old, might search him out from among all the millions of men, born or
unborn, and bring him back to me. Therefore also she chose a young black
dog who would live for many years, and bade the god to take him with
her, and told him of the wealth of our people that it might be a bait
upon the hook. Do you see, Vernoon, that yellow dirt was the bait, that
I--I am the hook? Well, you have felt it before, so it should not gall
you overmuch."

Now Alan was more frightened than he had been since he set foot in
Asiki-land, for of a sudden this woman became terrible to him. He felt
that she knew things which were hidden from him. For the first time
he believed in her, believed, that she was more than a mere passionate
savage set by chance to rule over a bloodthirsty tribe; that she was one
who had a part in his destiny.

"Felt the hook?" he muttered. "I do not understand."

"You are very forgetful," she answered. "Vernoon, we have lived and
loved before, who were twin souls from the first. That man now, whom
I told you lived once on the great river called the Nile, have you no
memory of him? Well, well, let it be, I will tell you afterwards. Here
we are at the Gold House again, to-night when I am ready I will send for
you, and this I promise, you shall leave me wiser than you were."

When they were alone in their room Alan told Jeekie of the expected
entertainment of crystal gazing, or whatever it might be, and the part
that he was to play in it.

"You say that again, Major," said Jeekie.