who love her according to my lore, O mother of Swallow. Look, I read it
there."

I looked and saw that the large bowl was filled to the brim with pure
water. At the bottom of it lay some white sand, and on the sand were
placed five pieces of broken looking-glass, all of which had been filed
carefully to a round shape. The largest of these pieces was of the size
of a crown of English money. This lay in the exact centre of the bowl.
Above it and almost touching its edge, was another piece the size of a
half-crown, then to the right and left at a little distance, two more
pieces of the size of a shilling, and below, but some way off, where the
bowl began to curve, a very small piece not larger than a six-penny bit.

"Swallow," said Sihamba, pointing to the two largest of the fragments,
"and husband of Swallow. There to the right and left father and mother
of Swallow, and here at her feet, a long way off and very small,
Sihamba, servant of Swallow, made all of them from the broken glass that
shows back the face, which she gave me, and set, as they must be set,
like the stars in the Cross of the Skies."

Now I shivered a little, for in myself I was afraid of this woman's
magic, but to her I laughed and said roughly:

"What fool's plaything made of bits of broken glass is this that you
have here, Sihamba?"

"It is a plaything that will tell a story to those who can read it," she
answered without anger, but like one who knows she speaks the truth.

"Make it tell its story to me, and I will believe you," I said laughing