"Humph!" said Ma, "my cure seems to be as bad as the disease. Still, they have forgotten the prisoners." These were chained to posts, and expected every minute to have their heads chopped off. They were all very miserable. The babies were crying, and there was a girl of fifteen who clung weeping to her mother, and ran up to any one who came, saying piteously, "Oh, I'll be a slave for life if only you will spare my mother." Ma turned to Mr. Ovens. "We must not leave these poor creatures. You will watch by day, and I will watch by night, and we may save them yet." So time and time about these two sat on guard. They had no weapons, they were alone in the midst of a drunken mob, and yet they had no fear, for they trusted God and believed that He would take care of them. Because they were there, Edem and his brother chiefs did not touch the prisoners. Some days passed. Then one afternoon Ma saw little brown objects lying on a stone. "Eser['e] beans!" she exclaimed in alarm. These beans grow on a wild vine, and are very poisonous. She knew they were to be crushed and put in water, and given to the prisoners with the idea of finding out who was guilty of the death of Etim. Of course all who drank the water would die, and the people would believe that justice had been done. That was the only kind of justice they knew. [Illustration: THE ESER['E] BEAN.] Ma sought out the chiefs and told them they must not do this wicked thing, and when they put her aside she followed them about and begged and worried them until they became angry. "Let us alone," they cried. "What does it matter? Your God will not let the innocent die." Their followers grew excited, and some of them lost control of themselves and hustled Ma and threatened her. "Make the dead live," they snarled, "and we shall give you the prisoners." Ma's reply was to sit down and look at them with stern eyes. "I will not move from here," she said firmly, "until you set all these poor people free." It was night. Stealthy steps came into the yard. In the darkness Ma saw two men take away one of the mothers. She looked at the woman going to her death, and at the others, who pled with her to remain, for they feared this was a trick to get her away. What should she do? Praying and hoping that she was right, she ran after the mother, and was just in time, for the woman was raising the poisoned water to her lips. "Don't," cried Ma, and giving her a push she said, "Run." In an instant both jumped into the bush and made for Ma's hut. "Quick," Ma cried to Mr. Ovens, "hide this woman." He drew her in and piled up boxes against the door, and Ma ran swiftly back to the yard, where, to her joy, she found the other prisoners still safe. The warriors had been so astonished at what she had done that they had forgotten all about them.