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beneath me。 On every side were the brutes； great and hungry。 And I
stood still； with club aloft； and slowly they crept up； muttering and
growling as they came； till they formed a deep circle round me。 Yet
they did not spring on me； only drew nearer and ever nearer。 Presently
one sprang； indeed； but not at me； he sprang at that which sat upon my
shoulders。 I moved aside； and he missed his aim； and； coming to the
ground again； stood there growling and whining like a beast afraid。
Then I remembered the words of my dream； if dream it were； how that
the Dead One had given me wisdom that I should be king of the ghost…
wolvesI and another whom a lion should bear to me。 Was it not so？ If
it was not so； how came it that the wolves did not devour me？
〃For a moment I stood thinking； then I lifted up my voice and howled
like a wolf； and lo！ Umslopogaas； all the wolves howled in answer with
a mighty howling。 I stretched out my hand and called to them。 They ran
to me； gathering round me as though to devour me。 But they did not
harm me； they licked my legs with their red tongues； and fighting to
come near me； pressed themselves against me as does a cat。 One；
indeed； snatched at him who sat on my shoulder； but I struck him with
the Watcher and he slunk back like a whipped hound； moreover； the
others bit him so that he yelled。 Now I knew that I had no more to
fear； for I was king of the ghost…wolves； so I walked on； and with me
came all the great pack of them。 I walked on and on； and they trotted
beside me silently； and the fallen leaves crackled beneath their feet；
and the dust rose up about them； till at length I reached the edge of
the forest。
〃Now I remembered that I must not be seen thus by men； lest they
should think me a wizard and kill me。 Therefore； at the edge of the
forest I halted and made signs to the wolves to go back。 At this they
howled piteously； as though in grief； but I called to them that I
would come again and be their king； and it seemed as though their
brute hearts understood my words。 Then they all went； still howling；
till presently I was alone。
〃And now； Umslopogaas； it is time to sleep； to…morrow night I will end
my tale。〃
CHAPTER XIV
THE WOLF…BRETHREN
Now； my father； on the morrow night； once again Umslopogaas and Galazi
the wolf sat by the fire in the mouth of their cave； as we sit to…
night； my father； and Galazi took up his tale。
〃I passed on till I came to the river； it was still full； but the
water had run down a little； so that my feet found foothold。 I waded
into the river； using the Watcher as a staff； and the stream reached
to my elbows； but no higher。 Now one on the farther bank of the river
saw that which sat upon my shoulders； and saw also the wolf's skin on
my head； and ran to the kraal crying； 'Here comes one who walks the
waters on the back of a wolf。'
〃So it came about that when I drew towards the kraal all the people of
the kraal were gathered together to meet me； except the old woman； who
could not walk so far。 But when they saw me coming up the slope of the
hill； and when they knew what it was that sat upon my shoulders； they
were smitten with fear。 Yet they did not run； because of their great
wonder； only they walked backward before me； clinging each to each and
saying nothing。 I too came on silently； till at length I reached the
kraal； and before its gates sat the old woman basking in the sun of
the afternoon。 Presently she looked up and cried：
〃'What ails you； people of my house； that you walk backwards like men
bewitched； and who is that tall and deathly man who comes toward you？'
〃But still they drew on backward； saying no word； the little children
clinging to the women； the women clinging to the men； till they had
passed the old wife and ranged themselves behind her like a regiment
of soldiers。 Then they halted against the fence of the kraal。 But I
came on to the old woman； and lifted him who sat upon my shoulders；
and placed him on the ground before her； saying； 'Woman； here is your
son； I have snatched him with much toil from the jaws of the ghosts
and they are many up yonderall save one foot； which I could not
find。 Take him now and bury him； for I weary of his fellowship。'
〃She looked upon that which sat before her。 She put out her withered
hand and drew the bandage from his sunken eyes。 Then she screamed
aloud a shrill scream； and； flinging her arms about the neck of the
Dead One； she cried： 'It is my son whom I boremy very son； whom for
twice ten years and half a ten I have not looked upon。 Greeting； my
son； greeting！ Now shalt thou find burial； and I with threeay； I
with thee！'
〃And once more she cried aloud； standing upon her feet with arms
outstretched。 Then of a sudden foam burst from her lips； and she fell
forward upon the body of her son； and was dead。
〃Now silence came upon the place again； for all were fearful。 At last
one cried： 'How is this man named who has won the body from the
ghosts？'
〃'I am named Galazi；' I answered。
〃'Nay；' said he。 'The Wolf you are named。 Look at the wolf's red hide
upon his head！'
〃'I am named Galazi； and the Wolf you have named me；' I said again。
'So be it： I am named Galazi the Wolf。'
〃'Methinks he is a wolf；' said he。 'Look； now； at his teeth； how they
grin！ This is no man； my brothers； but a wolf。'
〃'No wolf and no man；' said another； 'but a wizard。 None but a wizard
could have passed the forest and won the lap of her who sits in stone
forever。'
〃'Yes； yes！ he is a wolfhe is a wizard！' they screamed。 'Kill him！
Kill the wolf…wizard before he brings the ghosts upon us！' And they
ran towards me with uplifted spears。
〃'I am a wolf indeed；' I cried； 'and I am a wizard indeed； and I will
bring wolves and ghosts upon you ere all is done。' And I turned and
fled so swiftly that soon they were left behind me。 Now as I ran I met
a girl； a basket of mealies was on her head； and she bore a dead kid
in her hand。 I rushed at her howling like a wolf； and I snatched the
mealies from her head and the kid from her hand。 Then I fled on； and
coming to the river； I crossed it； and for that night I hid myself in
the rocks beyond； eating the mealies and the flesh of the kid。
〃On the morrow at dawn I rose and shook the dew from the wolf…hide。
Then I went on into the forest and howled like a wolf。 They knew my
voice； the ghost…wolves； and howled in answer from far and near。 Then
I heard the pattering of their feet； and they came round me by tens
and by twenties； and fawned upon me。 I counted their number； they
numbered three hundred and sixty and three。
〃Afterwards； I went on to the cave； and I have lived there in the
cave； Umslopogaas； for nigh upon twelve moons； and I have become a
wolf…man。 For with the wolves I hunt and raven； and they know me； and
what I bid them that they do。 Stay； Umslopogaas； now you are strong
again； and； if your courage does not fail you； you shall see this very
night。 Come now； have you the heart； Umslopogaas？〃
Then Umslopogaas rose and laughed aloud。 〃I am young in years；〃 he
cried； 〃and scarcely come to the full strength of men； yet hitherto I
have not turned my back on lion or witch； on wolf or man。 Now let us
see this impi of yoursthis impi black and grey； that runs on four
legs with fangs for spears！〃
〃You must first bind on the she…wolf's hide； Umslopogaas；〃 quoth
Galazi； 〃else； before a man could count his fingers twice there would
be little enough left of you。 Bind it about the neck and beneath the
arms； and see that the fastenings do not burst； lest it be the worse
for you。〃
So Umslopogaas took the grey wolf's hide and bound it on with thongs
of leather； and its teeth gleamed upon his head； and he took a spear
in his hand。 Galazi also bound on the hide of the king of the wolves；
and they went out on to the space before the cave。 Galazi stood there
awhile； and the moonlight fell upon him； and Umslopogaas saw that his
face grew wild and beastlike； that his eyes shone； and his teeth
grinned beneath his curling lips。 He lifted up his head and howled out
upon the night。 Thrice Galazi lifted his head and thrice he howled
loudly； and yet more loud。 But before ever the echoes had died in the
air； from the heights of the rocks above and the depths of the forest
beneath； there came howlings in answer。 Nearer they grew and nearer；
now there was a sound of feet； and a wolf； great and grey； bounded
towards them； and after him many another。 They came to Galazi； they
sprang upon him； fawning round him； but he beat them down with the
Watcher。 Then of a sudden they saw Umslopogaas； and rushed at him
open…mouthed。
〃Stand and do not move！〃 cried Galazi。 〃Be not afraid！〃
〃I have always fondled dogs；〃 answered Umslopogaas； 〃shall I learn to
fear them now？〃
Yet though he spoke boldly； in his heart he was afraid； for this was
the most terrible of all sights。 The wolves rushed on him open…
mouthed； from before and from behind； so that in a breath he was well…
nigh hidden by their forms。 Yet no fang pierced him； for as they leapt
they smelt the smell of the skin upon him。 Then Umslopogaas saw that
the wolves leapt at him no more； but the she…wolves gathered round him