three days later it was announced that according to the custom of thewomen of the people of fire, noma having given birth to a still-bornchild, was about to start upon a journey to the mount of purification.
here she would abide awhile and make sacrifice to the spirits of herancestors, that they might cease to be angry with her and in futureprotect her from such misfortunes. this not unusual domestic incidentexcited little comment, although it was remarked that the four matronsby whom she was to be accompanied, in accordance with the tribaletiquette, were all of them the wives of soldiers who had deserted tohafela. indeed, the king himself noticed as much when hokosa made thecustomary formal application to him to sanction the expedition.
"so be it," he said, "though myself i have lost faith in such rites.
also, hokosa, i think it likely that although your wife goes out withcompany, she will return alone.""why, king?" asked hokosa.
"for this reason--that those who travel with her have husbands yonderat the town of the prince hafela, and the mount of purification is onthe road thither. having gone so far, they may go farther. well, letthem go, for i desire to have none among my people whose hearts turnotherwhere, and it would not be wonderful if they should choose toseek their lords. but perchance, hokosa, there are some in this townwho may use them as messengers to the prince"--and he looked at himkeenly.
"i think not, king," said hokosa. "none but a fool would make use ofwomen to carry secret words or tidings. their tongues are too long andtheir memories too bad, or too uncertain.""yet i have heard, hokosa, that you have made use of women in many astrange work. say now, what were you doing upon a night a while agowith that fair witch-wife if yours yonder in the burying-place ofkings, where it is not lawful that you should set your foot? nay, denyit not. you were seen to enter the valley after midnight and to returnthence at the dawn, and it was seen also that as she came homewardsyour wife walked as one who is drunken, and she, whom it is not easyto frighten, wore a face of fear. man, i do not trust you, and were iwise i should hunt you hence, or keep you so close that you couldscarcely move without my knowledge.
"why should i trust you?" nodwengo went on vehemently. "can a wizardcease from wizardry, or a plotter from his plots? no, not until thewaters run upward and the sun shines at night; not until repentancetouches you and your heart is changed, which i should hold as much amarvel. you were my father's friend and he made you great; yet youcould plan with my brother to poison him, your king. nay, be silent; iknow it, though i have said nothing of it because one that is dear tome has interceded for you. you were the priest of the false god, andwith that god are fallen from your place, yet you have not renouncedhim. you sit still in your kraal and pretend to be asleep, but yourslumber is that of the serpent which watches his time to strike. howdo i know that you will not poison me as you would have poisoned myfather, or stir up rebellion against me, or bring my brother's /impis/on my head?""if the king thinks any of these things of his servant," answeredhokosa in a humble voice, but with dignity, "his path is plain: lethim put me to death and sleep in peace. who am i that i should fullthe ears of a king with my defence against these charges, or dare towrangle with him?""long ago i should have put you to death, hokosa," answered nodwengosternly, "had it not been that one has pleaded for you, declaring thatin you there is good which will overcome the evil, and that you whonow are an axe to cut down my throne, in time to come shall be a roof-tree for its support. also, the law that i obey does not allow me totake the blood of men save upon full proof, and against you as yet ihave no proof. still, hokosa, be warned in time and let your heart beturned before the grave claims your body and the wicked one yoursoul.""i thank you, king, for your gentle words and your tender care for mywell-being both on earth and after i shall leave it. but i tell you,king, that i had rather die as your father would have killed me in theold days, or your brother would kill me now, did either of them hateor fear me, than live on in safety, owing my life to a new law and anew mercy that do not befit the great ones of the world. king, i amyour servant," and giving him the royal salute, hokosa rose and lefthis presence.
"at the least there goes a man," said nodwengo, as he watched himdepart.
"of whom do you speak, king?" asked owen, who at that moment enteredthe royal house.
"of him whom you must have touched in the door-way, messenger, hokosathe wizard," answered the king, and he told him of what had passedbetween them. "i said," he added, "that he was a man, and so he is;yet i hold that i have done wrong to listen to your pleading and tospare him, for i am certain that he will bring bloodshed upon me andtrouble on the faith. think now, messenger, how full must be thatman's heart of secret rage and hatred, he who was so great and is nowso little! will he not certainly strive to grow great again? will henot strive to be avenged upon those who humbled him and the religionthey have chosen?""it may be," answered owen, "but if so, he will not conquer. i tellyou, king, that like water hidden in a rock there is good in thisman's heart, and that i shall yet find a rod wherewith to cause it togush out and refresh the desert.""it is more likely that he will find a spear wherewith to cause yourblood to gush out and refresh the jackals," answered the king grimly;"but be it as you will. and now, what of your business?""this, king: john, my servant, has returned from the coast countries,and he brings me a letter saying that before long three white teacherswill follow him to take up the work which i have begun. i pray thatwhen they come, for my sake and for the sake of the truth that i havetaught you, you will treat them kindly and protect them, rememberingthat at first they can know little of your language or your customs.""i will indeed," said the king, with much concern. "but tell me,messenger, why do you speak of yourself as of one who soon will be buta memory? do you purpose to leave us?""no, king, but i believe that ere long i shall be recalled. i havegiven my message, my task is well-nigh ended and i must be turninghome. save for your sakes i do not sorrow at this, for to speak truthi grow very weary," and he smiled sadly.
*****hokosa went home alarmed and full of bitterness, for he had neverguessed that the "servant of the messenger," as he called nodwengo theking, knew so much about him and his plans. his fall was hard to him,but to be thus measured up, weighed, and contemptuously forgiven wasalmost more than he could bear. it was the white prophet who had donethis thing; he had told nodwengo of his, hokosa's, share in the plotto murder the late king umsuka, though how he came to know of thatmatter was beyond guessing. he had watched him, or caused him to bewatched, when he went forth to consult spirits in the place of thedead; he had warned nodwengo against him. worst of all, he had daredto treat him with contempt; had pleaded for his life and safety, sothat he was spared as men spare a snake from which the charmer hasdrawn the fangs. when they met in the gate of the king's house yonderthis white thief, who had stolen his place and power, had even smiledupon him and greeted him kindly, and doubtless while he smiled, by aidof the magic he possessed, had read him through and gone on to tellthe story to the king. well, of this there should be an end; he wouldkill the messenger, or himself be killed.
when hokosa reached his kraal he found noma sitting beneath a fruittree that grew in it, idly employed in stringing beads, for the workof the household she left to his other wife, zinti, an old and homelywoman who thought more of the brewing of the beer and the boiling ofthe porridge than of religions or politics or of the will of kings. oflate noma had haunted the shadow of this tree, for beneath it lay thatchild which had been born to her.
"does it please the king to grant leave for my journey?" she asked,looking up.
"yes, it pleases him.""i am thankful," she answered, "for i think that if i bide here muchlonger, with ghosts and memories for company, i shall go mad," and sheglanced at a spot near by, where the earth showed signs of recentdisturbance.
"he gives leave," hokosa went on, taking no notice of her speech, "buthe suspects us. listen----" and he told her of the talk that hadpassed between himself and the king.
"the white man has read you as he reads in his written books," sheanswered, with a little laugh. "well, i said that he would be tooclever for you, did i not? it does not matter to me, for to-morrow igo upon my journey, and you can settle it as you will.""ay!" answered hokosa, grinding his teeth, "it is true that he hasread me; but this i promise you, that all books shall soon be closedto him. yet how is it to be done without suspicion or discovery? iknow many poisons, but all of them must be administered, and let himwork never so cunningly, he who gives a poison can be traced.""then cause some other to give it and let him bear the blame,"suggested noma languidly.
hokosa made no answer, but walking to the gate of the kraal, which wasopen, he leaned against it lost in thought. as he stood thus he saw awoman advancing towards him, who carried on her head a small basket offruit, and knew her for one of those whose business it was to waitupon the messenger in his huts, or rather in his house, for by now hehad built himself a small house, and near it a chapel. this woman sawhokosa also and looked at him sideways, as though she would like tostop and speak to him, but feared to do so.
"good morrow to you, friend," he said. "how goes it with your husbandand your house?"now hokosa knew well that this woman's husband had taken a dislike toher and driven her from his home, filling her place with one youngerand more attractive. at the question the woman's lips began totremble, and her eyes swam with tears.
"ah! great doctor," she said, "why do you ask me of my husband? haveyou not heard that he has driven me away and that another takes myplace?""do i hear all the gossip of this town?" asked hokosa, with a smile.
"but come in and tell me the story; perchance i may be able to helpyou, for i have charms to compel the fancy of such faithless ones."the woman looked round, and seeing that there was no one in sight, sheslipped swiftly through the gate of the kraal, which he closed behindher.
"noma," said hokosa, "here is one who tells me that her husband hasdeserted her, and who comes to seek my counsel. bring her milk todrink.""there are some wives who would not find that so great an evil,"replied noma mockingly, as she rose to do his bidding.
hokosa winced at the sarcasm, and turning to his visitor, said:--"now tell me your tale; but say first, why are you so frightened?""i am frightened, master," she answered, "lest any should have seen meenter here, for i have become a christian, and the christians areforbidden to consult the witch-doctors, as we were wont to do. for mycase, it is----""no need to set it out," broke in hokosa, waving his hand. "i see itwritten on your face; your husband has put you away and loves anotherwoman, your own half-sister whom you brought up from a child.""ah! master, you have heard aright.""i have not heard, i look upon you and i see. fool, am i not a wizard?
tell me----" and taking dust into his hand, he blew the grains thisway and that, regarding them curiously. "yes, it is so. last night youcrept to your husband's hut--do you remember, a dog growled at you asyou passed the gate?--and there in front of the hut he sat with hisnew wife. she saw you coming, but pretending not to see, she threw herarms about his neck, kissing and fondling him before your eyes, tillyou could bear it no longer, and revealed yourself, upbraiding them.
then your rival taunted you and stirred up the man with bitter words,till at length he took a stick and beat you from the door, and thereis a mark of it upon your shoulder.""it is true, it is too true!" she groaned.
"yes, it is true. and now, what do you wish from me?""master, i wish a medicine to make my husband hate my rival and todraw his heart back to me.""that must be a strong medicine," said hokosa, "which will turn a manfrom one who is young and beautiful to one who is past her youth andugly.""i am as i am," answered the poor woman, with a touch of naturaldignity, "but at least i have loved him and worked for him for fifteenlong years.""and that is why he would now be rid of you, for who cumbers his kraalwith old cattle?""and yet at times they are the best, master. wrinkles and smooth skinseem strange upon one pillow," she added, glancing at noma, who camefrom the hut carrying a bowl of milk in her hand.
"if you seek counsel," said hokosa quickly, "why do you not go to thewhite man, that messenger in whom you believe, and ask him for apotion to turn your husband's heart?""master, i have been to him, and he is very good to me, for when i wasdriven out he gave me work to do and food. but he told me that he hadno medicine for such cases, and that the great man in the sky alonecould soften the breast of my husband and cause my sister to ceasefrom her wickedness. last night i went to see whether he would do it,and you know what befell me there.""that befell you which befalls all fools who put their trust in wordsalone. what will you pay me, woman, if i give you the medicine whichyou seek?""alas, master, i am poor. i have nothing to offer you, for when iwould not stay in my husband's kraal to be a servant to his new wife,he took the cow and the five goats that belonged to me, as, i beingchildless, according to our ancient law he had the right to do.""you are bold who come to ask a doctor to minister to you, bearing nofee in your hand," said hokosa. "yet, because i have pity on you, iwill be content with very little. give me that basket of fruit, for mywife has been sick and loves its taste.""i cannot do that, master," answered the woman, "for it is sent by myhand as a present to the messenger, and he knows this and will eat ofit after he has made prayer to-day. did i not give it to him, it wouldbe discovered that i had left it here with you.""then begone without your medicine," said hokosa, "for i need suchfruit."the woman rose and said, looking at him wistfully:--"master, if you will be satisfied with other fruits of this same sort,i know where i can get them for you.""when will you get them?""now, within an hour. and till i return i will leave these in pledgewith you; but these and no other i must give to the messenger, for hehas already seen them and might discover the difference; also i havepromised so to do.""as you will," said hokosa. "if you are with the fruit within an hour,the medicine will be ready for you, a medicine that shall not fail."
