Omaha daily bee., 1896-08-09
MNl8NNN
CHAPTER ".
THE VISION,

he was gazing into the dense intolerable
blackness of the night. Then marvel
came to Iass for the blackness opened,
or rather on It, framed and surrounded by
Il; there appeared a vision. 1t was the
vision OF a native town, having a great
bare space in the center of 1t encircled
by hundreds and thousands of huts. But
there was no one stirring about the huts
for II was niEht-not this his night of trial
indeed, since now the sky was strewn with
innumerable stars. Everything was silent
about that town, save that and again
dog barked or a fretful child walled with
In a hut, the sentries as they passed
saluted each other in the name OF the king
Among all those hundreds of huts, to
Owen II seemed that his attention was di-
rected to- one which stood apart with a
fence about II. Now the interior of the
hut opened itself to him 1t was not
lighted, yet with his spirit sense he could
see its every detail; the polished floor, the
skin rugs the beer gOurds, the shields and
spears. the roof tree of redwood, and the
dried lizard hanging from the thatch,
charm to ward off evil. In this hut, seated
face to face, half way between the center
post and the door hole, were two men.
The darkness was deep about them, and
they whispered to each other through it; but
in his dream 1t was no bar to owens sight.
He could discern their faces clearly. One
was that of man of about 80 years of age.
In stature he was almost a giant. He wore
kaross of leopard skins, and on his wrists
and ankles weres, rings of ivory the royal
ornaments His face was fierce and power
ful; his eyes, which were set far apart,
rolled so much that at times they seemed
all white, and his fingers played nervously
with the handle of a spear that he carried
in his right hand. His companion was of
different stamp; man of not less than
SO years. he was tall and spare in figure,
with delcately shaped hands and feet. His
hair and little beard were tinged with gray,
his face was strikingly handsome, nervous,
and expressive, and his forehead both broad
and high But more remarkable still were
his eyes, which were of a piercing bright
ness. almost gray in color, steady as the
flame of well-trimmed lamp, and so cold
that they might have been precious stones
set in the head of statue.
Must then put your thoughts in
words?' said this man in clear, quick
whisper. We'll, so be it. for / am weary
of sitting here in the dark waiting for water
that will not flow. Listen, prince; you come
to talk to me of the death of king-is 1t
not so? Nay. do not start Why are you
affrighted when you hear the plot upon
the lips of another, that these many months
has been familiar to your breast?"
Truly, Hokosa you are the best of wiz
ards, or the worst" answered the great man,
huskily. yet this you are mistaken"
he added, with change of voice. II came
but to ask you for a charm to turn my
fathers heart" F~"
ITO dust? Prince, II am mistaken,
why am the best of wizards or the worst
: and why did your jaw drop and your face
change at my words and why do you even
now;touch your dry lips with your tongue? E?
Yes, Know That 1t is dark here, yet some
can see in 1t. and l am one of them Ay,
Prince and can see your thoughts also. You
would be rid of your father; he has lived
too long. Moreover. his love turns to Nod
wengo, the good and gentle, and perhaps
who can say ?-it is even in his mind, when
all his regiments are about him two days
hence, to declare that you. Prince, are de-
posed, and that your brother, Nodwengo,
shall be king in your stead. Now, Nodwengo
you cannot kill; he is too well loved and too
wull guarded. If he died suddenly his dead
lips would call out Murderi' in the ears of
all men; and, Prince, all eyes would turn to
you. who alone could profit by his end. But
II the King should chance to die-why, he is
old, is he not? and such things happen to the
old also he grows feeble, and will not
suffer the regiments to be doctored for war,
though day by day they clamor to be led
to battle, for he seeks TO end his years in
peace.
~ say that you speak folly" answered the
Prince with vehemence.
Then, of the great one, why should
you waste time in listening to me? Fare
well Hafela, the Prince first born of the
King. who in day to come shall carry the
shield of NodwengO, for he is good and gem
lie, and will spare your life--if beg 1t of
him
Hafea stretched out his hand through the
darkness and caught Holiosa by the wrist.
'' Stay" he whispered, lit is true. The
King must die, for If he does not die within
three days / shall cease to be his heir.
know 1t through my spies. He is angry with
me, he hates me- and he loves Nodwengo
and the mother of Nodwengo. But if he
dies before the last day OF the festival, then
that decree viii never pass his lips, and the
regiments Will never out the name of
Nodwengo as the name of the King to come.
He must die, | tell you, Hokosa, and by
your hand"
"By my hand, Prince, Nay, what have
you to offer me in return for such deed
this? Have | not grown up In Umsuka s
7 shadow and shall i cut down the tree that
shades me?"
What have I to offer you? This; that
next to myself you shall be the greatest in
the land Hokosa,"
that must always he. L. who am the chief
of wizards; l. the reader OF mems hearts; |,
the hearer OF mems thoughts; |. the lord of
the air and the lightning l, the invulnera-
Bile! II you would murder, Prince. then do
the deed do II knowing that | have your
secret. and that henceforth you who rule
shall be my servant. Nay, you forget that
can see In the dark; lay down that assegai.
, or, by my spirit prince as you are, / win
blast You with spell, and your body shall
would murder his king and father!'
The Prince heard and shook his cheeks
sank In, the muscles of his great form
seemed to collapse, and he sroyeled on the
floor OF the hut
II know your magic" he groaned; "use IT
for me, not against me! What Is there that
can offer you, who have everything ex-
cept the throne whereon you cannot sit.
seeing that you are not of the blood royal ?''
'rhink,' said Hokosa.
For a while the Prince thought till pres
emily his form Strengthened itself and with
quick movement he lifted up his head.
us it, perchanoe. my afiianced wife?" he
whispered; ''the Lady Mona, whom | love,
and who, according to our custom, / shall
wed as the Queen to be after the feast of
first fruits? OH say II not Hokosa"
II say It," answered the wizard. Lis
ten, Prince. The lady Mona is the only
child OF my blood brother. my friend, with
whom was brought up, he who was slain
at my side in the great war with the tribes
Of the north. She was my ward she was
more: for through her-ah! you know NOT
howl held my converse with the things
OF earth and air. the spirits that watch us
now In this darkness. iiafela Thus IL
happened that. before ever she was woman.
her mind grew greater than the mind of
any other woman, and her thought became
my thought, and my thought became her
thought. for ! and 10 other am her master
Still waited TO wed her tin she was fully
grown, and while waited wen. upon an