"A fair trial," said Suzanne, glancing scornfully at the rabble about
her, "and were these friends of yours the jury? What is her offence?"

"Her offence is that she who lives here on my land has stolen my cattle
and hid them away in a secret kloof. It has been proved against her by
ample evidence. There are the cattle yonder mixed up with her own. I, as
Veld-Cornet of the district, have tried the case according to law, and
the woman having been found guilty must die according to law."

"Indeed, myn Heer," said Suzanne, "then if I understand you right, you
are both accuser and judge, and the law which permits this is one that
I never heard of. Oh!" she went on angrily, "no wonder that the English
sing a loud song about us Boers and our cruelty to the natives when such
a thing as this can happen. It is not justice, myn Heer; it is a
crime for which, if you escape the hand of man, God will bring you to
account."

Then for the first time Sihamba spoke in a very quiet voice, which
showed no sign of fear.

"You are right, lady," she said; "it is not justice, it is a crime born
of revenge, and my life must pay forfeit for his wickedness. I am a free
woman, and I have harmed none and have bewitched none. I have cured sick
people and sick creatures, that is all. The Heer says that I live upon
his land, but I am not his slave; I pay him rent to live here. I never
stole his cattle; they were mixed up with mine by his servants in a
far-off kloof in order to trump up a charge against me, and he knows it,
for he gave orders that the thing should be done, so that afterwards he
might have the joy of hanging me to this tree, because he wishes to be