Now Piet sat up and stared at him stupidly, but he made no effort to renew the fight, whereon Ralph gasped: "I promised you a flogging, but since it is chance that has conquered you more than I, I will take no advantage of it, save this----" and he struck him once or twice across the face with the whip, but not so as to draw blood, and added, "Now, at least, I am free from a certain promise that I made--that I would not kill you--and should you attempt further harm or insult towards Suzanne Botmar, kill you I will, Piet van Vooren." At first Swart Piet did not seem to feel the blows, but presently he awoke, as it were, and touched his cheeks where the sjambock had struck him as though to assure himself that he was not dreaming some evil dream.

Then he spoke in a hollow, unnatural voice.

"You have won for this time, Ralph Kenzie," he said, "or, rather, Fate fighting for you has won.

But it would have been better for you and your dear also, if you had never struck those blows, for I tell you, Ralph Kenzie, that as your whip touched me something broke in my brain, and now I think that I am mad." "Mad or bad, it is all one to me," replied Ralph.

"You have had your warning, and you had best keep sane enough to remember it." Then turning he went to his horse, which was standing close by, mounted and rode away, the other answering him nothing.
Still Ralph did not get home without another adventure, for when he had gone a little way he came to a stream that ran from a hillside which was thick with trees, and here he stopped to doctor his hurts and bruises, since he did not wish to appear at the house covered with blood.