where there are so few men, and many hoes clean a field quickly."

"For my part I think there are enough of us already," said the young
girl, looking troubled, for she was Swart Piet's last Kaffir wife, and
did not desire to be supplanted by a new favourite. "But be silent, I
hear Bull-Head coming on his horse," and she began to work very hard at
cutting the wands.

A few minutes later Zinti saw Swart Piet himself ride up to the women,
who saluted him, calling him "Chief" and "Husband."

"You are idle," he said, eyeing them angrily.

"These wands are tough to cut, husband," murmured the young woman in
excuse.

"Still you must cut them quicker, girl," he answered, "if you would not
learn how one of them feels upon your back. It will go hard with all of
you if the big hut is not finished in seven days from now."

"We will do our best," said the girl, "but who is to dwell in the hut
when it is done?"

"Not you, be sure of that," he answered, roughly, "nor any black woman,
for I am weary of you, one and all. Listen: I go to-morrow with my
servants to fetch a chieftainess, a white lady, to rule over you, but if
any of you speak a word of her presence here you will pay for it, for I
shall turn you away to starve. Do you understand?"

"We hear you, husband," they replied, somewhat sullenly, for now they