w, think no more of that matter, which has nothing to do with you or
me, think only of the girl, and go on thinking of her, and of her only,
until you get back home, and give her the medicine--that is if you wish
it to work."

"I am thinking, lady," he muttered, turning his stupid face up to the
skies.

"Fool, be quiet. Do I not know that? Ah! now I see her heart, and I tell
you that you are lucky, for when you have done as I bid you, she will
love you more than if you were the greatest chief in all the land." Then
Sihamba gave him a certain harmless powder to sprinkle in the hut where
the girl slept, and bade him wait for her on six different days when she
came up from bathing, giving her on each day a garland of fresh flowers,
a new flower for every day.

The man thanked her and asked what he must pay her for a fee, to which
she replied that she took no fee in matters of love, since her reward
was to know that she had made two people happy; but she added:

"Remember what I tell you, or instead of earning love you will earn
hate. Say nothing of your visit to me, and if you can avoid it, do not
speak at all until you have sprinkled the powder in the hut; especially
put all things which do not concern you and her out of your mind and
think only of her face and how happy you will be when you have married
her, which, if you follow my instructions, you will shortly do."

Now the young man went away as though he were walking upon air, and
indeed so closely did he obey her that he was dismissed by his masters
as a dumb fool before he reached home again. But whether or no Sihamba's
medicine softened the heart of the maid I have not heard.

So soon as he was gone Sihamba sent Zinti to bring Sigwe and two of his
generals to the place where she and Suzanne were encamped in a booth
made of branches and long grass. When they were come, she told them of
what she had learned from the love-stricken lad, adding that this plan
of making sure of what already she had suspected, had been born in the
brain of the Swallow, although she had carried it out. For when she
deemed that she could serve her mistress or win her honour, Sihamba
thought less of the truth than she should have done.

On learning this tidings Sigwe and his captains were full of wrath, and
spoke of making war upon the Pondo chief at once, but Sihamba said:

"Listen; the Swallow has whispered a better way into my ear. It is
this: the embassy of the Pondos leaves