the reader. There was a stern severity on his countenance, coupled with
a touch of sadness when in repose, but when called into action, or even
when conversing, the softer feeling vanished, and nothing remained but
the lines indicative of a stern settled purpose. Most of the robbers
around him had like himself fled from harsh masters, and become hardened
in a career of crime. The expression of almost every countenance was
vindictive, sensual, coarse. Ruyter's was not so. Unyielding sternness
alone marked his features, which, we have elsewhere remarked, were
unusually good for a Hottentot. Being a man of superior power he had
become the leader of this robber-band. It was only one of many that
existed at that time among the almost inaccessible heights of the
mountain-ranges bordering on the colony. His companions recognised the
difference between themselves and their captain, and did not love him
for it, though they feared him. They also felt that he was irrevocably
one of themselves, having imbrued his hands in white man's blood more
than once, and already made his name terrible on that part of the
frontier.

"They should be here by this time," said Ruyter, in Dutch, to one of the
men at his side. "Why did you send them off before I returned?"

He said this with a look of annoyance. The man replied that he had
acted according to the best of his judgment and had been particular in
impressing the leader of the party that he was not to touch the flocks
of old Marais, but to devote himself entirely to those of Jan Smit.

To this Ruyter observed with a growl that it was not likely they would
attend to such orders if Marais' herds chanced to be handy, but the
robber to whom he spoke only replied with a sly smile, showing that he
was of the same opinion.

Just then a man rushed into the cave announcing the fact that their
comrades were returning with plenty cattle and sheep, but that they were
pursued.

Instantly the chops and marrow-bones were flung aside, and the robbers,
hastily arming, mounted their horses and descended to the rescue.

The band of which Ruyter had become leader had existed some time before
he joined. It was a detachment from a larger band who acknowledged as
their chief a desperado named Dragoener. This Bushman had been in the
service of Diederik Muller, but, on being severely flogged by a
hot-tempered kinsman of his master, had fled to the mountains, vowing
vengeance against all white me