CHAPTER XVI.
HOW RALPH CAME BACK TO THE STEAD For a few moments Swart Piet and his black ruffians stood staring now at each other and now over the edge of the cliff into the deep sea-hole.
There, however, they could see nothing, for the moonbeams did not reach its surface, and the only sound they heard was that of the dripping of the little waterfall, which came to their ears like the tinkle of distant sheep-bells.

Then Swart Piet shivered and laughed aloud, a laugh that had more of fear than of merriment in it.
"The Englishman called down the everlasting curse of God on me," he cried.

"Well, I have waited for it, and it does not come, so now for man's reward," and going to where Suzanne lay, he set his arms beneath her and turned her over upon her back.

"She has swooned," he said; "perhaps it is as well," and he stood looking at her, for thus in her faint she seemed wonderfully fair with the moonbeams playing upon her deathlike face.
"He had good taste, that Englishman," went on Swart Piet.

"Well, now our account is squared; he has sown and I shall harvest.