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Therefore； it is the custom of Jikiza to hew off the heads of those
whom he kills with the axe。〃
〃Does he； then； slay many？〃 asked Umslopogaas。
〃Of late years； few indeed；〃 she said； 〃for none dare stand against
himno； not with all to win。 For； holding the axe Groan…Maker； he is
unconquerable； and to fight with him is sure death。 Fifty…and…one have
tried in all； and before the hut of Jikiza there are piled fifty…and…
one white skulls。 And know this； the axe must be won in fight； if it
is stolen or found； it has no virtuenay； it brings shame and death
to him who holds it。〃
〃How； then； may a man give battle to Jikiza？〃 he asked again。
〃Thus： Once in every year； on the first day of the new moon of the
summer season； Jikiza holds a meeting of the headmen。 Then he must
rise and challenge all or any to come forward and do battle with him
to win the axe and become chief in his place。 Now if one comes
forward； they go into the cattle kraal； and there the matter is ended。
Afterwards； when the head is hewn from his foe； Jikiza goes back to
the meeting of the headmen； and they talk as before。 All are free to
come to the meeting； and Jikiza must fight with them if they wish it；
whoever they be。〃
〃Perhaps I shall be there；〃 said Umslopogaas。
〃After this meeting at the new moon； I am to be given in marriage to
Masilo；〃 said the maid。 〃But should one conquer Jikiza； then he will
be chief； and can give me in marriage to whom he will。〃
Now Umslopogaas understood her meaning； and knew that he had found
favour in her sight； and the thought moved him a little； for women
were strange to him as yet。
〃If perchance I should be there；〃 he said； 〃and if perchance I should
win the iron chieftainess； the axe Groan…Maker； and rule over the
People of the Axe； you should not live far from the shadow of the axe
thenceforward； maid Zinita。〃
〃It is well； Wolf…Man； though some might not wish to dwell in that
shadow； but first you must win the axe。 Many have tried； and all have
failed。〃
〃Yet one must succeed at last；〃 he said； 〃and so； farewell！〃 and he
leaped into the torrent of the river； and swam it with great strokes。
Now the maid Zinita watched him till he was gone； and love of him
entered into her hearta love that was fierce and jealous and strong。
But as he wended to the Ghost Mountain Umslopogaas thought rather of
axe Groan…Maker than of Maid Zinita； for ever； at the bottom；
Umslopogaas loved war more than women； though this has been his fate；
that women have brought sorrow on his head。
Fifteen days must pass before the day of the new moon； and during this
time Umslopogaas thought much and said little。 Still； he told Galazi
something of the tale； and that he was determined to do battle with
Jikiza the Unconquered for the axe Groan…Maker。 Galazi said that he
would do well to let it be； and that it was better to stay with the
wolves than to go out seeking strange weapons。 He said also that even
if he won the axe； the matter might not stay there； for he must take
the girl also； and his heart boded no good of women。 It had been a
girl who poisoned his father in the kraals of the Halakazi。 To all of
which Umslopogaas answered nothing； for his heart was set both on the
axe and the girl； but more on the first than the last。
So the time wore on； and at length came the day of the new moon。 At
the dawn of that day Umslopogaas arose and clad himself in a moocha；
binding the she…wolf's skin round his middle beneath the moocha。 In
his hand he took a stout fighting…shield； which he had made of buffalo
hide； and that same light moon…shaped axe with which he had slain the
captain of Chaka。
〃A poor weapon with which to kill Jikiza the Unconquerable；〃 said
Galazi； eyeing it askance。
〃It shall serve my turn；〃 answered Umslopogaas。
Now Umslopogaas ate； and then they moved together slowly down the
mountain and crossed the river by a ford； for he wished to save his
strength。 On the farther side of the river Galazi hid himself in the
reeds； because his face was known； and there Umslopogaas bade him
farewell； not knowing if he should look upon him again。 Afterwards he
walked up to the Great Place of Jikiza。 Now when he reached the gates
of the kraal； he saw that many people were streaming through them； and
mingled with the people。 Presently they came to the open space in
front of the huts of Jikiza； and there the headmen were gathered
together。 In the centre of them； and before a heap of the skulls of
men which were piled up against his doorposts； sat Jikiza； a huge man；
a hairy and a proud； who glared about him rolling his eyes。 Fastened
to his arm by a thong of leather was the great axe Groan…Maker； and
each man as he came up saluted the axe； calling it 〃Inkosikaas；〃 or
chieftainess； but he did not salute Jikiza。 Umslopogaas sat down with
the people in front of the councillors； and few took any notice of
him； except Zinita； who moved sullenly to and fro bearing gourds of
beer to the councillors。 Near to Jikiza； on his right hand； sat a fat
man with small and twinkling eyes； who watched the maid Zinita
greedily。
〃Yon man；〃 thought Umslopogaas； 〃is Masilo。 The better for blood…
letting will you be； Masilo。〃
Presently Jikiza spoke； rolling his eyes： 〃This is the matter before
you； councillors。 I have settled it in my mind to give my step…
daughter Zinita in marriage to Masilo； but the marriage gift is not
yet agreed on。 I demand a hundred head of cattle from Masilo； for the
maid is fair and straight； a proper maid； and； moreover； my daughter；
though not of my blood。 But Masilo offers fifty head only； therefore I
ask you to settle it。〃
〃We hear you； Lord of the Axe；〃 answered one of the councillors； 〃but
first； O Unconquered； you must on this day of the year； according to
ancient custom； give public challenge to any man to fight you for the
Groan…Maker and for your place as chief of the People of the Axe。〃
〃This is a wearisome thing；〃 grumbled Jikiza。 〃Can I never have done
in it？ Fifty…and…three have I slain in my youth without a wound； and
now for many years I have challenged； like a cock on a dunghill； and
none crow in answer。〃
〃Ho； now！ Is there any man who will come forward and do battle with
me； Jikiza； for the great axe Groan…Maker？ To him who can win it； it
shall be； and with it the chieftainship of the People of the Axe。〃
Thus he spoke very fast； as a man gabbles a prayer to a spirit in whom
he has little faith； then turned once more to talk of the cattle of
Masilo and of the maid Zinita。 But suddenly Umslopogaas stood up；
looking at him over the top of his war shield； and crying； 〃Here is
one； O Jikiza； who will do battle with you for the axe Groan…Maker and
for the chieftainship that is to him who holds the axe。〃
Now； all the people laughed； and Jikiza glared at him。
〃Come forth from behind that big shield of yours；〃 he said。 〃Come out
and tell me your name and lineageyou who would do battle with the
Unconquered for the ancient axe。〃
Then Umslopogaas came forward； and he looked so fierce； though he was
but young； that the people laughed no more。
〃What is my name and lineage to you； Jikiza？〃 he said。 〃Let it be； and
hasten to do me battle； as you must by the custom； for I am eager to
handle the Groan…Maker and to sit in your seat and settle this matter
of the cattle of Masilo the Pig。 When I have killed you I will take a
name who now have none。〃
Now once more the people laughed； but Jikiza grew mad with wrath； and
sprang up gasping。
〃What！〃 he said； 〃you dare to speak thus to me； you babe unweaned； to
me the Unconquered； the holder of the axe！ Never did I think to live
to hear such talk from a long…legged pup。 On to the cattle kraal； to
the cattle kraal； People of the Axe； that I may hew this braggart's
head from his shoulders。 He would stand in my place； would he？the
place that I and my fathers have held for four generations by virtue
of the axe。 I tell you all； that presently I will stand upon his head；
and then we will settle the matter of Masilo。〃
〃Babble not so fast； man；〃 quoth Umslopogaas； 〃or if you must babble；
speak those words which you would say ere you bid the sun farewell。〃
Now； Jikiza choked with rage； and foam came from his lips so that he
could not speak； but the people found this sportall except Masilo；
who looked askance at the stranger； tall and fierce； and Zinita； who
looked at Masilo； and with no love。 So they moved down to the cattle
kraal； and Galazi； seeing it from afar； could keep away no longer； but
drew near and mingled with the crowd。
CHAPTER XVII
UMSLOPOGAAS BECOMES CHIEF OF THE PEOPLE OF THE AXE
Now； when Umslopogaas and Jikiza the Unconquered had come to the
cattle kraal； they were set in its centre and there were ten paces
between them。 Umslopogaas was armed with the great shield and the
ligh