Early the next morning, a man from Njiri's village came running into
Ekenge. He went to Mary's house.
"Ma," said the runner, "Chief Njiri was very sick last night. He suffered very much. The witch doctor took sticks and shells and shot from his leg. It is because he walked past the banana plant and other magic medicine. Give me the little banana plant for the chief."
"No, I cannot do that," said Mary. She knew that if the banana plant was taken to the chief, someone would die because of the witchcraft belief.
"But you must send it," said Chief Edem. "If you do not send it, he will make war on us."
"Very well," said Mary, "I will send it. But I know there will be much trouble."
So he took the banana plant to Chief Njiri. When he received it, he and his warriors went to the village which he thought was working witchcraft against him. He made all the people of the village come to him. In great fear they came.
"Every one of you must swear that you did not make that bad medicine against me. I am going to find out who is working that witchcraft to hurt me."
All the people of the village swore they had not done it.
"I am going to take one of your finest young men with me. If I find that you have told me a lie, I will kill him."
Njiri's warriors captured a young man and took him along. If the villagers had tried to rescue him, he would have been killed, and many of them would have been killed also. They sent a man to Mary.