w," she replied, "for he has
stolen all I have, and as my life is safe there is nothing more to get
from me," and she looked at Suzanne.

"What do you mean, Sihamba? Speak plain words," said Jan.

"I mean," she answered, "that it is not I who am now in danger, but my
mistress, the Swallow, for he who has kissed her once will wish to kiss
her again."

Now at this Ralph cursed the name of Swart Piet aloud, and Jan answered,

"It is a bullet from my _roer_ that he shall kiss if he tries it, that I
swear."

"I hope it may be so," said Sihamba; "yet, Father of Swallow, I pray you
send me not away from her who bought me at a great price, and to whom my
life belongs. Look; I cost you but little to keep, and that little I
can earn by doctoring your horses and cattle, in which art I have some
skill, as you know well. Moreover I have many eyes and ears that can see
and hear things to which yours are deaf and blind, and I tell you that I
think a time will come when I shall be able to do service to all of you
who are of the nest of the Swallow. Now, if she bids me to go I will
go--for am I not her servant to obey?--yet I beseech you do not so
command her."

Sihamba had risen as she spoke, and now she stood before Jan, her head
thrown back, looking up into his eyes with such strange power that,
though he was great and strong and had no will to it, yet he found
himself forced to look down into hers. More, as he told me afterwards,
he saw many things in the eyes of Sihamba, or it may be that he thought
that he saw them, for Jan was always somewhat superstitious. At least
this is true that more than once during the terrible after years, when
some great event had happened to us he would cry out, "I have seen this
place, or thing, before, I know not where." Then if I bade him think he
would answer, "Now I remember; it was in the eyes of Sihamba that I saw
it, yonder in the Transkei before Ralph and Suzanne were married."

Presently she freed his eyes and turned her head, whereon Jan grew pale
and swayed as though he were about to fall. Recovering himself, however,
he said shortly,

"Stay if you will, Sihamba; you are welcome for so long as it shall
please you."

She lifted her little hand and saluted him, and I noticed that it was
after another fashion to that of the Kaffirs who lived thereabouts,
after the Zulu fashion indeed.

"I hear your words, chief," she said, "and I stay. Though I be but a
lizard in the thatch, yet th