Robin Hood

an audible answer to its prayer? Does the promise uttered bythe Master of mankind upon the eve of the end--"Whoso that believethin Me, the w

s Owen, andof that strange man who carried on and completed

found sittings in it, and doubtless they haddone so when Busscombe was a large manufacturing town, before thefailure of the coal supply and other causes drove away its trade. Nowit was much what it had been in the time of the Normans, a l

arge missionary societies to arouse the indifferent toa sense of duty towards their unconverted black brethren in Africa,and incidentally to collect cash to be spent in the conversion of thesaid brethren. The Rev. Thomas

y best, and I must makeit up out of my own pocket

be said that his discourse was remarkable forinterest, at any rate in its beginning. Doubtless the sparsecongregation, so prone to slumber, discouraged him; for offeringexhortations to empty benches is but weary wor

onary of manyyears standing. He told how once he and a companion had been sent to anation, who named themselves the Sons of Fire because their god wasthe lightning, if indeed they could be said to boast any gods otherthan the Spear and the King. In simple l

be forgenerations, seeing that they live in Central Africa, occupying aterritory that white men do not desire--no missionary will dare againto visit them."At this moment something caused him

e were put to it," thought theDeputati

a man of taste whichhe had the means to gratify. Also, although they were alone, thedinner was good--so good that the po

the matter?

hen, of a sudden thawing

you. Don't think too hardly of me; I have alarge family to support, and if only you knew

n it. And I have worked,ay, until my health is broken. A labourer indeed! I am a very hodman,a spiritual Sisyphus. And now I must go back to carry my load and rollmy stone again and

ght lead thatlife and attain that death, then you would think differently. But whyshould I bore you with such talk? Thank Heaven that your lines arecast in pleasant places. Yes, please, I will

le. For this people was an awful people: vigorous in mind andbody, and warriors from generation to generation, but superstition-ridden and cruel

them are ther

villy enough; and on a given day wewere requested to explain to the king and the Council of Wizards thereligion which we came to teach. All that day we explained and all thenext--or rather my friend did, for I knew very little

and, was a wizard such as we are, though grater thanwe are; for not only did He know the past and the future as we do, butalso He could cure those who were smitten with hopeless sickness, andraise those who were dead, w

fore us, one who had been convicte

him!' sai

uffle, a flashing of spears, a

od,' said Hokosa, 'raise him fr

id we offer

ks as He gives power to do to those who have faithin Him. Out of your own mouths are you judged, White Men. Choose whichhorn of the bull you will, you hang to one of them, and it shallpierce you. This is the sentence

the message of peace,and though they are a people of warriors, yet they thank them for thatmessage, for in itself it sounds good and beautiful in their ears, ifit be true. Tell them that having proved you liars, they dealt withyou as all honest men seek that liars should be dealt with. Tell themthat they desire to

an to his guest, "theman Hokosa was right, and the Christian who of a truth believes thepromises of our religion should trust to them and go.""T

n sta

"And now perhaps you wish to go t