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