\"Nowitisstrange,\"saidHafela,\"thatthesemenshouldfightsobravely,seeingthattheyarebutahandful。Therecanbescarcethreethousandofthemleft,andyetIdoubtnotthatbeforewecarrythoselastwallsoftheirsasmanyofusormorewillbedone。Ay!andaftertheyaredonewith,wemustmeettheirgreat/impi/whenitreturns,andofwhatwillbefallusthenIscarcelyliketothink。\"
\"Ill—fortunewillbefallyouwhileHokosalives,\"brokeinNoma。\"Haditnotbeenforhim,thistroublewouldhavebeendonewithbynow;
butheisawizard,andbyhiswizardrieshedefeatsusandputsheartintoNodwengoandthewarriors。You,yourself,haveseenhimthisdaydefyingus,notoncebutmanytimes,foruponhisfleshsteelhasnopower。Ay!andthisisbutthebeginningofevil,forIamsurethatheleadsyouintosomedeeptrapwhereyoushallperisheverlastingly。
Didhenothimselfdeclarethatthepowerofthatdeadwhiteworkerofmiracleshasfallenuponhim,andwhocanfightagainstmagic?\"
\"Who,indeed?\"saidHafelahumbly;forlikeallsavageshewasverysuperstitious,and,moreover,asincerebelieverinHokosa’ssupernaturalcapacities。\"Thiswizardistoostrongforus;heisinvulnerable,andasIknowwellhecanreadthesecretthoughtsofmenandcansuckwisdomfromthedead,whiletohiseyesthedarknessisnoblind。\"
\"Nay,Hafela,\"answeredNoma,\"thereisonecrackinhisshield。Hearme:ifwecanbutcatchhimandholdhimfastweshallhavenoneedtofearhimmore,andIthinkthatIknowhowtobaitthetrap。\"
\"Howwillyoubaitit?\"askedHafela。
\"Thus。Midwaybetweenthekoppieandthewallbehindwhichliethemenofthekingstandsaflatrock,andallaboutthatrockarestretchedthebodiesofdeadsoldiers。Now,thisismyplan:thatwhennextoneofthosedarkstorm—cloudspassesoverthefaceofthemoonsixofthestrongestofourwarriorsshouldcreepupontheirbelliesdownthiswayandthat,asthoughtheywerealsonumberedwiththeslain。Thisdone,youshalldespatchaheraldtocallintheearsofthekingthatyoudesiretotreatwithhimofpeace。Thenhewillanswerthatifthisbesoyoucancomebeneaththewallsofhiscamp,andyourheraldshallrefuse,sayingthatyoufeartreachery。ButhemustaddthatifNodwengowillbidHokosatoadvancealonetotheflatrock,youwillbidme,Noma,whomnonecanfear,todolikewise,andthattherewecantalkinsightofbotharmies,andreturningthence,makereporttoyouandtoNodwengo。Afterwards,sosoonasHokosahassethisfootupontherock,thosemenwhoseemtobedeadshallspringuponhimanddraghimtoourcamp,wherewecandealwithhim;foroncethewizardistaken,thecauseofNodwengoislost。\"
\"Agoodpitfall,\"saidtheprince;\"butwillHokosawalkintothetrap?\"
\"Ithinkso,Hafela,forthreereasons。Heisaltogetherwithoutfear;
hewilldesire,ifmaybe,tomakepeaceonbehalfoftheking;andhehasthisstrangeweakness,thathestilllovesme,andwillscarcelysufferanoccasionofspeakingwithmetogopast,althoughhehasdivorcedme。\"
\"Sobeit,\"saidtheprince;\"thegamecanbetried,andifitfails,whywelosenothing,whereasifitsucceedswegainHokosa,whichismuch;forwithyouIthinkthatourarmswillneverprosperwhilethataccursedwizardsitsyonderweavinghisspellsagainstus,andbringingourmentodeathbyhundredsandbythousands。\"
Thenhegavehisorders,andpresently,whenacloudpassedoverthefaceofthemoon,sixchosenmencreptforwardundertheleeoftheflatrockandthrewthemselvesdownhereandthereamongstthedead。
Soonthecloudpassed,andtheheraldadvancedacrosstheopenspaceblowingahorn,andwavingabranchinhishandtoshowthathecameuponamissionofpeace。
CHAPTERXXI
HOKOSAISLIFTEDUP
\"Whatwouldyou?\"askedHokosaoftheheraldashehaltedashortspear—castfromthewall。
\"Mymaster,thePrinceHafela,desirestotreatwithyourmaster,Nodwengo。Manymenhavefallenoneitherside,andifthiswargoeson,thoughvictorymustbehisatlast,manymorewillfall。
Therefore,ifanyplancanbefound,hedesirestosparetheirlives。\"
NowHokosaspokewiththeking,andanswered:——
\"ThenletHafelacomebeneaththewallandwewilltalkwithhim。\"
\"Notso,\"answeredtheherald。\"Doesabuckwalkintoanopenpit?
Weretheprincetocomehereitmightchancethatyourspearswouldtalkwithhim。LetNodwengofollowmetothecampyonder,wherewepromisehimsafeconduct。\"
\"Notso,\"answeredHokosa。\"’Doesabuckwalkintoanopenpit?’Setoutyourmessage,andwewillconsiderit。\"
\"Nay,Iambutacommonmanwithoutauthority;butIamchargedtomakeyouanotheroffer,andifyouwillnothearitthenthereisanend。LetHokosaadvancealonetothatflatrockyouseeyonder,andthereheshallbemet,alsoalone,byonehavingpowertotalkwithhim,namely,bytheLadyNoma,whowasoncehiswife。Thustheycanconfertogethermidwaybetweenthecampsandinfullsightofbothofthem,nor,nomanbeingnear,canhefindcausetobeafraidofanunarmedgirl。Whatsayyou?\"
Hokosaturnedandtalkedwiththeking。
\"Ithinkitwellthatyoushouldnotgo,\"saidNodwengo。\"Theofferseemsfair,andthestoneisoutofreachoftheirspears;still,behinditmaylurkaschemetokillorcaptureyou,forHafelaisverycunning。\"
\"Itmaybeso,King,\"answeredHokosa;\"still,myhearttellsmeitiswisestthatIshoulddothisthing,forourcaseisdesperate,andifIdoitnot,thatmaybethecauseofthedeathofallofusto—morrow。Attheworst,Iambutoneman,anditmatterslittlewhatmaychancetome;norshallIcometoanyharmunlessitisthewillofHeaventhatitshouldbeso;andbesureofthis,thatoutoftheharmwillarisegood,forwhereIgotherethespiritoftheMessengergoeswithme。RememberthathebadeyoulistentomycounselwhileI
remainwithyou,seeingthatIdonotspeakofmyownwisdom。
Thereforeletmego,andifitshouldchancethatIamtaken,troublenotaboutthematter,forthusitwillbefatedtosomegreatend。
Aboveall,thoughoftenenoughIhavebeenatraitorinthepast,donotdreamthatIbetrayyou,keepinginmindthatsotodowouldbetobetraymyownsoul,whichverysoonmustrenderitsaccountonhigh。\"
\"Asyouwill,Hokosa,\"answeredtheking。\"AndnowtellthoserebeldogsthatonthesetermsonlywillImakepeacewiththem——thattheywithdrawacrossthemountainsbythepathwhichtheirwomenandchildrenhavetaken,leavingthislandforeverwithoutliftinganotherspearagainstus。Iftheywilldothis,notwithstandingallthewickednessandslaughterthattheyhaveworked,Iwillsendcommandtomy/impi/toletthemgounharmed。Iftheywillnotdothis,IputmytrustintheGodIworshipandwillfightthisfrayouttotheend,knowingthatifIandmypeopleperish,theyshallperishalso。\"
NowNodwengohimselfspoketotheheraldwhowaswaitingbeyondthewall。
\"Gobacktohimyouserve,\"hesaid,\"andsaythatHokosawillmeetherwhowashiswifeupontheflatstoneandtalkwithherinthesightofbotharmies,bearingmywordwithhim。Atthesoundoftheblowingofahornshalleachofthemadvanceunarmedandalonefromeithercamp。SaytomybrotheralsothatitwillindeedbeillforhimifheattemptstreacheryuponHokosa,forthemanwhocauseshisbloodtoflowwillsurelydie,andafterdeathshallbeaccursedforever。\"
Theheraldwent,andpresentlyahornwasblown。
\"Nowitcomesintomymindthatwepartforthelasttime,\"saidNodwengoinatroubledvoiceashetookthehandofHokosa。
\"Itmaybeso,King;inmyheartIthinkthatitisso;yetIdonotaltogethergrievethereat,fortheburdenofmypastsinscrushesme,andIamwearyandseekforrest。Yetwedonotpartforthelasttime,becausewhateverchances,intheendIshallmakemyreporttoyouyonder\"——andhepointedupwards。\"Reignonforlongyears,King——
reignwellandwisely,clingingtotheFaith,forthusatthelastshallyoureapyourreward。Farewell!\"
Nowagainthehornblew,andinthebrightmoonlighttheslightfigureofNomacouldbeseenadvancingtowardsthestone。
ThenHokosasprangfromthewallandadvancedalso,tillatthesamemomenttheyclimbeduponthestone。
\"Greeting,Hokosa,\"saidNoma,andshestretchedoutherhandtohim。
Bywayofanswerheplacedhisownbehindhisback,saying:\"Toyourbusiness,woman。\"Yethiseyessearchedherface——thefacewhichinhisfollyhestillloved;andthusitcameaboutthatheneversawsundryofthedeadbodies,whichlayintheshadowofthestone,begintoquickenintolife,andinchbyinchtoarise,firsttotheirkneesandnexttotheirfeet。Heneversaworheardthem,yet,asthewordslefthislips,theyspranguponhimfromeveryside,holdinghimsothathecouldnotmove。
\"Awaywithhim!\"criedNomawithalaughoftriumph;andathercommandhewashalf—draggedandhalf—carriedacrosstheopenspaceandthrustviolentlyoverastonewallintothecampofHafela。
NowNodwengoandhissoldierssawwhathadhappened,andwithashoutof\"Treachery!\"somehundredsofthemleaptintotheplainandbegantoruntowardsthekoppietorescuetheirenvoy。
Hokosaheardtheshout,andwrenchinghimselfround,beheldthem。
\"Back!\"hecriedinaclear,shrillvoice。\"Back!childrenofNodwengo,andleavemetomyfate,forthefoewaitsforyoubythousandsbehindthewall!\"
Asoldierstruckhimacrossthemouth,biddinghimbesilent;buthiswarninghadcometotheearsofNodwengo,causinghimandhiswarriorstohaltandbeginaretreat。Itwaswellthattheydidso,forseeingthattheywouldnotcomeon,fromundertheshelterofthewallandofeveryrockandstonesoldiersjumpedupbycompaniesandcharged,drivingthembacktotheirownschanse。Buttheking’smenhadthestartofthem,andhadtakenshelterbehindit,whencetheygreetedthemwithavolleyofspears,killingtenandwoundingtwiceasmanymore。
NowitwasHokosa’sturntolaugh,andlaughhedid,saying:——
\"Mytakingiswellpaidforalready,Prince。Ascoreofyourbestwarriorsisaheavypricetogiveforthecarcaseofonewearyandagingman。ButsinceIamhereamongyou,capturedwithsomuchpainandloss,tellmeofyourcourtesywhyIhavebeenbrought。\"
Thentheprinceshookhisspearathimandcursedhim。
\"Wouldyoulearn,wizardandtraitor?\"hecried。\"Wehavecaughtyoubecauseweknowwellthatwhileyoustayyonderyourmagiccounselwillprevailagainstourmight;whereas,whenonceweholdyoufast,Nodwengowillwandertohisruinlikeablindandmoonstruckman,foryouweretohimbotheyesandbrain。\"
\"Iunderstand,\"saidHokosacalmly。\"But,Prince,howifIleftmywisdombehindme?\"
\"Thatmaynotbe,\"answeredHafela,\"sinceevenawizardcannotthrowhisthoughtsintotheheartofanotherfromafar。\"
\"Ah!youthinkso,Prince。Well,askNomayonderifIcannotthrowmythoughtsintoherheartfromafar:thoughoflateIhavenotchosentodoso,havingputasidesuchspells。Butletitpass,andtellme,havingtakenme,whatisityouproposetodowithme?First,however,IwillgiveyoufornothingsomeofthatwisdomwhichyougrudgetoNodwengotheking。Beadvisedbyme,Prince,andtakethetermsthatheofferstoyou——namely,toturnthisverynightandbegonefromthelandwithoutharmorhindrance。Willyoureceivemygift,Hafela?\"
\"WhatwillhappenifIrefuseit?\"askedtheprinceslowly。
NowHokosalookedatthedustathisfeet,thenhegazedupwardssearchingtheheavens,andanswered:——
\"DidnotItellyouyesterday?Ithinkthatthiswillhappen。Ithink——butwhocanbequitesureofthefuture,Hafela?——thatyouandthemostofyourarmybythishourto—morrownightwillbelyingfastasleepaboutthisplace,withjackalsforyourbedfellows。\"
Theprinceheardandtrembledathiswords,forhebelievedthatifhewilledit,Hokosacouldprophesythetruth。
\"Accurseddog!\"hesaid。\"Iammindedtobeguidedbyyoursaying;butbesureofthis,thatifIfollowit,youshallstayheretosleepwithjackals,yes,thisverynight。\"
ThenNomabrokein。
\"Benotmad,Hafela!\"shesaid。\"Willyoulistentotheliesthatthisrenegadetellstoworkuponyourfears?Willyouabandonvictorywhenitlieswithinyourgrasp,andinplaceofagreatkingbecomeafugitivewhomallmenmockat,anoutcasttobehunteddownatleisurebythatbrotheragainstwhomyoudaredtorebel,butonwhomyoudidnotdaretoshutyourhandwhenhelayinitshollow?Silencethetongueofthiscaptiverogueforeverandbecomeamanagain,withtheheartofaman。\"
\"Now,\"saidHokosagently;\"manywouldfindithardtobelievethatI
rearedthiswomanfromchildhood,nursingherwithmyownhandswhenshewassickandgivingherofthebestIhad;thatafterwards,whenyoustoleherfromme,Prince,Isinneddeeplytowinherback。ThatI
marriedherandsinnedyetmoredeeplytogiveherthegreatnessshedesired;andatlast,ofmyownwill,IloosedthebondsbywhichI
heldher,althoughIcouldnotthrusthermemoryfrommyheart。YetI
haveearneditall,forImadeherthetoolofmywitchcraft,andthereforeitisjustthatsheshouldturnandrendme。Well,ifyoulikeit,takehercounsel,Prince,andletminego,forIcarenothingwhichyoutake;only,forgivemeifIprophesyoncemoreandforthelasttime——IamsurethatNodwengoyonderspoketruthwhenhebadeyourheraldtellmethathewhocausesmybloodtoflowshallsurelydieandforitbecalledtoastrictaccount。Prince,IamaChristiannow,andbelieveme,whateveryoumaydo,Iseeknorevengeuponyou;
havingbeenmyselfforgivensomuch,inmyturnIhavelearnedtoforgive。Yetitmaybeillforthatmanwhocausesmybloodtoflow。\"
\"Lethimbestrangled,\"saidacaptainwhostoodnearby,\"andthentherewillbenobloodinthematter。\"
\"Friend,\"answeredHokosa,\"youshouldhavebeennotasoldierbutapleaderofcauses。Trueitisthenthattheprincewillonlycausemylifetofly,butwhetherthatisasmallersinIleaveyoutojudge。\"
\"Keephimprisoner,\"saidanother,\"tillwelearnhowthesemattersend。\"
\"Nay,\"answeredHafela,\"forthenhewillsurelyoutwitusandescape。
Noma,whatshallwedowiththismanwhowasyourhusband?Tellus,foryoushouldknowbesthowtodealwithhim。\"
\"Letmethink,\"sheanswered,andshelookedfirstatthegroundbeneathher,nextaroundher,thenupwardstowardtheskies。
Nowtheystoodatthefootofthekoppie,ontheflattopofwhichgrewthegreatTreeofDoom,thatforgenerationshadservedthePeopleofFireasaplaceofexecutionoftheircriminals,orofthosewhofellunderthebanofthekingorofthewitch—doctors。Amongandabovethefinger—likefrondsofthisstrangeanddreadful—lookingtreetoweredthatwhitedeadlimbshapedlikeacross,whichOwenhadpointedouttohisdiscipleJohn,takingittobeasignandapromise。Thiscrossstoodoutclearagainstthesinkingmoon。ItcaughtNoma’seye,andadevilishthoughtenteredintoherheart。
\"Youwouldkeepthisfellowalive?\"shesaid,\"andyetyouwouldnotsufferhimtoescape。See,thereaboveyouisacrosssuchasheworships。BindhimtoitashesaystheManwhomheworshipswasbound,andletthatdeadManhelphimifhemay。\"
TheprinceandthoseaboutNomashrankbackalittleinhorror。Theywerecruelmenrenderedmorecruelbytheirsuperstitiousfearofonewhomtheybelievedtobeuncanny;onetowhomtheyattributedinhumanpowerswhichhewasexercisingtotheirdestruction,butstillthisdoomseemeddreadfultothem。Nomareadtheirmindsandwentonpassionately:——
\"Youdeemmeunmerciful,butyoudonotknowwhatIhavesufferedatthiswizard’shands。ForhissakeandbecauseofhimIamhaunted。ForhisownpurposesheopenedthegatesofDistance,hesentmedownamongthedwellersinDeath,causingmetointerprettheirwordsforhim。Ididso,butthedwellerscamebackoutofDeathwithme,andfromthathourtheyhavenotleftme,norwilltheyeverleaveme;fornightbynighttheysojournatmyside,tormentingmewithterrors。Hehastoldmethatthroughmymouththatspiritwhomhedrewintomybodyprophesiedthatheshouldbe’liftedupabovethepeople。’Lettheprophecybefulfilled,lethimbeliftedup,forthenperchancetheghostswilldepartfrommeandIshallwinpeaceandsleep。Also,thusalonecanyouholdhimsafeandyetshednoblood。\"
\"Beitso,\"saidtheprince。\"Whenweplottedtogetherofthedeathoftheking,andasyourprice,Hokosa,youbargainedforthegirlwhomI
hadchosentowife,didInotwarnyouthatthiswitchofmanyspells,whoholdsbothourheartsinherlittlehands,shouldyethoundyoutodeathandmockyouwhileyouperishedbyanendofshame?WhatdidI
tellyou,Hokosa?\"
Nowwhenheheardhisfate,Hokosabowedhisheadandtrembledalittle。Thenheliftedit,andexclaimedinaclearvoice:——
\"Itistrue,Prince,butIwilladdtoyourwords。Sheshallbring/both/ofustodeath。Forme,IamhonouredindeedinthattherehasbeenallottedtomethatsameendwhichmyMasterchose。Tothatcrossletmysinsbefastenedandwiththemmybody。\"
Nowthemoonsank,butinthedarknessmenwerefoundwhodaredtoclimbthetree,takingwiththemstripsofrawhide。Theyreachedthetopofit,fourofthem,andseatingthemselvesuponthearmsofthecross,theyletdownarope,thenooseofwhichwasplacedaboutthebodyofHokosa。Asittighteneduponhim,heturnedhiscalmanddreadfuleyesontotheeyesofNomaandsaidtoher:——
\"Woman,Idonotreproachyou;butIlaythisfateuponyou,thatyoushallwatchmedie。Thereafter,letGoddealwithyouasHemaychoose。\"
Now,whensheheardthesewordsNomashriekedaloud,forofasuddenshefeltthatthepowerofthewillofHokosa,fromwhichshehadbeenfreedbyhim,hadoncemorefallenuponher,andthatcomewhatmightshewasdoomedtoobeyhislastcommands。
Littlebylittlethesoldiersdrewhimupandinthedarknesstheyboundhimfastthereupontheloftycross。Thentheydescendedandlefthim,andwouldhaveledNomawiththemfromthetree。Butthistheycouldnotdo,foralwaysshebrokefromthemscreaming,andfledbacktoitsshadow。
Then,seeingthatshewasbewitched,Hafelacommandedthattheyshouldbindaclothabouthermouthandleavehertheretillhersensesreturnedtoherinthesunlight——fornoneofthemdaredtostopwithherintheshadowofthattree,sincetheodoursofitwerepoisonoustoman。Alsotheybelievedtheplacetobehauntedbyevilspirits。
CHAPTERXXII
THEVICTORYOFTHECROSS
Thesunrosesuddenlyovertheedgeofthecliffs,andwhileitwasyetdeepshadowinthevalley,itsredlightstruckuponthewhitecrossofperishedwoodthattoweredabovetheTreeofDoomandontheblackshapeofHokosacrucifiedtoitliving。Thecampofthekingsawandunderstood,andfromeverythroatofthethousandsofmen,womenandchildrengatheredthere,wentuparoarofrageandhorror。Thekingliftedhishand,andsilencefellupontheplace;thenhemountedonthewallandcriedaloud:——
\"Doyouyetlive,Hokosa,orisityourbodyonlythatthosetraitorshavefastenedtothetree?\"
Backcametheanswerthroughtheclearstillair:——
\"Ilive,OKing!\"
\"Endurethenalittlewhile,\"calledNodwengo,\"andwewillstormthetreeandsaveyou。\"
\"Nay,\"answeredHokosa,\"youcannotsaveme;yetbeforeIdieIshallseeyousaved。\"
Thenhiswordswerelostintumult,forthethirdday’sfightingbegan。DesperatelytheregimentsofHafelarushingacrosstheopenspace,hurledthemselvesuponthefortifications,which,duringthenight,hadbeenstrengthenedbythebuildingoftwoinnerwalls。Norwasthisall,forsuddenlyacrytoldthoseinfrontthattheregimentwhichHafelahaddespatchedacrossthemountainshadtravelleduptheeasternneckofthevalley,andwereattackingthepositionintheirrear。WellwasitforNodwengonowthathehadlistenedtothecounselofHokosa,and,weariedashissoldierswere,hadcommandedthatherealsoagreatwallshouldbebuilt。
Fortwohoursthefightraged,andthenoneithersidethefoefellback,notbeatenindeed,thoughtheirdeadweremany,buttorestandtakecounsel。Butnowanewtroublearose:fromallthecampofNodwengotherewentupamoanofpaintoHeaven,forsincetheeveningofyesterdaythespringhadgivenout,andtheyhadfoundnowaterwherewithtowettheirlips。Duringthenighttheyboreit;butnowthesunbeatingdownontheblackrockswithfearfulforcescorchedthemtothemarrow,tilltheybegantowitherlikefallenleaves,andalreadywoundedmenandchildrendied,whilethewarriorscutthethroatsofoxenanddranktheirblood。
Hokosahangingonhiscrossheardthismoaninganddivineditscause。
\"Beofgoodcomfort,childrenofNodwengo,\"hecried;\"forIwillpraythatrainbesentuponyou。\"Andheliftedhisheadandprayed。
Now,whetheritwasbychanceorwhetherhisprayerwasheard,whocansay?AtleastithappenedthatimmediatelythereaftercloudsbegantogatherandtothickenintheblueofHeaven,andwithintwohoursrainfellintorrents,sothateveryonecoulddrinkhisfill,andthespringbeingreplenishedatitssources,flowedagainstrongly。
Aftertheraincamecoldandmoaningwinds,andafterthewindagreatgloomandthunder。
Now,takingadvantageoftheshadow,theregimentsofHafelarenewedtheirattack,andthistimetheycarriedthefirstofthethreewalls,foritsdefendersgrewfeebleandfewinnumber。Theretheypausedawhile,andsaveforthecriesofthewoundedandoffrightenedwomen,thesilencewasgreat。
\"Letyourheartsbefilledup!\"criedthevoiceofHokosathroughthesilence;\"forthesunlightshinesupontheplainoftheGreatPlaceyonder,andinitIseethesheenofspears。The/impi/travelstoyouraid,OchildrenofNodwengo。\"
Now,atthistidingsthepeopleofthekingshoutedforjoy;butHafelacalledtohisregimentstomakeanendofthem,andtheyhurledthemselvesuponthesecondwall,fightingdesperately。Againandagaintheywerebeatenback,andagainandagaintheycameon,tillatlengththeycarriedthiswallalso,drivingitsdefenders,orthosewhoremainedaliveofthem,intothethirdentrenchment,andpausedtorestawhile。
\"Prayforus,OProphetwhoaresetonhigh!\"criedavoicefromthecamp,\"forifsuccourdonotreachusspeedily,wearesped。\"
Beforetheechoesofthevoicehaddiedaway,aflashoflightningflaredthroughthegloom,andinthelightofitHokosasawthattheking’s/impi/wasrushingupthegorge。
\"Fighton!Fighton!\"hecalledinanswer。\"IhaveprayedtoHeaven,andyoursuccourisathand。\"
Then,withahowlofrage,Hafela’sregimentshurledthemselvesuponthethirdandlastentrenchment,attackingitatonceinfrontandrear。Twicetheynearlycarriedit,buteachtimethewildscreamofHokosaonhighwasheardabovethedin,conjuringitsdefenderstofightonandfearnot,forHeavenhadsentthemhelp。Theyfoughtasmenhaveseldomfoughtbefore,andwiththemfoughtthewomenandeventhechildren。Theywerefewandthefoewasstillmany,buttheylistenedtotheurgingofhimwhomtheybelievedtobeinspiredinhisdeath—agonyuponthecrossabovethem,andstilltheyheldtheirown。
Twiceportionsofthewallweretorndown,buttheyfilledthebreachwiththecorpsesofthedead,ay!andwiththebodiesoftheliving,forthewounded,theoldmenandtheverywomenpiledthemselvesthereintheplaceofstones。NosuchfraywastoldofintheannalsofthePeopleofFireasthis,thelaststandofNodwengoagainstthethousandsofHafela。Nowalltheshoutinghaddiedaway,formenhadnobreathleftwherewithtoshout,onlyfromthegloomyplaceofbattlecamelowgroansandthedeepsobbingsighsofwarriorsgrippedinthedeath—hug。
\"/Fighton!Fighton!/\"shrilledthevoiceofHokosaonhigh。\"Lo!theskiesareopentomydyingsight,andIseethe/impis/ofHeavensweepingtosuccouryou。/Behold!/\"
Theydashedthesweatfromtheireyesandlookedforth,andastheylooked,thepallofgloomwaslifted,andinthegoldenglowofmany—
shaftedlight,theysaw,notthelegionsofHeavenindeed,buttheregimentsofNodwengorushingroundthebendofthevalley,asdogsrushuponascent,withheadsheldlowandspearsoutstretched。
Hafelasawthemalso。
\"Backtothekoppie,\"hecried,\"theretodielikemen,forthewizardriesofHokosahavebeentoostrongforus,andlostisthismylastbattleandthecrownIcametoseek!\"
Theyobeyed,andallthatwereleftofthem,sometenthousandmen,theyrantothekoppieandformedthemselvesuponit,ringabovering,andherethesoldiersofNodwengoclosedinuponthem。
AgainandforthelasttimethevoiceofHokosarangoutabovethefray。
\"Nodwengo,\"hecried,\"withmypassingbreathIchargeyouhavemercyandsparethesemen,somanyofthemaswillsurrender。Thedayofbloodshedhasgoneby,thefrayisfinished,theCrosshasconquered。
Lettherebepeaceintheland。\"
Allmenheardhim,forhispiercingscream,echoedfromtheprecipices,cametotheearsofeach。Allmenheardhim,and,eveninthatfiercehourofvengeance,allobeyed。Thespearthatwaspoisedwasnotthrown,andthekerryliftedoverthefallendidnotdescendtodashawayhislife。
\"Hearken,Hafela!\"calledtheking,steppingforwardfromtheranksoftheattackers。\"Hewhomyouhavesetonhightobringdefeatuponyouchargesmetogiveyoupeace,andinthenameoftheconqueringCrossIgivepeace。Allwhosurrendershalldwellhenceforthinmyshadow,norshalltheheadortheheelofoneofthembeharmed,althoughtheirsinisgreat。OnelifeonlywillItake,thelifeofthatwitchwhobroughtyourarmiesdownuponmetoburnmytownandslaymypeoplebythousands,andwhobutlastnightbetrayedHokosatohisdeathoftorment。Allshallgofree,Isay,savethewitch;andforyou,youshallbegivencattleandsuchservantsaswillclingtoyoutothenumberofahundred,anddrivenfromtheland。Now,whatsayyou?Willyouyieldorbeslain?Swiftwithyouranswer;forthesunsinks,andereitissettheremustbeanendinthiswayorinthat。\"
TheregimentsofHafelaheard,andshoutedinansweraswithonevoice:——
\"Wetakeyourmercy,King!Wefoughtbravelywhilewecould,andnowwetakeyourmercy,King!\"
\"Whatsayyou,Hafela?\"repeatedNodwengo,addressingtheprince,whostooduponapointofrockabovehiminfullsightofbotharmies。
HafelaturnedandlookedatHokosahanginghighinmid—air。
\"WhatsayI?\"heansweredinaslowandquietvoice。\"IsaythattheCrossanditsProphethavebeentoostrongforme,andthatIshouldhavedonewelltofollowtheoneandtolistentothecounseloftheother。Mybrother,youtellmethatImaygofree,takingservantswithme。IthankyouandIwillgo——alone。\"
Andsettingthehandleofhisspearupontherock,withasuddenmovementhefellforward,transfixinghisheartwithitsbroadblade,andlaystill。
\"Atleasthediedlikeoneoftheblood—royaloftheSonsofFire!\"
criedNodwengo,whilethearmiesstoodsilentandawestruck,\"andwiththeblood—royalheshallbeburied。Laydownyourarms,youwhofollowedhimandfoughtforhim,fearingnothing,andgiveovertomethewitchthatshemaybeslain。\"
\"Shehidesunderthetreeyonder!\"criedavoice。
\"Goupandtakeher,\"saidNodwengotosomeofhiscaptains。
NowNoma,crouchedonthegroundbeneaththetree,hadseenandheardallthatpassed。Perceivingthecaptainsmakingtheirwaytowardsherthroughthelinesofthesoldiers,whoopenedoutapathforthem,sheroseandforamomentstoodbewildered。Then,asthoughdrawnbysomestrangeattraction,sheturned,andseizingholdofthecreeperthatclungaboutit,shebegantoclimbtheTreeofDoomswiftly。Upshewentwhileallmenwatched,higherandhigheryet,tillpassingoutofthefinger—likefoliageshereachedthecrossofdeadwoodwheretoHokosahung,andplacingherfeetupononearmofit,stoodthere,supportingherselfbythebrokentopoftheupright。
Hokosawasnotyetdead,thoughhewasveryneartodeath。Liftinghisglazingeyes,heknewherandsaid,speakingthickly:——
\"Whatdoyouhere,Noma,andwhereforehaveyoucome?\"
\"Icomebecauseyoudrawme,\"sheanswered,\"andbecausetheyseekmylifebelow。\"
\"Repent,repent!\"hewhispered,\"thereisyettimeandHeavenisverymerciful。\"
Sheheard,andafuryseizedher。
\"Besilent,dog!\"shecried。\"HavingdefiedyourGodsolong,shallI
groveltoHimatthelast?Havinghatedyousomuch,shallIseekyourforgivenessnow?AtleastofonethingIamglad——itwasIwhobroughtyouhere,andwithmeandthroughmeyoushalldie。\"
Then,placingonefootuponhisbentheadasifinscorn,sheleanedforward,herlonghairflyingtothewind,andcursedNodwengoandhispeople,namingthemrenegadesandapostates,andcursedthesoldiersofHafela,namingthemcowards,callingdownuponthemthemalisonoftheirancestors。
Hokosaheardandmuttered:——
\"Foryoursoul’ssake,woman,repent!repent,ereitbetoolate!\"
\"Repent!\"shescreamed,catchingathiswords。\"ThusdoIrepent!\"anddrawingtheknifefromhergirdle,sheleantoverhimanddroveithilt—deepintohisbreast。
Thenwithasuddenmovementshesprangupwardsandoutwardsintotheair,andrushingdownthroughahundredfeetofspace,wasstruckdeaduponthatveryrockwherethecorpseofHafelalay。
Now,beneaththeagonyofthelifeHokosaliftedhisheadforthelasttime,cryinginagreatvoice:——
\"Messenger,Icome,beyoumyguide,\"andwiththewordshissoulpassed。
\"Allisoverandended,\"saidavoice。\"Soldiers,salutethekingwiththeroyalsalute。\"
\"Nay,\"answeredNodwengo。\"Salutemenot,salutetheCrossandhimwhohangsthereon。\"
So,whiletheraysofthesettingsunshoneaboutit,regimentbyregimentthatgreatarmyrushedpastthekoppie,andpausingoppositetothecrossanditsburden,theyrenderedtoittheroyalsaluteofkings。
*****
Thenthenightfell,andthusthroughthepowerofFaiththatnow,asofold,istheonlytrueandefficientmagic,wasaccomplishedthemissiontotheSonsofFireoftheSaintandMartyr,ThomasOwen,andofhismurdereranddisciple,theWizardHokosa。