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"That may not be," answered Hafela, "since even a wizard cannot throw his thoughts into the heart of another from afar." "Ah! you think so, Prince. Well, ask Noma yonder if I cannot throw my thoughts into her heart from afar: though of late I have not chosen to do so, having put aside such spells. But let it pass, and tell me, having taken me, what is it you propose to do with me?
Three days later it was announced that according to the custom of the women of the People of Fire, Noma having given birth to a still-born child, was about to start upon a journey to the Mount of Purification. Here she would abide awhile and make sacrifice to the spirits of her ancestors, that they might cease to be angry with her and in future protect her from such misfortunes.
She came and stood before him, and he looked at her beauty with admiring eyes, for he could not forget the woman whom the cunning of Hokosa had forced him to put away. "Whence come you, pretty one?" he asked, "and wherefore come you? Are you weary of your husband, that you fly back to me? If so, you are welcome indeed; for know, Noma, that I still love you."
He never saw or heard them, yet, as the words left his lips, they sprang upon him from every side, holding him so that he could not move. "Away with him!" cried Noma with a laugh of triumph; and at her command he was half-dragged and half-carried across the open space and thrust violently over a stone wall into the camp of Hafela.
This was my purpose: first to creep into my own hut and get my assegais and a skin blanket, then to gain speech with Baleka. My hut, I thought, would be empty, for nobody sleeps there except myself, and the huts of Noma were some paces away to the right. I came to the reed fence that surrounded the huts. Nobody was to be seen at the gate, which was not shut with thorns as usual.
Of late Noma had haunted the shadow of this tree, for beneath it lay that child which had been born to her. "Does it please the king to grant leave for my journey?" she asked, looking up. "Yes, it pleases him."
"Greeting, Hokosa," said Noma, and she stretched out her hand to him. By way of answer he placed his own behind his back, saying: "To your business, woman."
By now I had mastered all I could learn by myself, so I joined myself on to the chief medicine-man of our tribe, who was named Noma. He was old, had one eye only, and was very clever. Of him I learned some tricks and more wisdom, but at last he grew jealous of me and set a trap to catch me.
"But come in and tell me the story; perchance I may be able to help you, for I have charms to compel the fancy of such faithless ones." The woman looked round, and seeing that there was no one in sight, she slipped swiftly through the gate of the kraal, which he closed behind her. "Noma," said Hokosa, "here is one who tells me that her husband has deserted her, and who comes to seek my counsel.
"What of it, O King?" "This, girl: the prince who was pleased to honour you is now pleased to dishonour you. Here, in the presence of the council and army, he prays of me to annul his sealing to you, and to send you back to the house of your guardian, Hokosa the wizard." Noma started, and her face grew hard. "Is it so?" she said.
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