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him。 Surely Chaka was a great king though an evil； and he showed his
greatness when he forbade marriage to the warriors； marriage that
makes the heart soft and turns blood to water。〃
Now Galazi ceased； and gazed idly towards the kraal of the People of
the Axe； and as he looked his eyes caught a gleam of light that seemed
to travel in and out of the edge of the shadow of Ghost Mountain as a
woman's needle travels through a skin； now seen and now lost in the
skin。
He started and watched。 Ah！ there the light came out from the shadow。
Now； by Chaka's head； it was the light of spears！
One moment more Galazi watched。 It was a little impi； perhaps they
numbered two hundred men； running silently； but not to battle； for
they wore no plumes。 Yet they went out to kill； for they ran in
companies； and each man carried assegais and a shield。
Now Galazi had heard tell of such impis that hunt by night； and he
knew well that these were the king's dogs； and their game was men； a
big kraal of sleeping men； otherwise there had been fewer dogs。 Is a
whole pack sent out to catch an antelope on its form？ Galazi wondered
whom they sought。 Ah！ now they turned to the ford； and he knew。 It was
his brother Umslopogaas and Nada the Lily and the People of the Axe。
These were the king's dogs； and Zinita had let them slip。 For this
reason she had called a feast of women； and taken the children with
her； for this reason so many had been summoned from the kraal by one
means or another： it was that they might escape the slaughter。
Galazi bounded to his feet。 For one moment he thought。 Might not these
hunters be hunted？ Could he not destroy them by the jaws of the wolves
as once before they had destroyed a certain impi of the king's？ Ay； if
he had seen them but one hour before； then scarcely a man of them
should have lived to reach the stream； for he would have waylaid them
with his wolves。 But now it might not be； the soldiers neared the
ford； and Galazi knew well that his grey people would not hunt on the
further plain； though for this he had heard one reason only； that
which was given him by the lips of the dead in a dream。
What； then； might be done？ One thing alone： warn Umslopogaas。 Yet how？
For him who could swim a rushing river； there was； indeed； a swifter
way to the place of the People of the Axea way that was to the path
of the impi as is the bow…string to the strung bow。 And yet they had
travelled well…nigh half the length of the bow。 Still； he might do it；
he whose feet were the swiftest in the land； except those of
Umslopogaas。 At the least； he would try。 Mayhap； the impi would tarry
to drink at the ford。
So Galazi thought in his heart； and his thought was swift as the
light。 Then with a bound he was away down the mountain side。 From
boulder to boulder he leapt like a buck； he crashed through the brake
like a bull； he skimmed the level like a swallow。 The mountain was
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！