The two of them sprang to their feet at the sound, and faced about to see Swart Piet standing within five paces of them, and with him eight or ten of his black ruffians, who looked upon him as their chief, and did his needs without question, however wicked they might be.
Now Suzanne uttered a low cry of fear and the blood froze about Ralph's heart, for he was unarmed and their case was hopeless.

Black Piet saw their fear and laughed again, since like a cat that has caught a mouse for which it has watched long, he could not resist the joy of torture before he dealt the death blow.
"This is very lucky," he said, "and I am glad that I have to do with such pious people, since it enabled us to creep on you unawares; also I much prefer to have found you engaged in prayer, friend Englishman, rather than in taking the bloom off my peach with kisses, as I feared might be the case.

That was a pretty prayer, too; I almost felt as though I were in church while I stood listening to it.

How did it end?
You prayed that you might be allowed to live together, fearing nothing, however great your peril, since you walked always in the shadow of God's strength.

Well, I have come to answer your petition, and to tell you that your life together is ended before it is begun.