Omaha daily bee., 1896-08-09

Take her. priest of death and evil: but take
my curse with her! All! / also can proph
esy; and ! tell you that this woman whom
you have taught this witch of many spells
whose glance can shrivel the hearts Of men,
shall give you to drink OF your own medl-
cine; ay, she shall dog you to death, and
mock you while you perish by an end of
shamew
What" laughed the wizard "have I a
rival in my arts? Nay, Hafela, If you
would learn the trade, pay me well and
will give you lessons. Yet ] counsel you
not: for you are flesh. nothing but fesh
and he who would rule the air must cultivate
the spirit. Why i tell you, Prince, that
even the love for her who is my heart
the lady whom we both would wed, par
taking of the flesh as, alas! it does, has
cost me half my powers. Now let us cease
from empty words, and strike our bargain.
Listen. On the last day of the feast
when all the regiments are gathered to sa-
lutte the King there in his Great Place ac-
cording to custom you shall stand forth
before the King and renounce Mona, and
she shall pass back to the care of my house
hold. You yourself shall bring her to where
l stand, and / take her from you | will
put into your hand certain powder Then
you shall return to the side of the King,
and after our fashion shall give him to
drink the bowl of the frst-fruits. but as
you stir the beer you will let fall into II
that powder which | have given you. The
King Will drink, and what he leaves un-
drunk you will throw out upon the dust.
Now he will rise to give out to his people
the royal decree, whereby Prince, you are
to be deposed from your place heir, and
your brother Nodwengo is to be set in
your place. But of that decree never a
! word shall pass his lips; II it does, recall
your saying and take back the lady Mona
| from where she stands beside me. l tell you
that never a word shall pass his lips; for
even he rises a stroke shall take him,
such stroke as often falls upon the fat
| and aged. and he shall sink to the ground
snoring through his nostrils. For while
thereafter--it may be six hours, it may be
| twelve-he shall lie insensible, and then a
cry will arise that the King is dead"
"Ay." said Hafela, land that / have
poisoned himv'
"Why. Prince? Few know what is in
your fathers mind, and with those, being
King, you Will be able to deal. Also this is
the virtue OF the poison which choose
that 1t is swift yet the symptoms of IL are
the symptoms OF a natural sickness. But
that your safety and mine may be assured
have made yet another plan, though there
will be little need of it. You were present
two days since when a runner came from
the white man who sojourns beyond our
border, he who seeks to teach us, the Chill
dren of Fire, new faith, and gives out that
he Is the messenger OF the King OF Heaven.
This runner asked leave for the white man
the Kings name, gave him leave. But l
warned his servant that II his master came
sign should be required of him to show
that he was true man and had OF the
wisdom OF the King OF Heaven; and that II
he failed therein. then that he should die
as that white liar died who visited us In by
gone years. Now | have ordered that
this white man, passing through the Valley
of Death yonder, shall reach the Great
Place not long before the King drinks of the
cup OF the irst-fruits. Then II any think
that something out OF natural has hap
pened to the King, they will surely think
also that this strange prayer doctor has
wrought It, Then also l will call for sign
from the white man, praying OF him TO re-
cover the King of his sickness and when
he falls he shall be slain as a worker of
spells and the false prophet of a false god,
and so we shall be rid of him and his new
faith. and you shall be cleared of doubt lis
not the plan good, Prince?"
TT is very good, Hokosa-save for one
thing only"
For what thing?"
This: The white man who Is named
Messenger might chance TO be a true
prophet of true god. and TO recover the
King"
"oho. let him do it, If he can; but 10 do
H. hrst he must know the poison and its
autluoie- There is but one, and 1t is known
10 me only OF all men In this land When
he done that. then /. yes, even /, Ho-
KOS VIII begin TO inquire concerning this
20 lf his, who shows himself so mighty
III tne person OF his messenger" And he
iaushed low ana seornmlly. prince fare
Wen! | so forth alone whittier you dare
not follow at this hour, to seek that which
we shall need. One word-think not 20
play NE false, sr to cheat me OF my price;