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huts； and the wolves entered the huts as dogs enter a thicket； and
killed those who lurked there； or drove them forth to be slain
without。 Presently a man； great and tall； sprang from the last of the
huts； where he had hidden himself； and the wolves outside rushed on
him to drag him down。 But Umslopogaas beat them back； for he had seen
the face of the man： it was that captain whom Chaka had sent out to
kill him。 He beat them back； and stalked up to the captain； saying：
〃Greeting to you； captain of the king！ Now tell us what is your errand
here； beneath the shadow of her who sits in stone？〃 And he pointed
with his spear to the Grey Witch on the Ghost Mountain； on which the
moon shone bright。
Now the captain had a great heart； though he had hidden from the
wolves； and answered boldly：
〃What is that to you； wizard？ Your ghost wolves had made an end of my
errand。 Let them make an end of me also。〃
〃Be not in haste； captain；〃 said Umslopogaas。 〃Say； did you not seek a
certain youth； the son of Mopo？〃
〃That is so；〃 answered the captain。 〃I sought one youth； and I have
found many evil spirits。〃 And he looked at the wolves tearing their
prey； and shuddered。
〃Say； captain；〃 quoth Umslopogaas； drawing back his hood of wolf's
hide so that the moonlight fell upon his face； 〃is this the face of
that youth whom you sought？〃
〃It is the face；〃 answered the captain； astonished。
〃Ay；〃 laughed Umslopogaas； 〃it is the face。 Fool！ I knew your errand
and heard your words； and thus have I answered them。〃 And he pointed
to the dead。 〃Now choose； and swiftly。 Will you run for your life
against my wolves？ Will you do battle for your life against these
four？〃 And he pointed to Greysnout and to Blackfang； to Blood and to
Deathgrip； who watched him with slavering lips； 〃or will you stand
face to face with me； and if I am slain； with him who bears the club；
and with whom I rule this people black and grey？〃
〃I fear ghosts； but of men I have no fear； though they be wizards；〃
answered the captain。
〃Good！〃 cried Umslopogaas； shaking his spear。
Then they rushed together； and that fray was fierce。 For presently the
spear of Umslopogaas was broken in the shield of the captain and he
was left weaponless。 Now Umslopogaas turned and fled swiftly； bounding
over the dead and the wolves who preyed upon them； and the captain
followed with uplifted spear； and mocked him as he came。 Galazi also
wondered that Umslopogaas should fly from a single man。 Hither and
thither fled Umslopogaas； and always his eyes were on the earth。 Of a
sudden； Galazi； who watched； saw him sweep forward like a bird and
stoop to the ground。 Then he wheeled round； and lo！ there was an axe
in his hand。 The captain rushed at him； and Umslopogaas smote as he
rushed； and the blade of the great spear that was lifted to pierce him
fell to the ground hewn from its haft。 Again Umslopogaas smote： the
moon…shaped axe sank through the stout shield deep into the breast
beyond。 Then the captain threw up his arms and fell to the earth。
〃Ah！〃 cried Umslopogaas； 〃you sought a youth to slay him； and have
found an axe to be slain by it！ Sleep softly； captain of Chaka。〃
Then Umslopogaas spoke to Galazi； saying： 〃My brother； I will fight no
more with the spear； but with the axe alone； it was to seek an axe
that I ran to and fro like a coward。 But this is a poor thing！ See；
the haft is split because of the greatness of my stroke！ Now this is
my desireto win that great axe of Jikiza； which is called Groan…
Maker； of which we have heard tell； so that axe and club may stand
together in the fray。〃
〃That must be for another night；〃 said Galazi。 〃We have not done so
ill for once。 Now let us search for pots and corn； of which we stand
in need； and then to the mountain before dawn finds us。〃
Thus； then； did the Wolf…Brethren bring death on the impi of Chaka；
and this was but the first of many deaths that they wrought with the
help of the wolves。 For ever they ravened through the land at night；
and； falling on those they hated； they ate them up； till their name
and the name of the ghost…wolves became terrible in the ears of men；
and the land was swept clean。 But they found that the wolves would not
go abroad to worry everywhere。 Thus； on a certain night； they set out
to fall upon the kraals of the People of the Axe； where dwelt the
chief Jikiza； who was named the Unconquered； and owned the axe Groan…
Maker； but when they neared the kraal the wolves turned back and fled。
Then Galazi remembered the dream that he had dreamed； in which the
Dead One in the cave had seemed to speak； telling him that there only
where the men…eaters had hunted in the past might the wolves hunt to…
day。 So they returned home； but Umslopogaas set himself to find a plan
to win the axe。
CHAPTER XVI
UMSLOPOGAAS VENTURES OUT TO WIN THE AXE
Now many moons had gone by since Umslopogaas became a king of the
wolves； and he was a man full grown； a man fierce and tall and keen； a
slayer of men； fleet of foot and of valour unequalled； seeing by night
as well as by day。 But he was not yet named the Slaughterer； and not
yet did he hold that iron chieftainess； the axe Groan…Maker。 Still；
the desire to win the axe was foremost in his mind； for no woman had
entered there； who when she enters drives out all other desireay； my
father； even that of good weapons。 At times； indeed； Umslopogaas would
lurk in the reeds by the river looking at the kraal of Jikiza the
Unconquered； and would watch the gates of his kraal； and once as he
lurked he saw a man great； broad and hairy； who bore upon his shoulder
a shining axe； hafted with the horn of a rhinoceros。 After that his
greed for this axe entered into Umslopogaas more and more； till at
length he scarcely could sleep for thinking of it； and to Galazi he
spoke of little else； wearying him much with his talk； for Galazi
loved silence。 But for all his longing he could find no means to win
it。
Now it befell that as Umslopogaas hid one evening in the reeds；
watching the kraal of Jikiza； he saw a maiden straight and fair； whose
skin shone like the copper anklets on her limbs。 She walked slowly
towards the reeds where he lay hidden。 Nor did she top at the brink of
the reeds； she entered them and sat herself down within a spear's
length of where Umslopogaas was seated； and at once began to weep；
speaking to herself as she wept。
〃Would that the ghost…wolves might fall on him and all that is his；〃
she sobbed； 〃ay； and on Masilo also！ I would hound them on； even if I
myself must next know their fangs。 Better to die by the teeth of the
wolves than to be sold to this fat pig of a Masilo。 Oh！ if I must wed
him； I will give him a knife for the bride's kiss。 Oh！ that I were a
lady of the ghost…wolves； there should be a picking of bones in the
kraal of Jikiza before the moon grows young again。〃
Umslopogaas heard； and of a sudden reared himself up before the maid；
and he was great and wild to look on； and the she…wolf's fangs shone
upon his brow。
〃The ghost…wolves are at hand； damsel；〃 he said。 〃They are ever at
hand for those who need them。〃
Now the maid saw him and screamed faintly； then gr