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

nigh hidden by their forms。 Yet no fang pierced him; for as they leapt

they smelt the smell of the skin upon him。 Then Umslopogaas saw that

the wolves leapt at him no more; but the she…wolves gathered round him

who wore the she…wolf's skin。 They were great and gaunt and hungry;

all were full…grown; there were no little ones; and their number was

so many that he could not count them in the moonlight。 Umslopogaas;

looking into their red eyes; felt his heart become as the heart of a

wolf; and he; too; lifted up his head and howled; and the she…wolves

howled in answer。



〃The pack is gathered; now for the hunt!〃 cried Galazi。 〃Make your

feet swift; my brother; for we shall journey far to…night。 Ho;

Blackfang! ho; Greysnout! Ho; my people black and grey; away! away!〃



He spoke and bounded forward; and with him went Umslopogaas; and after

him streamed the ghost…wolves。 They fled down the mountain sides;

leaping from boulder to boulder like bucks。 Presently they stood by a

kloof that was thick with trees。 Galazi stopped; holding up the

Watcher; and the wolves stopped with him。



〃I smell a quarry;〃 he cried; 〃in; my people; in!〃



Then the wolves plunged silently into the great kloof; but Galazi and

Umslopogaas drew to the foot of it and waited。 Presently there came a

sound of breaking boughs; and lo! before them stood a buffalo; a bull

who lowed fiercely and sniffed the air。



〃This one will give us a good chase; my brother; see; he is gaunt and

thin! Ah! that meat is tender which my people have hunted to the

death!〃



As Galazi spoke; the first of the wolves drew from the covert and saw

the buffalo; then; giving tongue; they sprang towards it。 The bull saw

also; and dashed down the hill; and after him came Galazi and

Umslopogaas; and with them all their company; and the rocks shook with

the music of their hunting。 They rushed down the mountain side; and it

came into the heart of Umslopogaas; that he; too; was a wolf。 They

rushed madly; yet his feet were swift as the swiftest; no wolf could

outstrip him; and in him was but one desirethe desire of prey。 Now

they neared the borders of the forest; and Galazi shouted。 He shouted

to Greysnout and to Blackfang; to Blood and to Deathgrip; and these

four leaped forward from the pack; running so swiftly that their

bellies seemed to touch the ground。 They passed about the bull;

turning him from the forest and setting his head up the slope of the

mountain。 Then the chase wheeled; the bull leaped and bounded up the

mountain side; and on one flank lay Greysnout and Deathgrip and on the

other lay Blood and Blackfang; while behind came the Wolf…Brethren;

and after them the wolves with lolling tongues。 Up the hill they sped;

but the feet of Umslopogaas never wearied; his breath did not fail

him。 Once more they drew near the lap of the Grey Witch where the cave

was。 On rushed the bull; mad with fear。 He ran so swiftly that the

wolves were left behind; since here for a space the ground was level

to his feet。 Galazi looked on Umslopogaas at his side; and grinned。



〃You do not run so ill; my brother; who have been sick of late。 See

now if you can outrun me! Who shall touch the quarry first?〃



Now the bull was ahead by two spear…throws。 Umslopogaas looked and

grinned back at Galazi。 〃Good!〃 he cried; 〃away!〃



They sped forward with a bound; and for awhile it seemed to

Umslopogaas as though they stood side by side; only the bull grew

nearer and nearer。 Then he put out his strength and the swiftness of

his feet; and lo! when he looked again he was alone; and the bull was

very near。 Never were feet so swift as those of Umslopogaas。 Now he

reached the bull as he laboured on。 Umslopogaas placed his hands upon

the back of the bull and leaped; he was on him; he sat him as you

white men sit a horse。 Then he lifted the spear in his hand; and drove

it down between the shoulders to the spine; and of a sudden the great

buffalo staggered; stopped; and fell dead。



Galazi came up。 〃Who now is the swiftest; Galazi?〃 cried Umslopogaas;

〃I; or you; or your wolf host?〃



〃You are the swiftest; Umslopogaas;〃 said Galazi; gasping for his

breath。 〃Never did a man run as you run; nor ever shall again。〃



Now the wolves streamed up; and would have torn the carcase; but

Galazi beat them back; and they rested awhile。 Then Galazi said; 〃Let

us cut meat from the bull with a spear。〃



So they cut meat from the bull; and when they had finished Galazi

motioned to the wolves; and they fell upon the carcase; fighting

furiously。 In a little while nothing was left except the larger bones;

and yet each wolf had but a little。



Then they went back to the cave and slept。



Afterwards Umslopogaas told Galazi all his tale; and Galazi asked him

if he would abide with him and be his brother; and rule with him over

the wolf…kind; or seek his father Mopo at the kraal of Chaka。



Umslopogaas said that it was rather in his mind to seek his sister

Nada; for he was weary of the kraal of Chaka; but he thought of Nada

day and night。



〃Where; then; is Nada; your sister?〃 asked Galazi。



〃She sleeps in the caves of your people; Galazi; she tarries with the

Halakazi。〃



〃Stay awhile; Umslopogaas;〃 cried Galazi; 〃stay till we are men

indeed。 Then we will seek this sister of yours and snatch her from the

caves of the Halakazi。〃



Now the desire of this wolf…life had entered into the heart of

Umslopogaas; and he said that it should be so; and on the morrow they

made them blood…brethren; to be one till death; before all the company

of ghost…wolves; and the wolves howled when they smelt the blood of

men。 In all things thenceforth these two were equal; and the ghost…

wolves hearkened to the voice of both of them。 And on many a moonlight

night they and the wolves hunted together; winning their food。 At

times they crossed the river; hunting in the plains; for game was

scarce on the mountain; and the people of the kraal would come out;

hearing the mighty howling; and watch the pack sweep across the veldt;

and with them a man or men。 Then they would say that the ghosts were

abroad and creep into their huts shivering with fear。 But as yet the

Wolf…Brethren and their pack killed no men; but game only; or; at

times; elephants and lions。



Now when Umslopogaas had abode some moons in the Watch Mountain; on a

night he dreamed of Nada; and awakening soft at heart; bethought

himself that he would learn tidings concerning me; his father; Mopo;

and what had befallen me and her whom he deemed his mother; and Nada;

his sister; and his other brethren。 So he clothed himself; hiding his

nakedness; and; leaving Galazi; descended to that kraal where the old

woman had dwelt; and there gave it out that he was a young man; a

chief's son from a far place; who sought a wife。 The people of the

kraal listened to him; though they held that his look was fierce and

wild; and one asked if this were Galazi the Wolf; Galazi the Wizard。

But another answered that this was not Galazi; for their eyes had seen

him。 Umslopogaas said that he knew nothing of Galazi; and little of

wolves; and lo! while he spoke there came an impi of fifty men and

entered the kraal。 Umslopogaas looked at the leaders of the impi and

knew them for captains of Chaka。 At first he would have spoken to

them; but his Ehlose bade him hold his peace。 So he sat in a corner of

the big hut and listened。 Presently the headman of the kraal; who

trembled with fear; for he believed that the impi had been sent to

destroy him and all that were his; asked the captain what was his

will。



〃A little matter; and a vain;〃 said the captain。 〃We are sent by the

king to search for a certain youth; Umslopogaas; the son of Mopo; the

king's doctor。 Mopo gave it out that the youth was killed by a lion

near these mountains; and Chaka would learn if this is true。〃



〃We know nothing of the youth;〃 said the headman。 〃But what would ye

with him?〃



〃Only this;〃 answered the captain; 〃to kill him。〃



〃That is yet to do;〃 thought Umslopogaas。



〃Who is this Mopo?〃 asked the headman。



〃An evildoer; whose house the king has eaten upman; woman; and

child;〃 answered the captain。







CHAPTER XV



THE DEATH OF THE KING'S SLAYERS



When Umslopogaas heard these words his heart was heavy; and a great

anger burned in his breast; for he thought that I; Mopo; was dead with

the rest of his house; and he loved me。 But he said nothing; only;

watching till none were looking; he slipped past the backs of the

captains and won the door of the hut。 Soon he was clear of the kraal;

and; running swiftly; crossed the river and came to the Ghost

Mountain。 Meanwhile; the captain asked the headman of the kraal if he

knew anything of such a youth as him for whom they sought。 The headman

told the captain of Galazi the Wolf; but the capta

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