Evening star., 1909-03-07

skin moocha, with the inflated fish-blad-
der in her hair, showed that she was a
witch-doctress.
well. mother" he said Have YOU
made the poison?'
Yes, Ibubesi yes l have made it as
drug, worth many cows. How many did
you say you would give me? Six"
NO, three. but II it does what is want
ed you shall have the other three as well.
Tell me again. how does fl work."
''rhus 1bubesi. Whoever drinks this
medicine becomes like one dead-none can
tell the difference. no, not a doctor even
and remains 30 for a long whie-per-
haps one day. perhaps two. perhaps even
three. Then life returns. and by degrees
moons the memory Is gone, and he who
has drunk remains like a child that has
everything to learn"
You lie. mother. I never heard of
such medicine"
"You never heard of 1t because none
can make 1t save me. and ! had its Sc
cret from my grandmother; also few can
afford to pay me for it. STILL 1t has been
used. and were / not afraid 1 could give
you cases Stay, 1 will show you. Call
that beast" and She pointed to dog that
was asleep at the side of the hut. Here
is milk; I wiN show you"
Ishmael hesitated. for he was fond of
this dog; then. as he wished to test the
stuff he called 1t. It came and sat down
beside him. looking up in his face with
faithful eyes: Then the old witch poured
milk into bowl, and in the milk mixed
some white powder which she took out of
folded leaf and offered 1t to the ami
NAL. The dog shifted the milk, growIed
slightly, and refused it.
The evil beast does not like me: he
bit ME the other day." said the old doc
tress. "Do you give it to him. Ibubesi;
he will trust you
SO Ishmael patted the dog on the head.
then offered it the milk which it Tapped
UP to the last drop.
There. evil beast" said the woman.
with a chuckle, "you won't bite me any
more: you'll forget all about me for a
long time. Look at him, Ibubesi, look at
him"
AS she spoke the poor dogs coat began
to stare; then 1t uttered a low howl, ran
to 1shmael, tried to lick his hand and
rolled over. to all appearance quite dead.
You have killed my dog, which 1 love,
you hag!" he said, angrily.
''Then why did you give medicine to
what you love, Ibubesi? But have no
fear, the evil beast has taken only a
small dose: tomorrow morning 1t will
awake. but it will not know you or any
one. Who is the medicine for, Ibubesi?
The Lady Zooia? If SO. it may not work
on her. for she is mighty and cannot be
harmed
L
tricks with the Inkosazanao"
mo. you want to marry her don't you?
But it seems to me that she has no mind
that way. Then it is for the man for
whom she has mind? Well, Ibubesi
you have promised the six cows. and you
saved me once from being killed for witch
craft. So ! will say something. Don't
give it to the chief Dario.''
why not. you old fool? Will it kill him
after all?"
mo. no. II Will do what I said. No less
and no more. in this quantity" and she
handed him another powder wrapped in
dry leaves. But have had bad dreams
about you. Ibubesi. and they were mixed
up with the Inkosazana and this white
man. Dario dreamed they brought
your death upon you-a friglltful death.
Ibubesi, he wise set Dario free and
change your mind as to marrying the
1nkosazana. who is not for you"
How can I change my mind, Descend
ant Of Wizards?" droke out Ish-
mael furiously. "Can a river penned
between rocks change its course? Can
it run backward from the sea to the hill?
This woman draws me as the sea draws
the river; because of her my blood is
afire. / had rather win her and die than
live rich and safe without her to old age
The more she hates and scorns me the
more l love her"
(To be continued tomorrow