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Slayerslo！ it was afire。 Nada shrank back in fear； but Umslopogaas
and Galazi dragged her on。 They rushed at the blazing fence； smiting
with axe and club。 It broke before them； they were through but little
harmed。 Without were a knot of the Slayers； standing back a small
space because of the heat of the flames。 The Slayers saw them； and
crying； 〃This is Bulalio； kill the wizard！〃 sprang towards them with
uplifted spears。 Now the People of the Axe made a ring round Nada； and
in the front of it were Umslopogaas and Galazi。 Then they rushed on
and met those of the Slayers who stood before them； and the men of
Dingaan were swept away and scattered by Groan…Maker and the Watcher；
as dust is swept of a wind； as grass is swept by a sickle。
They were through with only one man slain； but the cry went up that
the chief of the wizards and the Lily； his wife； had fled。 Then； as it
was these whom he was chiefly charged to kill； the captain called off
the impi from watching for the dwellers in the town； and started in
pursuit of Umslopogaas。 Now； at this time nearly a hundred men of the
People of the Axe had been killed and of the Slayers some fifty men；
for； having been awakened by the crying of Galazi； the soldiers of the
axe fought bravely； though none saw where his brother stood； and none
knew whither their chief had fled except those ten who went with the
brethren。
Meanwhile； the Wolf…Brethren and those with them were well away； and
it had been easy for them to escape； who were the swiftest…footed of
any in the land。 But the pace of a regiment is the pace of its
slowest…footed soldier； and Nada could not run with the Wolf…Brethren。
Yet they made good speed； and were halfway down the gorge that led to
the river before the companies of Dingaan poured into it。 Now they
came to the end of it； and the foe was nearthis end of the gorge is
narrow； my father； like the neck of a gourdthen Galazi stopped and
spoke：
〃Halt！ ye People of the Axe；〃 he said； 〃and let us talk awhile with
these who follow till we get our breath again。 But you； my brother；
pass the river with the Lily in your hand。 We will join you in the
forest； but if perchance we cannot find you； you know what must be
done： set the Lily in the cave； then return and call up the grey impi。
Wow！ my brother； I must find you if I may； for if these men of Dingaan
have a mind for sport there shall be such a hunting on the Ghost
Mountain as the old Witch has not seen。 Go now； my brother！〃
〃It is not my way to turn and run while others stand and fight；〃
growled Umslopogaas； 〃yet； because of Nada； it seems that I must。〃
〃Oh！ heed me not； my love；〃 said Nada； 〃I have brought thee sorrowI
am weary； let me die； kill me and save yourselves！〃
For answer； Umslopogaas took her by the hand and fled towards the
river； but before he reached it he heard the sounds of the fray； the
war…cry of the Slayers as they poured upon the People of the Axe； the
howl of his brother； the Wolf； when the battle joineday； and the
crash of the Watcher as the blow went home。
〃Well bitten； Wolf！〃 he said； stopping； 〃that one shall need no more；
oh！ that I might〃but again he looked at Nada； and sped on。
Now they had leaped into the foaming river； and here it was well that
the Lily could swim； else both had been lost。 But they won through and
passed forward to the mountain's flank。 Here they walked on among the
trees till the forest was almost passed； and at length Umslopogaas
heard the howling of a wolf。
Then he must set Nada on his shoulders and carry her as once Galazi
had carried another； for it was death for any except the Wolf…Brethren
to walk on the Ghost Mountain when the wolves were awake。
Presently the wolves flocked around him； and leaped upon him in joy；
glaring with fierce eyes at her who sat upon his shoulders。 Nada saw
them； and almost fell from her seat； fainting with fear； for they were
many and dreadful； and when they howled her blood turned to ice。
But Umslopogaas cheered her； telling her that these were his dogs with
whom he went out hunting； and with whom he should hunt presently。 At
length they came to the knees of the Old Witch and the entrance to the
cave。 It was empty except for a wolf or two； for Galazi abode here
seldom now； but when he was on the mountain would sleep in the forest；
which was nearer the kraal of his brother the Slaughterer。
〃Here you must stay； sweet；〃 said Umslopogaas when he had driven out
the wolves。 〃Here you must rest till this little matter of the Slayers
is finished。 Would that we had brought food； but we had little time to
seek it！ See； now I will show you the secret of the stone； thus far I
will push it； no farther。 Now a touch only is needed to send it over
the socket and home； but then they must be two strong men who can pull
it back again。 Therefore push it no farther except in the utmost need；
lest it remain where it fall； whether you will it or not。 Have no
fear； you are safe here； none know of this place except Galazi； myself
and the wolves； and none shall find it。 Now I must be going to find
Galazi； if he still lives； if not； to make what play I can against the
Slayers； alone with the wolves。〃
Now Nada wept； saying that she feared to be left； and that she should
never see him more； and her grief rung his heart。 Nevertheless；
Umslopogaas kissed her and went； closing the stone after him in that
fashion of which he had spoken。 When the stone was shut the cave was
almost dark； except for a ray of light that entered by a hole little
larger than a man's hand； that； looked at from within； was on the
right of the stone。 Nada sat herself so that this ray struck full on
her； for she loved light； and without it she would pine as flowers do。
There she sat and thought in the darksome cave； and was filled with
fear and sorrow。 And while she brooded thus； suddenly the ray went
out； and she heard a noise as of some beast that smells at prey。 She
looked； and in the gloom she saw the sharp nose and grinning fangs of
a wolf that were thrust towards her through the little hole。
Nada cried aloud in fear； and the fangs were snatched back； but
presently she heard a scratching without the cave； and saw the stone
shake。 Then she thought in her foolishness that the wolf knew how to
open the stone； and that he would do this； and devour her； for she had
heard the tale that all these wolves were the ghosts of evil men；
having the understanding of men。 So； in her fear and folly； she seized
the rock and dragged on it as Umslopogaas had shown her how to do。 It
shook； it slipped over the socket ledge； and rolled home like a pebble
down the mouth of a gourd。
〃Now I am safe from the wolves；〃 said Nada。 〃See； I cannot so much as
stir the stone from within。〃 And she laughed a little； then ceased
from laughing and spoke again。 〃Yet it would be ill if Umslopogaas
came back no more to roll away that rock； for then I should be like
one in a graveas one who is placed in a grave being yet strong and
quick。〃 She shuddered as she thought of it； but presently started up
and set her ear to the hole to listen； for from far down the mountain
there rose a mighty howling and a din of m