en Sigwe told them of all the good fortune that had come to him
through Suzanne, and of how wise had been the words of Sihamba, and told
them, moreover, that if they dealt ill by either of them he would return
from his own country and stamp them flat.

Thus it came about that the _indunas_ of the Umpondwana took back
Sihamba to be their chieftainess with all powers, and with her Suzanne
as her equal in rule, and this their act was confirmed that same day by
a great council of the tribe. So that evening Suzanne, mounted on the
_schimmel_, rode down the ranks of the Red Kaffirs, while they shouted
their farewells to her. Then having parted with Sigwe, who almost wept
at her going, she passed with Sihamba, the lad Zinti, and a great herd
of cattle--her tithe of the spoil--to the mountain Umpondwana, where all
the tribe were waiting to receive them. They rode up to the flanks of
the mountain, and through the narrow pass and the red wall of rock
to the tableland upon its top, where stood the chief's huts and the
cattle-kraal, and here they found the people gathered.

"Give us a blessing," these cried. "Grant to us that rain may fall."

Sihamba spoke with Suzanne and answered:

"My people, I have entreated of the White Swallow, and for your sake she
will pray that rain may fall ere long."

Now Sihamba knew the signs of the water, and as it happened rain began
to fall that night in torrents, and fell for three days almost without
ceasing, washing the sickness away with it. So the Umpondwana blessed
the name of Sihamba and the White Swallow, and these two ruled over them
without question, life and death hanging upon their words.

And there, a chieftainess among savages, Suzanne was fated to dwell for
more than two long years.

CHAPTER XXIV

THE MADNESS OF RALPH KENZIE

Now my story goes back to that night at the stead when I, Suzanne Botmar
and my husband, Jan Botmar, were awakened from our sleep to learn that
our daughter had been carried off by that mad villain, Piet Van Vooren,
and that her husband Ralph lay senseless and wounded in the waggon
at the door. We carried him in, groaning in our bitter grief, and
despatched messengers to arouse all the Kaffirs on and about the place
whom we could trust and to a party of Boers, six men in all, who chanced
to have outspanned that night upon the borders of our farm to shoot
vildebeest and blesbok. Also we sent another messenger mounted on a
good horse to the house