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sturdier build。 His eyes were small； and twinkled unceasingly like
little stars； and his look was very wild； for now and again he
grinned； showing his white teeth。
When I saw Umslopogaas； my father； my bowels melted within me； and I
longed to run to him and throw myself upon his neck。 Yet I took
council with myself and did notnay； I dropped the corner of the
kaross I wrote over my eyes； hiding my face lest he should know me。
Presently he stood before me； searching me out with his keen eyes； for
I drew forward to greet him。
〃Greeting； Mouth of Dingaan！〃 he said in a loud voice。 〃You are a
little man to be the mouth of so big a chief。〃
〃The mouth is a little member； even of the body of a great king； O
Chief Bulalio； ruler of the People of the Axe； wizard of the wolves
that are upon the Ghost Mountain； who aforetime was named Umslopogaas；
son of Mopo； son of Makedama。〃
Now when Umslopogaas heard these words he started like a child at a
rustling in the dark and stared hard at me。
〃You are well instructed；〃 he said。
〃The ears of the king are large； if his mouth be small； O Chief
Bulalio；〃 I answered； 〃and I； who am but the mouth； speak what the
ears have heard。〃
〃How know you that I have dwelt with the wolves upon the Ghost
Mountain； O Mouth？〃 he asked。
〃The eyes of the king see far； O Chief Bulalio。 Thus last night they
saw a great chase and a merry。 It seems that they saw a koodoo bull
running at speed； and after him countless wolves making their music；
and with the wolves two men clad in wolves' skins； such men as you；
Bulalio； and he with the club who follows you。〃
Now Umslopogaas lifted the axe Groan…Maker as though he would cut me
down； then let it fall again； while Galazi the Wolf glared at me with
wide…opened eyes。
〃How know you that once I was named Umslopogaas； who have lost that
name these many days？ Speak； O Mouth； lest I kill you。〃
〃Slay if you will； Umslopogaas；〃 I answered； 〃but know that when the
brains are scattered the mouth is dumb。 He who scatters brains loses
wisdom。〃
〃Answer！〃 he said。
〃I answer not。 Who are you that I should answer you？ I know； it is
enough。 To my business。〃
Now Umslopogaas ground his teeth in anger。 〃I am not wont to be
thwarted here in my own kraal；〃 he said； 〃but do your business。 Speak
it； little Mouth。〃
〃This is my business； little Chief。 When the Black One who is gone yet
lived； you sent him a message by one Masilosuch a message as his
ears had never heard； and that had been your death； O fool puffed up
with pride； but death came first upon the Black One； and his hand was
stayed。 Now Dingaan； whose shadow lies upon the land； the king whom I
serve； and who sits in the place of the Black One who is gone； speaks
to you by me； his mouth。 He would know this： if it is true that you
refuse to own his sovereignty； to pay tribute to him in men and maids
and cattle； and to serve him in his wars？ Answer； you little headman！
answer in few words and short！〃
Now Umslopogaas gasped for breath in his rage； and again he fingered
the great axe。 〃It is well for you； O Mouth；〃 he said； 〃that I swore
safe conduct to you； else you had not gone henceelse you had been
served as I served certain soldiers who in bygone years were sent to
search out one Umslopogaas。 Yet I answer you in few words and short。
Look on those spearsthey are but a fourth part of the number I can
muster： that is my answer。 Look now on yonder mountain； the mountain
of ghosts and wolvesunknown； impassable； save to me and one other：
that is my answer。 Spears and mountains shall come togetherthe
mountain shall be alive with spears and with the fangs of beasts。 Let
Dingaan seek his tribute there！ I have spoken！〃
Now I laughed shrilly； desiring to try the heart of Umslopogaas； my
fosterling； yet further。
〃Fool！〃 I said。 〃Boy with the brain of a monkey； for every spear you
have Dingaan； whom I serve； can send a hundred； and your mountain
shall be stamped flat； and for your ghosts and wolves； see； with the
mouth of Dingaan I spit upon them！〃 and I spat upon the ground。
Now Umslopogaas shook in his rage； and the great axe glimmered as he
shook。 He turned to the captain who was behind him； and said： 〃Say；
Galazi the Wolf； shall we kill this man and those with him？〃
〃Nay；〃 answered the Wolf； grinning； 〃do not kill them； you have given
them safe conduct。 Moreover； let them go back to their dog of a king；
that he may send out his puppies to do battle with our wolves。 It will
be a pretty fight。〃
〃Get you gone； O Mouth；〃 said Umslopogaas； 〃get you gone swiftly； lest
mischief befall you！ Without my gates you shall find food to satisfy
your hunger。 Eat of it and begone； for if to…morrow at the noon you
are found within a spear's throw of this kraal； you and those with you
shall bide there forever； O Mouth of Dingaan the king！〃
Now I made as though I would depart； then； turning suddenly； I spoke
once more； saying：
〃There were words in your message to the Black One who is dead of a
certain mannay； how was he named？of a certain Mopo。〃
Now Umslopogaas started as one starts who is wounded by a spear； and
stared at me。
〃Mopo！ What of Mopo； O Mouth； whose eyes are veiled？ Mopo is dead；
whose son I was！〃
〃Ah！〃 I said； 〃yes； Mopo is deadthat is； the Black One who is gone
killed a certain Mopo。 How came it； O Bulalio； that you were his son？〃
〃Mopo is dead；〃 quoth Umslopogaas again； 〃he is dead with all his
house； his kraal is stamped flat； and that is why I hated the Black
One； and therefore I hate Dingaan； his brother； and will be as are
Mopo and the house of Mopo before I pay him tribute of a single ox。〃
All this while I had spoken to Umslopogaas in a feigned voice； my
father； but now I spoke again and in my own voice； saying：
〃So！ Now you speak from your heart； young man； and by digging I have
reached the root of the matter。 It is because of this dead dog of a
Mopo that you defy the king。〃
Umslopogaas heard the voice； and trembled no more with anger； but
rather with fear and wonder。 He looked at me hard； answering nothing。
〃Have you a hut near by； O Chief Bulalio； foe of Dingaan the king；
where I； the mouth of the king； may speak with you a while apart； for
I would learn your message word by word that I may deliver it without
fault。 Fear not； Slaughterer； to sit alone with me in an empty hut！ I
am unarmed and old； and there is that in your hand which I should
fear；〃 and I pointed to the axe。
Now Umslopogaas； still shaking in his limbs； answered 〃Follow me； O
Mouth； and you； Galazi； stay with these men。〃
So I followed Umslopogaas； and presently we came to a large hut。 He
pointed to the doorway； and I crept through it and he followed after
me。 Now for a while it seemed dark in the hut； for the sun was sinking
without and the place was full of shadow； so I waited while a man
might count fifty； till our eyes could search the darkness。 Then of a
sudden I threw the blanket from my face and looked into the yes of
Umslopogaas。
〃Look on me now； O Chief Bulalio； O Slaughterer； who once was named
Umslopogaaslook on me and say who am I？〃 Then he looked at me and
his jaw fell。
〃Either you are Mopo my father grown oldMopo； who is dead； or the
Ghost of Mopo；〃 he answered in a low voice。
〃I am Mopo； your father； Umslopogaas；〃 I said。 〃You have been long in
knowing me； who knew you from the first。〃
Then Umslopogaas cried aloud； but yet softly； and letting fall the axe
Groan…Maker； he flung himself upon my breast and wept there。 And I
wept also。
〃Oh！ my father；〃 he said； 〃I thought that you were dead with the
others； and now you have come back to me； and I； I would have lifted
the axe against you in my folly。 Oh； it is well that I have lived； and
not died； since once more I look upon your facethe face that I
thought dead； but which yet lives； though it be sorely changed； as
though by grief and years。〃
〃Peace； Umslopogaas； my son；〃 I said。 〃I also deemed you dead in the
lion's mouth； though in truth it seemed strange to me that any other
man than Umslopogaas could have wrought the deeds which I have heard
of as done by Bulalio； Chief of the People of the Axeay； and thrown
defiance in the teeth of Chaka。 But you are not dead； and I； I am not
dead。 It was another Mopo whom Chaka killed； I slew Chaka； Chaka did
not slay me。〃
〃And of Nada； what of Nada； my sister？〃 he said。
〃Macropha； your mother； and Nada； your sister； are dead； Umslopogaas。
They are dead at the hands of the people of the Halakazi； who dwell in
Swaziland。〃
〃I have heard of that people；〃 he answered presently； 〃and so has
Galazi the Wolf； yonder。 He has a hate to satisfy against themthey
murdered his father； now I have two； for they have murdered my mother
and my sister。 Ah； Nada； my sister！ Nada； my sister！〃 and the great
man