“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.