answered Hokosa boldly.

"It was so," repeated Owen; "therefore, according to your law your life
is forfeit, seeing that you dug a pit to snare the innocent feet. But
I come to tell you of a new law, and that which I preach I practise.
Hokosa, I pardon you, and if you will put aside your evil-doing, I
promise you that no word of all your wickedness shall pass my lips."

"It has not been my fashion to take a boon at the hand of any man, save
of the king only," said the wizard in a humble voice; "but now it seems
that I am come to this. Tell me, White Man, what is the payment that you
seek of me?"

"None, Hokosa, except that you cease from evil and listen with an open
heart to that message which I am sworn to deliver to you and to all your
nation. Also you would do well to put away that fair woman whose price
was the murder of him that fed you."

"I cannot do it," answered the wizard. "I will listen to your teaching,
but I will not rob my heart of her it craves alone. White Man, I am not
like the rest of my nation. I have not sought after women; I have but
one wife, and she is old and childless. Now, for the first time in my
days, I love this girl--ah, you know not how!--and I will take her, and
she shall be the mother of my children."

"Then, Hokosa, you will take her to your sorrow," answered Owen
solemnly, "for she will learn to hate you who have robbed her of royalty
and rule, giving her wizardries and your grey hairs in place of them."

And thus for that night they parted.