me mischief, but the fierce look quickly passed
away, and he went on in gentle, measured tones--

"Waroonga tells me that the Book of the Great Father says, those who
become Christians must love each other: therefore we must no more hate,
or quarrel, or fight, or kill--not even our enemies."

There was evident surprise on every face, and a good deal of decided
shaking of heads, as if such demands were outrageous.

"Moreover, it is expected of Christians that they shall not revenge
themselves, but suffer wrong patiently."

The eyebrows rose higher at this.

"Still more; it is demanded that we shall _forgive_ our enemies. If we
become Christians, we must open our arms wide, and take the Raturans to
our hearts!"

This was a climax, as Ongoloo evidently intended, for he paused a long
time, while loud expressions of dissent and defiance were heard on all
sides, though it was not easy to see who uttered them.

"Now, warriors, women and children, here I am--a Christian--who will
join me?"

"I will!" exclaimed Wapoota, stepping forward with several idols in his
arms, which he tossed contemptuously into the temple.

There was a general smile of incredulity among the warriors, for Wapoota
was well known to be a time-server: nevertheless they were mistaken, for
the jester was in earnest this time.

Immediately after that, an old, white-headed warrior, bent nearly double
with infirmity and years, came forward and acted as Wapoota had done.
Then, turning to the people, he addressed them in a weak, trembling
voice. There was a great silence, for this was the patriarch of the
tribe; had been a lion-like man in his youth, and was greatly respected.

"I join the Christians," he said, slowly. "Have I not lived and fought
for long--very long?"

"Yes, yes," from many voices.

"And what good has come of it?" demanded the patriarch. "Have not the
men of the Mountain fought with the men of the Swamp since the Mountain
and the Swamp came from the hand of the Great Father?" (A pause, and
again, "Yes, yes," from many voices.) "And what good has come of it?
Here is the Mountain; yonder is the Swamp, as they were from the
beginning; and what the better are we that the swamp has been flooded
and the mountain drenched with the blood of our fathers? Hatred has
been tried from the beginning of time, and has failed. Let us now, my
children, try Love, as the Great Father counsels us to do."

A murmur of decided applause followed