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Black Heart and White Heart by H. Rider (Henry Rider) Haggard
page 22 of 77 (28%)
resent it, but stood still staring at her stupidly.

"That is all I need," she cried, "for like my heart my magic is white.
Stay--son of Zomba, give me also of your hair, for those who visit the
Bee must listen to her humming."

Nahoon obeyed, cutting a little lock from his head with the sharp edge
of his assegai, though it was very evident that he did this not because
he wished to do so, but because he feared to refuse.

Then the Bee slipped back her kaross, and stood bending over the fire
before them, into which she threw herbs taken from a pouch that was
bound about her middle. She was still a finely-shaped woman, and she
wore none of the abominations which Hadden had been accustomed to see
upon the persons of witch-doctoresses. About her neck, however, was a
curious ornament, a small live snake, red and grey in hue, which her
visitors recognised as one of the most deadly to be found in that
part of the country. It is not unusual for Bantu witch-doctors thus to
decorate themselves with snakes, though whether or not their fangs have
first been extracted no one seems to know.

Presently the herbs began to smoulder, and the smoke of them rose up in
a thin, straight stream, that, striking upon the face of the Bee, clung
about her head enveloping it as though with a strange blue veil. Then of
a sudden she stretched out her hands, and let fall the two locks of
hair upon the burning herbs, where they writhed themselves to ashes like
things alive. Next she opened her mouth, and began to draw the fumes
of the hair and herbs into her lungs in great gulps; while the snake,
feeling the influence of the medicine, hissed and, uncoiling itself
from about her neck, crept upwards and took refuge among the black
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