Your word, O King!" Umsuka thought for a while and answered:-- "This is my word, Hokosa: I will not drive the Messenger from the land, for he is a good man; he saved my life, and there is virtue in his teaching, towards which I myself incline.

Yet it is just that he should be asked to prove his power, so that an end may be put to doubt and all of us may learn what god we are to worship." "How can I prove my power," asked Owen, "further than I have proved it already?
Does Hokosa desire to set up his god against my God--the false against the true ?" "I do," answered the wizard with passion, "and according to the issue let the judgment be.

Let us halt no longer between two opinions, let us become wholly Christian or rest wholly heathen, for to be divided is to be destroyed.

The magic of the Messenger is great; once and for all let us learn if it is more than our magic.

Let us put him and his doctrines to the trial by fire." "What is the trial by fire ?" asked Owen.
"You have seen something of it, White Man, but not much.