lever," said Noma with admiration, "but in it I see a
flaw. The woman will say that she had the drug from you, or, at the
least, will babble of her visit to you."

"Not so," answered Hokosa, "for on this matter the greatest talker in
the world would keep silence. Firstly, she, being a Christian, dare not
own that she has visited a witch-doctor. Secondly, the fruit she brought
in payment was stolen, therefore she will say nothing of it. Thirdly,
to admit that she had medicine from me would be to admit her guilt, and
that she will scarcely do even under torture, which by the new law it is
not lawful to apply. Moreover, none saw her come here, and I should deny
her visit."

"The plan is very clever," said Noma again.

"It is very clever," he repeated complacently; "never have I made a
better one. Now throw those fruits to the she goats that are in the
kraal, and burn the basket, while I go and talk to some in the Great
Place, telling them that I have returned from counting my cattle on the
mountain, whither I went after I had bowed the knee in the house of the
king."

*****

Two hours later, Hokosa, having made a wide detour and talked to sundry
of his acquaintances about the condition of his cattle, might have been
seen walking slowly along the north side of the Great Place towards his
own kraal. His path lay past the chapel and the little house that Owen
had built to dwell in. This house was furnished with a broad verandah,
and upon it sat the Messenger himself, eating his evening meal. Hokosa
saw him, and a great desire entered his heart to learn whether or no
he had partaken of the poisoned fruit. Also it occurred to him that it
would be wise if, before the end came, he could contrive to divert all
possible suspicion from himself, by giving the impression that he was
now upon friendly terms with the great white teacher and not disinclined
even to become a convert to his doctrine.

For a moment he hesitated, seeking an excuse. One soon suggested itself
to his ready mind. That very morning the king had told him not obscurely
that Owen had pleaded for his safety and saved him from being put upon
his trial on charges of witchcraft and murder. He would go to him, now
at once, playing the part of a grateful penitent, and the White Man's
magic must be keen indeed if it availed to pierce the armour of his
practised craft.

So Hokosa went up and squatted himself down native fashion among a
little group of converts who