It is a man travelling towards the water at a swinging trot.

Going into the hut, Owen returns with a pair of field-glasses, and through them scrutinises the figure of the man.
"Heaven be praised! It is John," he mutters, with a sigh of relief.
"Now, I wonder what answer he brings ?" Half an hour later John stands before him, a stalwart native of the tribe of the Amasuka, the People of Fire, and with uplifted hand salutes him, giving him titles of honour.
"Praise me not, John," said Owen; "praise God only, as I have taught you to do.

Tell me, have you seen the king, and what is his word ?" "Father," he answered, "I journeyed to the great town, as you bade me, and I was admitted before the majesty of the king; yes, he received me in the courtyard of the House of Women.

With his guards, who stood at a distance out of hearing, there were present three only; but oh! those three were great, the greatest in all the land after the king.

They were Hafela, the king that is to come, the prince Nodwengo, his brother, and Hokosa the terrible, the chief of the wizards; and I tell you, father, that my blood dried up and my heart shrivelled when they turned their eyes upon me, reading the thoughts of my heart." "Have I not told you, John, to trust in God, and fear nothing at the hands of man ?" "You told me, father, but still I feared," answered the messenger humbly.