Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1896-10-18
Ives. NopwENGo. l An STILL ALIvE!,

give you for nothing some of that
wisdom which you grudge to Nod
wcngo the king. Be advised by me, prince,
and take the terms that he offers to you
from the land without harm or hindrance.
VIII you receive my gift, Hafcla?"
What will happen If refuse it?" asked
the prince slowly.
Now Hokosa looked at the dust at his feet
then he gazed upward, searching the heavens
and answered:
"Did not l tell you yesterday? ! think
that this will happen. l think-but who can
be quite sure of the future Hafela THAT
you and the most OF your army by this hour
tomorrow night will be lying fast asleep
about this place, with jackals for your bed
fellows"
The Prince heard and trembled at his
words, for he believed that II he willed it,
HoIosa could prophesy the truth
Accused dogI' he said. 81 am minded
to be guided by your saying but be sure
OF this that II follow it, you shall stay
here to sleep with jackals, yes this very
night"
Then Mona broke in.
BE not mad, Hafefaw she said "Win
you listen to the lies that this renegade
tells to work upon your fears? Will you
abandon victory when 1t lies within your
grasp, and, in place OF great king become
a fugitive whom all men mock at an out
cast to be hunted down at leisure by that
brother against whom you dared to rebel,
but on whom you did not dare TO shut your
hand when he lay in the hollow of it.?
Silence the tongue of this captive rogue
forever and become a man again, with the
heart OF a man."
Nov" said Hokosa, gently, many would
find 1t hard to believe that | reared this
woman from childhood, nursing her with my
own hands when she was sick and giving
her of the best | had; that afterward wnen
you stole her from me- Prince | sluned
IN bpr hat I 81
her and sinned yet moro deeply to give her
the greateness she desired, and that at last,
of my own viii, loosed the bonds by which
held her, though | could not thrust her
memory from my heart. Yet have earned
It all, for made her the tool of my witch
craft, and therefore it is just that she SHOULD
turn and rend me. Well. II r1u like il,
take her counsel Prince. and let mine 90,
for / care nothing which you take; only
forgive me If | prophesy once more and for
the last time-I believe hat NodwcngC
yondcr spoke the truth when he babe your
herald tell you that he who causes my blood
to flow shall surely die and be called to ac-
count for 1t. Prince, / am Christian now.
and believe me, whatever you may io seek
no revenge upon you for it.; having been
myself forgiven so much, in my turn have
learned to forgive. Yet 1t may be Ill for
that man who causes my blood 20 Aow."
LET him be strangled" said a captain
who stood near by land then there will be
no blood In the matter"
Friend" answered Hokosa, "you should
have been. not a soldier, but a pleader of
causes. True II is that then the Prince will
only cause my life to fly, but whether that
be smaller sin leave you 20 Judge
Keep him prisoner" said another, "till
we learn how these matters end"
"Nay." answered Hafela, for :hen he Will
surely outwit MS and escape. Mona what
shall We do with this man who was your Eus-
band? Tell us, for you should know best
how to deal with him.
LET mo think" she answered, and she
looked first at the ground beneath her. next
around her, then upward toward the skies.
Now they stood at the foot OF the koppie
on the fat top OF which grew the great
Tree Of Doom, that for generations had
served the People OF Fire as a place of
execution OF their criminals, or OF those who
fell under the ban of the King or OF the
witch doctors Among and above the finger
like fronds of this strange and dreadful
looking tree lowered that white dead limb
shaped like n cross. which owen had
pointed out to his disciple John. taking II
to be a sign aud promise This cross stood
out clear against the sinking moon. IT
caught Noma's eye, and devillsh thought
entered into her heart.
You would keep this fellow alYc?" she
said and yet you would not suffer him TO
escape See there above you is a cross such
as he WorshinE. Bind HIM 10 IL as hn saws
the man whom he wor hips was bound, and
Let that dead man help him II he may"
Tho Prince and those about Mona shrank
back a little in horror They were cruel
men rendered more cruel by their super-
stitous fear Of one whom they believed 10
he uncanny, one to whom they attributed
inhuman powers which he was exercising
to their destruction. but stlll this doom
seemed dreadful to them. Mona read their
minds and went ON passionately:
"You deem me unmercful, but YOU do
not know what | have suffered at this wiz
ards hands. For his sake and because OF
him l am haunted. For his own purpose
he opened the gates Ut Distance. he sent
me down among the dwelers In Death
causing me TO Interpret their words for
him | did so. hut the dwellers came back
out OF Death with me. and from that hour
they have not left me. nor will they ever