clear, indifferent
voice, "for you do not leave me to be his prey. Say, now; if we walk
backwards swiftly before they could catch us we might fall together into
the pit of the sea beneath."

"Nay, wife, let our deaths lie upon their heads and not upon ours, for
self-murder is a crime."

"As you will, Ralph; but I tell you, and through you I tell Him who
made me, that it is a crime which I shall dare if need be. Have no fear,
Ralph, as I leave your arms, so shall I return to them, whether it be
in Heaven or upon earth. That man thinks he has power over me, but I say
that he has none, seeing that at the last God will protect me with His
hand, or with my own."

"I cannot blame you, Suzanne, for there are some things which are not to
be borne. Do therefore as your conscience teaches you, if you have the
means."

"I have the means, Ralph. Hidden about me is a little knife which I have
carried since I was a child; and if that fails me there are other ways."

"Time is done," said Swart Piet, replacing the watch in his pocket.

"Farewell, sweet," whispered Ralph.

"Farewell, husband," she answered bravely, "until we meet again, whether
it be here on earth or above in Heaven; farewell until we meet again,"
and she flung her arms about his neck and kissed him.

For a moment Ralph clung to her muttering some blessing above her bowed
head; then he unloosed her clasping arms, letting her fall gently upon
the ground and saying: "Lie thus, shutting your ears and hiding your
eyes till all is done. Afterwards you must act as seems best to you.
Escape to your father if you can, if not--tell me, do you understand?"

"I understand," she murmured, and hid her face in a tuft of thick grass,
placing her hands upon her ears.

Ralph bowed his head for an instant in prayer. Then he lifted it and
there was no fear upon his face.

"Come on, murderer," he said, addressing Swart Piet, "and do your
butcher's work. Why do you delay? You cannot often find the joy of
slaughtering a defenceless man in the presence of his new-made wife.
Come on then and win the everlasting curse of God."

Now Swart Piet glanced at him out of the corners of his round eyes; then
he ordered one of the Kaffirs to go up to him and shoot him.

The man went up and lifted his gun, but presently he put it down again
and walked away, saying that he could not do this deed. Thrice did Van
Vooren issue his command, and to three separate men, the vilest of his
flock, b