Omaha daily bee., 1896-10-04

Two hourS march away, rs ambushed. 10
morrow you and all your people would have
been cut off there had | not run so fast and
far to warn you,, after which the impis OF
Nodwengo were commanded to follow your
women and cattle oyer the mountain pass
and capture them
This is news, indeed" said the Prince.
Say, now how many regiments are hidden
in the gorge?" ...d
Eight"
We'll I have fourteen; so, being warned,
there is little To fear. | viii catch these
rats in their own hole"
"I have a better plan" said Mona; 'it is
this: Leave siN2regiments posted upon the
brow of yonder hill and let them stay there,
for then when the Generals of the NodWengo
see that they do not enter the gorge they
will believe that the ambush is discovered
and, after waiting for one day or perhaps
two will move out to give battle, thinking
that before them is all your strength but
command your regiments to run ana not 10
fight, drawing the army of Nodwengo altel
them. Meanwhile, yes. this very nlsht, you
yourself. with all the men that are LETT to
you, must march upon the Great race
which, though it be strong, can be stormed'
for it is defended by less than 5,OOO soldlers'
There, having taken it, you shall say NOD
wengo, prcclaimng yourself king, and after
ward, by the help of the impt that you leaVe
here which will march outward to your
succor. you can deal with yondor army
"a great scheme, truly" said lafela. In
admiration, "but how do know whether all
this tale is true, or whether you do but set
a snare for me?"
bid scouts go out and creep into yonder
gully" answered Mona, and you Will see
whether or no | have spoken falsely. tOr
the rest, | am in your hands, and IL lie
you can take my life in payment
"If | march upon the Great Place 1t must
be at midnight, when none see me go, SAID
Hafela, ''and what will you do then, Mona.
who are too weary to travel again so soon? 2.
81 will be borne in litter till my strength
comes back to me-" she answered. Ana
now give me to eat and let me rest while
| may
Five hours later Hafela, with the most OF
his army. force Of something over 2O,OOV
men, was journeying swiftly, but by cir
cuitous route. toward the Great Place OF
the King. On the crest of the hill racing
the gorge, as Mona had suggested, ne lett
six regiments, with instructions to lily be-
fore Nodwengo's generals, and when they
had led them far enough, to follow him as
swiftly as they were able. These orders,
or rather. the first part of them, they car
ried out, for, as it chanced, after two days
fight, the Kings soldiers got behind them
by night march, and falling on them at
dawn, killed half of them and dispersed
the rest. Then it was that Nodwengos
generals learned for the first time that
5 BIaJBH 10 SulM quo SuIMoUoJ DION h9ql
army only. while the main body was striking
at the heart of the kingdom, and turned
their faces homeward in fear and haste.
Un .ne morning ter the flight of Noma
Owen passed into the last stage Of his sick
ness, and it became evident, both to him
self and to those who watched him, that
at the most he could not live for more than
few days For his part, he accepted his
doom joyfully. Spending the time which
was left to him in writing letters that were
to be forwarded TO England whenever an
opportunity should arise, and in setting
down on paper a statement OF the prln-
cipal events of his strange mission, and
other information for the guidance of his
white successors who by now should be
drawing near to the land Of the Amasuka
In the intervals of these last labors from
time to time he summoned the King ana
tho wisest and trustiest of those whom he
had baptized to his bedside, teaching them
what they should do when he was gone and
exhorting them to cling to the faith.
On the afternoon of the fourth day from
that of the baptism of Hokosa he fell into
a quiet sleep, from which he did not wake
till sundown.
"Am still here?" he asked wondering,
of John and Hokosa. who watched at his
bedside From my dreams l thought that
to the King and ask of him to assemble
the people. all Who care to come, in the
open place before my house Tor am ABOUT
to die, and first would. speak with them"
ing Owen and Hokosa alone.
Tell me now what shall do?' asked
Hokosa in a voice of despair, seeing that
It is l and no other who have brought th:s
death upon you.'
Fret not. my brother" answered Owen,
'for this and other things you did in the
days OF your blindness and it was per-
mitted that you should do them to an end.
Knee down now, that | may absolve you
from your sins before / pass away; for |
tAl,N hot N
days are over you must walk on the path
travel tonight"
us it SOP" Hokosa answered. well, l
am glad, for have no longer any lust o.
life"
Then he krelt down and received the
Now John returned and Nodwengo with
him. who told him that the people were
gathering in hundreds according to his
wish.
'Then clothe me in my robes and let
us 90 forth" he said, for l would speak
my last words in the ears of men,
So they put the surplice and hood upon
his wasted form and went out, John pre-
cedng him, holding on high the ivory cru
clnx, while the King and Hokosa supported
him, one on either side.
without his gate stood a low wooden
platform whence at time Owen had been |
accustomed to address any congregation lar |
ger than the church would contain. On |
this platform ne TOOK MS seat. lne NEON |
was bright above him, and by it he coulG |
see that already his audience numbered |
some thousands of men, women and chill |
dren. The news had spread that the Won
derful white man, Messenger, wished 10
take his farewell of the nation, though |
even now many did not understand that he |
was dying but imagined that he was about |
to leave the country, or, for aught they |
knew, to vanish from their sight into |
heaven. For moment Owen looked at
the sea CT dusky faces. then, in low
voice indeed but clear and steady
"My children" he said, hear my last
words to you. Three years ago in a far
far land and upon such night as this, |
a Voice spoke to me from above, command !
ing me to seek you out. to turn you from
your idolatry and to tighten your darkness. |
listened to the voice. and hlther | jour
neyed across sea and land, though how this
hing might be done [ could not guess. But
to Him Who sent me all things are pos
sible. and while | yet fingered upon the
threshold of your country, In dream were
revealed to me events that were to come.
So | appeared before you boldly, and know
ing that he had been poisoned and that !
could cure him, I-drew back your King
from the mouth sof Adeath and you said to
Behold wizard indeed! Let
us hear him. Oh Ia
"Then | gave battle to your sorcerers
yonder upon the plain, and from the foot
of the Cross r teach the lightnings were
rolled back upon them and they were not,
Look now their chief stands at my side,
among my disciples one of the foremost
and most faithful. Afterward troubles