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travelled now； there in front of him lay the yellow river foaming in
its flood； so he had swum it before when he went to see the dead。 Ah！
a good leap far out into the torrent； it was strong； but he breasted
it。 He was through； he stood upon the bank shaking the water from him
like a dog； and now he was away up the narrow gorge of stones to the
long slope； running low as his wolves ran。
Before him lay the townone side shone silver with the sinking moon；
one was grey with the breaking dawn。 Ah！ they were there； he saw them
moving through the grass by the eastern gate； he saw the long lines of
slayers creep to the left and the right。
How could he pass them before the circle of death was drawn？ Six
spear…throws to run； and they had but such a little way！ The mealie…
plants were tall； and at a spot they almost touched the fence。 Up the
path！ Could Umslopogaas； his brother； move more fast； he wondered；
than the Wolf who sped to save him？ He was there； hidden by the mealie
stalks； and there； along the fence to the right and to the left； the
slayers crept！
〃Wow！ What was that？〃 said one soldier of the king to another man as
they joined their guard completing the death circle。 〃Wow！ something
great and black crashed through the fence before me。〃
〃I heard it； brother；〃 answered the other man。 〃I heard it； but I saw
nothing。 It must have been a dog： no man could leap so high。〃
〃More like a wolf；〃 said the first； 〃at the least； let us pray that it
was not an Esedowan＇1＇ who will put us into the hole in its back。 Is
your fire ready； brother？ Wow！ these wizards shall wake warm； the
signal should be soon。〃
＇1＇ A fabulous animal； reported by the Zulus to carry off human beings
in a hole in its back。
Then arose the sound of a great voice crying； 〃Awake； ye sleepers； the
foe is at your gates！〃
CHAPTER XXXIII
THE END OF THE PEOPLE； BLACK AND GREY
Galazi rushed through the town crying aloud； and behind him rose a
stir of men。 All slept and no sentinels were set； for Umslopogaas was
so lost in his love for Lily that he forgot his wisdom； and thought no
more of war or death or of the hate of Dingaan。 Presently the Wolf
came to the large new hut which Umslopogaas had caused to be built for
Nada the Lily； and entered it； for there he knew that he should find
his brother Bulalio。 On the far side of the hut the two lay sleeping；
and the head of Umslopogaas rested on the Lily's breast； and by his
side gleamed the great axe Groan…Maker。
〃Awake！〃 cried the Wolf。
Now Umslopogaas sprang to his feet grasping at his axe； but Nada threw
her arms wide； murmuring； 〃Let me sleep on； sweet is sleep。〃
〃Sound shall ye sleep； anon！〃 gasped Galazi。 〃Swift； brother； bind on
the wolf's hide； take shield！ Swift； I sayfor the Slayers of the
king are at your gates！〃
Now Nada sprang up also； and they did his bidding like people in a
dream； and； while they found their garments and a shield； Galazi took
beer and drank it； and got his breath again。 They stood without the
hut。 Now the heaven was grey； and east and west and north and south
tongues of flame shot up against the sky； for the town had been fired
by the Slayers。
Umslopogaas looked and his sense came back to him： he understood。
〃Which way； brother？〃 he said。
〃Through the fire and the impi to our Grey People on the mountain；〃
said Galazi。 〃There； if we can win it； we shall find succour。〃
〃What of my people in the kraal；〃 asked Umslopogaas。
〃They are not many； brother； the women and the children are gone。 I
have roused the menmost will escape。 Hence； ere we burn！〃
Now they ran towards the fence； and as they went men joined them to
the number of ten； half awakened； fear…stricken； armedsome with
spears； some with clubsand for the most part naked。 They sped on
together towards the fence of the town that was now but a ring of
fire； Umslopogaas and Galazi in front； each holding the Lily by a
hand。 They neared the fencefrom without came the shouts of the
Slayerslo！ it was afire。 Nada shrank back in fear； but Umslopogaas
and Galazi dragged her on。 They rushed at the blazing fence； smiting
with axe and club。 It broke before them； they were through but little
harmed。 Without were a knot of the Slayers； standing back a small
space because of the heat of the flames。 The Slayers saw them； and
crying； 〃This is Bulalio； kill the wizard！〃 sprang towards them with
uplifted spears。 Now the People of the Axe made a ring round Nada； and
in the front of it were Umslopogaas and Galazi。 Then they rushed on
and met those of the Slayers who stood before them； and the men of
Dingaan were swept away and scattered by Groan…Maker and the Watcher；
as dust is swept of a wind； as grass is swept by a sickle。
They were through with only one man slain； but the cry went up that
the chief of the wizards and the Lily； his wife； had fled。 Then； as it
was these whom he was chiefly charged to kill； the captain called off
the impi from watching for the dwellers in the town； and started in
pursuit of Umslopogaas。 Now； at this time nearly a hundred men of the
People of the Axe had been killed and of the Slayers some fifty men；
for； having been awakened by the crying of Galazi； the soldiers of the
axe fought bravely； though none saw where his brother stood； and none
knew whither their chief had fled except those ten who went with the
brethren。
Meanwhile； the Wolf…Brethren and those with them were well away； and
it had been easy for them to escape； who were the swiftest…footed of
any in the land。 But the pace of a regiment is the pace of its
slowest…footed soldier； and Nada could not run with the Wolf…Brethren。
Yet they made good speed； and were halfway down the gorge that led to
the river before the companies of Dingaan poured into it。 Now they
came to the end of it； and the foe was nearthis end of the gorge is
narrow； my father； like the neck of a gourdthen Galazi stopped and
spoke：
〃Halt！ ye People of the Axe；〃 he said； 〃and let us talk awhile with
these who follow till we get our breath again。 But you； my brother；
pass the river with the Lily in your hand。 We will join you in the
forest； but if perchance we cannot find you； you know what must be
done： set the Lily in the cave； then return and call up the grey impi。
Wow！ my brother； I must find you if I may； for if these men of Dingaan
have a mind for sport there shall be such a hunting on the Ghost
Mountain as the old Witch has not seen。 Go now； my brother！〃
〃It is not my way to turn and run while others stand and fight；〃
growled Umslopogaas； 〃yet； because of Nada； it seems that I must。〃
〃Oh！ heed me not； my love；〃 said Nada； 〃I have brought thee sorrowI
am weary； let me die； kill me and save yourselves！〃
For answer； Umslopogaas took her by the hand and fled towards the
river； but before he reached it he heard the sounds of the fray； the
war…cry of the Slayers as they poured upon the People of the Axe； the
howl of his brother； the Wolf； when the battle joineday； and the
crash of the Watcher as the blow went home。
〃Well bitten； Wolf！〃 he said； stopping； 〃that one shall need no more；
oh！ that I might〃but again he looked at Nada； and sped on。
Now they had leaped into the foaming river； and here it was well that
the Lily could swim； else both had been lost。 But they won through and
passed forward to the mountain's flank。 Here they walked on among the
trees till the forest was almost passed； and at length Umslopogaas
heard the howling of a wolf。
Then he must set Nada on his shoulders and carry her as once Galazi
had carried another； for it was death for any except the Wolf…Brethren
to walk on the Ghost Mountain when the wolves were awake。
Presently the wolves flocked around him； and leaped upon him in joy；
glaring with fierce eyes at her who sat upon his shoulders。 Nada saw
them； and almost fell from her seat； fainting with fear； for they were
many and dreadful； and when they howled her blood turned to ice。
But Umslopogaas cheered her； telling her that these were his dogs with
whom he went out hunting； and with whom he should hunt presently。 At
length they came to the knees of the Old Witch and the entrance to the
cave。 It was empty except for a wolf or two； for Galazi abode here
seldom now； but when he was on the mountain would sleep in the forest；
which was nearer the kraal of his brother the Slaughterer。
〃Here you must stay； sweet；〃 said Umslopogaas when he had driven out
the wolves。 〃Here you must rest till this little matter of the Slayers
is finished。 Would that we had brought food； but we had little time to
seek it！ See； now I will show you the secret of the stone； thus far I
will push it； no farther。 Now a touch only is needed to send it over
the socket and home； but then they must be two strong men who can pull
it back again。 Therefore push it no farther except in the utmost need；
lest it remain where it fall； whether you will it or not。 Have no
fear； you are safe here； none know of this place except Galazi； myself
and the wolves； and none shall find it。 Now I must be going to find
Galazi； if he still lives； if not； to make what play I can against the
Slayers； alone with the wolves。〃
Now Nada wept； sayin