existence might be supposed to be unknown--unless--unless those who
originally carried her off had chanced to pass this way. Yet, even
then--

"Tell me," I shouted, seizing the nyanga by the arm, rather roughly, I
am afraid, in my excitement, "what do you know of her? How long is it
since you saw her? And who are they who carried her off?"

"Gahle (gently), white man! gahle!" returned Mafuta, snatching his arm
out of my grasp. "I know nothing of the 'ntombi save what I saw last
night. But you came hither to procure my help to find her, and such
help as I can give shall be yours. As I told you, I know not where she
is, for I never saw the place with my bodily eyes, but I will show it to
you, so that if ever you come to the place you may know it. Will that
satisfy you?"

"But," I objected, "if you are able to show me the place, surely you can
tell me the name of it, and in which direction I should travel to reach
it?"

"Nay, 'mlungu, I cannot do that," answered Mafuta. "My power is not so
great as that. I can but show you the person whom you desire to see; it
must rest with you to note that person's surroundings so carefully that,
should you ever arrive at the place, you will recognise it again. Or
perhaps by describing it to others you may be able to find someone who
has been there and who, recognising it from your description, will be
able to tell you its name and where it is."

"Very well, then," said I; "do what you can to help me, Mafuta, and I
will be for ever obliged to you."

"Muchli (good)!" exclaimed Mafuta. "Sit where you are, and do exactly
as I bid you." He rose from his seat, groped among the thatch of the
hut for a moment, and presently produced a small, circular object about
the size of an ordinary coat button. It was as brightly burnished as
the surface of a mirror, and he placed it upright on the floor of the
hut in such a position that, while itself in deep shadow, it strongly
reflected the light which entered through the doorway right into my
eyes, dazzling them to such an extent that, for a few moments, I could
scarcely bear to look at it. Presently, however, that feeling passed
away, and I was able to gaze upon it without discomfort.

"Now," said Mafuta, "look steadfastly at that, never removing your eyes
from it for a moment, and see what happens." And, thus saying, the man
went and squatted himself upon his heels in the centre of the floor, and
began to chant, in a low, monot