But if he dies before the last day of the festival, then that decree will never pass his lips, and the regiments will never roar out the name of Nodwengo as the name of the king to come.

He must die, I tell you, Hokosa, and--by your hand." "By _my_ hand, Prince! Nay; what have you to offer me in return for such a deed as this?
Have I not grown up in Umsuka's shadow, and shall I cut down the tree that shades me ?" "What have I to offer you?
This: that next to myself you shall be the greatest in the land, Hokosa." "That I am already, and whoever rules it, that I must always be.

I, who am the chief of wizards; I, the reader of men's hearts; I, the hearer of men's thoughts! I, the lord of the air and the lightning; I, the invulnerable.

If you would murder, Prince, then do the deed; do it knowing that I have your secret, and that henceforth you who rule shall be my servant.

Nay, you forget that I can see in the dark; lay down that assegai, or, by my spirit, prince as you are, I will blast you with a spell, and your body shall be thrown to the kites, as that of one who would murder his king and father!" The prince heard and shook, his cheeks sank in, the muscles of his great form seemed to collapse, and he grovelled on the floor of the hut.
"I know your magic," he groaned; "use it for me, not against me! What is there that I can offer you, who have everything except the throne, whereon you cannot sit, seeing that you are not of the blood-royal ?" "Think," said Hokosa.
For a while the prince thought, till presently his form straightened itself, and with a quick movement he lifted up his head.
"Is it, perchance, my affianced wife ?" he whispered; "the lady Noma, whom I love, and who, according to our custom, I shall wed as the queen to be after the feast of first-fruits?
Oh! say it not, Hokosa." "I say it," answered the wizard.