come from beyond the sea; I am named Messenger, and my mission
is to deliver to you the saying of God, my King and--yours."

At these words a gasp of astonishment went up from those who stood
within hearing, expecting as they did to see them rewarded by instant
death. But Umsuka only said:--

"'My King and yours'? Bold words, Messenger. Where then is this King to
whom I, Umsuka, should bow the knee?"

"He is everywhere--in the heavens, on the earth, and below the earth."

"If He is everywhere, then He is here. Show me the likeness of this
King, Messenger."

"Behold it," Owen answered, thrusting forward the crucifix.

Now all the great ones about the king stared at this figure of a dying
man crowned with thorns and hanging on a cross, and then drew up their
lips to laugh. But that laugh never left them; a sudden impulse, a
mysterious wave of feeling choked it in their throats. A sense of the
strangeness of the contrast between themselves in their armed multitudes
and this one white-robed man in his loneliness took hold of them, and
with it another sense of something not far removed from fear.

"A wizard indeed," they thought in their hearts, and what they thought
the king uttered.

"I perceive," he said, "that you are either mad, White Man, or you are
a prince of wizards. Mad you do not seem to be, for your eyes are calm,
therefore a wizard you must be. Well, stand behind me: by-and-by I will
hear your message and ask of you to show me your powers; but before then
there are things which I must do. Are the lads ready? Ho, you, loose the
bull!"

At the command a line of soldiers moved from the right, forming itself
up in front of the king and his attendants, revealing a number of
youths, of from sixteen to seventeen years of age, armed with sticks
only, who stood in companies outside a massive gate. Presently this gate
was opened, and through it, with a mad bellow, rushed a wild buffalo
bull. On seeing them the brute halted, and for a few moments stood
pawing the earth and tearing it with its great horns. Then it put down
its head and charged. Instead of making way for it, uttering a shrill
whistling sound, the youths rushed at the beast, striking with their
sticks.

Another instant, and one of them appeared above the heads of his
companions, thrown high into the air, to be followed by a second and a
third. Now the animal was through the throng and carrying a poor boy on
its horn, whence presently he fell dead