“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.”