At the approach of Owen he rose with something of an effort, and, shaking him by the hand, thanked him for his life, calling him "doctor of doctors." "Tell me, Messenger," he added, "how it was that you were able to cure me, and who were in the plot to kill me?
There must have been more than one," and he rolled his eyes round with angry suspicion.
"King," answered Owen, "if I knew anything of this matter, the Power that wrote it on my mind has wiped it out again, or, at the least, has forbidden me to speak of its secret.

I saved you, it is enough; for the rest, the past is the past, and I come to deal with the present and the future." "This white man keeps his word," thought Hokosa to himself, and he looked at him thanking him with his eyes.
"So be it," answered the king; "after all, it is wise not to stir a dung-heap, for there we find little beside evil odours and the nests of snakes.

Now, what is your business with me, and why do you come from the white man's countries to visit me?
I have heard of those countries, they are great and far away.

I have heard of the white men also--wonderful men who have all knowledge; but I do not desire to have anything to do with them, for whenever they meet black people they eat them up, taking their lands and making them slaves.

Once, some years ago, two of you white people visited us here, but perhaps you know that story." "I know it," answered Owen; "one of those men you murdered, and the other you sent back with a message which he delivered into my ears across the waters; thousands of miles away." "Nay," answered the king, "we did not murder him; he came to us with the story of a new God who could raise the dead and work other miracles, and gave such powers to His servants.