CHAPTER XVI
HOW RALPH CAME BACK TO THE STEAD
For a few moments Swart Piet and his black ruffians stood staring nowat each other and now over the edge of the cliff into the deep sea-hole.There, however, they could see nothing, for the moonbeams did not reachits surface, and the only sound they heard was that of the drippingof the little waterfall, which came to their ears like the tinkle ofdistant sheep-bells. Then Swart Piet shivered and laughed aloud, a laughthat had more of fear than of merriment in it.
"The Englishman called down the everlasting curse of God on me," hecried. "Well, I have waited for it, and it does not come, so now forman's reward," and going to where Suzanne lay, he set his arms beneathher and turned her over upon her back. "She has swooned," he said;"perhaps it is as well," and he stood looking at her, for thus in herfaint she seemed wonderfully fair with the moonbeams playing upon herdeathlike face.
"He had good taste, that Englishman," went on Swart Piet. "Well, nowour account is squared; he has sown and I shall harvest. Follow me, youblack fellows, for we had best be off," and, stooping down he liftedSuzanne in his arms and walked away with her as though she were a child.For a while they followed the windings of the stream, keeping undercover of the reeds and bushes that grew upon its banks. Then they struckout to the right, taking advantage of a cloud which dimmed the face ofthe moon for a time, for they wished to reach the kloof without beingseen from the waggon. Nor, indeed, were they seen, for the driver andvoorlooper were seated by the cooking-fire on its further side, smoking,and dozing as they smoked. Only the great thoroughbred horse windedthem and snorted, pulling at the riem with which he was tied to the hindwheel of the waggon.
"Something has frightened the _schimmel_," said the driver waking up.
"It is nothing," answered the other boy drowsily; "he is not used tothe veldt, he who always sleeps in a house like a man; or, perhaps, hesmells a hyena in the kloof."
"I thought I heard a sound like that of a gun a while ago down yonder bythe sea," said the driver again. "Say, brother, shall we go and find outwhat made it?"
"By no means," answered the voorlooper, who did not like walking aboutat night, fearing lest he should meet spooks. "I have been wide awakeand listening all this time, and I heard no gun; nor, indeed, do peoplego out shooting at night. Also it is our business to watch here by thewaggon till our master and mistress return."
"Where can they have gone?" said the driver, who felt frightened, heknew not why. "It is strange that they should be so long away when it istime for them to sleep."
"Who can account for the ways of white people?" answered the other,shrugging his shoulders. "Very often they sit up all night. Doubtlessthese two will return when they are tired, or perhaps they desire tosleep in the veldt. At any rate it is not our duty to interfere withthem, seeing that they can come to no harm here where there are neithermen nor tigers."
"So be it," said the driver, and they both dozed off again till themessenger of ill came to rouse them.