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the wolves leapt at him no more； but the she…wolves gathered round him
who wore the she…wolf's skin。 They were great and gaunt and hungry；
all were full…grown； there were no little ones； and their number was
so many that he could not count them in the moonlight。 Umslopogaas；
looking into their red eyes； felt his heart become as the heart of a
wolf； and he； too； lifted up his head and howled； and the she…wolves
howled in answer。
〃The pack is gathered； now for the hunt！〃 cried Galazi。 〃Make your
feet swift； my brother； for we shall journey far to…night。 Ho；
Blackfang！ ho； Greysnout！ Ho； my people black and grey； away！ away！〃
He spoke and bounded forward； and with him went Umslopogaas； and after
him streamed the ghost…wolves。 They fled down the mountain sides；
leaping from boulder to boulder like bucks。 Presently they stood by a
kloof that was thick with trees。 Galazi stopped； holding up the
Watcher； and the wolves stopped with him。
〃I smell a quarry；〃 he cried； 〃in； my people； in！〃
Then the wolves plunged silently into the great kloof； but Galazi and
Umslopogaas drew to the foot of it and waited。 Presently there came a
sound of breaking boughs； and lo！ before them stood a buffalo； a bull
who lowed fiercely and sniffed the air。
〃This one will give us a good chase； my brother； see； he is gaunt and
thin！ Ah！ that meat is tender which my people have hunted to the
death！〃
As Galazi spoke； the first of the wolves drew from the covert and saw
the buffalo； then； giving tongue； they sprang towards it。 The bull saw
also； and dashed down the hill； and after him came Galazi and
Umslopogaas； and with them all their company； and the rocks shook with
the music of their hunting。 They rushed down the mountain side； and it
came into the heart of Umslopogaas； that he； too； was a wolf。 They
rushed madly； yet his feet were swift as the swiftest； no wolf could
outstrip him； and in him was but one desirethe desire of prey。 Now
they neared the borders of the forest； and Galazi shouted。 He shouted
to Greysnout and to Blackfang； to Blood and to Deathgrip； and these
four leaped forward from the pack； running so swiftly that their
bellies seemed to touch the ground。 They passed about the bull；
turning him from the forest and setting his head up the slope of the
mountain。 Then the chase wheeled； the bull leaped and bounded up the
mountain side； and on one flank lay Greysnout and Deathgrip and on the
other lay Blood and Blackfang； while behind came the Wolf…Brethren；
and after them the wolves with lolling tongues。 Up the hill they sped；
but the feet of Umslopogaas never wearied； his breath did not fail
him。 Once more they drew near the lap of the Grey Witch where the cave
was。 On rushed the bull； mad with fear。 He ran so swiftly that the
wolves were left behind； since here for a space the ground was level
to his feet。 Galazi looked on Umslopogaas at his side； and grinned。
〃You do not run so ill； my brother； who have been sick of late。 See
now if you can outrun me！ Who shall touch the quarry first？〃
Now the bull was ahead by two spear…throws。 Umslopogaas looked and
grinned back at Galazi。 〃Good！〃 he cried； 〃away！〃
They sped forward with a bound； and for awhile it seemed to
Umslopogaas as though they stood side by side； only the bull grew
nearer and nearer。 Then he put out his strength and the swiftness of
his feet； and lo！ when he looked again he was alone； and the bull was
very near。 Never were feet so swift as those of Umslopogaas。 Now he
reached the bull as he laboured on。 Umslopogaas placed his hands upon
the back of the bull and leaped； he was on him； he sat him as you
white men sit a horse。 Then he lifted the spear in his hand； and drove
it down between the shoulders to the spine； and of a sudden the great
buffalo staggered； stopped； and fell dead。
Galazi came up。 〃Who now is the swiftest； Galazi？〃 cried Umslopogaas；
〃I； or you； or your wolf host？〃
〃You are the swiftest； Umslopogaas；〃 said Galazi； gasping for his
breath。 〃Never did a man run as you run； nor ever shall again。〃
Now the wolves streamed up； and would have torn the carcase； but
Galazi beat them back； and they rested awhile。 Then Galazi said； 〃Let
us cut meat from the bull with a spear。〃
So they cut meat from the bull； and when they had finished Galazi
motioned to the wolves； and they fell upon the carcase； fighting
furiously。 In a little while nothing was left except the larger bones；
and yet each wolf had but a little。
Then they went back to the cave and slept。
Afterwards Umslopogaas told Galazi all his tale； and Galazi asked him
if he would abide with him and be his brother； and rule with him over
the wolf…kind； or seek his father Mopo at the kraal of Chaka。
Umslopogaas said that it was rather in his mind to seek his sister
Nada； for he was weary of the kraal of Chaka； but he thought of Nada
day and night。
〃Where； then； is Nada； your sister？〃 asked Galazi。
〃She sleeps in the caves of your people； Galazi； she tarries with the
Halakazi。〃
〃Stay awhile； Umslopogaas；〃 cried Galazi； 〃stay till we are men
indeed。 Then we will seek this sister of yours and snatch her from the
caves of the Halakazi。〃
Now the desire of this wolf…life had entered into the heart of
Umslopogaas； and he said that it should be so； and on the morrow they
made them blood…brethren； to be one till death； before all the company
of ghost…wolves； and the wolves howled when they smelt the blood of
men。 In all things thenceforth these two were equal； and the ghost…
wolves hearkened to the voice of both of them。 And on many a moonlight
night they and the wolves hunted together； winning their food。 At
times they crossed the river； hunting in the plains； for game was
scarce on the mountain； and the people of the kraal would come out；
hearing the mighty howling； and watch the pack sweep across the veldt；
and with them a man or men。 Then they would say that the ghosts were
abroad and creep into their huts shivering with fear。 But as yet the
Wolf…Brethren and their pack killed no men； but game only； or； at
times； elephants and lions。
Now when Umslopogaas had abode some moons in the Watch Mountain； on a
night he dreamed of Nada； and awakening soft at heart； bethought
himself that he would learn tidings concerning me； his father； Mopo；
and what had befallen me and her whom he deemed his mother； and Nada；
his sister； and his other brethren。 So he clothed himself； hiding his
nakedness； and； leaving Galazi； descended to that kraal where the old
woman had dwelt； and there gave it out that he was a young man； a
chief's son from a far place； who sought a wife。 The people of the
kraal listened to him； though they held that his look was fierce and
wild； and one asked if this were Galazi the Wolf； Galazi the Wizard。
But another answered that this was not Galazi； for their eyes had seen
him。 Umslopogaas said that he knew nothing of Galazi； and little of
wolves； and lo！ while he spoke there came an impi of fifty men and
entered the kraal。 Umslopogaas looked at the leaders of the impi and
knew them for captains of Chaka。 At first he would have spoken to
them； but his Ehlose bade him hold his peace。 So he sat in a corner of
the big hut and listened。 Presently the headman of the kraal； who
trembled with fear； for he believed that the impi had been sent to
destroy him and all that were his； asked the captain what was his
will。
〃A little matter； and a vain；〃 said the captain。 〃We are sent by the
king to search for a certain youth； Umslopogaas； the son of Mopo； the
king's doctor。 Mopo gave it out that the youth was killed by a lion
near these mountains； and Chaka would learn if this is true。〃
〃We know nothing of the youth；〃 said the headman。 〃But what would ye
with him？〃
〃Only this；〃 answered the captain； 〃to kill him。〃
〃That is yet to do；〃 thought Umslopogaas。
〃Who is this Mopo？〃 asked the headman。
〃An evildoer； whose house the king has eaten upman； woman； and
child；〃 answered the captain。
CHAPTER XV
THE DEATH OF THE KING'S SLAYERS
When Umslopogaas heard these words his heart was heavy； and a great
anger burned in his breast； for he thought that I； Mopo； was dead with
the rest of his house； and he loved me。 But he said nothing； only；
watching till none were looking； he slipped past the backs of the
captains and won the door of the hut。 Soon he was clear of the kraal；
and； running swiftly； crossed the river and came to the Ghost
Mountain。 Meanwhile； the captain asked the headman of the kraal if he
knew anything of such a youth as him for whom they sought。 The headman
told the captain of Galazi the Wolf； but the captain said that this
could not be the lad； for Galazi had dwelt many moons upon the Ghost
Mountain。
〃There is another youth；〃 said the headman； 〃a stranger； fierce；
strong and tall； with eyes that shine like spears。 He is in the hut
now； he sits yonder in the shadow。〃
The captain rose and looked into the shadow； but Umslopogaas was gone。
〃Now this youth is fled；〃 said the headman； 〃and yet none saw him fly！
Perhaps he also is a wizard！ Indeed； I have heard that now there are
two of them upon the Ghost Mountain； and that they hunt there at night