Already the man had poured the boiling oil over Ipke's arms and
hands.
"Why have you done this?" asked Mary. Chief Edem said nothing. He turned
and walked away. The other people also kept still. Mary took Ipke to her
room. She put medicine on the burns.
"Why did they do this to you, Ipke?" she asked.
"It is because I helped the white Ma. The people say I do not follow the
old ways. It is bad to follow new ways. I must be punished. The bad spirit
must be burned out."
"O God," prayed Mary, "heal this boy and help me to change the wicked
heathen ways."
#6#
_A Brave Nurse_
It was strangely quiet in the village of Chief Okurike. The chief was
sick. All the magic of the witch doctors could not make him better. If he
died, many of his wives, slaves and soldiers would be killed to go with him
into the spirit-world.
A woman from a neighboring village came to the house of Chief Okurike's
wives.
"You are sad because Chief Okurike is dying," said the woman. "I know
someone who can help him. Far away through the jungle at Ekenge lives the
white Ma. With her magic she can make devils go out of your chief. My son's
child was dying. The white Ma saved her. She is well today. The white Ma
has done many wonderful things by the power of her juju. Let your chief
send for her. Then he will not die."
The wives talked it over.
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