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Then they spoke of the fashion in which they would fight; and

Umslopogaas looked curiously at the axe he carried; and at the point

on its hammer; balancing it in his hand。 When he had looked long; the

pair took their stand back to back in the centre of the kraal; and

people saw that Umslopogaas held the axe in a new fashion; its curved

blade being inwards towards his breast; and the hollow point turned

towards the foe。 The ten brethren gathered themselves together;

shaking their assegais; five of them stood before Umslopogaas and five

before Galazi the Wolf。 They were all great men; made fierce with rage

and shame。



〃Now nothing except witchcraft can save these two;〃 said a councillor

to one who stood by him。



〃Yet there is virtue in the axe;〃 answered the other; 〃and for the

club; it seems that I know it: I think it is named Watcher of the

Fords; and woe to those who stand before the Watcher。 I myself have

seen him aloft when I was young; moreover; these are no cravens who

hold the axe and the club。 They are but lads; indeed; yet they have

drunk wolf's milk。〃



Meanwhile; an aged man drew near to speak the word of onset; it was

that same man who had set out the law to Umslopogaas。 He must give the

signal by throwing up a spear; and when it struck the ground; then the

fight would begin。 The old man took the spear and threw it; but his

hand was weak; and he cast so clumsily that it fell among the sons of

Jikiza; who stood before Umslopogaas; causing them to open up to let

it pass between them; and drawing the eyes of all ten of them to it。

but Umslopogaas watched for the touching of the spear only; being

careless where it touched。 As the point of it kissed the earth; he

said a word; and lo! Umslopogaas and Galazi; not waiting for the

onslaught of the ten; as men had thought they must; sprang forward;

each at the line of foes who were before him。 While the ten still

stood confused; for it had been their plan to attack; the Wolf…

Brethren were upon them。 Groan…Maker was up; but as for no great

stroke。 He did but peck; as a bird pecks with his bill; and yet a man

dropped dead。 The Watcher also was up; but he fell like a falling

tree; and was the death of one。 Through the lines of the ten passed

the Wolf…Brethren in the gaps that each had made。 Then they turned

swiftly and charged towards each other again; again Groan…Maker

pecked; again the Watcher thundered; and lo! once more Umslopogaas

stood back to back unhurt; but before them lay four men dead。



The onslaught and the return were so swift; that men scarcely

understood what had been done; even those of the sons of Jikiza who

were left stared at each other wondering。 Then they knew that they

were but six; for four of them were dead。 With a shout of rage they

rushed upon the pair from both sides; but in either case one was the

most eager; and outstepped the other two; and thus it came about that

time was given the Wolf…Brethren to strike at him alone; before his

fellows were at his side。 He who came at Umslopogaas drove at him with

his spear; but he was not to be caught this; for he bent his middle

sideways; so that the spear only cut his skin; and as he bent tapped

with the point of the axe at the head of the smiter; dealing death on

him。



〃Yonder Woodpecker has a bill of steel; and he can use it well;〃 said

the councillor to him who stood by him。



〃This is a Slaughterer indeed;〃 the man answered; and the people heard

the names。 Thenceforth they knew Umslopogaas as the Woodpecker; and as

Bulalio; or the Slaughterer; and by no other names。 Now; he who came

at Galazi the Wolf rushed on wildly; holding his spear short。 But

Galazi was cunning in war。 He took one step forward to meet him; then;

swinging the Watcher backward; he let him fall at the full length of

arms and club。 The child of Jikiza lifted his shield to catch the

blow; but the shield was to the Watcher what a leaf is to the wind。

Full on its hide the huge club fell; making a loud sound; the war…

shield doubled up like a raw skin; and he who bore it fell crushed to

the earth。



Now for a moment; the four who were left of the sons of Jikiza hovered

round the pair; feinting at them from afar; but never coming within

reach of axe or club。 One threw a spear indeed; and though Umslopogaas

leaped aside; and as it sped towards him smote the haft in two with

the blade of Groan…Maker; yet its head flew on; wounding Galazi in the

flank。 Then he who had thrown the spear turned to fly; for his hands

were empty; and the others followed swiftly; for the heart was out of

them; and they dared to do battle with these two no more。



Thus the fight was ended; and from its beginning till the finish was

not longer than the time in which men might count a hundred slowly。



〃It seems that none are left for us to kill; Galazi;〃 said

Umslopogaas; laughing aloud。 〃Ah; that was a cunning fight! Ho! you

sons of the Unconquered; who run so fast; stay your feet。 I give you

peace; you shall live to sweep my huts and to plough my fields with

the other women of my kraal。 Now; councillors; the fighting is done;

so let us to the chief's hut; where Masilo waits us;〃 and he turned

and went with Galazi; and after him followed all the people; wondering

and in silence。



When he reached the hut Umslopogaas sat himself down in the place

where Jikiza had sat that morning; and the maid Zinita came to him

with a wet cloth and washed the wound that the spear had made。 He

thanked her; then she would have washed Galazi's wound also; and this

was deeper; but Galazi bade her to let him be roughly; as he would

have no woman meddling with his wounds。 For neither then nor at any

other time did Galazi turn to women; but he hated Zinita most of them

all。



Then Umslopogaas spoke to Masilo the Pig; who sat before him with a

frightened face; saying; 〃It seems; O Masilo; that you have sought

this maid Zinita in marriage; and against her will; persecuting her。

Now I had intended to kill you as an offering to her anger; but there

has been enough blood…letting to…day。 Yet you shall have a marriage

gift to this girl; whom I myself will take in marriage: you shall give

a hundred head of cattle。 Then get you gone from among the People of

the Axe; lest a worse thing befall you; Masilo the Pig。〃



So Masilo rose up and went; and his face was green with fear; but he

paid the hundred head of cattle and fled towards the kraal of Chaka。

Zinita watched him go; and she was glad of it; and because the

Slaughterer had named her for his wife。



〃I am well rid of Masilo;〃 she said aloud; in the hearing of Galazi;

〃but I had been better pleased to see him dead before me。〃



〃This woman has a fierce heart;〃 thought Galazi; 〃and she will bring

no good to Umslopogaas; my brother。〃



Now the councillors and the captains of the People of the Axe konzaed

to him whom they named the Slaughterer; doing homage to him as chief

and holder of the axe; and also they did homage to the axe itself。 So

Umslopogaas became chief over this people; and their number was many;

and he grew great and fat in cattle and wives; and none dared to

gainsay him。 From time to time; indeed; a man ventured to stand up

before him in fight; but none could conquer him; and in a little while

no one sought to face Groan…Maker when he lifted himself to peck。



Galazi also was great among the people; but dwelt with them little;

for best he loved the wild woods and the mountain's breast; and often;

as of old; he swept at night across the forest and the plains; and the

howling of the ghost…wolves went with him。



But henceforth Umslopogaas the Slaughterer hunted very rarely with the

wolves at night; he slept at the side of Zinita; and she loved him

much and bore him children。







CHAPTER XVIII



THE CURSE OF BALEKA



Now; my father; my story winds back again as the river bends towards

its source; and I tell of those events which happened at the king's

kraal of Gibamaxegu; which you white people name Gibbeclack; the kraal

that is called 〃Pick…out…the…old…men;〃 for it was there that Chaka

murdered all the aged who were unfit for war。



After I; Mopo; had stood before the king; and he had given me new

wives and fat cattle and a kraal to dwell in; the bones of Unandi; the

Great Mother Elephant; Mother of the Heavens; were gathered together

from the ashes of my huts; and because all could not be found; some of

the bones of my wives were collected also to make up the number。 But

Chaka never knew this。 When all were brought together; a great pit was

dug and the bones were set out in order in the pit and buried; but not

alone; for round them were placed twelve maidens of the servants of

Unandi; and these maidens were covered over with the earth; and left

to die in the pit by the bones of Unandi; their mistress。 Moreover;

all those who were present at the burial were made into a regiment and

comma

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