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She had turned very pale. When she spoke it was with an effort. "How?" He answered as if speaking to her alone. "One of Vreiboom's tumble-down old sheds fired while we were trying to clear it. The place collapsed and I got pinned inside. Piet Vreiboom didn't trouble himself, or Kieff, either. He wouldn't naturally. Guy got me out." "Ah!" she said. It was scarcely more than an intake of the breath.
I went round to his hut, but it was all fastened up as usual. Then I went to Piet Vreiboom's." She shuddered suddenly. "I saw Kieff as well as Vreiboom. They seemed hugely amused at my appearance, and told me Guy was just ahead on the way to Brennerstadt. It was too late to ride the whole way, so I went to Ritzen, hoping to find him there.
We may overtake the amorous couple if we ride all the way." Without any apparent movement, his smile intensified at sight of the open consternation on Kelly's red countenance. "You seem surprised at something," he said. "I don't believe a damn' word of it," said Kelly bluntly. "You didn't see them." "I saw them both," said Kieff, still smiling, "Piet Vreiboom saw them also.
"Man, is it the truth you're giving me?" "Not much point in lying," said Kieff coldly, "when there is nothing to be gained by it! Mrs. Burke Ranger has gone to Brennerstadt by way of Ritzen, in the company of Guy Ranger. Piet Vreiboom will tell you the same thing if you ask him. He is going to Brennerstadt too to-morrow, and I with him. Perhaps we can travel together.
And she smiled and answered, "No, not unless he specially needs me." "You don't want to go ?" Matilda asked abruptly. "Not unless you are tired of me," Sylvia rejoined. "Don't be silly!" said Matilda briefly. Half an hour after Merston's departure there came the shambling trot of another horse, and Piet Vreiboom, slouched like a sack in the saddle rode up and rolled off at the door.
Her face burned still at the memory of the former's satirical assurance that Guy was but a few miles ahead of her and she would easily overtake him. He had translated this speech to Piet Vreiboom who had laughed, laughed with a sickening significance, at the joke.
And it was that certainty which had sent her from his empty hut on the sand in pursuit of him, daring all to win him back ere he had sunk too deep for deliverance. She had ridden to Ritzen by way of the Vreiboom's farm, half-expecting to find Guy there. But she had seen only Kieff and Piet Vreiboom.
"He doesn't know much. Sit down! I'll get him on the move directly." She sat down not very willingly, and he resumed his talk with Vreiboom in Dutch, lounging against the wall. Sylvia sat quite silent, her eyes upon the glowing sky and the far-away hills. In the foreground was a kopje shaped like a sugar-loaf. She wished herself upon its summit which was bathed in the sunset light.
Piet Vreiboom openly gloated, as if he were gazing upon a spectacle of rare delight.
Matilda's face of unconcealed disgust nearly provoked Sylvia to uncontrolled laughter, but she checked herself in time, and went to get the unwelcome visitor a drink in the hope of speeding his departure. Piet Vreiboom however was in no hurry, though they assured him repeatedly that Merston would probably not return for some hours.
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