of the men of Ekenge
and some of the people of the village, they tied some of the most drunken
men and the wildest fighters to the trees. They left them there to cool
themselves in the breezes of the jungle.

After several hours Mary untied them because she was afraid that some lions
might come and kill and eat them. Now that things were quiet, Mary again
started for home. On the way she picked up the little banana plant that had
caused so much trouble and took it with her.

"I will plant it in my own yard and see what witchcraft can do!" said Mary.

Early the next morning, a man from Njiri's village came running into
Ekenge. He went to Mary's house.

"Ma," said the runner, "Chief Njiri was very sick last night. He suffered
very much. The witch doctor took sticks and shells and shot from his
leg. It is because he walked past the banana plant and other magic
medicine. Give me the little banana plant for the chief."

"No, I cannot do that," said Mary. She knew that if the banana plant was
taken to the chief, someone would die because of the witchcraft belief.

"But you must send it," said Chief Edem. "If you do not send it, he will
make war on us."

"Very well," said Mary, "I will send it. But I know there will be much
trouble."

So he took the banana plant to Chief Njiri. When he received it, he and
his warriors went to the village which he thought was working witchcraft
against him. He made all the people of the village come to him. In great
fear they came.

"Every one of you must swear that you did not make that bad medicine
against me. I am going to find out who is working that witchcraft to hurt
me."

All the people of the village swore they had not done it.

"I am going to take one of your finest young men with me. If I find that
you have told me a lie, I will kill him."

Njiri's warriors captured a young man and took him along. If the villagers
had tried to rescue him, he would have been killed, and many of them would
have been killed also. They sent a man to Mary.

"Ma," said the man, "please help us. Please get Njiri to free Kolu."

"I don't like to have anything to do with Njiri. He is very wicked. But I
will go and try to get Kolu free."

Mary went to the village of Chief Njiri. She walked right up to the
chief. The warriors of Chief Njiri looked at her with angry faces. They
shook their spears at her.

"Chief Njiri," said Mary, "why have you taken this young man? He has done
you no h