"Messenger, I do believe," answered the prince humbly.

Then Owen was very joyful, and that same night, with John for a witness,
he baptised the prince, giving him the new name of Constantine, after
the first Christian emperor.

On the following day Nodwengo, in the presence of Owen, who on this
point would suffer no concealment, announced to the king that he had
become a Christian. Umsuka heard, and for a while sat silent. Then he
said in a troubled voice:--

"Truly, Messenger, in the words of that Book from which you read to us,
I fear that you have come hither to bring, 'not peace but a sword.' Now
when the witch-doctors and the priests of fire learn this, that he whom
I have chosen to succeed me has become the servant of another faith,
they will stir up the soldiers and there will be civil war. I pray you,
therefore, keep the matter secret, at any rate for a while, seeing that
the lives of many are at stake."

"In this, my father," answered the prince, "I must do as the Messenger
bids me; but if you desire it, take from me the right of succession and
call back my brother from the northern mountains."

"That by poison or the spear he may put all of us to death, Nodwengo!
Be not afraid; ere long when he learns all that is happening here, your
brother Hafela will come from the northern mountains, and the spears of
his _impis_ shall be countless as the stars of the sky. Messenger, you
desire to draw us to the arms of your God--and myself, I am at
times minded to follow the path of my son Nodwengo and seek a refuge
there--but say, will they be strong enough to protect us from Hafela and