seemed to her that this hour was upon her, and I knew that she was about
to take the poison. Then in my fear I whispered to her through the crack
in the wall, speaking in an ancient tongue which I have taught her,
the tongue of my own people, White Man, and saying: 'Hold your hand,
Shepherdess; while you live you may escape, but from death there is no
escape. It will be time to use the poison when the worst is with you.'

"She heard and understood, for I saw her bow her head slightly, and her
hand fell to her side. Then Pereira spoke again:

"'And now, if you are ready,' he said, 'we will be moving, for it is
eight days' journey to my little Nest on the coast, and who can tell
when the dhows will come to fetch my blackbirds? Have you anything to
say before you go, my dove?'

"Now my mistress spoke for the first time, answering, 'I am in your
power, but I do not fear you, for if need be I can escape you. But I
tell you this: that your wickedness shall bring your own death
upon you;' and she glanced round at the bodies of those whom the
slave-traders had murdered, at the captives upon whom they were setting
chains and forks of wood, and the columns of smoke that were rising from
her home, for the roof of the Settlement had been fired.

"For a moment the Portuguese looked frightened, then he laughed aloud
and said with an oath, crossing himself after the fashion of his people
as a protection against the curse, 'What! you prophesy, do you, my dove,
and you can escape me at your will, can you? Well, we shall see. Bring
the other mule for this lady, you fellows.'

"The mule was brought, and Juanna, my mistress, was set upon it. Then