the tide of our lives has turned, and that it sets towards sorrow. Ay,"
he went on, sitting up in the bed, "and I will tell you when it turned;
it turned upon the day that you lied to the Englishmen."



CHAPTER XI

A FIGHT AND A SHOT

Early the next morning I sought for Ralph to speak to him on the
matter of his marriage, which, to tell truth, I longed to see safely
accomplished. But I could not find him anywhere, or learn where he had
gone, though one of the slaves told me that they had seen him mount his
horse at the stable.

I went down to the cattle kraal to look if he were there, and as I
returned, I saw Sihamba seated by the door of her hut engaged in combing
her hair and powdering it with the shining blue dust.

"Greeting, Mother of Swallow," she said. "Whom do you seek?"

"You know well," I answered.

"Yes, I know well. At the break of dawn he rode over yonder rise."

"Why?" I asked.

"How can I tell why? But Swart Piet lives out yonder."