of the warrior, advanced
leisurely towards him from the banana plantation. Marufa continued to gaze
in rumination at the opposite hut. But as they had not met since the
rising of the sun, he did not fail to make the orthodox greeting at the
exact moment that the chief's shadow passed in front of him, which Zalu
Zako returned punctiliously, thereby averting an evil omen. As soon as the
young man had passed beyond the next hut appeared in the grove a girl,
modelled like a bronze wood nymph. She wore the tiny girdle of the
unmarried and walked furtively, carrying in her hand a parcel wrapped in
banana leaves. In the shadow of a compound fence she halted, one slender
brown arm set back in apprehension as her eyes followed the lithe figure
of Zalu Zako.

Motionless sat Marufa staring in mystic contemplation. Bakuma glanced
swiftly about her. Apparently satisfied that no one was observing her save
a lean dog and two gollywog children, she continued on as if to pass the
old man, her eyes still ranging like a fawn's. But when she was beside
Marufa she subsided on her haunches beside him, clutching the bundle as
she whispered:

"Greetings, O wise one!"

"Greeting, daughter," returned Marufa without lessening the fixity of his
gaze.

"I would talk with thee."

"Aye."

Again she glanced around furtively.

"I would talk in thine ear, O my father."

"The knots of my hair are tied."

"I thank thee. There's a fluttering bird in my breast."

"And a snake around thy heart, O my daughter."

"Aie-e!"

"The grandson of the snake hath tied thy girdle."

"Ehh!"

The girl clasped her breast in surprised terror.

"How dost thou know?"

"All things are known to the son of MTungo," declared Marufa solemnly,
still regarding the opposite wall. "Thou desirest a love charm.{~HORIZONTAL ELLIPSIS~} What hast
thou?"

Tremulously Bakuma put down the green package on the ground, darting
terrified glances to right and left. Slowly the skinny hand of the wizard
gently tore open the leaves; very impressively the eyes slanted down to
appraise the stock of blue and white beads.

"The spirit of Tarum hath a big belly," he announced tonelessly.

"O wise one, intercede for me," pleaded Bakuma, "for more have I none, I,
Bakuma, daughter of Bakala, a girl of the hut thatch."

"The true love charm, infallible and powerful, is difficult to obtain, O
Bakuma. The young huntress aims at big game."

"Ehh! But I have no more, great one!"