They drew near to the king, when suddenly, moved by a common impulse, the thousands of the people upon the banks of the stream with one accord threw themselves upon their knees before Owen, calling him God and offering him worship.
Infected by the contagion, Umsuka, his guard and his councillors followed their example, so that of all the multitude Hokosa alone remained upon his feet, standing by his dishonoured and riven deity.
"Rise!" cried Owen aghast.

"Would you do sacrilege, and offer worship to a man?
Rise, I command you!" Then the king rose, saying:-- "You are no man, Messenger, you are a spirit." "He is a spirit," repeated the multitude after him.
"I am _not_ a spirit, I am yet a man," cried Owen again, "but the Spirit Whom I serve has made His power manifest in me His servant, and your idols are smitten with the sword of His power, O ye Sons of Fire! Hokosa still lives, let him be brought hither." They fetched Hokosa, and he stood before them.
"You have seen, Wizard," said the king.

"What have you to say ?" "Nothing," answered Hokosa, "save that victory is to the Cross, and to the white man who preaches it, for his magic is greater than our magic.
By his command the tempest was stayed, and the boasts we hurled fell back upon our heads and the head of our god to destroy us." "Yes," said the king, "victory is to the Cross, and henceforth the Cross shall be worshipped in this land, or at least no other god shall be worshipped.

Let us be going.

Come with me, Messenger, Lord of the Lightning.".