w, either for attempting the life of the Kaffir, or for the
assault upon the girl, or for both, but in those times it was different.
Then the Transkei had but few white people in it, living far apart, nor
was there any law to speak of; indeed each man did what was right in
his own eyes, according to the good or evil that was in his heart.
Therefore, as Jan said, it was not well to make a deadly enemy of one
who was restrained by the fear of neither God nor man, and who had great
wealth and power, since it might come about that he would work murder in
revenge or raise the Kaffirs on us, as he who had authority among them
could do very easily. Indeed as will be seen he did both these things,
or tried to do them.

When his anger had cooled a little Jan spoke to us in this sense and we
women agreed with him; but Ralph, who was young, fearless, and full of
rage, set his mouth and said nothing.

As for Sihamba Jan wished to send her away, but Suzanne, who had grown
fond of her, begged him that he would not do so, at least until he
had spoken with her. So he ordered one of the slaves to fetch her, and
presently the little woman came, and having saluted him, sat herself
down on the floor of the sitting room after the Kaffir fashion. She was
a strange little creature to see in her fur kaross and bead broidered
girdle, but for a native she was very clean and pretty, with her wise
woman's face set upon a body that had it been less rounded might almost
have been that of a child. Also she had adorned herself with great care,
not in the cast-off clothes of white people but after her own manner,
for her wavy hair which stood out from her head was powdered over with
that sparkling blue dust which the Kaffir women use, and round her neck
she wore a single string of large blue beads.

At first Jan spoke to her crossly, saying:

"You have brought trouble and disgrace upon my house, Sihamba, and I
wish you to begone from it."

"It is true," she answered, "but not of my own will did I bring the
trouble, O Father of Swallow," for so she always called Jan. Indeed, for
Sihamba, Suzanne was the centre of all things, and thus in her mouth the
three of us has no other names than "Father" or "Mother" or "Lover" of
Swallow.

"That may be so," answered Jan, "but, doubtless, Black Piet, who hates
you, will follow you here, and then we shall be called upon to defend
you, and there will be more trouble."

"It is not I whom Black Piet will follo