d as it sits to-day
and shall sit for ever. So the name of this people was changed, and the
king's Great Place was built where it now is.

"Since that day, Messenger, no hut has been burned and no man killed
in or about the Great Place by fire from heaven, which falls only here
where the god is, though away among the mountains and elsewhere men are
sometimes killed. But wait a while and you shall see with your eyes.
Hokosa, do you, whom the lightning will not touch, take that pole of
dead wood and set it up yonder in the crevice of the rock not far from
the figure of the god."

"I obey," said Hokosa, "although I have brought no medicines with me.
Perhaps," he added with a faint sneer, "the white man, who is so great a
wizard, will not be afraid to accompany me."

Now Owen saw that all those present were looking at him curiously.
It was evident they believed that he would not dare to accept the
challenge. Therefore he answered at once and without hesitation:--

"Certainly I will come; the pole is heavy for one man to carry, and
where Hokosa goes, there I can go also."

"Nay, nay, Messenger," said the king, "the lightning knows Hokosa and
will turn from him, but you are a stranger to it and it will eat you
up."

"King," answered Owen, "I do not believe that Hokosa has any power over
the lightning. It may strike him or it may strike me; but unless my God
so commands, it will strike neither of us."

"On your head be it, White Man," said Hokosa, with cold anger. "Come,
aid me with the pole."

Then they lifted the dead tree, and between them carried it into the
middle of the plain, where they set it up in a crevice of the rock. By
this time the storm was almost over them, and watching it Owen perceived
that the lightnings struck always along the bank of the stream,
doubtless following a hidden line of the bed of ironstone.

"It is but a very little storm," said Hokosa contemptuously, "such as
visit us almost every afternoon at this period of the year. Ah! White
Man, I would that you could see one of our great tempests, for these are
worth beholding. This I fear, however, that you will never do, seeing it
is likely that within some few minutes you will have passed back to that
King who sent you here, with a hole in your head and a black mark down
your spine."

"That we shall learn presently, Hokosa," answered Owen; "for my part, I
pray that no such fate may overtake you."

Now Hokosa moved himself away, muttering