ll. At the break of dawn he rode over yonder rise."

"Why?" I asked.

"How can I tell why? But Swart Piet lives out yonder."

"Had he his gun with him?" I asked again and anxiously.

"No, there was nothing but a sjambock, a very thick sjambock, in his
hand."

Then I went back to the house with a heavy heart, for I was sure that
Ralph had gone to seek Piet van Vooren, though I said nothing of it
to the others. So it proved indeed. Ralph had sworn to Suzanne that he
would not try to kill Piet, but here his oath ended, and therefore
he felt himself free to beat him if he could find him, for he was
altogether mad with hate of the man. Now he knew that when he was at
home it was Swart Piet's habit to ride of a morning, accompanied by one
Kaffir only, to visit a certain valley where he kept a large number of
sheep. Thither Ralph made his way, and when he reached the place he saw
that, although it was time for them to be feeding, the sheep were still
in their kraal, baa-ing, stamping, and trying to climb the gate, for
they were hungry to get at the green grass.

"So," thought Ralph, "Swart Piet means to count the flock out himself
this morning. He will be here presently."

Half an hour afterwards he came sure enough, and with him the one Kaffir
as was usual. Then the bars of the gate were let down, and the sheep
suffered to escape through them, Swart Piet standing upon one side and
the Kaffir upon the other, to take tale of their number. When all the
sheep were out, and one of the herds had been brought before him and
beaten by the Kaffir, because some lambs were missing, Swart Piet turned
to ride homewards, and in a little gorge near by came face to face with
Ralph, who was waiting for him. Now he started and looked to see if he
could escape, but there was no way of doing it without shame, so he rode
forward and bid Ralph good-day boldly, asking him if he had ever seen a
finer flock of sheep.

"I did not come here to talk of sheep," answered Ralph, eyeing him.

"Is it of a lamb, then, that you come to talk, Heer Kenzie, a ewe lamb,
the only one of your flock?" sneered Piet, for he had a gun in his hand
and he saw that Ralph had none.

"Aye," said Ralph, "it is of a white ewe lamb whose fleece has been
soiled by a bastard thief who would have stolen her," and he looked at
him.

"I understand," said Piet coldly, for he was a bold man; "and now, Heer
Kenzie, you had best let me ride by."

"Why should I let you rid