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Haggard, H. Rider (Henry Rider), 1856-1925

"She"


"She has got a Devil," called out one of them. "Run and get a black
goat. There, Devil, keep quiet! keep quiet! You shall have the goat
presently. They have gone to fetch it, Devil."
"I want a Black Goat, I must have a Black Goat!" shrieked the foaming
rolling creature again.
"All right, Devil, the goat will be here presently; keep quiet, there's
a good Devil!"
And so on till the goat, taken from a neighbouring kraal, did at last
arrive, being dragged bleating on to the scene by its horns.
"Is it a Black One, is it a Black One?" shrieked the possessed.
"Yes, yes, Devil, as black as night;" then aside, "keep it behind thee,
don't let the Devil see that it has got a white spot on its rump and
another on its belly. In one minute, Devil. There, cut his throat quick.
Where is the saucer?"
"The Goat! the Goat! the Goat! Give me the blood of my black goat! I
must have it, don't you see I must have it? Oh! oh! oh! give me the
blood of the goat."
At this moment a terrified _bah!_ announced that the poor goat had been
sacrificed, and the next minute a woman ran up with a saucer full of
blood.


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