of all of you pay for it. You will throw a kaross over her head, and
bring her to the place which I will tell you of to-morrow, where I shall
come upon you with some men and seem to rescue her. Do you understand,
and do you think the plan good?"

"I understand, and I think the plan good--for you--and yet, Baas, there
is one thing that I have not told you which may mar it."

"What is it?"

"This: When I was down there at the Heer Botmar's place, I saw the
witch-doctoress Sihamba, who has a hut upon the farm. I was some way
off, but I think that she recognised me, as she might well do seeing
that it was I who set the rope about her neck when you wished to hang
her. Now if she did know me all your plans may be in vain, for that
woman has the Sight and she will guess them. Even when the cord was
round her she laughed at me and told me that I should die soon, but
that she would live for years, and therefore I fear her more than anyone
living."

"She laughed at you, did she?" said Swart Piet; "well, I laugh at her,
for neither she nor anyone who breathes shall stand between me and this
girl, who has preferred the suit of another man to mine."

"Ah, master!" said the Kaffir, with admiration, "you are a great one,
for when a fruit pleases you, you do not wait for it to drop into your
lap, you pluck it."

"Yes," said Swart Piet, striking his breast with pride, "if I desire a
fruit I pluck it as my father did before me. But now go you and sleep,