or those pressing behind them, to be carried away by the swift
stream.

Just at the mouth of the pass Suzanne, laden with the child, was pushed
down by those who followed, and doubtless would have been trampled to
death, had not one of Swart Piet's men, desiring to clear the way, or,
perhaps, moved to pity at her plight, dragged her to her feet again. But
when he had done this he did not let her go, but held her, staring at
her beauty with greedy eyes.

"Here is a rock-rabbit whom I shall keep for a wife," he cried. "I would
rather take her than twenty fat oxen."

Now Suzanne's heart nearly stood still with terror.

"Water, water," she moaned; "let me drink, I pray you."

"Do not fear, I will take you to drink, my pretty," went on the man,
still staring at her.

Then, losing command of herself, Suzanne screamed and struggled, and
the sound of her cries reached the ears of Swart Piet, who was standing
close at hand.

"What is this?" he asked of the man.

"Nothing, Bull-Head, except that I have taken a woman whom I wish for a
wife because she is so fair."

Van Vooren let his eyes rest upon her, but dreamily, for all his
thoughts were given to her who sat aloft five hundred feet above his
head, and, feeling their glance, Suzanne's blood froze in her veins.

"Yes, she is fair," he answered, "but she is a married woman, and I will
have no Umpondwana brats among my people. Let her go, and take a girl
if you will." For Van Vooren did not wish that the few men who remained
with him should cumber themselves just then with women and children,
since they were needed to look after the cattle.

"Maid or wife, I choose this one and no other," said the man sulkily.

Then Black Piet, whose sullen temper could not brook to be crossed,
broke into a blaze of rage.

"Do you dare to disobey me?" he shouted with an awful Kaffir oath. "Let
her go, dog, or I will kill you."

At this the man, who knew his master, loosed hold of Suzanne, who ran
away, though it was not until she reached the water that she noticed a
white ring round her arm, where his grip had rubbed the paint off the
skin beneath. Strangely enough Van Vooren saw the ring, and at that
distance mistook it for an ivory ornament such as Kaffir women often
wear above the elbow. Still more strangely its white colour made him
think again of the white woman who sat aloft yonder, and he turned his
face upwards, forgetting all about the black girl with the child.

Thrus