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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
with the ghost…wolves； but I do not know if it is true。〃
〃Now I am minded to kill you；〃 said the captain in wrath； 〃because you
have suffered this youth to escape me。 Without doubt it is
Umslopogaas； son of Mopo。〃
〃It is no fault of mine；〃 said the headmen。 〃These young men are
wizards； who can pass hither and thither at will。 But I say this to
you； captain of the king； if you will go on the Ghost Mountain； you
must go there alone with your soldiers； for none in these parts dare
to tread upon that mountain。〃
〃Yet I shall dare to…morrow；〃 said the captain。 〃We grow brave at the
kraal of Chaka。 There men do not fear spears or ghosts or wild beasts
or magic； but they fear the king's word alone。 The sun setsgive us
food。 To…morrow we will search the mountain。〃
Thus； my father； did this captain speak in his folly；he who should
never see another sun。
Now Umslopogaas reached the mountain； and when he had passed the
forestof which he had learned every secret waythe darkness
gathered； and the wolves awoke in the darkness and drew near howling。
Umslopogaas howled in answer； and presently that great wolf Deathgrip
came to him。 Umslopogaas saw him and called him by his name； but；
behold！ the brute did not know him； and flew at him； growling。 Then
Umslopogaas remembered that the she…wolf's skin was not bound about
his shoulders； and therefore it was that the wolf Deathgrip knew him
not。 For though in the daytime； when the wolves slept； he might pass
to and fro without the skin； at night it was not so。 He had not
brought the skin； because he dared not wear it in the sight of the men
of the kraal； lest they should know him for one of the Wolf…Brethren；
and it had not been his plan to seek the mountain again that night；
but rather on the morrow。 Now Umslopogaas knew that his danger was
great indeed。 He beat back Deathgrip with his kerrie； but others were
behind him； for the wolves gathered fast。 Then he bounded away towards
the cave； for he was so swift of foot that the wolves could not catch
him； though they pressed him hard； and once the teeth of one of them
tore his moocha。 Never before did he run so fast； and in the end he
reached the cave and rolled the rock to； and as he did so the wolves
dashed themselves against it。 Then he clad himself in the hide of the
she…wolf； and； pushing aside the stone； came out。 And； lo！ the eyes of
the wolves were opened； and they knew him for one of the brethren who
ruled over them； and slunk away at his bidding。
Now Umslopogaas sat himself down at the mouth of the cave waiting for
Galazi； and he thought。 Presently Galazi came； and in few words
Umslopogaas told him all his tale。
〃You have run a great risk； my brother；〃 said Galazi。 〃What now？〃
〃This；〃 said Umslopogaas： 〃these people of ours are hungry for the
flesh of men； let us feed them full on the soldiers of Chaka； who sit
yonder at the kraal seeking my life。 I would take vengeance for Mopo；
my father； and all my brethren who are dead； and for my mothers； the
wives of Mopo。 What say you？〃
Galazi laughed aloud。 〃That will be merry； my brother；〃 he said。 〃I
weary of hunting beasts； let us hunt men to…night。〃
〃Ay； to…night；〃 said Umslopogaas； nodding。 〃I long to look upon that
captain as a maid longs for her lover's kiss。 But first let us rest
and eat； for the night is young； then； Galazi； summon our impi。〃
So they rested and ate； and afterwards went out armed； and Galazi
howled to the wolves； and they came in tens and twenties till all were
gathered together。 Galazi moved among them； shaking the Watcher； as
they sat upon their haunches； and followed him with their fiery eyes。
〃We do not hunt game to…night； little people；〃 he cried； 〃but men； and
you love the flesh of men。〃
Now all the wolves howled as though they understood。 Then the pack
divided itself as was its custom； the she…wolves following
Umslopogaas； the dog…wolves following Galazi； and in silence they
moved swiftly down towards the plain。 They came to the river and swam
it； and there； eight spear throws away； on the farther side of the
river stood the kraal。 Now the Wolf…Brethren took counsel together；
and Galazi； with the dog…wolves； went to the north gate； and
Umslopogaas with the she…wolves to the south gate。 They reached them
safely and in silence； for at the bidding of the brethren the wolves
ceased from their howlings。 The gates were stopped with thorns； but
the brethren pulled out the thorns and made a passage。 As they did
this it chanced that certain dogs in the kraal heard the sound of the
stirred boughs； and awakening； caught the smell of the wolves that
were with Umslopogaas； for the wind blew from that quarter。 These dogs
ran out barking； and presently they came to the south gate of the
kraal； and flew at Umslopogaas； who pulled away the thorns。 Now when
the wolves saw the dogs they could be restrained no longer； but sprang
on them and tore them to fragments； and the sound of their worrying
came to the ears of the soldiers of Chaka and of the dwellers in the
kraal； so that they sprang from sleep； snatching their arms。 And as
they came out of the huts they saw in the moonlight a man wearing a
wolf's hide rushing across the empty cattle kraal； for the grass was
long and the cattle were out at graze； and with him countless wolves；
black and grey。 Then they cried aloud in terror； saying that the
ghosts were on them； and turned to flee to the north gate of the
kraal。 But； behold！ here also they met a man clad in a wolf's skin
only； and with him countless wolves； black and grey。
Now； some flung themselves to earth screaming in their fear； and some
strove to run away； but the greater part of the soldiers； and with
them many of the men of the kraal； came together in knots； being
minded to die like men at teeth of the ghosts； and that though they
shook with fear。 Then Umslopogaas howled aloud； and howled Galazi； and
they flung themselves upon the soldiers and the people of the kraal；
and with them came the wolves。 Then a crying and a baying rose up to
heaven as the grey wolves leaped and bit and tore。 Little they heeded
the spears and kerries of the soldiers。 Some were killed； but the rest
did not stay。 Presently the knots of men broke up； and to each man
wolves hung by twos and threes； dragging him to earth。 Some few fled；
indeed； but the wolves hunted them by gaze and scent； and pulled them
down before they passed the gates of the kraal。
The Wolf…Brethren also ravened with the rest。 Busy was the Watcher；
and many bowed beneath him； and often the spear of Umslopogaas flashed
in the moonlight。 It was finished； none were left living in that
kraal； and the wolves growled sullenly as they took their fill； they
who had been hungry for many days。 Now the brethren met； and laughed
in their wolf joy； because they had slaughtered those who were sent
out to slaughter。 They called to the wolves； bidding them search the
huts； and the wolves entered the huts as dogs enter a thicket； and
killed those who lurked there； or drove them forth to be slain
without。 Presently a man； great and tall； sprang from the last of the
huts； where he had hidden himself； and the wolves outside rushed on
him to drag him down。 But Umslopogaas beat them back； for he had seen
the face of the man： it was that captain whom Chaka had sent out to
kill him。 He beat them back； and stalked up to the captain； saying：
〃Greeting to you； captain of the king！ Now tell us what is your errand
here； beneath the shadow of her who sits in stone？〃 And he pointed
with his spear to the Grey Witch on the Ghost Mountain； on which the
moon shone bright。
Now the captain had a great heart； though he had hidden from the
wolves； and answered boldly：
〃What is that to you； wizard？ Your ghost wolves had made an end of my
errand。 Let them make an end of me also。〃
〃Be not in haste； captain；〃 said Umslopogaas。 〃Say； did you not seek a
certain youth； the son of Mopo？〃
〃That is so；〃 answered the captain。 〃I sought one youth； and I have
found many evil spirits。〃 And he looked at the wolves tearing their
prey； and shuddered。
〃Say； captain；〃 quoth Umslopogaas； drawing back his hood of wolf's
hide so that the moonlight fell upon his face； 〃is this the face of
that youth whom you sought？〃
〃It is the face；〃 answered the captain； astonished。
〃Ay；〃 laughed Umslopogaas； 〃it is the face。 Fool！ I knew your errand
and heard your words； and thus have I answered them。〃 And he pointed
to the dead。 〃Now choose； and swiftly。 Will you run for your life
against my wolves？ Will you do battle for your life against these
four？〃 And he pointed to Greysnout and to Blackfang； to Blood and to
Deathgrip； who watched him with slavering lips； 〃or will you stand
face to face with me； and if I am slain； with him who bears the club；
and with whom I rule this people black and grey？〃
〃I fear ghosts； but of men I have no fear； though they be wizards；〃
answered the captain。
〃Good！〃 cried Umslopogaas； shaking his spear。
Then they rushed together； and that fray was fierce。 For presen