they wish to get married and go across the Black
Water to where their home will be, and I wish to attend to my
affairs?"

"I do not know what I expect, Macumazahn, but I do know that
never while I live will I be parted from the lady Heddana. At
last I have found some one to love, and you and the other would
steal her away from me."

I studied her for a while, then asked--

"Why do you not marry, Nombe, and have a husband, and children to
love?"

"Marry?" she replied. "I am married to my Spirit which does not
dwell beneath the sun, and my children are not of earth;
moreover, all men are hateful to me," and her eyes added,
"especially you."

"That is a calf with a dog's head," I replied in the words of the
native proverb, meaning that she said what was not natural.
"Well, Nombe, if you are so fond of the lady Heddana, you had
better arrange with her and the Inkosi Mauriti to go away with
them."

"You know well I cannot, Macumazahn. I am tied to my Master by
ropes that are stronger than iron, and if I attempted to break
them my Spirit would wither and I should wither with it."

"Dear me! what a dreadful business. That is what comes of taking
to magic. Well, Nombe, I am afraid I have nothing to suggest,
nor, to tell you the truth, can I see what I have to do with the
matter."

Then she sprang up in a rage, saying--

"I understand that not only will you give me no help, but that
you also mock at me, Macumazahn. Moreover, as it is with you, so
it is with Mauriti, who pretends to love my lady so much, though
I love her more with my little finger than he does with all his
body and what he calls his soul. Yes, he too mocks at me. Now
if you were both dead," she added with sudden venom, "my lady
would not wish to go away. Be careful lest a spell should fall
upon you, Macumazahn," and without more words she turned and
went.

At first I was inclined to laugh; the whole thing seemed so
absurd. On reflection, however, I perceived that in reality it
was very serious to people situated as we were. This woman was a
savage; more, a mystic savage of considerable powers of mind--a
formidable combination. Also there were no restraints upon her,
since public opinion had as little authority in the Black Kloof
as the Queen's Writ. Lastly, it was not unknown for women to
conceive these violent affections which, if thwarted, filled them
with something like madness. Thus I remembered a very terrible
occurrence of