When this momentous discussion was finished, as usual Owen preachedbefore the king, expounding the Scriptures and taking for his subjectthe duty of faith. As he went back to his hut he saw that the snakewhich John had killed had been set upon a pole in that part of theGreat Place which served as a market, and that hundreds of nativeswere gathered beneath it gesticulating and talking excitedly.
"See the work of Hokosa," he thought to himself. "Moses set up aserpent to save the people; yonder wizard sets up one to destroythem."That evening Owen had no heart for his labours, for his mind was heavyat the prospect of the trial which lay before him. Not that he caredfor his own life, for of this he scarcely thought; it was theprospects of his cause which troubled him. It seemed much to expectthat Heaven again should throw over him the mantle of its especialprotection, and yet if it did not do so there was an end of hismission among the People of Fire. Well, he did not seek this trial--hewould have avoided it if he could, but it had been thrust upon him,and he was forced to choose between it and the abandonment of the workwhich he had undertaken with such high hopes and pushed so far towardsuccess. He did not choose the path, it had been pointed out to him towalk upon; and if it ended in a precipice, at least he would have donehis best.
As he thought thus John entered the hut, panting.
"What is the matter?" Owen asked.
"Father, the people saw and pursued me because of the death of thataccursed snake. Had I not run fast and escaped them, I think theywould have killed me.""At least you have escaped, John; so be comforted and return thanks.""Father," said the man presently, "I know that you are great, and cando many wonderful things, but have you in truth power over lightning?""Why do you ask?""Because a great tempest is brewing, and if you have not we shallcertainly be killed when we stand yonder on the Place of Fire.""John," he said, "I cannot speak to the lightning in a voice which itcan hear. I cannot say to it 'go yonder,' or 'come hither,' but He Whomade it can do so. Why do you tempt me with your doubts? Have I nottold you the story of Elijah the prophet and the priests of Baal? DidElijah's Master forsake him, and shall He forsake us? Also this iscertain, that all the medicine of Hokosa and his wizards will not turna lightning flash by the breadth of a single hair. God alone can turnit, and for the sake of His cause among these people I believe that Hewill do so."Thus Owen spoke on till, in reproving the weakness of another, he felthis own faith come back to him and, remembering the past and how hehad been preserved in it, the doubt and trouble went out of his mindto return no more.
The third day--the day of trial--came. For sixty hours or more theheat of the weather had been intense; indeed, during all that time thethermometer in Owen's hut, notwithstanding the protection of a thickhatch, had shown the temperature to vary between a maximum of 113 anda minimum of 101 degrees. Now, in the early morning, it stood at 108.
"Will the storm break to-day?" asked Owen of Nodwengo, who came tovisit him.
"They say so, Messenger, and I think it by the feel of the air. If so,it will be a very great storm, for the heaven is full of fire. AlreadyHokosa and the doctors are at their rites upon the plain yonder, butthere will be no need to join them till two hours after midday.""Is the cross ready?" asked Owen.
"Yes, and set up. It is a heavy cross; six men could scarcely carryit. Oh! Messenger, I am not afraid--and yet, have you no medicine? Ifnot, I fear that the lightning will fall upon the cross as it fellupon the pole and then----""Listen, Nodwengo," said Owen, "I know a medicine, but I will not useit. You see that waggon chain? Were one end of it buried in the groundand the other with a spear blade made fast to it hung to the top ofthe cross, we could live out the fiercest storm in safety. But I saythat I will not use it. Are we witch doctors that we should takerefuge in tricks? No, let faith be our shield, and if it fail us, thenlet us die. Pray now with me that it may not fail us."*****It was afternoon. All round the Field of Fire were gathered thousandsupon thousands of the people of the Amasuka. The news of this duelbetween the God of the white man and their god had travelled far andwide, and even the very aged who could scarcely crawl and the littleones who must be carried were collected there to see the issue. Norhad they need to fear disappointment, for already the sky was halfhidden by dense thunder-clouds piled ridge on ridge, and the hush ofthe coming tempest lay upon the earth. Round about the meteor stonewhich they called a god, each of them stirring a little gourd ofmedicine that was placed upon the ground before him, but uttering noword, were gathered Hokosa and his followers to the number of twenty.
They were all of them arrayed in their snakeskin dresses and otherwizard finery. Also each man held in his hand a wand fashioned from ahuman thigh-bone. In front of the stone burned a little fire, whichnow and again Hokosa fed with aromatic leaves, at the same timepouring medicine from his bowl upon the holy stone. Opposite thesymbol of the god, but at a good distance from it, a great cross ofwhite wood was set up in the rock by a spot which the witch-doctorsthemselves had chosen. Upon the banks of the stream, in the placeapart, were the king, his councillors and the regiment on guard, andwith them Owen, the Prince Nodwengo and John.
"The storm will be fierce," said the king uneasily, glancing at thewestern sky, upon whose bosom the blue lightnings played with anincessant flicker. Then he bade those about him stand back, andcalling Owen and the prince to him, said: "Messenger, my son tells methat your wisdom knows a plan whereby you may be preserved from thefury of the tempest. Use it, I pray of you, Messenger, that your lifemay be saved, and with it the life of the only son who is left to me.""I cannot," answered Owen, "for thus by doubting Him I should tempt myMaster. Still, it is not laid upon the prince to accompany throughthis trial. Let him stay here, and I alone will stand beneath thecross.""Stay, Nodwengo," implored the old man.
"I did not think to live to hear my father bid me, one of the royalblood of the Amasuka, to desert my captain in the hour of battle andhide myself in the grass like a woman," answered the prince with abitter smile. "Nay, it may be that death awaits me yonder, but nothingexcept death shall keep me back from the venture.""It is well spoken," said the king; "be it as you will."Now the company of wizards, leaving their medicine-pots upon theground, formed themselves in a treble line, and marching to where theking stood, they saluted him. Then they sang the praises of their god,and in a song that had been prepared, heaped insult upon the God ofthe white man and upon the messenger who preached Him. To all of thisOwen listened in silence.
"He is a coward!" cried their spokesman; "he has not a word to say. Heskulks there in his white robes behind the majesty of the king. Lethim go forth and stand by his piece of wood. He dare not go! He thinksthe hillside safer. Come out, little White Man, and we will show youhow we manage the lightnings. Ah! they shall fly about you like spearsin battle. You shall throw your............