side.

At length Piet's turn came, for Ralph in leaping back caught his foot
against a stone and stumbled, and before he could recover himself
the iron arms were round his middle, and they were wrestling for the
mastery.

Still, at the first it was Ralph who had the best of it, for he was
skilful at the game, and before Swart Piet could put out his full
strength he tripped him so that he fell heavily upon his back, Ralph
still locked in his arms. But he could not keep him there, for the Boer
was the stronger; moreover, as they fought they had worked their way up
the steep side of the kloof so that the ground was against him. Thus it
came about that soon they began to roll down hill fixed to each other as
though by ropes, and gathering speed at every turn. Doubtless, the end
of this would have been Ralph's defeat, and perhaps his death, for I
think that, furious as he was, Black Piet would certainly have killed
him had he found himself the master. But it chanced that his hand was
stayed, and thus. Near the bottom of the slope lay a sharp stone, and
as they rolled in their fierce struggle, Piet's head struck against this
stone so that for a few moments he was rendered helpless. Feeling
the grip of his arms loosen, Ralph freed himself, and running to the
sjambock snatched it from the ground. Now Piet sat up and stared at
him stupidly, but he made no effort to renew the fight, whereon Ralph
gasped:

"I promised you a flogging, but since it is chance that has conquered
you more than I, I will take no advantage of it, save this----" and he
struck him once or twice across the face with the whip, but not so as to
draw blood, and added, "Now, at least, I am free from a certain promise