rewd, for he limited the
number of wives by a property qualification, and because of which he,
above all men, was favoured by his wealth. Nor could I fail to admire,
though it was plain that power had turned his head, and he would not be
satisfied till all the power and all the wealth rested in his own hands.
So he became swollen with pride, forgot it was I that had placed him
there, and made preparations to destroy me.

"But it was interesting, for the beggar was working out in his own way an
evolution of primitive society. Now I, by virtue of the _hooch_
monopoly, drew a revenue in which I no longer permitted him to share. So
he meditated for a while and evolved a system of ecclesiastical taxation.
He laid tithes upon the people, harangued about fat firstlings and such
things, and twisted whatever twisted texts he had ever heard to serve his
purpose. Even this I bore in silence, but when he instituted what may be
likened to a graduated income-tax, I rebelled, and blindly, for this was
what he worked for. Thereat, he appealed to the people, and they,
envious of my great wealth and well taxed themselves, upheld him. 'Why
should we pay,' they asked, 'and not you? Does not the voice of God
speak through the lips of Moosu, the shaman?' So I yielded. But at the
same time I raised the price of hooch, and lo, he was not a whit behind
me in raising my taxes.

"Then there was open war. I made a play for Neewak and Tummasook,
because of the traditionary rights they possessed; but Moosu won out by
creating a priesthood and giving them both high office. The problem of
authority presented itself to him, and he worked it out as it has often
been worked before. There was my mistake. I should have been made
shaman, and he chief; but I saw it too late, and in the clash of
spiritual and temporal power I was bound to be worsted. A great
controversy waged, but it quickly became one-sided. The people
remembered that he had anointed me, and it was clear to them that the
source of my authority lay, not in me, but in Moosu. Only a few faithful
ones clung to me, chief among whom Angeit was; while he headed the
popular party and set whispers afloat that I had it in mind to overthrow
him and set up my own gods, which were most unrighteous gods. And in
this the clever rascal had anticipated me, for it was just what I had
intended--forsake my kingship, you see, and fight spiritual with
spiritual. So he frightened the people with