my victory? The strongest law must be the best law, is it not so? Tell
me, Little Flower, would it please you if I died a Christian?"

"Yes, very much," said Tabitha, fixing upon this point at once and by
instinct avoiding all the other very doubtful disputations. "I will
bring my father."

"Nay, nay, Little Flower. Your father, the Teacher Tombool, swore in his
wrath that he would not come to visit me even if I lay dying, and now
that I am dying he shall keep his oath and repent of it day by day till
he too is dying. If I am to die a Christian, you must make me one this
moment; _you_ and no other. Otherwise I go hence a heathen as I have
lived. If you bring your father here I will die at once before he can
touch me, as I have power to do."



Then Tabitha, who although so young had strength and understanding and
knew, if she thwarted him, that Menzi would do as he threatened, took
water and made a certain Sign upon the brow of that old witch-doctor,
uttering also certain words that she had often heard used in church at
baptisms.

Perhaps she was wrong; perhaps she transgressed and took too much upon
her. Still, being by nature courageous, she ran the risk and did these
things as afterwards Ivana testified to the followers of Menzi.

"Thank you, Little Flower," said Menzi. "I do not suppose that this
Christian magic will do me any good, but that you wished it is enough.
It will be a rope to tie us together, Little Flower. Also I have another