is 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 strengthles