alf-crown, then to the right and left at a little distance, two more
pieces of the size of a shilling, and below, but some way off, where the
bowl began to curve, a very small piece not larger than a six-penny bit.

"Swallow," said Sihamba, pointing to the two largest of the fragments,
"and husband of Swallow. There to the right and left father and mother
of Swallow, and here at her feet, a long way off and very small,
Sihamba, servant of Swallow, made all of them from the broken glass that
shows back the face, which she gave me, and set, as they must be set,
like the stars in the Cross of the Skies."

Now I shivered a little, for in myself I was afraid of this woman's
magic, but to her I laughed and said roughly:

"What fool's plaything made of bits of broken glass is this that you
have here, Sihamba?"

"It is a plaything that will tell a story to those who can read it," she
answered without anger, but like one who knows she speaks the truth.

"Make it tell its story to me, and I will believe you," I said laughing
again.

She shook her head and answered, "Lady, I cannot, for you have not the
Sight; but bring your husband here, and perhaps he will be able to read
the story, or some of it."

Now at this I grew angry, for it is not pleasant to a woman to hear that
a man whom all know to be but a child compared to her can see things in
water which she is not able to see, even though the things are born
only of the false magic of a witch-doctoress. Still, as at that moment
I chanced to hear Jan seeking me, for he wondered where I had gone, I
called to him and set out the matter, expecting that he would be very
angry and dismiss Sihamba, breaking up her magic bowl. But all the while
that I talked to him the little woman sat, her chin resting upon her
hand, looking into his face, and I think that she had some power over
him. At the least, he was not at all angry, although he said that I must
not mention the business to the _predicant_, who was well known to be
a prejudiced man. Then he asked Sihamba to show him the wonders of the
bowl. Replying that she would if she might, and always keeping her eyes
fixed upon his face, she bade him kneel down and look into the water in
such fashion that he did not shut the moonlight off from it, and to tell
us what he saw.

So he knelt and looked, whispering presently that on the midmost
piece of glass there appeared the image of Suzanne, and on the others
respectively those of Ral