w the prince sprang up.

"Take her!" he hissed; "take her! you, who are an evil ghost; you,
beneath whose eyes children wail, and at whose passing the hairs on the
backs of hounds stand up! Take her, priest of death and ill; but take my
curse with her! Ah! I also can prophecy; and I tell you that this
woman whom you have taught, this witch of many spells, whose glance can
shrivel the hearts of men, shall give you to drink of your own medicine;
ay, she shall dog you to the death, and mock you while you perish by an
end of shame!"

"What," laughed the wizard, "have I a rival in my own arts? Nay, Hafela,
if you would learn the trade, pay me well and I will give you lessons.
Yet I counsel you not; for you are flesh, nothing but flesh, and he who
would rule the air must cultivate the spirit. Why, I tell you, Prince,
that even the love for her who is my heart, the lady whom we both would
wed, partaking of the flesh as, alas! it does, has cost me half my
powers. Now let us cease from empty scoldings, and strike our bargain.

"Listen. On the last day of the feast, when all the regiments are
gathered to salute the king there in his Great Place according to
custom, you shall stand forth before the king and renounce Noma, and she
shall pass back to the care of my household. You yourself shall bring
her to where I stand, and as I take her from you I will put into your
hand a certain powder. Then you shall return to the side of the
king, and after our fashion shall give him to drink the bowl of the
first-fruits; but as you stir the beer, you will let fall into it that
powder which I have given you. The king will drink, and what he leaves
undrunk you will throw out upon the dust.

"Now he will rise to give out to the people his royal decree, whereby,
Prince, you are to be deposed from your place as heir, and your brother,
Nodwengo, is to be set in your seat. But of that decree never a word
shall pass his lips; if it does, recall your saying and take back the
lady Noma from where she stands beside me. I tell you that never a word
will pass his lips; for even as he rises a stroke shall take him, such
a stroke as often falls upon the fat and aged, and he will sink to the
ground snoring through his nostrils. For a while thereafter--it may be
six hours, it may be twelve--he shall lie insensible, and then a cry
will arise that the king is dead!"

"Ay," said Hafela, "and that I have poisoned him!"

"Why, Prince? Few know what is in yo