a foe to be feared indeed, but one who loved better to
stab in the dark than to strike in the open day.

"Well, myn Heer van Vooren," mocked Ralph, "you could fling your arms
about a helpless girl and put her to shame before the eyes of men, now
do the same by me if you can," and he took one step towards him.

"What is this monkey's chatter?" asked Piet, in his slow voice. "Is it
because I gave the girl a kiss that you would fix a quarrel upon me?
Have you not done as much yourself many times, and for a less stake than
the life of one who has been doomed to die?"

"If I have kissed her," answered Ralph, "it is with her consent, and
because she will be my wife; but you worked upon her pity to put her to
shame and now you shall pay the price of it. Do you see that whip?" and
he nodded toward the sjambock that was lying on the grass. "Let him who
proves the best man use it upon the other."

"Will be your wife----" sneered Piet, "the wife of the English castaway!
She might have been, but now she never shall, unless she cares to wed
a carcase cut into rimpis. You want a flogging, and you shall have it,
yes, to the death, but Suzanne shall be--not your wife but----"

He got no further, for at that moment Ralph sprang at him like a wild
cat, stopping his foul mouth with a fearful blow upon the lips. Then
there followed a dreadful struggle between these two. Black Piet rushed
again and again, striving to clasp his antagonist in his great arms and
crush him, whereas Ralph, who, like all Englishmen, loved to use his
fists, and knew that he was no match for Piet in strength, sought
to avoid him and plant blow after blow upon his face and body. This,
indeed, he did with such success that soon the Boer was covered with
blood and bruises. Again and again he charged at him, roaring with pain
and rage, and again and again Ralph first struck and then slipped to one
side.

At length Piet's turn came, for Ralph in leaping back caught his foot
against a stone and stumbled, and before he could recover himself
the iron arms were round his middle, and they were wrestling for the
mastery.

Still, at the first it was Ralph who had the best of it, for he was
skilful at the game, and before Swart Piet could put out his full
strength he tripped him so that he fell heavily upon his back, Ralph
still locked in his arms. But he could not keep him there, for the Boer
was the stronger; moreover, as they fought they had worked their way up
the s