aned against it lost in thought. As he stood thus he saw a
woman advancing towards him, who carried on her head a small basket of
fruit, and knew her for one of those whose business it was to wait upon
the Messenger in his huts, or rather in his house, for by now he had
built himself a small house, and near it a chapel. This woman saw Hokosa
also and looked at him sideways, as though she would like to stop and
speak to him, but feared to do so.

"Good morrow to you, friend," he said. "How goes it with your husband
and your house?"

Now Hokosa knew well that this woman's husband had taken a dislike to
her and driven her from his home, filling her place with one younger and
more attractive. At the question the woman's lips began to tremble, and
her eyes swam with tears.

"Ah! great doctor," she said, "why do you ask me of my husband? Have you
not heard that he has driven me away and that another takes my place?"

"Do I hear all the gossip of this town?" asked Hokosa, with a smile.
"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. Bring her milk to
drink."

"There are some wives who would not find that so great an evil," replied
Noma mockingly, as she rose to do his bidding.

Hokosa winced at the sarcasm, and turning to his visitor, said:--

"Now tell me your tale; but say first, why are you so frightened?"

"I am frightened, master," she answered, "lest any should have seen
me enter here, for I have become a Christian, and the Christians are
forbidden to consult the witch-doctors, as we were wont to do. For my
case, it is----"

"No need to set it out," broke in Hokosa, waving his hand. "I see it
written on your face; your husband has put you away and loves another
woman, your own half-sister whom you brought up from a child."

"Ah! master, you have heard aright."

"I have not heard, I look upon you and I see. Fool, am I not a wizard?
Tell me----" and taking dust into his hand, he blew the grains this way
and that, regarding them curiously. "Yes, it is so. Last night you crept
to your husband's hut--do you remember, a dog growled at you as you
passed the gate?--an