use. This was his opportunity, and one of which he
availed himself, for now two or three times a week he would ride
over from his place, take supper and ask leave to sleep, which it was
difficult to refuse, all this time wearying the poor girl with his
attentions. At last I spoke my mind to him about it, though not without
hesitation, for to tell truth Swart Piet was one of the few men of whom
I have ever been afraid. He listened to me politely and answered:

"All this is very true, Aunt, but if you desire a fruit and it will not
fall, then you must shake the tree."

"What if it sticks to the bough?" I asked.

"Then, Aunt, you must climb the tree and pluck it."

"And what if by that time it is in another man's pouch?"

"Then, Aunt," he answered with one of those dark smiles that turned my
blood cold, "then, Aunt, the best thing which you can do is to kill the
other man and take it out, for after that the fruit will taste all the
sweeter."

"Get you gone, Swart Piet," I said in anger, "for no man who talks thus
shall stay in my house, and it is very well for you that neither my
husband nor Ralph Kenzie are here to put you out of it."

"Well," he answered, "they are not here, are they? And as for your
house, it is a pretty place, but I only seek one thing in it, and that
is not built into the walls. I thank you for your hospitality, Aunt, and
now, good-day to you."

"Suzanne!" I called, "Suzanne!" for I thought that she was in her
chamber; but the girl, knowing that Piet van Vooren was here, had
slipped out, and of this he was aware. He knew, moreover, where she had
gone, for I think that one of his Kaffir servants was watching outside
and told him, and thither he followed her and made love to her.

In the end--for he would not be put off--he asked her for a kiss,
whereat she grew angry. Then, for he was no shy wooer, he tried to take
it by force; but she was strong and active and slipped from him. Instead
of being ashamed, he only laughed after his uncanny fashion, and said:

"Well, missy, you have the best of me now, but I shall win that kiss
yet. Oh! I know all about it; you love the English castaway, don't you?
But there, a woman can love many men in her life, and when one is dead
another will serve her turn."

"What do you mean, myn Heer van Vooren?" asked Suzanne, afraid.

"Mean? Nothing, but I shall win that kiss yet, yes, and before very
long."

CHAPTER IX

HOW SUZANNE SAVED SIHAMBA

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