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of the kraal； he saw that many people were streaming through them； and
mingled with the people。 Presently they came to the open space in
front of the huts of Jikiza； and there the headmen were gathered
together。 In the centre of them； and before a heap of the skulls of
men which were piled up against his doorposts； sat Jikiza； a huge man；
a hairy and a proud； who glared about him rolling his eyes。 Fastened
to his arm by a thong of leather was the great axe Groan…Maker； and
each man as he came up saluted the axe； calling it 〃Inkosikaas；〃 or
chieftainess； but he did not salute Jikiza。 Umslopogaas sat down with
the people in front of the councillors； and few took any notice of
him； except Zinita； who moved sullenly to and fro bearing gourds of
beer to the councillors。 Near to Jikiza； on his right hand； sat a fat
man with small and twinkling eyes； who watched the maid Zinita
greedily。
〃Yon man；〃 thought Umslopogaas； 〃is Masilo。 The better for blood…
letting will you be； Masilo。〃
Presently Jikiza spoke； rolling his eyes： 〃This is the matter before
you； councillors。 I have settled it in my mind to give my step…
daughter Zinita in marriage to Masilo； but the marriage gift is not
yet agreed on。 I demand a hundred head of cattle from Masilo； for the
maid is fair and straight； a proper maid； and； moreover； my daughter；
though not of my blood。 But Masilo offers fifty head only； therefore I
ask you to settle it。〃
〃We hear you； Lord of the Axe；〃 answered one of the councillors； 〃but
first； O Unconquered； you must on this day of the year； according to
ancient custom； give public challenge to any man to fight you for the
Groan…Maker and for your place as chief of the People of the Axe。〃
〃This is a wearisome thing；〃 grumbled Jikiza。 〃Can I never have done
in it？ Fifty…and…three have I slain in my youth without a wound； and
now for many years I have challenged； like a cock on a dunghill； and
none crow in answer。〃
〃Ho； now！ Is there any man who will come forward and do battle with
me； Jikiza； for the great axe Groan…Maker？ To him who can win it； it
shall be； and with it the chieftainship of the People of the Axe。〃
Thus he spoke very fast； as a man gabbles a prayer to a spirit in whom
he has little faith； then turned once more to talk of the cattle of
Masilo and of the maid Zinita。 But suddenly Umslopogaas stood up；
looking at him over the top of his war shield； and crying； 〃Here is
one； O Jikiza； who will do battle with you for the axe Groan…Maker and
for the chieftainship that is to him who holds the axe。〃
Now； all the people laughed； and Jikiza glared at him。
〃Come forth from behind that big shield of yours；〃 he said。 〃Come out
and tell me your name and lineageyou who would do battle with the
Unconquered for the ancient axe。〃
Then Umslopogaas came forward； and he looked so fierce； though he was
but young； that the people laughed no more。
〃What is my name and lineage to you； Jikiza？〃 he said。 〃Let it be； and
hasten to do me battle； as you must by the custom； for I am eager to
handle the Groan…Maker and to sit in your seat and settle this matter
of the cattle of Masilo the Pig。 When I have killed you I will take a
name who now have none。〃
Now once more the people laughed； but Jikiza grew mad with wrath； and
sprang up gasping。
〃What！〃 he said； 〃you dare to speak thus to me； you babe unweaned； to
me the Unconquered； the holder of the axe！ Never did I think to live
to hear such talk from a long…legged pup。 On to the cattle kraal； to
the cattle kraal； People of the Axe； that I may hew this braggart's
head from his shoulders。 He would stand in my place； would he？the
place that I and my fathers have held for four generations by virtue
of the axe。 I tell you all； that presently I will stand upon his head；
and then we will settle the matter of Masilo。〃
〃Babble not so fast； man；〃 quoth Umslopogaas； 〃or if you must babble；
speak those words which you would say ere you bid the sun farewell。〃
Now； Jikiza choked with rage； and foam came from his lips so that he
could not speak； but the people found this sportall except Masilo；
who looked askance at the stranger； tall and fierce； and Zinita； who
looked at Masilo； and with no love。 So they moved down to the cattle
kraal； and Galazi； seeing it from afar； could keep away no longer； but
drew near and mingled with the crowd。
CHAPTER XVII
UMSLOPOGAAS BECOMES CHIEF OF THE PEOPLE OF THE AXE
Now； when Umslopogaas and Jikiza the Unconquered had come to the
cattle kraal； they were set in its centre and there were ten paces
between them。 Umslopogaas was armed with the great shield and the
light moon…shaped axe； Jikiza carried the Groan…Maker and a small
dancing shield； and； looking at the weapons of the two； people thought
that the stranger would furnish no sport to the holder of the axe。
〃He is ill…armed；〃 said an old man； 〃it should be otherwiselarge
axe； small shield。 Jikiza is unconquerable； and the big shield will
not help this long…legged stranger when Groan…Maker rattles on the
buffalo hide。〃 The old man spoke thus in the hearing of Galazi the
Wolf； and Galazi thought that he spoke wisely； and sorrowed for the
fate of his brother。
Now； the word was given； and Jikiza rushed on Umslopogaas； roaring；
for his rage was great。 But Umslopogaas did not stir till his foe was
about to strike； then suddenly he leaped aside； and as Jikiza passed
he smote him hard upon the back with the flat of his axe； making a
great sound； for it was not his plan to try and kill Jikiza with this
axe。 Now； a shout of laughter went up from the hundreds of the people；
and the laughter went up from the hundreds of the people； and the
heart of Jikiza nearly burst with rage because of the shame of that
blow。 Round he came like a bull that is mad； and once more rushed at
Umslopogaas； who lifted his shield to meet him。 Then； of a sudden；
just when the great axe leapt on high； Umslopogaas uttered a cry as of
fear； and； turning； fled before the face of Jikiza。 Now once more the
shout of laughter went up； while Umslopogaas fled swiftly； and after
him rushed Jikiza； blind with fury。 Round and about the kraal sped
Umslopogaas； scarcely a spear's length ahead of Jikiza； and he ran
keeping his back to the sun as much as might be； that he might watch
the shadow of Jikiza。 A second time he sped round； while the people
cheered the chase as hunters cheer a dog which pursues a buck。 So
cunningly did Umslopogaas run； that； though he seemed to reel with
weakness in such fashion that men thought his breath was gone； yet he
went ever faster and faster； drawing Jikiza after him。
Now； when Umslopogaas knew by the breathing of his foe and by the
staggering of his shadow that his strength was spent； suddenly he made
as though he were about to fall himself； and stumbled out of the path
far to the right； and as he stumbled he let drop his great shield full
in the way of Jikiza's feet。 Then it came about that Jikiza； rushing
on blindly； caught his feet in the shield and fell headlong to earth。
Umslopogaas saw； and swooped on him like an eagle to a dove。 Before
men could so much as think； he had seized the axe Groan…Maker；