forbidden me to speak of its secret. I saved you, it is enough; for the
rest, the past is the past, and I come to deal with the present and the
future."

"This white man keeps his word," thought Hokosa to himself, and he
looked at him thanking him with his eyes.

"So be it," answered the king; "after all, it is wise not to stir a
dung-heap, for there we find little beside evil odours and the nests of
snakes. Now, what is your business with me, and why do you come from the
white man's countries to visit me? I have heard of those countries, they
are great and far away. I have heard of the white men also--wonderful
men who have all knowledge; but I do not desire to have anything to do
with them, for whenever they meet black people they eat them up, taking
their lands and making them slaves. Once, some years ago, two of you
white people visited us here, but perhaps you know that story."

"I know it," answered Owen; "one of those men you murdered, and the
other you sent back with a message which he delivered into my ears
across the waters; thousands of miles away."

"Nay," answered the king, "we did not murder him; he came to us with the
story of a new God who could raise the dead and work other miracles, and
gave such powers to His servants. So a man was slain and we begged of
him to bring him back to life; and since he could not, we killed him
also because he was a liar."

"He was no liar," said Owen; "since he never told you that he had power
to open the mouth of the grave. Still, Heaven is merciful, and although
you murdered him that was sent to you, his Master has chosen me to