you +because we know well that while you stay yonder your magic counsel +will prevail against our might; whereas, when once we hold you fast, +Nodwengo will wander to his ruin like a blind and moonstruck man, for +you were to him both eyes and brain." + +"I understand," said Hokosa calmly. "But, Prince, how if I left my +wisdom behind me?" + +"That may not be," answered Hafela, "since even a wizard cannot throw +his thoughts into the heart of another from afar." + +"Ah! you think so, Prince. Well, ask Noma yonder if I cannot throw my +thoughts into her heart from afar: though of late I have not chosen to +do so, having put aside such spells. But let it pass, and tell me, +having taken me, what is it you propose to do with me? First, however, +I will give you for nothing some of that wisdom which you grudge to +Nodwengo the king. Be advised by me, Prince, and take the terms that +he offers to you--namely, to turn this very night and begone from the +land without harm or hindrance. Will you receive my gift, Hafela?" + +"What will happen if I refuse it?" asked the prince slowly. + +Now Hokosa looked at the dust at his feet, then he gazed upwards +searching the heavens, and answered:-- + +"Did not I tell you yesterday? I think that this will happen. I think +--but who can be quite sure of the future, Hafela?--that you and the +most of your army by this hour to-morrow night will be lying fast +asleep about this place, with jackals for your bedfellows." + +The prince heard and trembled at his words, for he believed that if he +willed it, Hokosa could prophesy the truth. + +"Accursed dog!" he said. "I am minded to be guided by your saying; but +be sure of this, that if I follow it, you shall stay here to sleep +with jackals, yes, this very night." + +Then Noma broke in. + +"Be not mad, Hafela!" she said. "Will you listen to the lies that this +renegade tells to work upon your fears? Will you abandon victory when +it lies within your grasp, and in place of a great king become a +fugitive whom all men mock at, an outcast to be hunted down at leisure +by that brother against whom you dared to rebel, but on whom you did +not dare to shut your hand when he lay in its hollow? Silence the +tongue of this captive rogue for ever and become a man again, with the +heart of a man." + +"Now," said Hokosa gently; "many would find it hard to believe that I +reared this woman from childhood, nursing her with my own hands when +she was sick and giving her of the best I had; that afterwards, when +you stole her from me, Prince, I sinned deeply to win her back. That I +married her and sinned yet more deeply to give her the greatness she +desired; and at last, of my own will, I loosed the bonds by which I +held her, although I could not thrust her memory from my heart. Yet I +have earned it all, for I made her the tool of my witchcraft, and +therefore it is just that she should turn and rend me. Well, if you +like it, take her counsel, Prince, and let mine go, for I care nothing +which you take; only, forgive me if I prophesy once more and for the +last time--I am sure that Nodwengo yonder spoke truth when he bade +your herald tell me that he who causes my blood to flow shall surely +die and for it be called to a strict account. Prince, I am a Christian +now, and believe me, whatever you may do, I seek no revenge upon you; +having been myself forgiven so much, in my turn I have learned to +forgive. Yet it may be ill for that man who causes my blood to flow." + +"Let him be strangled," said a captain who stood near by, "and then +there will be no blood in the matter." + +"Friend," answered Hokosa, "you should have been not a soldier but a +pleader of causes. True it is then that the prince will only cause my +life to fly, but whether that is a smaller sin I leave you to judge." + +"Keep him prisoner," said another, "till we learn how these matters +end." + +"Nay," answered Hafela, "for then he will surely outwit us and escape. +Noma, what shall we do with this man who was your husband? Tell us, +for you should know best how to deal with him." + +"Let me think," she answered, and she looked first at the ground +beneath her, next around her, then upwards toward the skies. + +Now they stood at the foot of the koppie, on the flat top of which +grew the great Tree of Doom, that for generations had served the +People of Fire as a place of execution of their criminals, or of those +who fell under the ban of the king or of the witch-doctors. Among and +above the finger-like fronds of this strange and dreadful-looking tree +towered that white dead limb shaped like a cross, which Owen had +pointed out to his disciple John, taking it to be a sign and a +promise. This cross stood out clear against the sinking moon. It +caught Noma's eye, and a devilish thought entered into her heart. + +"You would keep this fellow alive?" she said, "and yet you would not +suffer him to escape. See, there above you is a cross such as he +worships. Bind him to it as he says the Man whom he worships was +bound, and let that dead Man help him if he may." + +The prince and those about Noma shrank back a little in horror. They +were cruel men rendered more cruel by their superstitious fear of one +whom they believed to be uncanny; one to whom they attributed inhuman +powers which he was exercising to their destruction, but still this +doom seemed dreadful to them. Noma read their minds and went on +passionately:-- + +"You deem me unmerciful, but you do not know what I have suffered at +this wizard's hands. For his sake and because of him I am haunted. For +his own purposes he opened the gates of Distance, he sent me down +among the dwellers in Death, causing me to interpret their words for +him. I did so, but the dwellers came back out of Death with me, and +from that hour they have not left me, nor will they ever leave me; for +night by night they sojourn at my side, tormenting me with terrors. He +has told me that through my mouth that spirit whom he drew into my +body prophesied that he should be 'lifted up above the people.' Let +the prophecy be fulfilled, let him be lifted up, for then perchance +the ghosts will depart from me and I shall win peace and sleep. Also, +thus alone can you hold him safe and yet shed no blood." + +"Be it so," said the prince. "When we plotted together of the death of +the king, and as your price, Hokosa, you bargained for the girl whom I +had chosen to wife, did I not warn you that this witch of many spells, +who holds both our hearts in her little hands, should yet hound you to +death and mock you while you perished by an end of shame? What did I +tell you, Hokosa?" + +Now when he heard his fate, Hokosa bowed his head and trembled a +little. Then he lifted it, and exclaimed in a clear voice:-- + +"It is true, Prince, but I will add to your words. She shall bring +/both/ of us to death. For me, I am honoured indeed in that there has +been allotted to me that same end which my Master chose. To that cross +let my sins be fastened and with them my body." + +Now the moon sank, but in the darkness men were found who dared to +climb the tree, taking with them strips of raw hide. They reached the +top of it, four of them, and seating themselves upon the arms of the +cross, they let down a rope, the noose of which was placed about the +body of Hokosa. As it tightened upon him, he turned his calm and +dreadful eyes on to the eyes of Noma and said to her:-- + +"Woman, I do not reproach you; but I lay this fate upon you, that you +shall watch me die. Thereafter, let God deal with you as He may +choose." + +Now, when she heard these words Noma shrieked aloud, for of a sudden +she felt that the power of the will of Hokosa, from which she had been +freed by him, had once more fallen upon her, and that come what might +she was doomed to obey his last commands. + +Little by little the soldiers drew him up and in the darkness they +bound him fast there upon the lofty cross. Then they descended and +left him, and would have led Noma with them from the tree. But this +they could not do, for always she broke from them screaming, and fled +back to its shadow. + +Then, seeing that she was bewitched, Hafela commanded that they should +bind a cloth about her mouth and leave her there till her senses +returned to her in the sunlight--for none of them dared to stop with +her in the shadow of that tree, since the odours of it were poisonous +to man. Also they believed the place to be haunted by evil spirits. + + + +CHAPTER XXII + +THE VICTORY OF THE CROSS + +The sun rose suddenly over the edge of the cliffs, and while it was +yet deep shadow in the valley, its red light struck upon the white +cross of perished wood that towered above the Tree of Doom and on the +black shape of Hokosa crucified to it living. The camp of the king saw +and understood, and from every throat of the thousands of men, women +and children gathered there, went up a roar of rage and horror. The +king lifted his hand, and silence fell upon the place; then he mounted +on the wall and cried aloud:-- + +"Do you yet live, Hokosa, or is it your body only that those traitors +have fastened to the tree?" + +Back came the answer through the clear still air:-- + +"I live, O King!" + +"Endure then a little while," called Nodwengo, "and we will storm the +tree and save you." + +"Nay," answered Hokosa, "you cannot save me; yet before I die I shall +see you saved." + +Then his words were lost in tumult, for the third day's fighting +began. Desperately the regiments of Hafela rushing across the open +space, hurled themselves upon the fortifications, which, during the +night, had been strengthened by the building of two inner walls. Nor +was this all, for suddenly a cry told those in front that the regiment +which Hafela had despatched across the mountains had travelled up the +eastern neck of the valley, and were attacking the position in their +rear. Well was it for Nodwengo now that he had listened to the counsel +of Hokosa, and, wearied as his soldiers were, had commanded that here +also a great wall should be built. + +For two hours the fight raged, and then on either side the foe fell +back, not beaten indeed, though their dead were many, but to rest and +take counsel. But now a new trouble arose: from all the camp of +Nodwengo there went up a moan of pain to Heaven, for since the evening +of yesterday the spring had given out, and they had found no water +wherewith to wet their lips. During the night they bore it; but now +the sun beating down on the black rocks with fearful force scorched +them to the marrow, till they began to wither like fallen leaves, and +already wounded men and children died, while the warriors cut the +throats of oxen and drank their blood. + +Hokosa hanging on his cross heard this moaning and divined its cause. + +"Be of good comfort, children of Nodwengo," he cried; "for I will pray +that rain be sent upon you." And he lifted his head and prayed. + +Now, whether it was by chance or whether his prayer was heard, who can +say? At least it happened that immediately thereafter clouds began to +gather and to thicken in the blue of Heaven, and within two hours rain +fell in torrents, so that every one could drink his fill, and the +spring being replenished at its sources, flowed again strongly. + +After the rain came cold and moaning winds, and after the wind a great +gloom and thunder. + +Now, taking advantage of the shadow, the regiments of Hafela renewed +their attack, and this time they carried the first of the three walls, +for its defenders grew feeble and few in number. There they paused a +while, and save for the cries of the wounded and of frightened women, +the silence was great. + +"Let your hearts be filled up!" cried the voice of Hokosa through the +silence; "for the sunlight shines upon the plain of the Great Place +yonder, and in it I see the sheen of spears. The /impi/ travels to +your aid, O children of Nodwengo." + +Now, at this tidings the people of the king shouted for joy; but +Hafela called to his regiments to make an end of them, and they hurled +themselves upon the second wall, fighting desperately. Again and again +they were beaten back, and again and again they came on, till at +length they carried this wall also, driving its defenders, or those +who remained alive of them, into the third entrenchment, and paused to +rest awhile. + +"Pray for us, O Prophet who are set on high!" cried a voice from the +camp, "for if succour do not reach us speedily, we are sped." + +Before the echoes of the voice had died away, a flash of lightning +flared through the gloom, and in the light of it Hokosa saw that the +king's /impi/ was rushing up the gorge. + +"Fight on! Fight on!" he called in answer. "I have prayed to Heaven, +and your succour is at hand." + +Then, with a howl of rage, Hafela's regiments hurled themselves upon +the third and last entrenchment, attacking it at once in front and +rear. Twice they nearly carried it, but each time the wild scream of +Hokosa on high was heard above the din, conjuring its defenders to +fight on and fear not, for Heaven had sent them help. They fought as +men have seldom fought before, and with them fought the women and even +the children. They were few and the foe was still many, but they +listened to the urging of him whom they believed to be inspired in his +death-agony upon the cross above them, and still they held their own. +Twice portions of the wall were torn down, but they filled the breach +with the corpses of the dead, ay! and with the bodies of the living, +for the wounded, the old men and the very women piled themselves there +in the place of stones. No such fray was told of in the annals of the +People of Fire as this, the last stand of Nodwengo against the +thousands of Hafela. Now all the shouting had died away, for men had +no breath left wherewith to shout, only from the gloomy place of +battle came low groans and the deep sobbing sighs of warriors gripped +in the death-hug. + +"/Fight on! Fight on!/" shrilled the voice of Hokosa on high. "Lo! the +skies are open to my dying sight, and I see the /impis/ of Heaven +sweeping to succour you. /Behold!/" + +They dashed the sweat from their eyes and looked forth, and as they +looked, the pall of gloom was lifted, and in the golden glow of many- +shafted light, they saw, not the legions of Heaven indeed, but the +regiments of Nodwengo rushing round the bend of the valley, as dogs +rush upon a scent, with heads held low and spears outstretched. + +Hafela saw them also. + +"Back to the koppie," he cried, "there to die like men, for the +wizardries of Hokosa have been too strong for us, and lost is this my +last battle and the crown I came to seek!" + +They obeyed, and all that were left of them, some ten thousand men, +they ran to the koppie and formed themselves upon it, ring above ring, +and here the soldiers of Nodwengo closed in upon them. + +Again and for the last time the voice of Hokosa rang out above the +fray. + +"Nodwengo," he cried, "with my passing breath I charge you have mercy +and spare these men, so many of them as will surrender. The day of +bloodshed has gone by, the fray is finished, the Cross has conquered. +Let there be peace in the land." + +All men heard him, for his piercing scream, echoed from the +precipices, came to the ears of each. All men heard him, and, even in +that fierce hour of vengeance, all obeyed. The spear that was poised +was not thrown, and the kerry lifted over the fallen did not descend +to dash away his life. + +"Hearken, Hafela!" called the king, stepping forward from the ranks of +the attackers. "He whom you have set on high to bring defeat upon you +charges me to give you peace, and in the name of the conquering Cross +I give peace. All who surrender shall dwell henceforth in my shadow, +nor shall the head or the heel of one of them be harmed, although +their sin is great. One life only will I take, the life of that witch +who brought your armies down upon me to burn my town and slay my +people by thousands, and who but last night betrayed Hokosa to his +death of torment. All shall go free, I say, save the witch; and for +you, you shall be given cattle and such servants as will cling to you +to the number of a hundred, and driven from the land. Now, what say +you? Will you yield or be slain? Swift with your answer; for the sun +sinks, and ere it is set there must be an end in this way or in that." + +The regiments of Hafela heard, and shouted in answer as with one +voice:-- + +"We take your mercy, King! We fought bravely while we could, and now +we take your mercy, King!" + +"What say you, Hafela?" repeated Nodwengo, addressing the prince, who +stood upon a point of rock above him in full sight of both armies. + +Hafela turned and looked at Hokosa hanging high in mid-air. + +"What say I?" he answered in a slow and quiet voice. "I say that the +Cross and its Prophet have been too strong for me, and that I should +have done well to follow the one and to listen to the counsel of the +other. My brother, you tell me that I may go free, taking servants +with me. I thank you and I will go--alone." + +And setting the handle of his spear upon the rock, with a sudden +movement he fell forward, transfixing his heart with its broad blade, +and lay still. + +"At least he died like one of the blood-royal of the Sons of Fire!" +cried Nodwengo, while the armies stood silent and awestruck, "and with +the blood-royal he shall be buried. Lay down your arms, you who +followed him and fought for him, fearing nothing, and give over to me +the witch that she may be slain." + +"She hides under the tree yonder!" cried a voice. + +"Go up and take her," said Nodwengo to some of his captains. + +Now Noma, crouched on the ground beneath the tree, had seen and heard +all that passed. Perceiving the captains making their way towards her +through the lines of the soldiers, who opened out a path for them, she +rose and for a moment stood bewildered. Then, as though drawn by some +strange attraction, she turned, and seizing hold of the creeper that +clung about it, she began to climb the Tree of Doom swiftly. Up she +went while all men watched, higher and higher yet, till passing out of +the finger-like foliage she reached the cross of dead wood whereto +Hokosa hung, and placing her feet upon one arm of it, stood there, +supporting herself by the broken top of the upright. + +Hokosa was not yet dead, though he was very near to death. Lifting his +glazing eyes, he knew her and said, speaking thickly:-- + +"What do you here, Noma, and wherefore have you come?" + +"I come because you draw me," she answered, "and because they seek my +life below." + +"Repent, repent!" he whispered, "there is yet time and Heaven is very +merciful." + +She heard, and a fury seized her. + +"Be silent, dog!" she cried. "Having defied your God so long, shall I +grovel to Him at the last? Having hated you so much, shall I seek your +forgiveness now? At least of one thing I am glad--it was I who brought +you here, and with me and through me you shall die." + +Then, placing one foot upon his bent head as if in scorn, she leaned +forward, her long hair flying to the wind, and cursed Nodwengo and his +people, naming them renegades and apostates, and cursed the soldiers +of Hafela, naming them cowards, calling down upon them the malison of +their ancestors. + +Hokosa heard and muttered:-- + +"For your soul's sake, woman, repent! repent, ere it be too late!" + +"Repent!" she screamed, catching at his words. "Thus do I repent!" and +drawing the knife from her girdle, she leant over him and drove it +hilt-deep into his breast. + +Then with a sudden movement she sprang upwards and outwards into the +air, and rushing down through a hundred feet of space, was struck dead +upon that very rock where the corpse of Hafela lay. + +Now, beneath the agony of the life Hokosa lifted his head for the last +time, crying in a great voice:-- + +"Messenger, I come, be you my guide," and with the words his soul +passed. + +"All is over and ended," said a voice. "Soldiers, salute the king with +the royal salute." + +"Nay," answered Nodwengo. "Salute me not, salute the Cross and him who +hangs thereon." + +So, while the rays of the setting sun shone about it, regiment by +regiment that great army rushed past the koppie, and pausing opposite +to the cross and its burden, they rendered to it the royal salute of +kings. + +***** + +Then the night fell, and thus through the power of Faith that now, as +of old, is the only true and efficient magic, was accomplished the +mission to the Sons of Fire of the Saint and Martyr, Thomas Owen, and +of his murderer and disciple, the Wizard Hokosa. + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg Etext of The Wizard, by H. Rider Haggard + diff --git a/old/twzrd10.zip b/old/twzrd10.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..6f79a0b --- /dev/null +++ b/old/twzrd10.zip |