 CHAPTER XXI of the wizard by H. Ryder Haggard. This Librivox recording is in the public domain. Hokusah is lifted up. "'What would you?' asked Hokusah of the herald, as he halted a short spear-caste from the wall. "'My master, the Prince of Fela, desires to treat with your master, Nodwingo. Many men have fallen on either side, and if this war goes on, though victory must be his at last. Any more will fall. Therefore, if any plan can be found, he desires to spare their lives.' Now Hokusah spoke with the king, and answered, "'Then let Hfela come beneath the wall, and we will talk with him.' "'Not so,' answered the herald. "'Does a buck walk into an open pit? Were the Prince to come here, it might chance that your spears would talk with him. "'Let Nodwingo follow me to the camp yonder, where we promise him safe conduct.' "'Not so,' answered Hokusah. "'Does a buck walk into an open pit? Set out your message, and we will consider it. "'Nay, I am but a common man without authority, but I am charged to make you another offer. And if you will not hear it, then there is an end. Let Hokusah advance alone to that flat rock you see yonder. And there he shall be met also alone, by one having power to talk with him, namely by the Lady Noma, who was once his wife. Thus they can confer together, midway between the camps, and in full sight of both of them. Nor, no man being near, can he find cause to be afraid of an unarmed girl. What say you?' Hokusah turned and talked with the king. "'I think it well that you should not go,' said Nodwingo. "'The offer seems fair, and the stone is out of reach of their spears. Still, behind it may lurk a scheme to kill or capture you, for Hafella is very cunning. It may be so king,' answered Hokusah. "'Still, my heart tells me it is wisest that I should do this thing, for our case is desperate. And if I do it not, that may be the cause of the death of all of us tomorrow. At the worst I am but one man, and it matters little what may chance to me. Nor shall I come to any harm, unless it is the will of heaven that it should be so. And be sure of this, that out of the harm will arise good. For where I go, there the spirit of the messenger goes with me. Remember that he bade you listen to my counsel while I remain with you, seeing that I do not speak of my own wisdom? Therefore let me go, and if it should chance that I am taken, trouble not about the matter, for thus it will be fated to some great end. Above all, though often enough I have been a traitor in the past, do not dream that I betray you, keeping in mind that to do so would be to betray my own soul, which very soon must render its account on high.' As you will, Hukosa, answered the king, and now tell those rebel dogs that on these terms only will I make peace with them, that they withdraw across the mountains by the path which their women and children have taken, leaving this land forever, without lifting another spear against us. If they will do this, notwithstanding all the wickedness and slaughter that they have worked, I will send command to my impie to let them go unharmed. If they will not do this, I put my trust in the God I worship, and will fight this fray out to the end, knowing that if I and my people perish, they shall perish also. Now Nodwingo himself spoke to the herald who is waiting beyond the wall. "'Go back to him you serve,' he said, and say that Hukosa will meet her who was his wife upon the flat stone, and talk with her in the sight of both armies, bearing my word with him. If the sound of the blowing of a horn shall each of them advance unarmed and alone from either camp, say to my brother also that it will indeed be ill for him if he attempts treachery upon Hukosa, for the man who causes his blood to flow will surely die, and after death shall be accursed for ever.' The herald went, and presently a horn was blown. "'Now it comes into my mind that we part for the last time,' said Nodwingo, in a troubled voice, as he took the hand of Hukosa. "'It may be so, King. In my heart I think that it is so, yet I do not altogether grieve thereat, for the burden of my past sins crushes me, and I am weary and seek for rest. Yet we do not part for the last time, because whatever chances, in the end I shall make my report to you yonder,' and he pointed upwards. "'Rain on for long years, King. Rain well and wisely, clinging to the faith, for thus at the last shall you reap your reward. Farewell!' Now again the horn blew, and in the bright moonlight the slight figure of Noma could be seen advancing towards the stone. Then Hukosa sprang from the wall and advanced also, till at the same moment they climbed upon the stone. "'Greeting, Hukosa,' said Noma, and she stretched out her hand to him. By way of answer he placed his own behind his back, saying, "'To your business, woman!' Yet his eyes searched her face, the face which in his folly he still loved, and thus it came about that he never saw sundry of the dead bodies which lay in the shadow of the stone begin to quicken into life, and inch by inch to arise, first to their knees and next to their feet. He never saw or heard them, yet as the words left his lips they sprang upon him from every side, holding him so that he could not move. "'Away with him!' cried Noma, with a laugh of triumph, and at her command he was half dragged and half carried across the open space, and thrust violently over a stone wall into the camp of Huffella. Now Nodwingo and his soldiers saw what had happened, and with a shout of, "'Tretchery!' Some hundreds of them leaped into the plain and began to run towards the copy to rescue their envoy. Hokusah heard the shout, and wrenching himself round beheld them. "'Back!' he cried, in a clear shrill voice, "'Back, children of Nodwingo, and leave me to my fate! For the foe waits for you by thousands behind the wall!' A soldier struck him across the mouth, bidding him be silent, but his warning had come to the ears of Nodwingo, causing him and his warriors to halt and begin a retreat. It was well that they did so. For seeing that they would not come on, from under the shelter of the wall and of every rock and stone, soldiers jumped up by companies and charged, driving them back to their own scants. But the king's men had the start of them, and had taken shelter behind it, whence they greeted them with a volley of spears, killing ten and wounding twice as many more. Now it was Hokusah's turn to laugh, and laugh he did, saying, "'My taking is well paid for already, Prince. A score of your best warriors is a heavy price to give for the carcass of one weary and aging man. But since I am here among you, captured with so much pain and loss, tell me of your courtesy, why I have been brought!' Then the prince shook his spear at him, and cursed him. "'Would you learn, wizard, and traitor?' he cried. "'We have caught you, because we know well that while you stay yonder, your magic counsel will prevail against our might. Whereas, when once we hold you fast, not Wingo will wander to his ruin like a blind and moon-struck man, for you were to him both eyes and brain.' "'I understand,' said Hokusah calmly. "'But, Prince, how if I left my wisdom behind me?' "'That may not be,' answered Huffella. "'Since even a wizard cannot throw his thoughts into the heart of another from afar.' "'Ah, you think so, Prince. Well, ask Noma Yonder if I cannot throw my thoughts into her heart from afar. Though of late I have not chosen to do so, having put aside such spells, but let it pass, and tell me, having taken me, what is it you propose to do with me? First, however, I will give you for nothing some of that wisdom which you grudge to not Wingo the King. Be advised by me, Prince, and take the terms that he offers to you. Namely, to turn this very night and be gone from the land without harm or hindrance. Will you receive my gift, Huffella? What will happen if I refuse it?' asked the Prince slowly. Now Hokusah looked at the dust at his feet. Then he gazed upwards, searching the heavens, and answered, "'Did I not tell you yesterday? I think that this will happen. I think. But who can be quite sure of the future, Huffella, that you and the most of your army, by this hour tomorrow night, will be lying fast asleep about this place, with jackals for your bedfellows?' The Prince heard and trembled at his words, for he believed that if he willed it, Hokusah could prophesy the truth. A cursed dog, he said, I am minded to be guided by your saying. But be sure of this, that if I follow it, you shall stay here to sleep with jackals. Yes, this very night.' Then Noma broke in. "'Be not mad, Huffella,' she said. Will you listen to the lies that this renegade tells to work upon your fears? Will you abandon victory when it lies within your grasp, and in place of a great king become a fugitive whom all men mock at, an outcast to be hunted down at leisure by that brother against whom you dared to rebel, but on whom you did not dare to shut your hand when he lay in its hollow? Silence the tongue of this captive rogue forever, and become a man again with the heart of a man.' Now, said Hokusah gently, many would find it hard to believe that I reared this woman from childhood. Nursing her with my own hands when she was sick, and giving her of the best I had. But afterwards, when you stole her from me, Prince, I sent deeply to win her back. That I married her, and send yet more deeply to give her the greatness she desired, and at last of my own will I loose the bonds by which I held her, although I could not thrust her memory from my heart. Yet I have earned it all, for I made her the tool of my witchcraft, and therefore it is just that she should turn and rend me. Well, if you like it, take her counsel, Prince, and let mine go, for I care nothing which you take. Only forgive me if I prophesy once more, and for the last time. I am sure that Nodwingo Yonder spoke truth when he bade your herald tell me that he who causes my blood to flow shall surely die, and for it be called to a strict account. Prince, I am a Christian now, and believe me, whatever you may do, I seek no revenge upon you, having been myself forgiven much. In my turn I have learned to forgive. Yet it may be ill for that man who causes my blood to flow. Let him be strangled, said a captain who stood nearby, and then there will be no blood in the matter. Friend, answered Hokusah, you should have been not a soldier but a pleader of causes. Through it is, then, that the prince will only cause my life to fly, but whether that is a smaller sin, I leave you to judge. Keep him prisoner, said another, till we learn how these matters end. Nay, answered Hefella, for then he will surely outwith us and escape. Noma, what shall we do with this man who was your husband? Tell us, for you should know best how to deal with him. Let me think, she answered, and she looked first at the ground beneath her, next around her, then upwards toward the skies. Now they stood at the foot of the copy, on the flat top of which grew the great tree of doom, that for generations had served the people of fire as a place of execution of their criminals, or of those who fell under the ban of the king or of the witch-doctors. Among and above the finger-like fronds of this strange and dreadful-looking tree, towered that white dead limb shaped like a cross, which Owen had pointed out to his disciple John, taking it to be a sign and a promise. This cross stood out clear against the sinking moon. It caught Noma's eye, and a devilish thought entered into her heart. You would keep this fellow alive, she said, and yet you would not suffer him to escape. See, there above you is a cross such as he worships. Bind him to it, as he says the man whom he worships was bound, and let that dead man help him if he may. The prince and those about Noma shrank back a little in horror. They were cruel men, rendered more cruel by their superstitious fear of one whom they believed to be uncanny, one to whom they attributed inhuman powers which he was exercising to their destruction. But still this doom seemed dreadful to them. Noma read their minds, and went on passionately. You deem me unmerciful, but you do not know what I have suffered at this wizard's hands. For his sake, and because of him, I am haunted. For his purposes he opened the gates of distance. He sent me down among the dwellers in death, causing me to interpret their words for him. I did so, but the dwellers came back out of death with me, and from that hour they have not left me, nor will they ever leave me. For night by night they sojourn at my side, tormenting me with terrors. He has told me that through my mouth, the spirit whom he drew into my body prophesied that he should be lifted up above the people. Let the prophecy be fulfilled. Let him be lifted up, for then perchance the ghosts will depart from me, and I shall win peace and sleep. Also thus alone can you hold him safe, and yet shed no blood. Be it so, said the Prince, when we plotted together of the death of the King, and as your price, Hokusah, you bargained for the girl whom I had chosen to wife, did I not warn you that this witch of many spells, who holds both our hearts in her little hands, should yet hound you to death, and mock you while you perished by an end of shame. What did I tell you, Hokusah? Now when he heard his fate, Hokusah bowed his head and trembled a little. Then he lifted it, and exclaimed in a clear voice, It is true, Prince, but I will add to your words. She shall bring both of us to death. For me I am honoured indeed in that there has been allotted to me that same end which my Master chose. To that cross let my sins be fastened, and with them my body. Now the moon sank, but in the darkness men were found who dared to climb the tree, taking with them strips of rawhide. They reached the top of it, four of them, and seating themselves upon the arms of the cross, they let down a rope, the noose of which was placed about the body of Hokusah. As it tightened upon him, he turned his calm and dreadful eyes onto the eyes of Noma, and said to her, Woman, I do not reproach you, but I lay this fate upon you, that you shall watch me die. Thereafter, let God deal with you as he may choose. Now when she heard these words Noma shrieked aloud, for of a sudden she felt that the power of the will of Hokusah, from which she had been freed by him, had once more fallen upon her, and that come what might she was doomed to obey his last commands. Little by little the soldiers drew him up, and in the darkness they bound him fast there upon the lofty cross. Then they descended and left him, and would have led Noma with them from the tree, but this they could not do. For always she broke from them screaming, and fled back to its shadow. Then seeing that she was bewitched, Othella commanded that they should bind a cloth about her mouth, and leave her there till her senses return to her in the sunlight, for none of them dared to stop with her in the shadow of that tree, since the odors of it were poisonous to man. Also they believed the place to be haunted by evil spirits. CHAPTER XXII. The sun rose suddenly over the edge of the cliffs, and while it was yet deep shadow in the valley, its red light struck upon the white cross of perished wood that towered above the tree of doom, and on the black shape of Hokusah crucified to it living. The camp of the king saw and understood, and from every throat of the thousands of men, women, and children gathered there went up a roar of rage and horror. The king lifted his hand, and silence fell upon the place. Then he mounted on the wall, and cried aloud, Do you yet live, Hokusah, or is it your body only that those traitors have fastened to the tree? Back came the answer through the clear, still air. I live, O king! Endure then for a little while, called Nodwingo, and we will storm the tree and save you. Nay, answered Hokusah, you cannot save me, yet before I die I shall see you saved." Then his words were lost in tumult, for the third day's fighting began. Desperately the regiments of Huffella rushing across the open space hurled themselves upon the fortifications, which during the night had been strengthened by the building of two inner walls. Nor was this all, for suddenly a cry told those in front that the regiment which Huffella had dispatched across the mountains had traveled up the eastern neck of the valley and were attacking the position in their rear. Well it was for Nodwingo now that he had listened to the council of Hokusah, and, wearied as his soldiers were, had commanded that here also a great wall should be built. For two hours the fight raged, and then on either side the foe fell back, not beaten indeed, though there dead were many, but to rest and take counsel. But now a new trouble arose. From all the camp of Nodwingo there went up a moan of pain to heaven, for since the evening of yesterday the spring had given out, and they had found no water wherewith to wet their lips. During the night they bore it, but now the sun beating down on the black rocks with fearful force scorched them to the marrow, till they began to wither like fallen leaves, and already wounded men and children died, while the warriors cut the throats of oxen and drank their blood. Hokusah, hanging on his cross, heard this moaning and divined its cause. "'Be of good comfort, children of Nodwingo,' he cried, "'for I will pray that rain be sent upon you.' And he lifted his head and prayed. Now whether it was by chance, or whether his prayer was heard, who can say? At least it happened that immediately thereafter clouds began to gather and to thicken in the blue of heaven, and within two hours rain fell in torrents, so that everyone could drink his fill, and the spring being replantished at its sources flowed again strongly. After the rain came cold and moaning winds, and after the wind a great gloom and thunder. Now taking advantage of the shadow, the regiments of Huffella renewed their attack, and this time they carried the first of the three walls, for its defenders grew feeble and few in number. There they paused a while, and save for the cries of the wounded and of the frightened women, the silence was great. "'Let your hearts be filled up,' cried the voice of Hokusah through the silence, for the sunlight shines upon the plain of the great place yonder, and in it I see the sheen of spears. The impee travels to your aid, O children of Nodwingo!' Now at this tidings the people of the king shouted for joy, but Huffella called to his regiments to make an end of them, and they hurled themselves upon the second wall fighting desperately. Again and again they were beaten back, and again and again they came on, till at length they carried this wall also, driving its defenders, or those who remained alive of them, into the third entrenchment, and paused to rest a while. Save for us, O prophet, who are set on high!" cried a voice from the camp. "'For if sucker do not reach us speedily, we are sped!' Before the echoes of the voice had died away a flash of lightning flared through the gloom, and in the light of it Hokusah saw that the king's impee was rushing up the gorge. "'Fight on! fight on!' he called an answer. "'I have prayed to heaven, and your sucker is at hand!' Then with a howl of rage a fellow's regiments hurled upon the third and last entrenchment, attacking it at once in front and rear. Twice they nearly carried it, but each time the wild scream of Hokusah on high was heard above the den, conjuring its defenders to fight on and fear not, for heaven had sent them help. They fought as men have seldom fought before, and with them fought the women and even the children. They were few, and the foe was still many, but they listened to the urging of him whom they believed to be inspired in his death agony upon the cross above them, and still they held their own. Twice portions of the wall were torn down, but they filled the breach with the corpses of the dead, I, and with the bodies of the living, for the wounded, the old men, and the very women piled themselves there in the place of stones. No such fray was told of in the annals of the people of fire as this, the last stand of Nodwingo against the thousands of Hefella. Now all the shouting had died away, for men had no breath left wherewith to shout. Only from the gloomy place of battle came low groans, and the deep sobbing sighs of warriors gripped in the death-hug. Fight on! Fight on! shrilled the voice of Hokusah on high. Lo! The skies are open to my dying sight, and I see the impies of heaven sweeping to succour you. Behold! They dashed the sweat from their eyes and looked forth, and as they looked the pall of gloom was lifted, and in the golden glow of many-shafted light they saw, not the legions of heaven indeed, but the regiments of Nodwingo rushing round the bend of the valley, as dogs rush upon ascent with heads held low and spears outstretched. Hefella saw them also. Back to the copy, he cried, there to die like men, for the wizardries of Hokusah have been too strong for us, and lost is this my last battle and the crown I came to seek. They obeyed, and all that were left of them, some ten-thousand men, they ran to the copy and formed themselves upon it, ring upon ring, and here the soldiers of Nodwingo closed in upon them. Again and for the last time the voice of Hokusah rang out above the fray. Nodwingo! he cried, with my passing breath, I charge you, have mercy, and spare these men so many of them as will surrender. The day of bloodshed has gone by, the fray is finished, the cross has conquered, let there be peace in the land. All men heard him, for his piercing scream, echoed from the precipices, came to the ears of each. All men heard him, and even in that fierce hour of vengeance, all obeyed. The spear that was poised was not thrown, and the carry lifted over the fallen did not descend to dash away his life. Men hafela, called the king, stepping forward from the ranks of the attackers, he whom you have set on high to bring defeat upon you, charges me to give you peace, and in the name of the conquering cross I give peace. All who surrender shall dwell henceforth in my shadow, nor shall the head or heel of one of them be harmed, although their sin is great. One life only will I take, the life of that witch who brought your armies down upon me to burn my town, and slay my people by thousands, and who but last night betrayed Hokusah to his death of torment. All shall go free, I say, save the witch. And for you shall be given cattle, and such servants as will cling to you to the number of a hundred, and driven from the land. Now what say you? Will you yield or be slain? Swift with your answer, for the sun sinks, and ere it is set there must be an end, in this way or in that. The regiments of Hafele heard, and shouted in answer as within one voice, We take your mercy, king! We fought bravely while we could, and now we take your mercy, king! What say you, Hafele? repeated Nodwingo, addressing the prince, who stood upon a point of rock above him in full sight of both armies. Hafele turned and looked at Hokusah, hanging high in midair. What say I? he answered in a slow and quiet voice. I say that the cross and its prophet have been too strong for me, and that I should have done well to follow the one, and to listen to the counsel of the other. My brother, you tell me that I may go free, taking servants with me. I thank you, and I will go, alone. And setting the handle of his spear upon the rock, with a sudden movement he fell forward, transfixing his heart with its broad blade, and lay still. At least he died like one of the blood royal of the sons of fire, cried Nodwingo, while the army stood silent and awestruck, and with the blood royal he shall be buried. Lay down your arms, you who followed him, and fought for him, fearing nothing, and give over to me the witch that she may be slain. She hides under the tree yonder, cried a voice. Go up and take her, said Nodwingo, to some of his captains. Now Noma, crouched on the ground beneath the tree, had seen and heard all that passed. Perceiving the captains making their way towards her through the lines of the soldiers, who opened out a path for them, she rose and for a moment stood bewildered. Then as though drawn by some strange attraction she turned, and seizing hold of the creeper that clung about it, she began to climb the tree of doom swiftly. Up she went while all men watched, higher and higher yet, till passing out of the finger-like foliage, she reached the cross of dead wood where too Hokusah hung, and placing her feet upon one arm of it stood there, supporting herself by the broken top of the upright. Hokusah was not yet dead, though he was very near to death. Lifting his glazing eyes he knew her, and said, speaking thickly, What do you hear, Noma, and wherefore have you come? I come because you draw me, she answered, and because they seek my life below. Repent, repent, he whispered, There is yet time, and heaven is very merciful. She heard, and a fury seized her. Be silent, dog, she cried, Having defied your God so long, shall I grovel to him at the last? Having hated you so much, shall I seek your forgiveness now? At least of one thing I am glad. Repent was I who brought you here, and with me, and through me you shall die. Then placing one foot upon his bent head as if in scorn she leaned forward, her long hair flying to the wind, and cursed Nodwingo and his people, naming them renegades and apostates, and cursed the soldiers of Huffella, naming them cowards, calling down upon them the malison of their ancestors. Repent! She screamed, catching at his words, Thus do I repent! And drawing the knife from her girdle, she lent over him, and drove it hilt deep into his breast. Then with a sudden movement she sprang upwards and outwards into the air, and rushing down through a hundred feet of space was struck dead upon that very rock where the corpse of Huffella lay. Now beneath the agony of the land, she was struck dead upon that very rock where the corpse of Huffella lay. Now beneath the agony of the life, Hukosa lifted his head for the last time, crying in a great voice, Messenger, I come! Be you my guide! And with the words his soul passed. All is over and ended, said a voice, Soldiers, salute the king with the royal salute. Nay, answered Nodwingo, Salute me not! Salute the cross, and him who hangs thereon! So while the rays of the setting sun shone about it, and by regiment that great army rushed past the copy, and pausing opposite to the cross and its burden, they rendered to it the royal salute of kings. Then the night fell, and thus through the power of faith that now as of old is the only true and efficient magic was accomplished the mission to the sons of fire of the saint and martyr, Thomas Owen, and of his murderer and disciple, the wizard Hukosa. CHAPTER XXII END OF THE WIZARD by H. RYDER HAGGARD