Twohourslater，Hokosa，havingmadeawidedetourandtalkedtosundryofhisacquaintancesabouttheconditionofhiscattle，mighthavebeenseenwalkingslowlyalongthenorthsideoftheGreatPlacetowardshisownkraal。HispathlaypastthechapelandthelittlehousethatOwenhadbuilttodwellin。Thishousewasfurnishedwithabroadverandah，anduponitsattheMessengerhimself，eatinghiseveningmeal。Hokosasawhim，andagreatdesireenteredhishearttolearnwhetherornohehadpartakenofthepoisonedfruit。Alsoitoccurredtohimthatitwouldbewiseif，beforetheendcame，hecouldcontrivetodivertallpossiblesuspicionfromhimself，bygivingtheimpressionthathewasnowuponfriendlytermswiththegreatwhiteteacherandnotdisinclinedeventobecomeaconverttohisdoctrine。
Foramomenthehesitated，seekinganexcuse。Onesoonsuggesteditselftohisreadymind。ThatverymorningthekinghadtoldhimnotobscurelythatOwenhadpleadedforhissafetyandsavedhimfrombeingputuponhistrialonchargesofwitchcraftandmurder。Hewouldgotohim，nowatonce，playingthepartofagratefulpenitent，andtheWhiteMan’smagicmustbekeenindeedifitavailedtopiercethearmourofhispractisedcraft。
SoHokosawentupandsquattedhimselfdownnativefashionamongalittlegroupofconvertswhowerewaitingtoseetheirteacherupononebusinessoranother。Hewasnotmorethantenpacesfromtheverandah，andsittingthushesawasightthatinterestedhimstrangely。Havingeatenalittleofadishofroastedmeat，Owenputouthishandandtookafruitfromabasketthatthewizardknewwell。
AtthismomenthelookedupandrecognisedHokosa。
\"Doyoudesirespeechwithme，Hokosa？\"heaskedinhisgentlevoice。