When Owen heard that it was Hokosa who had poisoned him, he groanedand hid his face in his hands, and thus he remained till the evil talewas 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 Thouhast been pleased to lead this sinner towards the Gate ofRighteousness, and to save alive those whom Thou hast sent me togather to Thy Fold."Then he looked at Hokosa and said:--"Unhappy man, is not your cup full enough of crime, and have you notsufficiently tempted the mercy of Heaven, that you would add to allyour evil deeds that of self-murder?""It is better to die to-day by my own hand," answered Hokosa, "thanto-morrow among the mockery of the people to fall a victim to yourvengeance, Messenger.""Vengeance! Did I speak to you of vengeance? Who am I that I shouldtake vengeance upon one who has repented? Hokosa, freely do I forgiveyou all, even as in some few days I hope to be forgiven. Freely andfully from my heart do I forgive you, nor shall my lips tell one wordof 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 ittouched the teacher's feet, he burst into bitter weeping.
"Rise and hearken," said Owen gently. "Weep not because I have shownkindness to you, for that is my duty and no more, but for your sins inyour own heart weep now and ever. Yet for your comfort I tell you thatif you do this, of a surety they shall be forgiven to you. /Hokosa,you have indeed lost that which you loved, and henceforth you mustfollow after that which you did not desire. In the very grave of erroryou have found truth, and from the depths of sin you shall pluckrighteousness. Ay, that Cross which you deemed accursed shall lift youup 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 setthem Who teaches us to speak all things that are good.""It must be so, indeed," replied Hokosa. "Yet I have heard thembefore; I have heard them from the lips of the dead, and with themwent 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 youto find truth in the pit of sorcery. Obey, obey, and let your heart beturned. The dead told you that you should be set high above the nationand its king, and that saying I cannot read, though it may befulfilled in some fashion of which to-day you do not think. At theleast, the other saying is true, that in the end comes judgment, andthat there shall the sin and the atonement strive together; thereforefor judgment prepare yourself. And now depart, for I must talk withthe king as to this matter of the onslaught of Hafela.""Then, that will be the signal for my death, for what king can forgiveone who has plotted such treachery against him?" said Hokosa.
"Fear not," answered Owen, "I will soften his heart. Go you into thechurch and pray, for there you shall be less tempted; but before yougo, swear to me that you will work no evil on yourself.""I swear it, Messenger, since now I desire to live, if only forawhile, seeing that death shuts every door."Then he went to the church and waited there. An hour later he wassummoned, and found the king seated with Owen.
"Man," said Nodwengo, "I am told by the Messenger here that you haveknowledge of a plot which my brother the Prince Hafela has made tofall treacherously upon me and put me and my people to the spear. Howyou come to be acquainted with the plot, and what part you have playedin it, I will not now inquire, for so much have I promised to theMessenger. Yet I warn you it will be well that you should tell me allyou know, and that should you lie to me or attempt to deceive me, thenyou shall surely die.""King, hear all the truth," answered Hokosa in a voice of desperatecalm. "I have knowledge of the plot, for it was I who wove it; butwhether or not Hafela will carry it out altogether I cannot say, foras yet no word has reached me from him. King, this was the plan that Imade." And he told him everything.
"It is fortunate for you, Hokosa," said Nodwengo grimly when he hadfinished, "that I gave my word to the Messenger that no harm shouldcome to you, seeing that you have repented and confessed. This iscertain, that Hafela has listened to your evil counsels, for I gave myconsent to his flight from this land with all his people, and alreadyhis women and children have crossed the mountain path in thousands.
Well, this I swear, that their feet shall tread it no more, for wherethey are thither he shall go to join them, should he chance to live todo so. Hokosa, begone, and know that day and night you will bewatched. Should you so much as dare to approach one of the gates ofthe Great Place, that moment you shall die.""Have no fear, O King," said Hokosa humbly, "for I have emptied all myheart before you. The past is the past, and cannot be recalled. Forthe future, while it pleases you to spare me, I am the most loyal ofyour servants.""Can a man empty a spring with a pitcher?" asked the kingcontemptuously. "By to-morrow this heart of yours may be full againwith the blackest treachery, O master of sin and lies. Many months agoI spared you at the prayer of the Messenger; and now at his prayer Ispare 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 withme, 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 isturned from evil to good; also, there is little need to murder a dyingman.""Nay, speak not so," said the king hastily; "and as for this man, beit as you will. Come, I must take counsel with my captains, for ourdanger 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 thousandspears had started to ambush Hafela and his force in a certain woodeddefile through which he must pass on his way to the mountain passwhere his women and children were gathered. The army was not large, atleast in the eyes of the People of Fire who, before the death ofUmsuka and the break up of the nation, counted their warriors by tensof thousands. But after those events the most of the regiments haddeserted to Hafela, leaving to Nodwengo not more than two-and-twen............