the mouth of the cave； 〃then that man need be strong who can draw it
back again； though I have done it myself； who am not a man full grown。
But if it pass beyond this mark； then； see； it will roll down the neck
of the cave like a pebble down the neck of a gourd； and I think that
two men； one striving from within and one dragging from without；
scarcely could avail to push it clear。 Look now； I close the stone； as
is my custom of a night； so；〃and he grasped the rock and swung it
round upon its pivot； on which it turned as a door turns。 〃Thus I
leave it； and though； except those to whom the secret is know； none
would guess that a cave was here； yet it can be rolled back again with
a push of the hand。 But enough of the stone。 Enter again； wanderer；
and I will go forward with my tale； for it is long and strange。
〃I started from the kraal of the old woman； and the people of the
kraal followed me to the brink of the river。 It was in flood； and few
had dared to cross it。
〃'Ha！ ha！' they cried； 'now your journey is done； little man； watch by
the ford you who would win the Watcher of the Ford！ Beat the water
with the club； perhaps so it shall grow gentle that your feet may pass
it！'
〃I answered nothing to their mocking； only I bound the shield upon my
shoulders with a string； and the bag that I had brought I made fast
about my middle； and I held the great club in my teeth by the thong。
Then I plunged into the river and swam。 Twice； stranger； the current
bore me under； and those on the bank shouted that I was lost； but I
rose again； and in the end I won the farther shore。
〃Now those on the bank mocked no more； they stood still wondering； and
I walked on till I came to the foot of the cliff。 That cliff is hard
to climb； stranger； when you are strong upon your feet； I will show
you the path。 Yet I found a way up it； and by midday I came to the
forest。 Here； on the edge of the forest； I rested awhile； and ate a
little food that I had brought with me in the bag； for now I must
gather up my strength to meet the ghosts； if ghosts there were。 Then I
rose and plunged into the forest。 The trees were great that grow
there； stranger； and their leaves are so think that in certain places
the light is as that of night when the moon is young。 Still； I wended
on； often losing my path。 But from time to time between the tops of
the trees I saw the figure of the grey stone woman who sits on the top
of Ghost Mountain； and shaped my course towards her knees。 My heart
beat as I travelled through the forest in dark and loneliness like
that of the night； and ever I looked round searching for the eyes of
the Amatongo。 But I saw no spirits； though at times great spotted
snakes crept from before my feet； and perhaps these were the Amatongo。
At times； also； I caught glimpses of some grey wolf as he slunk from
tree to tree watching me； and always high above my head the wind
sighed in the great boughs with a sound like the sighing of women。
〃Still； I went on； singing to myself as I went； that my heart might
not be faint with fear； and at length； towards the end of the second
hour； the trees grew fewer； the ground sloped upwards； and the light
poured down from the heavens again。 But； stranger； you are weary； and
the night wears on； sleep now； and to…morrow I will end the tale。 Say；
first； how are you named？〃
〃I am named Umslopogaas； son of Mopo；〃 he answered； 〃and my tale shall
be told when yours is done； let us sleep！〃
Now when Galazi heard this name he started and was troubled； but said
nothing。 So they laid them down to sleep； and Galazi wrapped
Umslopogaas with the skins of bucks。
But Galazi the Wolf was so hardy that he lay on the bare ground and
had no covering。 So they slept； and without the door of the cave the
wolves howled； scenting the blood of men。
CHAPTER XIII
GALAZI BECOMES KING OF THE WOLVES
On the morrow Umslopogaas awoke； and knew that strength was growing on
him fast。 Still； all that day he rested in the cave； while Galazi went
out to hunt。 In the evening he returned； bearing a buck upon his
shoulders； and they skinned the buck and ate of it as they sat by the
fire。 And when the sun was down Galazi took up his tale。
〃Now Umslopogaas； son of Mopo； hear！ I had passed the forest； and had
come； as it were； to the legs of the old stone Witch who sits up aloft
there forever waiting for the world to die。 Here the sun shone
merrily； here lizards ran and birds flew to and fro； and though it
grew towards the eveningfor I had wandered long in the forestI was
afraid no more。 So I climbed up the steep rock； where little bushes
grow like hair on the arms of a man； till at last I came to the knees
of the stone Witch； which are the space before the cave。 I lifted by
head over the brink of the rock and looked； and I tell you；
Umslopogaas； my blood ran cold and my heart turned to water； for
there； before the cave； rolled wolves； many and great。 Some slept and
growled in their sleep； some gnawed at the skulls of dead game； some
sat up like dogs and their tongues hung from their grinning jaws。 I
looked； I saw； and beyond I discovered the mouth of the cave； where
the bones of the boy should be。 But I had no wish to come there； being
afraid of the wolves； for now I knew that these were the ghosts who
live upon the mountain。 So I bethought me that I would fly； and turned
to go。 And； Umslopogaas； even as I turned； the great club Watcher of
the Fords swung round and smote me on the back with such a blow as a
man smites upon a coward。 Now whether this was by chance or whether
the Watcher would shame him who bore it； say you； for I do not know。
At the least； shame entered into me。 Should I go back to be mocked by
the people of the kraal and by the old woman？ And if I wished to go；
should I not be killed by the ghosts at night in the forest？ Nay； it
was better to die in the jaws of the wolves； and at once。
〃Thus I thought in my heart； then； tarrying not； lest fear should come
upon me again； I swung up the Watcher； and crying aloud the war…cry of
the Halakazi； I sprang over the brink of the rock and rushed upon the
wolves。 They； too； sprang up and stood howling； with bristling hides
and fiery eyes； and the smell of them came into my nostrils。 Yet when
they saw it was a man that rushed upon them； they were seized with
sudden fear and fled this way and that； leaping by great bounds from
the place of rock； which is the knees of the stone Witch； so that
presently I stood alone in front of the cave。 Now； having conquered
the wolf ghosts and no blow struck； my heart swelled within me； and I
walked to the mouth of the cave proudly； as a cock walks upon a roof；
and looked in through the opening。 As it chanced； the sinking sun
shone at this hour full into the cave； so that all its darkness was
made red with light。 Then； once more； Umslopogaas； I grew afraid
indeed； for I could see the end of the cave。
〃Look now！ There is a hole in the wall of the cave； where the
firelight falls below the shadow of the roof； twice the height of a
man from the floor。 It is a narrow hole and a high； is it not？as
though one had cut it with iron； and a man might sit in it； his legs
hanging towards the floor of the cave。 Ay； Umslopogaas； a man might
sit in it； might he not？ And there a man sat； or that which had been a
man。 There sat the bones of a man； and the black skin had withered on
his bones； holding them together； and making him awful to see。 His
hands were open beside him； he leaned upon them； and in the right hand
was a piece of hide from his moocha。 It was half eaten； Umslopogaas；
he had eaten it before he died。 His eyes also were bound round with a
band of leather； as though to hide something from their gaze； one foot
was gone； one hung over the edge of the niche towards the floor； and
beneath it on the floor； red with rust； lay the blade of a broken
spear。
〃Now come hither； Umslopogaas； place your hand upon the wall of the
cave； just here； it is smooth； is it not？smooth as the stones on
which women grind their corn。 'What made it so smooth？' you ask。 I
will tell you。
〃When I peered through the door of the cave I saw this： on the floor
of the cave lay a she…wolf panting； as though she had galloped many a
mile； she was great and fierce。 Near to her was another wolfhe was a
dogold and black； bigger than any I have seen； a very father of
wolves； and all his head and flanks were streaked with grey。 But this
wolf was on his feet。 As I watched he drew back nearly to the mouth of
the cave； then of a sudden he ran forward and bounded high into the
air towards the withered foot of that which hung from the cleft of the
rock。 His pads struck upon the rock here where it is smooth； and there
for a second he seemed to cling； while his great jaws closed with a
clash but a spear's breadth beneath the dead man's foot。 Then he fell
back with a howl of rage； and drew slowly down the cave。 Again he ran
and leaped； again the great jaws closed； again he fell down howling。
Then the she…wolf rose； and they sprang together； striving to pull
down him who sat above。 But it was all in vain； they could never come
nearer than within a spear's breadth of the dead man's foot。 And now；
Umslopogaas； you know why the rock is smooth and shines。 From month to
month and year to year the wolves had ravened there； seeking to devour
the bones of him who sat above。 Night upon night they had leaped thus
against the wall of the cave； but never might their clashing jaws
close upon his foot。 One foot they had； indeed； but the other they
could not come by。
〃Now as I watched； filled with fear and wonder； the she…wolf； her
tongue lolling from her jaws； made so mighty a bound that she almost
reached the hanging foot； and yet not quite。 She fell back； and then I
saw that the leap was her last for that time； for she had oversprung
herself； and lay there howling； the black blood flowing from her
mouth。 The wolf saw also： he drew near； sniffed at her； then； knowing
that she was hurt； seized her by the throat and worried her。 Now all
the place was filled with groans and choking howls； as the wolves
rolled over and over beneath him who sat above； and in the blood…red
light of the