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men could so much as think； he had seized the axe Groan…Maker； and
with a blow of the steel he held had severed the thong of leather
which bound it to the wrist of Jikiza； and sprung back； holding the
great axe aloft； and casting down his own weapon upon the ground。 Now；
the watchers saw all the cunning of his fight； and those of them who
hated Jikiza shouted aloud。 But others were silent。
Slowly Jikiza gathered himself from the ground； wondering if he were
still alive； and as he rose he grasped the little axe of Umslopogaas；
and； looking at it； he wept。 But Umslopogaas held up the great Groan…
Maker； the iron chieftainess； and examined its curved points of blue
steel； the gouge that stands behind it； and the beauty of its haft；
bound about with wire of brass； and ending in a knob like the knob of
a stick； as a lover looks upon the beauty of his bride。 Then before
all men he kissed the broad blade and cried aloud：
〃Greeting to thee； my Chieftainess； greeting to thee； Wife of my
youth； whom I have won in war。 Never shall we part； thou and I； and
together will we die； thou and I； for I am not minded that others
should handle thee when I am gone。〃
Thus he cried in the hearing of men； then turned to Jikiza； who stood
weeping； because he had lost all。
〃Where now is your pride； O Unconquered？〃 laughed Umslopogaas。 〃Fight
on。 You are as well armed as I was a while ago； when I did not fear to
stand before you。〃
Jikiza looked at him for a moment； then with a curse he hurled the
little axe at him； and； turning； fled swiftly towards the gates of the
cattle kraal。
Umslopogaas stooped； and the little axe sped over him。 Then he stood
for a while watching； and the people thought that he meant to let
Jikiza go。 But that was not his desire； he waited； indeed； until
Jikiza had covered nearly half the space between him and the gate；
then with a roar he leaped forward； as light leaps from a cloud； and
so fast did his feet fly that the watchers could scarce see them move。
Jikiza fled fast also； yet he seemed but as one who stands still。 Now
he reached the gate of the kraal； now there was rush； a light of
downward falling steel； and something swept past him。 Then； behold！
Jikiza fell in the gateway of the cattle kraal； and all saw that he
was dead； smitten to death by that mighty axe Groan…Maker； which he
and his fathers had held for many years。
A great shout went up from the crowd of watchers when they knew that
Jikiza the Unconquered was killed at last； and there were many who
hailed Umslopogaas； naming him Chief and Lord of the People of the
Axe。 But the sons of Jikiza to the number of ten； great men and brave；
rushed on Umslopogaas to kill him。 Umslopogaas ran backwards； lifting
up the Groan…Maker； when certain councillors of the people flung
themselves in between them； crying； 〃Hold！〃
〃Is not this your law； ye councillors；〃 said Umslopogaas； 〃that；
having conquered the chief of the People of the Axe； I myself am
chief？〃
〃That is our law indeed； stranger；〃 answered an aged councillor； 〃but
this also is our law： that now you must do battle； one by one； with
all who come against you。 So it was in my father's time； when the
grandfather of him who now lies dead won the axe； and so it must be
again to…day。〃
〃I have nothing to say against the rule；〃 said Umslopogaas。 〃Now who
is there who will come up against me to do battle for the axe Groan…
Maker and the chieftainship of the People of the Axe？〃
Then all the ten sons of Jikiza stepped forward as one man； for their
hearts were made with wrath because of the death of their father and
because the chieftainship had gone from their race； so that in truth
they cared little if they lived or died。 But there were none besides
these； for all men feared to stand before Umslopogaas and the Groan…
Maker。
Umslopogaas counted them。 〃There are ten； by the head of Chaka！〃 he
cried。 〃Now if I must fight all these one by one； no time will be left
to me this day to talk of the matter of Masilo and of the maid Zinita。
Hearken！ What say you； sons of Jikiza the Conquered？ If I find one
other to stand beside me in the fray； and all of you come on at once
against us twain； ten against two； to slay us or be slain； will that
be to your minds？〃
The brethren consulted together； and held that so they should be in
better case than if they went up one by one。
〃So be it；〃 they said； and the councillors assented。
Now； as he fled round and round； Umslopogaas had seen the face of
Galazi； his brother； in the throng； and knew that he hungered to share
the fight。 So he called aloud that he whom he should choose； and who
would stand back to back with him in the fray； if victory were theirs；
should be the first after him among the People of the Axe； and as he
called； he walked slowly down the line scanning the faces of all； till
he came to where Galazi stood leaning on the Watcher。
〃Here is a great fellow who bears a great club；〃 said Umslopogaas。
〃How are you named； fellow？〃
〃I am named Wolf；〃 answered Galazi。
〃Say； now； Wolf； are you willing to stand back to back with me in this
fray of two against ten？ If victory is ours； you shall be next to me
amongst this people。〃
〃Better I love the wild woods and the mountain's breast than the
kraals of men and the kiss of wives； Axebearer；〃 answered Galazi。
〃Yet； because you have shown yourself a warrior of might； and to taste
again of the joy of battle； I will stand back to back with you；
Axebearer； and see this matter ended。〃
〃A bargain； Wolf！〃 cried Umslopogaas。 And they walked side by sidea
mighty pair！till they came to the centre of the cattle kraal。 All
there looked on them wondering； and it came into the thoughts of some
of them that these were none other than the Wolf…Brethren who dwelt
upon the Ghost Mountain。
〃Now axe Groan…maker and club Watcher are come together； Galazi；〃 said
Umslopogaas as they walked； 〃and I think that few can stand before
them。〃
〃Some shall find it so；〃 answered Galazi。 〃At the least； the fray will
be merry； and what matter how frays end？〃
〃Ah；〃 said Umslopogaas； 〃victory is good； but death ends all and is
best of all。〃
Then they spoke of the fashion in which they would fight； and
Umslopogaas looked curiously at the axe he carried； and at the point
on its hammer； balancing it in his hand。 When he had looked long； the
pair took their stand back to back in the centre of the kraal； and
people saw that Umslopogaas held the axe in a new fashion； its curved
blade being inwards towards his breast； and the hollow point turned
towards the foe。 The ten brethren gathered themselves together；
shaking their assegais； five of them stood before Umslopogaas and five
before Galazi the Wolf。 They were all great men； made fierce with rage
and shame。
〃Now nothing except witchcraft can save these two；〃 said a councillor
to one who stood by him。
〃Yet there is virtue in the axe；〃 answered the other； 〃and for the
club； it seems that I know it： I think it is named Watcher of the
Fords； and woe to those who stand before the Watcher。 I myself have
seen him aloft when I was young； moreover； these are no cravens who
hold the axe a