disappointed. Then by an afterthought I suggested that perhaps
she might try to do something in the way of getting a message
through to the English camp at Ulundi, or elsewhere, by help of
the witch-doctoress, Nombe, adding that I would speak to her
myself had I not observed that I seemed to be out of favour with
her of late. Heda shook her head and answered that she thought
it would be useless to try, also too dangerous. Remembering
Zikali's threat, on reflection I agreed with her.

"Tell me, Mr. Quatermain," she added, "is it possible for one
woman to be in love with another?"

I stared at her and replied that I did not understand what she
meant, since women, so far as I had observed them, were generally
in love either with a man or with themselves, perhaps more often
with the latter than the former. Rather a cheap joke I admit,
with just enough truth in it to make it acceptable--in the Black
Kloof.

"So I thought," she answered, "but really Nombe behaves in a most
peculiar way. As you know she took a fancy to me from the
beginning, perhaps because she had never had any other woman with
whom to associate, having, so far as I can make out, been brought
up here among men from a child. Indeed, her story is that she
was one of twins and therefore as the younger, was exposed to die
according to the Zulu superstition. Zikali, however, or a
servant of his who knew what was happening, rescued and reared
her, so practically I am the only female with whom she has ever
been intimate. At any rate her affection for me has grown and
grown until, although it seems ungrateful to say so, it has
become something of a nuisance. She has told me again and again
that she would die to protect me, and that if by chance anything
happened to me, she would kill herself and follow me into another
world. She is continually making divinations about my future,
and as these, in which she entirely believes, always show me as
living without her, she is much distressed and at times bursts
into tears."

"Hysteria! It is very common among the Zulu women, and
especially those of them who practise magic arts," I answered.

"Perhaps, but as it results in the most intense jealousy, Nombe's
hysteria is awkward. For instance, she is horribly jealous of
Maurice."

"The instincts of a chaperone developed early," I suggested
again.

"That won't quite do, Mr. Quatermain," answered Heda with a
laugh, "since she is even more jealous of you.