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them thought one thing and some another。 Then Galazi spoke to them
briefly； telling them that he knew the roads and the caves and the
number of the Halakazi cattle； but still they doubted。 Thereon
Umslopogaas added these words：
〃To…morrow； at the dawn； I； Bulalio； Holder of the Axe； Chief of the
People of the Axe； go up against the Halakazi； with Galazi the Wolf；
my brother。 If but ten men follow us； yet we will go。 Now； choose； you
soldiers！ Let those come who will； and let those who will stop at home
with the women and the little children。〃
Now a great shout rose from every throat。
〃We will go with you； Bulalio； to victory or death！〃
So on the morrow they marched； and there was wailing among the women
of the People of the Axe。 Only Zinita did not wail； but stood by in
wrath； foreboding evil； nor would she bid her lord farewell； yet when
he was gone she wept also。
Now Umslopogaas and his impi travelled fast and far； hungering and
thirsting； till at length they came to the land of the Umswazi； and
after a while entered the territory of the Halakazi by a high and
narrow pass。 The fear of Galazi the Wolf was that they should find
this pass held； for though they had harmed none in the kraals as they
went； and taken only enough cattle to feed themselves； yet he knew
well that messengers had sped by day and night to warn the people of
the Halakazi。 But they found no man in the pass； and on the other side
of it they rested； for the night was far spent。 At dawn Umslopogaas
looked out over the wide plains beyond； and Galazi showed him a long
low hill； two hours' march away。
〃There； my brother；〃 he said； 〃lies the head kraal of the Halakazi；
where I was born； and in that hill is the great cave。〃
Then they went on； and before the sun was high they came to the crest
of a rise； and heard the sound of horns on its farther side。 They
stood upon the rise； and looked； and lo！ yet far off； but running
towards them； was the whole impi of the Halakazi； and it was a great
impi。
〃They have gathered their strength indeed；〃 said Galazi。 〃For every
man of ours there are three of these Swazis！〃
The soldiers saw also； and the courage of some of them sank low。 Then
Umslopogaas spoke to them：
〃Yonder are the Swazi dogs； my children； they are many and we are few。
Yet； shall it be told at home that we； men of the Zulu blood； were
hunted by a pack of Swazi dogs？ Shall our women and children sing THAT
song in our ears； O Soldiers of the Axe？〃
Now some cried 〃Never！〃 but some were silent； so Umslopogaas spoke
again：
〃Turn back all who will： there is yet time。 Turn back all who will；
but ye who are men come forward with me。 Or if ye will； go back all of
you； and leave Axe Groan…Maker and Club Watcher to see this matter out
alone。〃
Now there arose a mighty shout of 〃We will die together who have lived
together！〃
〃Do you swear it？〃 cried Umslopogaas； holding Groan…Maker on high。
〃We swear it by the Axe；〃 they answered。
Then Umslopogaas and Galazi made ready for the battle。 They posted all
the young men in the broken ground above the bottom of the slope； for
these could best be spared to the spear； and Galazi the Wolf took
command of them； but the veterans stayed upon the hillside； and with
them Umslopogaas。
Now the Halakazi came on； and there were four full regiments of them。
The plain was black with them； the air was rent with their shoutings；
and their spears flashed like lightnings。 On the farther side of the
slope they halted and sent a herald forward to demand what the People
of the Axe would have from them。 The Slaughterer answered that they
would have three things： First； the head of their chief； whose place
Galazi should fill henceforth； secondly； that fair maid whom men named
the Lily； thirdly； a thousand head of cattle。 If these demands were
granted； then he would spare them； the Halakazi； if not； he would
stamp them out and take all。
So the herald returned； and when he reached the ranks of the Halakazi
he called aloud his answer。 Then a great roar of laughter went up from
the Halakazi regiments； a roar that shook the earth。 The brow of
Umslopogaas the Slaughterer burned red beneath the black when he heard
it； and he shook Groan…Maker towards their host。
〃Ye shall sing another song before this sun is set；〃 he cried； and
strode along the ranks speaking to this man and that by name； and
lifting up their hearts with great words。
Now the Halakazi raised a shout； and charged to come at the young men
led by Galazi the Wolf； but beyond the foot of the slope was peaty
ground； and they came through it heavily； and as they came Galazi and
the young men fell upon them and slew them； still； they could not hold
them back for long； because of their great numbers； and presently the
battle ranged all along the slope。 But so well did Galazi handle the
young men； and so fiercely did they fight beneath his eye； that before
they could be killed or driven back all the force of the Halakazi was
doing battle with them。 Ay； and twice Galazi charged with such as he
could gather； and twice he checked the Halakazi rush； throwing them
into confusion； till at length company was mixed with company and
regiment with regiment。 But it might not endure； for now more than
half the young men were down； and the rest were being pushed back up
the hill； fighting madly。
But all this while Umslopogaas and the veterans sat in their ranks
upon the brow of the slope and watched。 〃Those Swazi dogs have a fool
for their general；〃 quoth Umslopogaas。 〃He has no men left to fall
back on； and Galazi has broken his array and mixed his regiments as
milk and cream are mixed in a bowl。 They are no longer an impi； they
are a mob。〃
Now the veterans moved restlessly on their haunches； pushing their
legs out and drawing them in again。 They glanced at the fray； they
looked into each other's eyes and spoke a word here； a word there；
〃Well smitten； Galazi！ Wow！ that one is down！ A brave lad！ Ho！ a good
club is the Watcher！ The fight draws near； my brother！〃 And ever as
they spoke their faces grew fiercer and their fingers played with
their spears。
At length a captain called aloud to Umslopogaas：
〃Say； Slaughterer； is it not time to be up and doing？ The grass is wet
to sit on； and our limbs grow cramped。〃
〃Wait awhile；〃 answered Umslopogaas。 〃Let them weary of their play。
Let them weary； I tell you。〃
As he spoke the Halakazi huddled themselves together； and with a rush
drove back Galazi and those who were left of the young men。 Yes； at
last they were forced to flee； and after them came the Swazis； and in
the forefront of the pursuit was their chief； ringed round with a
circle of his bravest。
Umslopogaas saw it and bounded to his feet； roaring like a bull。 〃At
them now； wolves！〃 he shouted。
Then the lines of warriors sprang up as a wave springs； and their
crests were like foam upon the wave。 As a wave that swells to break
they rose suddenly； like a breaking wave they poured down the slope。
In front of them was the Slaughterer； holding Groan…Maker aloft； and
oh！ his feet were swift。 So swift were his feet that； strive as they
would； he outran them