The sun., 1896-08-02
THE WIZARD.
by II. RIDER HAGGARD.
Author OF "sho.""Aiisn ouatermain," King Solo
mons Minos.r 90.
Copyright, 1896, bp II. Rider Hdopdrd
CHAPTER I.
THE DEPUTATIoN.

ems An huulDl0 hntWoE W lta DEhyoEt booo
tho promise uttered by the Master of mankind
upon tho eve Of the end: who 90 that be-
lieveth on Me, the works that do he shall do
also and Whatsoever .ye shall ask in
My name. that will do" still hold good to
such as do ask and do believer
Let those who study the history of the Rev.
Thomas Owen. and of that strange man that
carried .on and completed his work, answer
this question according to thsir Judgment.
Tho time was . Sunday afternoon in sum
NOR, and the place church In the midland
counties. It was beautiful church. ancient
and spacious; moreover, IL had recently been
restored at great cost. Seven or eight hundred
people could have found slttinGs in IL. and
doubtless they had done 80 when Busscombe
was q largo manufacturing town, before the
failure OF the coal supply and other causes
drove away its trade. Now II was much what
it had been in the time OF the Nnrmans.
little agricultural village with n population
of 800 souls. Out of this population. includ-
ing the choir boys. exactly thirty-nine had
elected to attend church on this particular
Sunday, and OF these three were fast asleep
and four were dozng. The Rev. Thomas
Owen counted them from his seat in the chan
eel. for another clergyman was preaching,
and. as he counted, bitterness and disappoint-
ment took hold of him. The preacher was
"Deputation," sent by one OF the largo mis-
sionary societies to arouse the Indifferent TO
n sense of their duty toward their unconverted
black brethren in Africa and incidentally to
collect cash 10 be spent in the conversion of
the said brethren. Tho Rev. Thomas Owen
had himself suggested the visit OF the Deputa-
ticn. and labored hard to secure him a good
audience. But the beauty of the weather, or
terror Of tho inevitable subscription, had pre-
vailed. Hence his disappointment.
ali " bo With hor
done my best, and l must make It up out OF
my own pocket"
Then he settled himself to listen to the SER
mon.
The preacher was battered looking indi-
vidual of between so and go years of age. gaunt
with recent sickness, patient and unimagina-
Tive In aspect. He preached extemporarily,
with the aid of notes: and Il cannot be said
that his discourse was remarkable for interest
at any rate in its beginning. Doubtless the
sparse congregation, so prone TO slumber, dis
couraged him; for Offering exhortRtions to
empty benches issbut weary work. Indeed. he
was meditatns the advisability of bringing his
argument. to an abrupt conclusion, whom,
phancinR to glance round, he became aware that
he had at least one sympathetic listener. his
host. the Rev. Thomas Owen. From that mo-
ment the sermon improved by degrees. till at
length it reached really high level of excel
lence. Ceasing from rhetoric, tho preacher
began to tell OF his own experiences and suffer-
lngs in the Cause among savage tribes; for he
himself was q missionary of many years stand
Tag. He told how once he and q companion
lad been sent to nation, who named them
selves the Sons of Fire, because their god was
the lightning, If indeed they could be said to
hoast any gods other than the Spear and the
King. In simple language he narrated his ter
rible adventures among these savages, the muir
.ler of his companion by com mand of the Coun-
Gil of Wizards, and his own flight for his life, a
tale so interesting and vivid that even tn bu-
eolic sleepers awakened and listened OPEN
mouthed.
But this is by tho way" he went on: for
my society does not ask you to subscribe to-
ward the conversion of the Children of Fire.
Until that people Is conquered, which very
likely will not be for generations, seeing that
they live in Central Africa, occupying terri
tory that white men do not desire. no mis-
sionary will dare again to visit them
At this moment something caused him to
look q second time at Thomas Owen He was
leaning forward in his place listening eagerly.
and a strange light filed the large, dark eyes
that shone In the palor of his delicate and
nervous face.
There is a man who would dare, II he were
put to It," thought the Deputation TO himself.
Inen ne enueO MS sermon.
That evening the two men sat ~ dinner In
the rectory. 1t was very fine rectory, beauti-
fully furnished; for Owen was man of taste
and had the means to crafty It, Also. al
though they were alone, the dinner was oOd-
DO good that the poor broken down missionary
slipping his unaccustomed port, vintage wine,
sighed in admiration and involuntary envy.
What is the natter" asked Owen.
Nothing, Mr.. Owen" then of a sudden
thawing into candor. he added: "That is,
everything. Heaven forgive me; but /, who
am enjoying your hospitality am envious of
you. Don't think too hardly of me; but /
have q large family to support. and II only you
know what n struggle my life IL, and has been
for the last twenty years, you would not. am
sure. But you haze never experienced 1t, and
could not understand The laborer is worthy
Of his hire. Well my hire is under two hundred
year, and eight of us must live-or starve-on
It, And have worked, ay. until my health Is
broken. A laborer. indeed! am a very hod-
man. a spiritual SIsyphus And now must
20 back to carry my load and roll my stone
again and again among those hopeless savages
till die Of it'll die of It'll"
''At least It is noble life and DEATH" OK.
claimed Owen, n sudden fire of enthusiasm
lighting up his dark eyes"
'.Yes, viewed from q distance. wera you
asked to leave this living OF two thousand a
year-I see that is what they put It at in Crock
Forthwith its English comforts and easy work,
that you might lead that life and attain that
death. then you would think differently. But
why should bore you with such talk2 Thank
heaven that your lines are cast in pleasant
places. Yes, please, ! will take ono more
glass. II does me good"
"Tel me some more about that tribe you
were speaking of in your sermon, the Sons OF
Fire. think you called them" said Owen, rs
he pushed him the decanter.
So, with an eloquence induced by the gem
ercus wine and quickened imagination, the
Deputation told him-told him many strange
things and terrible; for this people was an wv
full people, vigorous in mind and body, and
warriors from generation to generation, but
superstition ridden and cruel. They lived In
the far interior. somo months journey by boat
and ox-waGon from the coast and of white
men and their ways they knew but little.
'How many Of them are there?" asked Owen.
who can say?" he answered. "Near.y
half a million, perhaps; at least they pretend
that they can nut 90, 900 men under arms