Then the king was led away into the royal house, and save those who were
quartered in it, the regiments passed one by one through the gates of
the kraal, singing their war-songs as they went. Darkness fell upon the
Great Place, and through it parties of men might be seen dragging thence
the corpses of those who had fallen in the fight with sticks, or been
put to death thereafter by order of the king.

"Messenger," said Hokosa, bowing before Owen, "be pleased to follow
me." Then he led him to a little kraal numbering five or six large and
beautifully made huts, which stood by itself, within its own fence, at
the north end of the Great Place, not far from the house of the king.
In front of the centre hut a fire was burning, and by its light women
appeared cleaning out the huts and bringing food and water.

"Here you may rest in safety, Messenger," said Hokosa, "seeing that
night and day a guard from the king's own regiment will stand before
your doors."

"I do not need them," answered Owen, "for none can harm me till my hour
comes. I am a stranger here and you are a great man; yet, Hokosa, which
of us is the safest this night?"

"Your meaning?" said Hokosa sharply.

"O man!" answered Owen, "when in a certain hour you crept up the valley
yonder, and climbing the Tree of Death gathered its poison, went I not
with you? When, before that hour, you sat in yonder hut bargaining with
the Prince Hafela--the death of a king for the price of a girl--was I
not with you? Nay, threaten me not--in your own words I say it--'lay
down that assegai, or by my spirit your body shall be thrown to the