there rose a mighty howling and a din of men。
When Umslopogaas had shut the cave； he moved swiftly down the
mountain； and with him went certain of the wolves； not all； for he had
not summoned them。 His heart was heavy； for he feared that Galazi was
no more。 Also he was mad with rage； and plotted in himself to destroy
the Slayers of the king； every man of them； but first he must learn
what they would do。 Presently； as he wended； he heard a long； low howl
far away in the forest； then he rejoiced； for he knew the callit was
the call of Galazi； who had escaped the spears of the Slayers。
Swiftly he ran； calling in answer。 He won the place。 There； seated on
a stone； resting himself； was Galazi； and round him surged the numbers
of the Grey People。 Umslopogaas came to him and looked at him； for he
seemed somewhat weary。 There were flesh wounds on his great breast and
arms； the little shield was well…nigh hewn to strips； and the Watcher
showed signs of war。
〃How went it； brother？〃 asked Umslopogaas。
〃Not so ill； but all those who stood with me in the way are dead； and
with them a few of the foe。 I alone am fled like a coward。 They came
on us thrice； but we held them back till the Lily was safe； then； all
our men being down； I ran； Umslopogaas； and swam the torrent； for I
was minded to die here in my own place。〃
Now； though he said little of it； I must tell you； my father； that
Galazi had made a great slaughter there in the neck of the donga。
Afterwards I counted the slain； and they were many； the nine men of
the People of the Axe were hidden in them。
〃Perhaps it shall be the Slayers who die； brother。〃
〃Perhaps； at least； there shall be death for some。 Still it is in my
mind； Slaughterer； that our brotherhood draws to an end； for the fate
of him who bears the Watcher； and which my father foretold； is upon
me。 If so； farewell。 While it lasted our friendship has been good； and
its ending shall be good。 Moreover； it would have endured for many a
year to come had you not sought； Slaughterer； to make good better； and
to complete our joy of fellowship and war with the love of women。 From
that source flow these ills； as a river from a spring； but so it was
fated。 If I fall in this fray may you yet live on to fight in many
another； and at the last to die gloriously with axe aloft； and may you
find a brisker man and a better Watcher to serve you in your need。
Should you fall and I live on； I promise this： I will avenge you to
the last and guard the Lily whom you love； offering her comfort； but
no more。 Now the foe draws on； they have travelled round about by the
ford； for they dared not face the torrent； and they cried to me that
they are sworn to slay us or be slain； as Dingaan； the king；
commanded。 So the fighting will be of the best； if； indeed； they do
not run before the fangs of the Grey People。 Now； Chief； speak your
word that I may obey it。〃
Thus Galazi spoke in the circle of the wolves； while Umslopogaas
leaned upon his Axe Groan…Maker； and listened to him； ay； and wept as
he listened； for after the Lily and me； Mopo； he loved Galazi most
dearly of all who lived。 Then he answered：
〃Were it not for one in the cave above； who is helpless and tender； I
would swear to you； Wolf； that if you fall； on your carcase I will
die； and I do swear that； should you fall； while I live Groan…Maker
shall be busy from year to year till every man of yonder impi is as
you are。 Perchance I did ill； Galazi； when first I hearkened to the
words of Zinita and suffered women to come between us。 May we one day
find a land where there are no women； and war only； for in that land
we shall grow great。 But now； at the least； we will make a good end to
this fellowship； and the Grey People shall fight their fill； and the
old Witch who sits aloft waiting for the world to die shall smile to
see that fight； if she never smiled before。 This is my word： that we
fall upon the men of Dingaan twice； once in the glade of the forest
whither they will come presently； and； if we are beaten back； then we
must stand for the last time on the knees of the Witch in front of the
cave where Nada is。 Say； Wolf； will the Grey Folk fight？〃
〃To the last； brother； so long as one is left to lead them； after that
I do not know！ Still they have only fangs to set against spears。
Slaughterer； your plan is good。 Come； I am rested。〃
So they rose and numbered their flock； and all were there； though it
was not as it had been years ago when first the Wolf…Brethren hunted
on Ghost Mountain； for many of the wolves had died by men's spears
when they harried the kraals of men； and no young were born to them。
Then； as once before； the pack was halved； and half； the she…wolves；
went with Umslopogaas； and half； the dog…wolves； went with Galazi。
Now they passed down the forest paths and hid in the tangle of the
thickets at the head of the darksome glen； one on each side of the
glen。 Here they waited till they heard the footfall of the impi of the
king's Slayers； as it came slowly along seeking them。 In front of the
impi went two soldiers watching for an ambush； and these two men were
the same who had talked together that dawn when Galazi sprang between
them。 Now also they spoke as they peered this way and that； then；
seeing nothing； stood awhile in the mouth of the glen waiting the
coming of their company； and their words came to the ears of
Umslopogaas。
〃An awful place this； my brother；〃 said one。 〃A place full of ghosts
and strange sounds； of hands that seem to press us back； and whinings
as of invisible wolves。 It is named Ghost Mountain； and well named。
Would that the king had found other business for us than the slaying
of these sorcerersfor they are sorcerers indeed； and this is the
home of their sorceries。 Tell me； brother； what was that which leaped
between us this morning in the dark！ I say it was a wizard。 Wow！ they
are all wizards。 Could any who was but a man have done the deeds which
he who is named the Wolf wrought down by the river yonder； and then
have escaped？ Had the Axe but stayed with the Club they would have
eaten up our impi。〃
〃The Axe had a woman to watch；〃 laughed the other。 〃Yes； it is true
this is a place of wizards and evil things。 Methinks I see the red
eyes of the Esedowana glaring at us through the dark of the trees and
smell their smell。 Yet these wizards must be caught； for know this； my
brother： if we return to Umgugundhlovu with the king's command undone；
then there are stakes hardening in the fire of which we shall taste
the point。 If we are all killed in the catching； and some； it seems；
are missing already； yet they must be caught。 Say； my brother； shall
we draw on？ The impi is nigh。 Would that Faku； our captain yonder；
might find two others to take our place； for in this thicket I had
rather run last than first。 Well； here leads the spoora wondrous
mass of wolf…spoor mixed with the footprints of men； perhaps they are
sometimes the one and sometimes the otherwho knows； my brother？ It
is a land of ghosts and wizards。 Let us on！ Let us on！〃
Now all this while the Wolf…Brethren had much ado to keep their people
quiet； for their mouths watered and their eyes shone at the sight of
the men； and at length it could be done no more； for with a howl a
single she…wolf rushed from her laid and leapt at the throat of the
man who spoke； nor did she miss her grip。 Down went wolf and man；
rolling together on the ground； and there they killed each other。
〃The Esedowana！ the Esedowana are upon us！〃 cried the other scout；
and； turning； fled towards the impi。 But he never reached it； for with
fearful howlings the ghost…wolves broke their cover and rushed on him
from the right and the left； and lo！ there was nothing of him left
except his spear alone。
Now a low cry of fear rose from the impi； and some turned to fly； but
Faku； the captain； a great and brave man； shouted to them； 〃Stand
firm； children of the king； stand firm； these are no Esedowana； these
are but the Wolf…Brethren and their pack。 What！ will ye run from dogs；
ye who have laughed at the spears of men？ Ring round！ Stand fast！〃
The soldiers heard the voice of their captain； and they obeyed his
voice； forming a double circle； a ring within a ring。 They looked to
the right； there； Groan…Maker aloft； the wolf fangs on his brow； the
worn wolf…hide streaming on the wind； Bulalio rushed upon them like a
storm； and with him came his red…eyed company。 They looked to the left
ah； well they know that mighty Watcher！ Have they not heard his
strokes down by the river； and well they know the giant who wields it
like a wand； the Wolf King； with the strength of ten！ Wow！ They are
here！ See the people black and grey； hear them howl their war…chant！
Look how they leap like waterleap in a foam of fangs against the
hedge of spears！ The circle is broken； Groan…Maker has broken it！ Ha！
Galazi also is through the double ring； now must men stand back to
back or perish！
How long did it last？ Who can say？ Time flies fast when blows fall
thick。 At length the brethren are beaten back； they break out as they
broke in； and are gone； with such of their wolf…folk as were left
alive。 Yet that impi was somewhat the worse； but one…third of those
lived who looked on the sun without the forest； the rest lay smitten；
torn； mangled； dead； hidden under the heaps of bodies of wild beasts。
〃Now this is a battle of evil spirits that live in the shapes of
wolves； and as for the Wolf…Brethren； they are sorcerers of the
rarest；〃 said Faku the captain； 〃and such sorcerers I love； for they
fight furiously。 Yet I will slay them or be slain。 At the least； if
there be few of us left； the most of the wolves are dead also； and the
arms of the wizards grow weary。〃
So he moved forward up the mountain with those of the soldiers who
remained； and all the way the wolves harried them； pulling down a man
here and a man there； but though they heard and saw them cheering on
their pack the Wolf…Brethren attacked them no more； for they saved
their strength for the last fight of all。
The road was long up the mountain； and the soldiers knew little of the
path； and ever the ghost…wolves harried on their flanks。 So it was