Can you teach me to understand those signs which you set upon the paper, and to make them also as does John your servant ?" "Certainly," answered Owen; "if you will come to me at noon to-morrow, we will begin." The prince thanked him, but he did not go away.

Indeed, from his manner Owen guessed that he had something more upon his mind.

At length it came out.
"Messenger," he said, "you have told us of baptism whereby we are admitted into the army of your King; say, have you the power of this rite ?" "I have." "And is your servant here baptised ?" "He is." "Then if he who is a common man can be baptised, why may not I who am a prince ?" "In baptism," answered Owen, "there is no distinction between the highest and the lowest; but if you believe, then the door is open and through it you can join the company of Heaven." "Messenger, I do believe," answered the prince humbly.
Then Owen was very joyful, and that same night, with John for a witness, he baptised the prince, giving him the new name of Constantine, after the first Christian emperor.
On the following day Nodwengo, in the presence of Owen, who on this point would suffer no concealment, announced to the king that he had become a Christian.

Umsuka heard, and for a while sat silent.

Then he said in a troubled voice:-- "Truly, Messenger, in the words of that Book from which you read to us, I fear that you have come hither to bring, 'not peace but a sword.' Now when the witch-doctors and the priests of fire learn this, that he whom I have chosen to succeed me has become the servant of another faith, they will stir up the soldiers and there will be civil war.