n, and she
wore none of the abominations which Hadden had been accustomed to see
upon the persons of witch-doctoresses. About her neck, however, was a
curious ornament, a small live snake, red and grey in hue, which her
visitors recognised as one of the most deadly to be found in that
part of the country. It is not unusual for Bantu witch-doctors thus to
decorate themselves with snakes, though whether or not their fangs have
first been extracted no one seems to know.

Presently the herbs began to smoulder, and the smoke of them rose up in
a thin, straight stream, that, striking upon the face of the Bee, clung
about her head enveloping it as though with a strange blue veil. Then of
a sudden she stretched out her hands, and let fall the two locks of
hair upon the burning herbs, where they writhed themselves to ashes like
things alive. Next she opened her mouth, and began to draw the fumes
of the hair and herbs into her lungs in great gulps; while the snake,
feeling the influence of the medicine, hissed and, uncoiling itself
from about her neck, crept upwards and took refuge among the black
_saccaboola_ feathers of her head-dress.

Soon the vapours began to do their work; she swayed to and fro
muttering, then sank back against the hut, upon the straw of which her
head rested. Now the Bee's face was turned upwards towards the light,
and it was ghastly to behold, for it had become blue in colour, and
the open eyes were sunken like the eyes of one dead, whilst above her
forehead the red snake wavered and hissed, reminding Hadden of the
Uraeus crest on the brow of statues of Egyptian kings. For ten seconds
or more she remained thus, then she spoke in a hollow and unnatural
voice:--

"O Black Heart and body that is white and beautiful, I look into your
heart, and it is black as blood, and it shall be black with blood.
Beautiful white body with black heart, you shall find your game and hunt
it, and it shall lead you into the House of the Homeless, into the Home
of the Dead, and it shall be shaped as a bull, it shall be shaped as a
tiger, it shall be shaped as a woman whom kings and waters cannot harm.
Beautiful white body and black heart, you shall be paid your wages,
money for money, and blow for blow. Think of my word when the spotted
cat purrs above your breast; think of it when the battle roars about
you; think of it when you grasp your great reward, and for the last time
stand face to face with the ghost of the dead in t