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road no more； for if we cannot pass it none can； but seek food and sit
down here till those jackals bolt； then be ready。 Farewell； my
children！〃
〃Farewell； father；〃 they answered； 〃go warily； lest we be left like
cattle without a herdsman； wandering and desolate。〃
Then Umslopogaas crept into the hole； taking no shield； but holding
Groan…Maker before him； and at his heels crept Galazi。 When he had
covered the length of six spears he stretched out his hand； and； as he
trusted to do； he found the feet of that man who had gone before and
died in the place。 Then Umslopogaas the way did this： he put his head
beneath the dead man's legs and thrust himself onward till all the
body was on his back； and there he held it with one hand； gripping its
two wrists in his hand。 Then he crawled forward a little space and saw
that he was coming to the inner mouth of the burrow； but that the
shadow was deep there because of a great mass of rock which lay before
the burrow shutting out the light。 〃This is well for me；〃 thought
Umslopogaas； 〃for now they will not know the dead from the living。 I
may yet look upon the son again。〃 Now he heard the Halakazi soldiers
talking without。
〃The Zulu rats do not love this run；〃 said one； 〃they fear the rat…
catcher's stick。 This is good sport；〃 and a man laughed。
Then Umslopogaas pushed himself forward as swiftly as he could；
holding the dead man on his back； and suddenly came out of the hole
into the open place in the dark shadow of the great rock。
〃By the Lily；〃 cried a soldier； 〃here's a third！ Take this； Zulu rat！〃
And he struck the dead man heavily with a kerrie。 〃And that！〃 cried
another； driving his spear through him so that it pricked Umslopogaas
beneath。 〃And that！ and this！ and that！〃 said others； as they smote
and stabbed。
Now Umslopogaas groaned heavily in the deep shadow and lay still。 〃No
need to waste more blows；〃 said the man who had struck first。 〃This
one will never go back to Zululand； and I think that few will care to
follow him。 Let us make an end： run； some of you； and find stones to
stop the burrow； for now the sport is done。〃
He turned as he spoke and so did the others； and this was what the
Slaughter sought。 With a swift movement； he freed himself from the
dead man and sprang to his feet。 They heard the sound and turned
again； but as they turned Groan…Maker pecked softly； and that man who
had sworn by the Lily was no more a man。 Then Umslopogaas leaped
forwards； and； bounding on to the great rock； stood there like a buck
against the sky。
〃A Zulu rat is not so easily slain； O ye weasels！〃 he cried； as they
came at him from all sides at once with a roar。 He smote to the right
and the left； and so swiftly that men could scarcely see the blows
fall； for he struck with Groan…Maker's beak。 But though men scarcely
saw the blows； yet； my father； men fell beneath them。 Now foes were
all around； leaping up at the Slaughterer as rushing water leaps to
hide a rockeverywhere shone spears； thrusting at him from this side
and from that。 Those in front and to the side Groan…Maker served to
stay； but one wounded Umslopogaas in the neck； and another was lifted
to pierce his back when the strength of its holder was bowed to the
dustto the dust； to become of the dust。
For now the Wolf was through the hole also； and the Watcher grew very
busy； he was so busy that soon the back of the Slaughterer had nothing
to fearyet those had much to fear who stood behind his back。 The
pair fought bravely； making a great slaughter； and presently； one by
one； plumed heads of the People of the Axe showed through the burrow
and strong arms mingled in the fray。 Swiftly they came； leaping into
battle as otters leap to the waternow there were ten of them； now
there were twentyand now the Halakazi broke and fled； since they did
not bargain for this。 Then the rest of the Men of the Axe came through
in peace； and the evening grew towards the dark before all had passed
the hole。
CHAPTER XXVI
THE FINDING OF NADA
Umslopogaas marshalled his companies。
〃There is little light left；〃 he said； 〃but it must serve us to start
these conies from their burrows。 Come； my brother Galazi； you know
where the conies hide； take my place and lead us。〃
So Galazi led the impi。 Turning a corner of the glen； he came with
them to a large open space that had a fountain in its midst； and this
place was full of thousands of cattle。 Then he turned again to the
left； and brought them to the inner side of the mountain； where the
cliff hung over； and here was the mouth of a great cave。 Now the cave
was dark； but by its door was stacked a pile of resinous wood to serve
as torches。
〃Here is that which will give us light；〃 said Galazi； and one man of
every two took a torch and lit it at a fire that burned near the mouth
of the cave。 Then they rushed in； waving the flaring torches and with
assegais aloft。 Here for the last time the Halakazi stood against
them； and the torches floated up and down upon the wave of war。 But
they did not stand for very long； for all the heart was out of them。
Wow！ yes； many were killedI do not know how many。 I know this only；
that the Halakazi are no more a tribe since Umslopogaas； who is named
Bulalio； stamped them with his feetthey are nothing but a name now。
The People of the Axe drove them out into the open and finished the
fight by starlight among the cattle。
In one corner of the cave Umslopogaas saw a knot of men clustering
round something as though to guard it。 He rushed at the men； and with
him went Galazi and others。 But when Umslopogaas was through； by the
light of his torch he perceived a tall and slender man； who leaned
against the wall of the cave and held a shield before his face。
〃You are a coward！〃 he cried； and smote with Groan…Maker。 The great
axe pierced the hide； but； missing the head behind； rang loudly
against the rock； and as it struck a sweet voice said：
〃Ah！ soldier； do not kill me！ Why are you angry with me？〃
Now the shield had come away from its holder's hands upon the blade of
the axe； and there was something in the notes of the voice that caused
Umslopogaas to smite no more： it was as though a memory of childhood
had come to him in a dream。 His torch was burning low； but he thrust
it forward to look at him who crouched against the rock。 The dress was
the dress of a man； but this was no man's formnay； rather that of a
lovely woman； well…nigh white in colour。 She dropped her hands from
before her face； and now he could see her well。 He saw eyes that shone
like stars； hair that curled and fell upon the shoulders； and such
beauty as was not known among our people。 And as the voice had spoken
to him of something that was lost； so did the eyes seem to shine
across the blackness of many years； and the beauty to bring back he
knew not what。
He looked at the girl in all her loveliness； and she looked at him in
his fierceness and his might； red with war and wounds。 They both
looked long； while the torchlight flared on them； on the walls of the
cave； and the broad blade of Groan…Maker； and from around rose the
sounds of the fray。
〃How are you named； who are so f