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moment also the soldiers looked on each other in doubt； for the fire
raged furiously； and spouts of flame shot high toward the heaven； and
above it and about it the hot air danced。 But their captain called to
them loudly： 〃Great is the king！ Hear the words of the king； who
honours you！ Yesterday we ate up the Amaboonait was nothing； they
were unarmed。 There is a foe more worthy of our valour。 Come； my
children； let us wash in the firewe who are fiercer than the fire！
Great is the king who honours us！〃
Thus he spoke and ran forward； and； with a roar； after him sprang the
soldiers； rank by rank。 They were brave men indeed； moreover； they
knew that if death lay before them death also awaited him who lagged
behind； and it is far better to die with honour than ashamed。 On they
went； as to the joy of battle； their captain leading them； and as they
went they sang the Ingomo； the war…chant of the Zulu。 Now the captain
neared the raging fire； we saw him lift his shield to keep off its
heat。 Then he was gonehe had sprung into the heart of the furnace；
and but little of him was ever found again。 After him went the first
company。 In they went； beating at the flames with their ox…hide
shields； stamping them out with their naked feet； tearing down the
burning logs and casting them aside。 Not one man of that company
lived； my father； they fell down like moths which flutter through a
candle； and where they fell they perished。 But after them came other
companies； and it was well for those in this fight who were last to
grapple with the foe。 Now a great smoke was mixed with the flame； now
the flame grew less and less； and the smoke more and more； and now
blackened men； hairless； naked； and blistered； white with the
scorching of the fire； staggered out on the farther side of the
flames； falling to earth here and there。 After them came others； now
there was no flame； only a great smoke in which men moved dimly； and
presently； my father； it was done： they had conquered the fire； and
that with but very little hurt to the last seven companies； though
every man had trodden it。 How many perished？nay； I know not； they
were never counted； but what between the dead and the injured that
regiment was at half strength till the king drafted more men into it。
〃See； Doctor of Prayers；〃 said Dingaan； with a laugh； 〃thus shall I
escape the fires of that land of which thou tellest； if such there be
indeed： I will bid my impis stamp them out。〃
Then the praying man went from the kraal saying that he would teach no
more among the Zulus； and afterwards he left the land。 When he had
gone the burnt wood and the dead were cleared away； the injured were
doctored or killed according to their hurts； and those who had little
harm came before the king and praised him。
〃New shields and headresses must be found for you； my children；〃 said
Dingaan； for the shields were black and shrivelled； and of heads of
hair and plumes there were but few left among that regiment。
〃Wow！〃 said Dingaan again； looking at the soldiers who still lived：
〃shaving will be easy and cheap in that place of fire of which the
white man speaks。〃
Then he ordered bear to be brought to the men； for the heat had made
them thirsty。
Now though you may not guess it； my father； I have told you this tale
because it has something to do with my story； for scarcely had the
matter been ended when messengers came； saying that Bulalio； chief of
the People of the Axe； and his impi were without； having returned with
much spoil from the slaying of the Halakazi in Swaziland。 Now when I
heard this my heart leapt for joy； seeing that I had feared greatly
for the fate of Umslopogaas； my fosterling。 Dingaan also was very
glad； and； springing up； danced to and fro like a child。
〃Now at last we have good tidings；〃 he said； at once forgetting the
stamping of the fire； 〃and now shall my eyes behold that Lily whom my
hand has longed to pluck。 Let Bulalio and his people enter swiftly。〃
For awhile there was silence； then from far away； without the high
fence of the great place； there came a sound of singing； and through
the gates of the kraal rushed two great men； wearing black plumes upon
their heads； having black shields in their left hands； and in their
right； one an axe and one a club； while about their shoulders were
bound wolf…skins。 They ran low； neck and neck； with outstretched
shields and heads held forward； as a buck runs when he is hard pressed
by dogs； and no such running had been seen in the kraal Umgugundhlovu
as the running of the Wolf…Brethren。 Half across the space they ran；
and halted suddenly； and； as they halted； the dead ashes of the fire
flew up before their feet in a little cloud。
〃By my head！ look； these come armed before me！〃 said Dingaan；
frowning； 〃and to do this is death。 Now say who is that man； great and
fierce； who bears an axe aloft？ Did I not know him dead I should say
it was the Black One； my brother； as he was in the days of the smiting
of Zwide： so was his head set on his shoulders and so he was wont to
look round； like a lion。〃
〃I think that is Bulalio the Slaughterer； chief of the People of the
Axe； O King；〃 I answered。
〃And who is the other with him？ He is a great man also。 Never have I
seen such a pair！〃
〃I think that is Galazi the Wolf； he who is blood…brother to the
Slaughterer； and his general；〃 I said again。
Now after these two came the soldiers of the People of the Axe； armed
with short sticks alone。 Four by four they came； all holding their
heads low； and with black shields outstretched； and formed themselves
into companies behind the Wolf…Brethren； till all were there。 Then；
after them； the crowd of the Halakazi slaves were driven in；women；
boys； and maids； a great numberand they stood behind the ranks
huddled together like frightened calves。
〃A gallant sight； truly！〃 said Dingaan； as he looked upon the
companies of black…plumed and shielded warriors。 〃I have no better
soldiers in my impis； and yet my eyes behold these for the first
time；〃 and again he frowned。
Now suddenly Umslopogaas lifted his axe and started forward at full
speed； and after him thundered the companies。 On they rushed； and
their plumes lay back upon the wind； till it seemed as though they
must stamp us flat。 But when he was within ten paces of the king
Umslopogaas lifted Groan…Maker again； and Galazi held the Watcher on
high； and every man halted where he was； while once more the dust flew
up in clouds。 They halted in long； unbroken lines； with outstretched
shields and heads held low； no man's head rose more than the length of
a dance kerrie from the earth。 So they stood one minute； then； for the
third time； Umslopogaas lifted Groan…Maker； and in an instant every
man straightened himself； each shield was tossed on high； and from
every throat was roared the royal salute； 〃Bayete！〃
〃A pretty sight forsooth；〃 quoth Dingaan； 〃but these soldiers are too
well drilled who have never done me service nor the Black One who was
before me； and this Slaughterer is too good a captain； I say。 Come
hither； ye twain！〃 he cried aloud。
Then the Wolf…Brethren strode forward and stood before the king； and
for awhile they looked upon each other。
CHAPTER XXVIII
THE LILY IS BROUGHT TO DINGAAN
〃How are you named？〃 said Dingaan。
〃We are named Bulalio the Slaughterer and Galazi the Wolf； O King；〃
answered Umslopogaas。
〃Was it thou who didst send a certain message to the Black One who is
dead； Bulalio？〃
〃Yea； O King； I sent a message； but from all I have heard； Masilo； my
messenger； gave more than the message； for he stabbed the Black One。
Masilo had an evil heart。〃
Now Dingaan winced； for he knew well that he himself and one Mopo had
stabbed the Black One； but he thought that this outland chief had not
heard the tale； so he said no more of the message。
〃How is it that ye dare to come before me armed？ Know ye not the rule
that he who appears armed before the king dies？〃
〃We have not heard that law； O King；〃 said Umslopogaas。 〃Moreover；
there is this to be told： my virtue of the axe I bear I rule alone。 If
I am seen without the axe； then any man may take my place who can； for
the axe is chieftainess of the People of the Axe； and he who holds it
is its servant。〃
〃A strange custom；〃 said Dingaan； 〃but let it pass。 And thou； Wolf；
what hast thou to say of that great club of thine？〃
〃There is this to be told of the club； O King；〃 answered Galazi： 〃by
virtue of the club I guard my life。 If I am seen without the club；
then may any man take my life who can； for the club is my Watcher； not
I Watcher of the club。〃
〃Never wast thou nearer to the losing of both club and life；〃 said
Dingaan； angrily。
〃It may be so； O King；〃 answered the Wolf。 〃When the hour is； then；
without a doubt； the Watcher shall cease from his watchi