vermastering
passion. It came to this, then: he must go forward, and against his
better judgment, because he was afraid to go back, for the whip of
a woman's tongue drove him on remorselessly. It was better that the
Messenger should die, and the land run red with blood, than that he
should be forced to endure this scourge.

So with a sigh Hokosa sank back to the ground and watched while Owen ate
three of the poisoned fruits. After a pause, he took a fourth and bit
into it, but not seeming to find it to his taste, he threw it to a child
that was waiting by the verandah for any scraps which might be left over
from his meal. The child caught it, and devoured it eagerly.

Then, smiling at the little boy's delight, the Messenger called to
Hokosa to come up and speak with him.

CHAPTER XV

NOMA COMES TO HAFELA

Hokosa advanced to the verandah and bowed to the white man with grave
dignity.

"Be seated," said Owen. "Will you not eat? though I have nothing to
offer you but these," and he pushed the basket of fruits towards him,
adding, "The best of them, I fear, are already gone."

"I thank you, no, Messenger; such fruits are not always wholesome at
this season of the year. I have known them to breed dysentery."

"Indeed," said Owen. "If so, I trust that I may escape. I have suffered
from that sickness, and I think that another bout of it would kill me.
In future I will avoid them. But what do you seek with me, Hokosa? Enter
and tell me," and he led the way into a little sitting-room.

"Messenger," said the wizard, with deep humility, "I am a proud man; I
have been a great man, and it is no light thing to me to humble myself
before the face of my conqueror. Yet I am come to this. To-day when I
was in audience with the king, craving a small boon of his graciousness,
he spoke to me sharp and bitter words. He told me that he had been
minded to put me on trial for my life because of various misdoings which
are alleged against me in the past, but that you had pleaded for me
and that for this cause he spared me. I come to thank you for your
gentleness, Messenger, for I think that had I been in your place I
should have whispered otherwise in the ear of the king."

"Say no more of it, friend," said Owen kindly, "We are all of us
sinners, and it is my place to push back your ancient sins, not to drag
them into the light of day and clamour for their punishment. It is true
I know that you plotted with the Prince Hafela to p