of us to death, Nodwengo!
Be not afraid; ere long when he learns all that is happening here, your
brother Hafela will come from the northern mountains, and the spears of
his _impis_ shall be countless as the stars of the sky. Messenger, you
desire to draw us to the arms of your God--and myself, I am at
times minded to follow the path of my son Nodwengo and seek a refuge
there--but say, will they be strong enough to protect us from Hafela and
the warriors of the north? Already he gathers his clans, and already
my captains desert to him. By-and-by, in the spring-time--may I be dead
before the day--he will roll down upon us like a flood of water----"

"To fall back like waters from a wall of rock," answered Owen. "'Let not
your heart be troubled,' for my Master can protect His servants, and He
will protect you. But first you must confess Him openly, as your son has
done."

"Nay, I am too old to hurry," said the king with a sigh. "Your tale
seems full of promise to one who is near the grave; but how can I know
that it is more than a dream? And shall I abandon the worship of my
fathers and change, or strive to change, the customs of my people to
follow after dreams? Nodwengo has chosen his part, and I do not blame
him; yet, for the present I beseech you both to keep silence on this
matter, lest to save bloodshed I should be driven to side against you."

"So be it, King," said Owen; "but I warn you that Truth has a loud
voice, and that it is hard to hide the shining of a light in a dark
place, nor does it please my Lord to be denied by those who confess
Him."

"I am weary," replied the old king, and they saluted him and went.

In obedience to the wish of Umsuka his father, the conversion of
Nodwengo was kept secret, and yet--none knew how--the thing leaked out.
Soon the women in their huts, and the soldiers by their watch-fires,
whispered it in each other's ears that he who was appointed to be
their future ruler had become a servant of the unknown God. That he had
forsworn war and all the delights of men; that he would take but one
wife and appear before the army, not in the uniform of a general, but
clad in a white robe, and carry, not the broad spear, but a cross of
wood. Swiftly the strange story flew from mouth to mouth, yet it was not
altogether believed till it chanced that one day when he was reviewing a
regiment, a soldier who was drunk with beer openly insulted the prince,
calling him "a coward who worshipped a