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growling as they came; till they formed a deep circle round me。 Yet

they did not spring on me; only drew nearer and ever nearer。 Presently

one sprang; indeed; but not at me; he sprang at that which sat upon my

shoulders。 I moved aside; and he missed his aim; and; coming to the

ground again; stood there growling and whining like a beast afraid。

Then I remembered the words of my dream; if dream it were; how that

the Dead One had given me wisdom that I should be king of the ghost…

wolvesI and another whom a lion should bear to me。 Was it not so? If

it was not so; how came it that the wolves did not devour me?



〃For a moment I stood thinking; then I lifted up my voice and howled

like a wolf; and lo! Umslopogaas; all the wolves howled in answer with

a mighty howling。 I stretched out my hand and called to them。 They ran

to me; gathering round me as though to devour me。 But they did not

harm me; they licked my legs with their red tongues; and fighting to

come near me; pressed themselves against me as does a cat。 One;

indeed; snatched at him who sat on my shoulder; but I struck him with

the Watcher and he slunk back like a whipped hound; moreover; the

others bit him so that he yelled。 Now I knew that I had no more to

fear; for I was king of the ghost…wolves; so I walked on; and with me

came all the great pack of them。 I walked on and on; and they trotted

beside me silently; and the fallen leaves crackled beneath their feet;

and the dust rose up about them; till at length I reached the edge of

the forest。



〃Now I remembered that I must not be seen thus by men; lest they

should think me a wizard and kill me。 Therefore; at the edge of the

forest I halted and made signs to the wolves to go back。 At this they

howled piteously; as though in grief; but I called to them that I

would come again and be their king; and it seemed as though their

brute hearts understood my words。 Then they all went; still howling;

till presently I was alone。



〃And now; Umslopogaas; it is time to sleep; to…morrow night I will end

my tale。〃







CHAPTER XIV



THE WOLF…BRETHREN



Now; my father; on the morrow night; once again Umslopogaas and Galazi

the wolf sat by the fire in the mouth of their cave; as we sit to…

night; my father; and Galazi took up his tale。



〃I passed on till I came to the river; it was still full; but the

water had run down a little; so that my feet found foothold。 I waded

into the river; using the Watcher as a staff; and the stream reached

to my elbows; but no higher。 Now one on the farther bank of the river

saw that which sat upon my shoulders; and saw also the wolf's skin on

my head; and ran to the kraal crying; 'Here comes one who walks the

waters on the back of a wolf。'



〃So it came about that when I drew towards the kraal all the people of

the kraal were gathered together to meet me; except the old woman; who

could not walk so far。 But when they saw me coming up the slope of the

hill; and when they knew what it was that sat upon my shoulders; they

were smitten with fear。 Yet they did not run; because of their great

wonder; only they walked backward before me; clinging each to each and

saying nothing。 I too came on silently; till at length I reached the

kraal; and before its gates sat the old woman basking in the sun of

the afternoon。 Presently she looked up and cried:



〃'What ails you; people of my house; that you walk backwards like men

bewitched; and who is that tall and deathly man who comes toward you?'



〃But still they drew on backward; saying no word; the little children

clinging to the women; the women clinging to the men; till they had

passed the old wife and ranged themselves behind her like a regiment

of soldiers。 Then they halted against the fence of the kraal。 But I

came on to the old woman; and lifted him who sat upon my shoulders;

and placed him on the ground before her; saying; 'Woman; here is your

son; I have snatched him with much toil from the jaws of the ghosts

and they are many up yonderall save one foot; which I could not

find。 Take him now and bury him; for I weary of his fellowship。'



〃She looked upon that which sat before her。 She put out her withered

hand and drew the bandage from his sunken eyes。 Then she screamed

aloud a shrill scream; and; flinging her arms about the neck of the

Dead One; she cried: 'It is my son whom I boremy very son; whom for

twice ten years and half a ten I have not looked upon。 Greeting; my

son; greeting! Now shalt thou find burial; and I with threeay; I

with thee!'



〃And once more she cried aloud; standing upon her feet with arms

outstretched。 Then of a sudden foam burst from her lips; and she fell

forward upon the body of her son; and was dead。



〃Now silence came upon the place again; for all were fearful。 At last

one cried: 'How is this man named who has won the body from the

ghosts?'



〃'I am named Galazi;' I answered。



〃'Nay;' said he。 'The Wolf you are named。 Look at the wolf's red hide

upon his head!'



〃'I am named Galazi; and the Wolf you have named me;' I said again。

'So be it: I am named Galazi the Wolf。'



〃'Methinks he is a wolf;' said he。 'Look; now; at his teeth; how they

grin! This is no man; my brothers; but a wolf。'



〃'No wolf and no man;' said another; 'but a wizard。 None but a wizard

could have passed the forest and won the lap of her who sits in stone

forever。'



〃'Yes; yes! he is a wolfhe is a wizard!' they screamed。 'Kill him!

Kill the wolf…wizard before he brings the ghosts upon us!' And they

ran towards me with uplifted spears。



〃'I am a wolf indeed;' I cried; 'and I am a wizard indeed; and I will

bring wolves and ghosts upon you ere all is done。' And I turned and

fled so swiftly that soon they were left behind me。 Now as I ran I met

a girl; a basket of mealies was on her head; and she bore a dead kid

in her hand。 I rushed at her howling like a wolf; and I snatched the

mealies from her head and the kid from her hand。 Then I fled on; and

coming to the river; I crossed it; and for that night I hid myself in

the rocks beyond; eating the mealies and the flesh of the kid。



〃On the morrow at dawn I rose and shook the dew from the wolf…hide。

Then I went on into the forest and howled like a wolf。 They knew my

voice; the ghost…wolves; and howled in answer from far and near。 Then

I heard the pattering of their feet; and they came round me by tens

and by twenties; and fawned upon me。 I counted their number; they

numbered three hundred and sixty and three。



〃Afterwards; I went on to the cave; and I have lived there in the

cave; Umslopogaas; for nigh upon twelve moons; and I have become a

wolf…man。 For with the wolves I hunt and raven; and they know me; and

what I bid them that they do。 Stay; Umslopogaas; now you are strong

again; and; if your courage does not fail you; you shall see this very

night。 Come now; have you the heart; Umslopogaas?〃



Then Umslopogaas rose and laughed aloud。 〃I am young in years;〃 he

cried; 〃and scarcely come to the full strength of men; yet hitherto I

have not turned my back on lion or witch; on wolf or man。 Now let us

see this impi of yoursthis impi black and grey; that runs on four

legs with fangs for spears!〃



〃You must first bind on the she…wolf's hide; Umslopogaas;〃 quoth

Galazi; 〃else; before a man could count his fingers twice there would

be little enough left of you。 Bind it about the neck and beneath the

arms; and see that the fastenings do not burst; lest it be the worse

for you。〃



So Umslopogaas took the grey wolf's hide and bound it on with thongs

of leather; and its teeth gleamed upon his head; and he took a spear

in his hand。 Galazi also bound on the hide of the king of the wolves;

and they went out on to the space before the cave。 Galazi stood there

awhile; and the moonlight fell upon him; and Umslopogaas saw that his

face grew wild and beastlike; that his eyes shone; and his teeth

grinned beneath his curling lips。 He lifted up his head and howled out

upon the night。 Thrice Galazi lifted his head and thrice he howled

loudly; and yet more loud。 But before ever the echoes had died in the

air; from the heights of the rocks above and the depths of the forest

beneath; there came howlings in answer。 Nearer they grew and nearer;

now there was a sound of feet; and a wolf; great and grey; bounded

towards them; and after him many another。 They came to Galazi; they

sprang upon him; fawning round him; but he beat them down with the

Watcher。 Then of a sudden they saw Umslopogaas; and rushed at him

open…mouthed。



〃Stand and do not move!〃 cried Galazi。 〃Be not afraid!〃



〃I have always fondled dogs;〃 answered Umslopogaas; 〃shall I learn to

fear them now?〃



Yet though he spoke boldly; in his heart he was afraid; for this was

the most terrible of all sights。 The wolves rushed on him open…

mouthed; from before and from behind; so that in a breath he was well…

nigh hi

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