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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 and the club。 They are but lads； indeed； yet they have
drunk wolf's milk。〃
Meanwhile； an aged man drew near to speak the word of onset； it was
that same man who had set out the law to Umslopogaas。 He must give the
signal by throwing up a spear； and when it struck the ground； then the
fight would begin。 The old man took the spear and threw it； but his
hand was weak； and he cast so clumsily that it fell among the sons of
Jikiza； who stood before Umslopogaas； causing them to open up to let
it pass between them； and drawing the eyes of all ten of them to it。
but Umslopogaas watched for the touching of the spear only； being
careless where it touched。 As the point of it kissed the earth； he
said a word； and lo！ Umslopogaas and Galazi； not waiting for the
onslaught of the ten； as men had thought they must； sprang forward；
each at the line of foes who were before him。 While the ten still
stood confused； for it had been their plan to attack； the Wolf…
Brethren were upon them。 Groan…Maker was up； but as for no great
stroke。 He did but peck； as a bird pecks with his bill； and yet a man
dropped dead。 The Watcher also was up； but he fell like a falling
tree； and was the death of one。 Through the lines of the ten passed
the Wolf…Brethren in the gaps that each had made。 Then they turned
swiftly and charged towards each other again； again Groan…Maker
pecked； again the Watcher thundered； and lo！ once more Umslopogaas
stood back to back unhurt； but before them lay four men dead。
The onslaught and the return were so swift； that men scarcely
understood what had been done； even those of the sons of Jikiza who
were left stared at each other wondering。 Then they knew that they
were but six； for four of them were dead。 With a shout of rage they
rushed upon the pair from both sides； but in either case one was the
most eager； and outstepped the other two； and thus it came about that
time was given the Wolf…Brethren to strike at him alone； before his
fellows were at his side。 He who came at Umslopogaas drove at him with
his spear； but he was not to be caught this； for he bent his middle
sideways； so that the spear only cut his skin； and as he bent tapped
with the point of the axe at the head of the smiter； dealing death on
him。
〃Yonder Woodpecker has a bill of steel； and he can use it well；〃 said
the councillor to him who stood by him。
〃This is a Slaughterer indeed；〃 the man answered； and the people heard
the names。 Thenceforth they knew Umslopogaas as the Woodpecker； and as
Bulalio； or the Slaughterer； and by no other names。 Now； he who came
at Galazi the Wolf rushed on wildly； holding his spear short。 But
Galazi was cunning in war。 He took one step forward to meet him； then；
swinging the Watcher backward； he let him fall at the full length of
arms and club。 The child of Jikiza lifted his shield to catch the
blow； but the shield was to the Watcher what a leaf is to the wind。
Full on its hide the huge club fell； making a loud sound； the war…
shield doubled up like a raw skin； and he who bore it fell crushed to
the earth。
Now for a moment； the four who were left of the sons of Jikiza hovered
round the pair； feinting at them from afar； but never coming within
reach of axe or club。 One threw a spear indeed； and though Umslopogaas
leaped aside； and as it sped towards him smote the haft in two with
the blade of Groan…Maker； yet its head flew on； wounding Galazi in the
flank。 Then he who had thrown the spear turned to fly； for his hands
were empty； and the others followed swiftly； for the heart was out of
them； and they dared to do battle with these two no more。
Thus the fight was ended； and from its beginning till the finish was
not longer than the time in which men might count a hundred slowly。
〃It seems that none are left for us to kill； Galazi；〃 said
Umslopogaas； laughing aloud。 〃Ah； that was a cunning fight！ Ho！ you
sons of the Unconquered； who run so fast； stay your feet。 I give you
peace； you shall live to sweep my huts and to plough my fields with
the other women of my kraal。 Now； councillors； the fighting is done；
so let us to the chief's hut； where Masilo waits us；〃 and he turned
and went with Galazi； and after him followed all the people； wondering
and in silence。
When he reached the hut Umslopogaas sat himself down in the place
where Jikiza had sat that morning； and the maid Zinita came to him
with a wet cloth and washed the wound that the spear had made。 He
thanked her； then she would have washed Galazi's wound also； and this
was deeper； but Galazi bade her to let him be roughly； as he would
have no woman meddling with his wounds。 For neither then nor at any
other time did Galazi turn to women； but he hated Zinita most of them
all。
Then Umslopogaas spoke to Masilo the Pig； who sat before him with a
frightened face； saying； 〃It seems； O Masilo； that you have sought
this maid Zinita in marriage； and against her will； persecuting her。
Now I had intended to kill you as an offering to her anger； but there
has been enough blood…letting to…day。 Yet you shall have a marriage
gift to this girl； whom I myself will take in marriage： you shall give
a hundred head of cattle。 Then get you gone from among the People of
the Axe； lest a worse thing befall you； Masilo the Pig。〃
So Masilo rose up and went； and his face was green with fear； but he
paid the hundred head of cattle and fled towards the kraal of Chaka。
Zinita watched him go； and she was glad of it； and because the
Slaughterer had named her for his wife。
〃I am well rid of Masilo；〃 she said aloud； in the hearing of Galazi；
〃but I had been better pleased to see him dead before me。〃
〃This woman has a fierce heart；〃 thought Galazi； 〃and she will bring
no good to Umslopogaas； my brother。〃
Now the councillors and the captains of the People of the Axe konzaed
to him whom they named the Slaughterer； doing homage to him as chief
and holder of the axe； and also they did homage to the axe itself。 So
Umslopogaas became chief over this people； and their number was many；
and he grew great and fat in cattle and wives； and none dared to
gainsay him。 From time to time； indeed； a man ventured to stand up
before him in fight； but none could conquer him； and in a little while
no one sought to face Groan…Maker when he lifted himself to peck。
Galazi also was great among the people； but dwelt with them little；
for best he loved the wild woods and the mountain's breast； and often；
as of old； he swept at night across the forest and the plains； and the
howling of the ghost…wolves went with him。
But henceforth Umslopogaas the Slaughterer hunted very rarely with the
wolves at night； he slept at the side of Zinita； and she loved him
much and bore him children。
CHAPTER XVIII
THE CURSE OF BALEKA
Now； my father； my story winds back again as the river bends towards
its source； and I tell of those events which happened at the king's
kraal of Gibamaxegu； which you white people name Gibbeclack； the kraal
that is called 〃Pick…out…the…old…men；〃 for i