Robin Hood

octrinepoint by point; for although they might be savages, these people werevery keen-witted and subtle. Very patiently did Owen sow, and atlength to his infinite joy he also gathered in his first

s which you set upon the paper, and to make themalso as does John your servant?""Certainly," answered Owen; "if you will come to me at noon to-morrow,we wil

t here baptised?""He is.""Then if he who is a common man can be baptised, why may not I who ama prince?""In baptism," answered Owen, "there is no distinction between the

hn for awitness, he baptised the prince, giving him the n

you have come hither to bring, 'not peace but asword.' Now when the witch-doctors and the priests of fire learn this,that he whom I have chosen to succeed me has become the servant ofanother faith, they will stir up the soldiers and there will be civilwar. I pray you, therefore, keep the matter secret, at any rate

e,your brother Hafela will come from the northern mountains, and t

f rock," answered Owen. "'Letnot your heart be troubled,' for my Master can protect His servants,and He will protect you. But first you must confess Him openly, asyour son has done.""Nay, I am too old to hurry," said the king with a sigh. "Your taleseems full of promise to one who is near the grave; but how can I knowthat it is more than a dream? And shall I abandon the worship of myfathers and change, or strive to change, the customs of my people tofollow afte

known God. That hehad forsworn war and all the delights of men; that he would take butone wife and appear before the army, not in the uniform of a general,but clad in a white robe, and carry, not the broad spear, but a crossof wood. Swiftly the strange story flew from mouth to mouth, yet itwas not altogether believed t

hat day theymade ribald songs about him in the camp. But on the morrow when theylearned how that the man whom the prince spared had been seized by alion and taken away as he sat at night with his companions in thebivouac, his mouth full of boasting of his own

wife? Ofthe heads of kraals, how they would grow wealthy when their daughtersceased to be worth cattle? Of the councillors and generals, how theland could be protected from its foes when they were commanded to laydown the spear? Of the soldiers, whose only trade w

to share with the human occupants any hutthat it might select. As a result of this enforced hospitality deathsfrom snake-bite were numerous among the people; but when they happenedin a kraal its owners met with little sympathy, for the doctorsexplained that the real cause of them was the anger of some ancestralspirit towards his descendants. Now, before John was desp

n your wife?""A snake," gasped John, "a green snake of the worst sort."Then Owen remembered the superstition, and snatching blue-stone andspirits of wine from his medicine chest, he rushed to John'

he asked when at lengt

answered John, pointing to a s

at you who are aChristian should still believe so horrible a superstition. Does yourfaith teach you that the souls of men enter into snakes?"Now John hung his head; then snatching a kerry, he t

great hubbub outside his kraal, and goingto see what was the matter, he found a party of the witch-doctorsdragging John towards the place of judgment, which was by the king'shouse. Thither he followed to discover that the case was already incourse of being opened before the king, his council, and a vastaudience of the peo

to say?" asked

o free.""The king's will is the law," replied Hokosa bitterly; "but if the lawwere the king's will, the decision would be otherwise. This man hasslain, not a snake, but that which held the spirit of an ancestor, andfor the deed he deserves to die. Hearken, O King, for the business islarger than it seems. How are we to be governed henceforth? A

d expel you and restore theancient laws, or failing this, that you should prove your power openlybefore us all. Your word, O King!"Umsuka thought for a while and answered:--"This is my word, Hokosa: I will not drive the Messenger from theland, for he is a good man; he saved my life, and there is virtue inhis teaching, towards which I myself incline. Yet it is just that heshould be asked to prove his power, so that an end may be put to doubtand all of us may learn what god we are to worship.""How can I prove my power," asked Owen,

man whom youhave named John, if they dare to go. Over against you, around thesymbol of the god by which we swear, will stand I and my company, andwe will pray our god and you shall pray your God. Then the storm willbreak upon us, and when it is ended we shall learn which of us remainalive. If you and your cross are shattered, to us will be the victory;if we are laid low, take it for your own. Your judgment, King!"Again Umsuka thought and answered:--"So be it. Messenger, hear me. There is no need for you to accept thischallenge; but if you will not accept it, then go from my country inpeace, taking