ittle knew for how long that farewell was to be--and
went down to the waggon to which the sixteen black oxen, a beautiful
team, were inspanned, and standing there ready to start. But Ralph and
Suzanne were not going to ride in the waggon, for they had horses
to carry them. At the last moment, indeed, Jan, whose head was still
buzzing with the peach-brandy, insisted upon giving Ralph the great
_schimmel_, that same stallion which Sihamba had ridden when she warned
us of the ambush in the pass, galloping twenty miles in the hour. This
shows me that Providence can turn even a man's vices to account, for
afterwards the _schimmel_ was very useful.

So there was much kissing and many good-byes; Ralph and Suzanne saying
that they would soon be back, which indeed was the case with one of
them, till at last they were off, Jan riding with them a little way
towards their first outspan by the sea, fourteen miles distant, where
they were to sleep that night.

When they had gone I went into my bedroom, and sitting down, I cried,
for I was sorry to lose Suzanne, even for a little and for her own good,
and my heart was heavy. Also my quarrel with the _predicant_ had put
me out of temper. When I had got over this fit I set to work to tidy
Suzanne's little sleeping place, and that I found a sad task. Then Jan
returned from the waggon, having bid farewell to the young couple, an
hour's trek away, and his head being clear by now, we talked over the
plans of the new house which was to be built for them to live in, and,
going down to the site of it, set it out with sticks and a rule, which
gave us occupation till towards sunset, when it was time for him to go
to see to the cattle.

That night we went to bed early, for we were tired, and slept a heavy
sleep, till at length, about one in the morning, we were awakened by the
shoutings of the messengers who came bearing the terrible news.

CHAPTER XV

RALPH RETURNS INTO THE SEA

Ralph and Suzanne reached their outspan place in safety a little before
sunset. I used to know the spot well; it is where one of the numerous
wooden kloofs that scar the mountain slopes ends on a grassy plain
of turf, short but very sweet. This plain is not much more than five
hundred paces wide, for it is bordered by the cliff, that just here is
not very high, against which the sea beats at full tide.

When the oxen had been turned loose to graze, and the voorlooper set to
watch them, the driver of the waggo