Atlengththecrisiscame，andinthisfashion。TheAmasuka，likemanyotherAfricantribes，hadastrangevenerationforcertainvarietiesofsnakeswhichtheydeclaredtobepossessedbythespiritsoftheirancestors。Itwasalawamongthemthatifoneofthesesnakesenteredakraalitmustnotbekilled，orevendrivenaway，underpainofdeath，butmustbeallowedtosharewiththehumanoccupantsanyhutthatitmightselect。Asaresultofthisenforcedhospitalitydeathsfromsnake—bitewerenumerousamongthepeople;butwhentheyhappenedinakraalitsownersmetwithlittlesympathy，forthedoctorsexplainedthattherealcauseofthemwastheangerofsomeancestralspirittowardshisdescendants。Now，beforeJohnwasdespatchedtoinstructOweninthelanguageoftheAmasukaacertaingirlwassealedtohimashisfuturewife，andthisgirl，whoduringhisabsencehadbeenorphaned，hehadmarriedrecentlywiththeapprovalofOwen，whoatthistimewaspreparingherforbaptism。OnthethirdmorningafterhismarriageJohnappearedbeforehismasterinthelastextremityofgriefandterror。
\"Helpme，Messenger！\"hecried，\"formyancestralspirithasenteredourhutandbittenmywifeasshelayasleep。\"
\"Areyoumad？\"askedOwen。\"Whatisanancestralspirit，andhowcanithavebittenyourwife？\"
\"Asnake，\"gaspedJohn，\"agreensnakeoftheworstsort。\"
ThenOwenrememberedthesuperstition，andsnatchingblue—stoneandspiritsofwinefromhismedicinechest，herushedtoJohn’shut。Asithappened，hewasfortunatelyintimewithhisremediesandsucceededinsavingthewoman’slife，wherebyhisreputationasadoctorandamagician，alreadygreat，wasconsiderablyenlarged。