Robin Hood

ld receivehim whenever it pleased him to come. He answered that he would be withhim before noon, for already he had learned tha

go theprince, and Hokosa, his mouth and prophet. Although the day was hot,he wore a kaross or rug of wild catskins, and his face showed that theeffects of the poisoned draught were still upon him. At the approachof Owen he rose with something of an effort, and, shaking

ast, hasforbidden me to speak of its secret. I saved you, it is enough; forthe rest, the past is the past, and I come to deal with t

could raise the dead and work othermiracles, and gave such powers to His servants. So a man was slain andwe begged of him to bring him back to life; and since he could not, wekilled him also because he was a liar.""He was no liar," said Owen; "since he never told you that he hadpower to open the mouth of the grave. Still, Heaven is merciful, andalthough you murdered him that was sent to you, his Master has chosenme to follow in his footsteps. Me also you may murder if you will, andthen another and another; but still the messengers shall come, till atlast your ears are opened and you listen. Only, for such deeds yourpunishment must be heavy.""What is the message, White Man?""A message of peace, of forgiveness, and of life beyond the grave, oflife everlasting. Listen, King. Yesterday you were near to death; saynow, had you stepped over the edge of it, where would you be thisday?"Umsu

miserably upon a cross?"

rifice men might become

have agod? Can we desert one god and set up another?""What god, King?""I will show him to you, Whit

ion grewscantily, for here the bed rock of ironstone, denuded with frequentand heavy rains, was scarcely hidden by a thin crust of earth. On thefurther side of the plain, however, and separated

ouse of the god,

in its centre. Presently they halted,and, pointing to this mass, the king said:--"Behold the god!"Owen advanced and examined the object. A glance told him that this godof the Amasuka was a meteoric stone of unusual size. Most of suchstones are mere shapeless lumps, but this one b

eam and I will tell you, Messenger," answeredthe king, again glancing at the sky. "The storm gathers, and when itbreaks none are safe upon this plain except the heaven

uch people: and at length in a great tempestthe house of the king of that day was smitten and burned, and hiswives and children were turned to ashes. Then that king held a councilof his wizards and fire-doctors, and these having consulted thespirits of their forefathers, retired into a place apart to fast andpray; yes, it was in yonder valley, the buryin

anks ofyonder stream, and I will fall down in fire from heaven, and there onthe plain you shall find my image. Then let your king move his GreatPlace into the valley beneath the plain, and hence

tempestburst over them, and in the midst of that tempest they saw the flamingfigure of a man descend from heaven, and when he touched the earth itshook. The morning came and there upon the plain befo

among the mountains and elsewhere menare sometimes killed. But wait a while and you shall see with youreyes. Hokosa, do you, whom the lightning will not touch, take tha

kosa goes, there I can go also.""Nay, nay, Messenger," said the king, "the lightning knows Hokosa andwill turn from him, but you are a stranger to it and it will eat youup.""King," answered Owen, "I do not believe that Hokosa has any powerover the lightning. It may strike him or it may strike me; but unlessmy God so commands, it will strike neither of us.""On your head be it, White Man,"

hat King who sent you here, with a hole in your head and ablack mark down your spine.""That we shall learn presently, Hokosa," answered Owen; "for my part,I pray that no such fate may overtake you."Now Hokosa moved himself away, muttering and pointing with hisfingers, but Owen remained standing within about thirty yards of thepole. Suddenly there cam

ch afraid, and did not in the least enjoy standingupon an ironstone plateau at the imminent risk of being destroyed bylightning. But even if he had not had an end to gain, he would havescorned to give way to his hum

im. Yet you havedone it; it was Hokosa who was driven away. You have passed the trialby fire, and henceforth, whether we refuse your message or accept it,you are great in this land.""There is no need to praise me, King," answered Owen. "The risk issomething;

ly noflashes fell. I am not a magician, King, but I know some things thatyou do not know, and I trust in One whom I shall lead you to trustalso.""We will talk of this more hereafter," said the king hurriedly, "forone day, I have heard and seen enough. Also I do not believe yourwords, for I have noted ever that those who are the greatest wizardsof all say continually that they have no magic power. Hokosa, you havebeen famous in your day, but it seems tha

t in his hut working at

r was opened an

e great; we have the spirit sight;we know that there are things beyond the things we see and hear andfeel; whereas, for the rest, they are fools, following the fleshalone. I have spoken.""Very gladly will I show you my magic, Hokosa," answ

s, poverty and humility; todeny your flesh, and to make yourself small in the sight of men, thatso perchance you

r it," answered Owen. And the wiza