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son； I have snatched him with much toil from the jaws of the ghosts
and they are many up yonderall save one foot； which I could not
find。 Take him now and bury him； for I weary of his fellowship。'
〃She looked upon that which sat before her。 She put out her withered
hand and drew the bandage from his sunken eyes。 Then she screamed
aloud a shrill scream； and； flinging her arms about the neck of the
Dead One； she cried： 'It is my son whom I boremy very son； whom for
twice ten years and half a ten I have not looked upon。 Greeting； my
son； greeting！ Now shalt thou find burial； and I with threeay； I
with thee！'
〃And once more she cried aloud； standing upon her feet with arms
outstretched。 Then of a sudden foam burst from her lips； and she fell
forward upon the body of her son； and was dead。
〃Now silence came upon the place again； for all were fearful。 At last
one cried： 'How is this man named who has won the body from the
ghosts？'
〃'I am named Galazi；' I answered。
〃'Nay；' said he。 'The Wolf you are named。 Look at the wolf's red hide
upon his head！'
〃'I am named Galazi； and the Wolf you have named me；' I said again。
'So be it： I am named Galazi the Wolf。'
〃'Methinks he is a wolf；' said he。 'Look； now； at his teeth； how they
grin！ This is no man； my brothers； but a wolf。'
〃'No wolf and no man；' said another； 'but a wizard。 None but a wizard
could have passed the forest and won the lap of her who sits in stone
forever。'
〃'Yes； yes！ he is a wolfhe is a wizard！' they screamed。 'Kill him！
Kill the wolf…wizard before he brings the ghosts upon us！' And they
ran towards me with uplifted spears。
〃'I am a wolf indeed；' I cried； 'and I am a wizard indeed； and I will
bring wolves and ghosts upon you ere all is done。' And I turned and
fled so swiftly that soon they were left behind me。 Now as I ran I met
a girl； a basket of mealies was on her head； and she bore a dead kid
in her hand。 I rushed at her howling like a wolf； and I snatched the
mealies from her head and the kid from her hand。 Then I fled on； and
coming to the river； I crossed it； and for that night I hid myself in
the rocks beyond； eating the mealies and the flesh of the kid。
〃On the morrow at dawn I rose and shook the dew from the wolf…hide。
Then I went on into the forest and howled like a wolf。 They knew my
voice； the ghost…wolves； and howled in answer from far and near。 Then
I heard the pattering of their feet； and they came round me by tens
and by twenties； and fawned upon me。 I counted their number； they
numbered three hundred and sixty and three。
〃Afterwards； I went on to the cave； and I have lived there in the
cave； Umslopogaas； for nigh upon twelve moons； and I have become a
wolf…man。 For with the wolves I hunt and raven； and they know me； and
what I bid them that they do。 Stay； Umslopogaas； now you are strong
again； and； if your courage does not fail you； you shall see this very
night。 Come now； have you the heart； Umslopogaas？〃
Then Umslopogaas rose and laughed aloud。 〃I am young in years；〃 he
cried； 〃and scarcely come to the full strength of men； yet hitherto I
have not turned my back on lion or witch； on wolf or man。 Now let us
see this impi of yoursthis impi black and grey； that runs on four
legs with fangs for spears！〃
〃You must first bind on the she…wolf's hide； Umslopogaas；〃 quoth
Galazi； 〃else； before a man could count his fingers twice there would
be little enough left of you。 Bind it about the neck and beneath the
arms； and see that the fastenings do not burst； lest it be the worse
for you。〃
So Umslopogaas took the grey wolf's hide and bound it on with thongs
of leather； and its teeth gleamed upon his head； and he took a spear
in his hand。 Galazi also bound on the hide of the king of the wolves；
and they went out on to the space before the cave。 Galazi stood there
awhile； and the moonlight fell upon him； and Umslopogaas saw that his
face grew wild and beastlike； that his eyes shone； and his teeth
grinned beneath his curling lips。 He lifted up his head and howled out
upon the night。 Thrice Galazi lifted his head and thrice he howled
loudly； and yet more loud。 But before ever the echoes had died in the
air； from the heights of the rocks above and the depths of the forest
beneath； there came howlings in answer。 Nearer they grew and nearer；
now there was a sound of feet； and a wolf； great and grey； bounded
towards them； and after him many another。 They came to Galazi； they
sprang upon him； fawning round him； but he beat them down with the
Watcher。 Then of a sudden they saw Umslopogaas； and rushed at him
open…mouthed。
〃Stand and do not move！〃 cried Galazi。 〃Be not afraid！〃
〃I have always fondled dogs；〃 answered Umslopogaas； 〃shall I learn to
fear them now？〃
Yet though he spoke boldly； in his heart he was afraid； for this was
the most terrible of all sights。 The wolves rushed on him open…
mouthed； from before and from behind； so that in a breath he was well…
nigh hidden by their forms。 Yet no fang pierced him； for as they leapt
they smelt the smell of the skin upon him。 Then Umslopogaas saw that
the wolves leapt at him no more； but the she…wolves gathered round him
who wore the she…wolf's skin。 They were great and gaunt and hungry；
all were full…grown； there were no little ones； and their number was
so many that he could not count them in the moonlight。 Umslopogaas；
looking into their red eyes； felt his heart become as the heart of a
wolf； and he； too； lifted up his head and howled； and the she…wolves
howled in answer。
〃The pack is gathered； now for the hunt！〃 cried Galazi。 〃Make your
feet swift； my brother； for we shall journey far to…night。 Ho；
Blackfang！ ho； Greysnout！ Ho； my people black and grey； away！ away！〃
He spoke and bounded forward； and with him went Umslopogaas； and after
him streamed the ghost…wolves。 They fled down the mountain sides；
leaping from boulder to boulder like bucks。 Presently they stood by a
kloof that was thick with trees。 Galazi stopped； holding up the
Watcher； and the wolves stopped with him。
〃I smell a quarry；〃 he cried； 〃in； my people； in！〃
Then the wolves plunged silently into the great kloof； but Galazi and
Umslopogaas drew to the foot of it and waited。 Presently there came a
sound of breaking boughs； and lo！ before them stood a buffalo； a bull
who lowed fiercely and sniffed the air。
〃This one will give us a good chase； my brother； see； he is gaunt and
thin！ Ah！ that meat is tender which my people have hunted to the
death！〃
As Galazi spoke； the first of the wolves drew from the covert and saw
the buffalo； then； giving tongue； they sprang towards it。 The bull saw
also； and dashed down the hill； and after him came Galazi and
Umslopogaas； and with them all their company； and the rocks shook with
the music of their hunting。 They rushed down the mountain side； and it
came into the heart of Umslopogaas； that he； too； was a wolf。 They
rushed madly； yet his feet were swift as the swiftest； no wolf could
outstrip him； and in him was but one desirethe desire of prey。 Now
they neared the borders of the forest； and Galazi shouted。 He shouted
to Greysnout and to Blackfang； to Blood and to Deathgr