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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； saying that she feared to be left； and that she should
never see him more； and her grief rung his heart。 Nevertheless；
Umslopogaas kissed her and went； closing the stone after him in that
fashion of which he had spoken。 When the stone was shut the cave was
almost dark； except for a ray of light that entered by a hole little
larger than a man's hand； that； looked at from within； was on the
right of the stone。 Nada sat herself so that this ray struck full on
her； for she loved light； and without it she would pine as flowers do。
There she sat and thought in the darksome cave； and was filled with
fear and sorrow。 And while she brooded thus； suddenly the ray went
out； and she heard a noise as of some beast that smells at prey。 She
looked； and in the gloom she saw the sharp nose and grinning fangs of
a wolf that were thrust towards her through the little hole。
Nada cried aloud in fear； and the fangs were snatched back； but
presently she heard a scratching without the cave； and saw the stone
shake。 Then she thought in her foolishness that the wolf knew how to
open the stone； and that he would do this； and devour her； for she had
heard the tale that all these wolves were the ghosts of evil men；
having the understanding of men。 So； in her fear and folly； she seized
the rock and dragged on it as Umslopogaas had shown her how to do。 It
shook； it slipped over the socket ledge； and rolled home like a pebble
down the mouth of a gourd。
〃Now I am safe from the wolves；〃 said Nada。 〃See； I cannot so much as
stir the stone from within。〃 And she laughed a little； then ceased
from laughing and spoke again。 〃Yet it would be ill if Umslopogaas
came back no more to roll away that rock； for then I should be like
one in a graveas one who is placed in a grave being yet strong and
quick。〃 She shuddered as she thought of it； but presently started up
and set her ear to the hole to listen； for from far down the mountain
there rose a mighty howling and a din of men。
When Umslopogaas had shut the cave； he moved swiftly down the
mountain； and with him went certain of the wolves； not all； for he had
not summoned them。 His heart was heavy； for he feared that Galazi was
no more。 Also he was mad with rage； and plotted in himself to destroy
the Slayers of the king； every man of them； but first he must learn
what they would do。 Presently； as he wended； he heard a long； low howl
far away in the forest； then he rejoiced； for he knew the callit was
the call of Galazi； who had escaped the spears of the Slayers。
Swiftly he ran； calling in answer。 He won the place。 There； seated on
a stone； resting himself； was Galazi； and round him surged the numbers
of the Grey People。 Umslopogaas came to him and looked at him； for he
seemed somewhat weary。 There were flesh wounds on his great breast and
arms； the little shield was well…nigh hewn to strips； and the Watcher
showed signs of war。
〃How went it； brother？〃 asked Umslopogaas。
〃Not so ill； but all those who stood with me in the way are dead； and
with them a few of the foe。 I alone am fled like a coward。 They came
on us thrice； but we held them back till the Lily was safe； then； all
our men being down； I ran； Umslopogaas； and swam the torrent； for I
was minded to die here in my own place。〃
Now； though he said little of it； I must tell you； my father； that
Galazi had made a great slaughter there in the neck of the donga。
Afterwards I counted the slain； and they were many； the nine men of
the People of the Axe were hidden in them。
〃Perhaps it shall be the Slayers who die； brother。〃
〃Perhaps； at least； there shall be death for some。 Still it is in my
mind； Slaughterer； that our brotherhood draws to an end； for the fate
of him who bears the Watcher； and which my father foretold； is upon
me。 If so； farewell。 While it lasted our friendship has been good； and
its ending shall be good。 Moreover； it would have endured for many a
year to come had you not sought； Slaughterer； to make good better； and
to complete our joy of fellowship and war with the love of women。 From
that source flow these ills； as a river from a spring； but so it was
fated。 If I fall in this fray may you yet live on to fight in many
another； and at the last to die gloriously with axe aloft； and may you
find a brisker man and a better Watcher to serve you in your need。
Should you fall and I live on； I promise this： I will avenge you to
the last and guard the Lily whom you love； offering her comfort； but
no more。 Now the foe draws on； they have travelled round about by the
ford； for they dared not face the torrent； and they cried to me that
they are sworn to slay us or be slain； as Dingaan； the king；
commanded。 So the fighting will be of the best； if； indeed； they do
not run before the fangs of the Grey People。 Now； Chief； speak your
word that I may obey it。〃
Thus Galazi spoke in the circle of the wolves； while Umslopogaas
leaned upon his Axe Groan…Maker； and listened to him； ay； and wept as
he listened； for after the Lily and me； Mopo； he loved Galazi most
dearly of all who lived。 Then he answered：
〃Were it not for one in the cave above； who is helpless and tender； I
would swear to you； Wolf； that if you fall； on your carcase I will
die； and I do swear that； should you fall； while I live Groan…Maker
shall be busy from year to year till every man of yonder impi is as
you are。 Perchance I did ill； Galazi； when first I hearkened to the
words of Zinita and suffered women to come between us。 May we one day
find a land where there are no women； and war only；