class REXML::Light::Node

def namespace_of( node, prefix=nil )
  if not prefix
    name = at(2)
    name =~ NAMESPLIT
    prefix = $1
  end
  to_find = 'xmlns'
  to_find = "xmlns:#{prefix}" if not prefix.nil?
  ns = at(3)[ to_find ]
  ns ? ns : namespace_of( @node[0], prefix )
end