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moment also the soldiers looked on each other in doubt; for the fire

raged furiously; and spouts of flame shot high toward the heaven; and

above it and about it the hot air danced。 But their captain called to

them loudly: 〃Great is the king! Hear the words of the king; who

honours you! Yesterday we ate up the Amaboonait was nothing; they

were unarmed。 There is a foe more worthy of our valour。 Come; my

children; let us wash in the firewe who are fiercer than the fire!

Great is the king who honours us!〃



Thus he spoke and ran forward; and; with a roar; after him sprang the

soldiers; rank by rank。 They were brave men indeed; moreover; they

knew that if death lay before them death also awaited him who lagged

behind; and it is far better to die with honour than ashamed。 On they

went; as to the joy of battle; their captain leading them; and as they

went they sang the Ingomo; the war…chant of the Zulu。 Now the captain

neared the raging fire; we saw him lift his shield to keep off its

heat。 Then he was gonehe had sprung into the heart of the furnace;

and but little of him was ever found again。 After him went the first

company。 In they went; beating at the flames with their ox…hide

shields; stamping them out with their naked feet; tearing down the

burning logs and casting them aside。 Not one man of that company

lived; my father; they fell down like moths which flutter through a

candle; and where they fell they perished。 But after them came other

companies; and it was well for those in this fight who were last to

grapple with the foe。 Now a great smoke was mixed with the flame; now

the flame grew less and less; and the smoke more and more; and now

blackened men; hairless; naked; and blistered; white with the

scorching of the fire; staggered out on the farther side of the

flames; falling to earth here and there。 After them came others; now

there was no flame; only a great smoke in which men moved dimly; and

presently; my father; it was done: they had conquered the fire; and

that with but very little hurt to the last seven companies; though

every man had trodden it。 How many perished?nay; I know not; they

were never counted; but what between the dead and the injured that

regiment was at half strength till the king drafted more men into it。



〃See; Doctor of Prayers;〃 said Dingaan; with a laugh; 〃thus shall I

escape the fires of that land of which thou tellest; if such there be

indeed: I will bid my impis stamp them out。〃



Then the praying man went from the kraal saying that he would teach no

more among the Zulus; and afterwards he left the land。 When he had

gone the burnt wood and the dead were cleared away; the injured were

doctored or killed according to their hurts; and those who had little

harm came before the king and praised him。



〃New shields and headresses must be found for you; my children;〃 said

Dingaan; for the shields were black and shrivelled; and of heads of

hair and plumes there were but few left among that regiment。



〃Wow!〃 said Dingaan again; looking at the soldiers who still lived:

〃shaving will be easy and cheap in that place of fire of which the

white man speaks。〃



Then he ordered bear to be brought to the men; for the heat had made

them thirsty。



Now though you may not guess it; my father; I have told you this tale

because it has something to do with my story; for scarcely had the

matter been ended when messengers came; saying that Bulalio; chief of

the People of the Axe; and his impi were without; having returned with

much spoil from the slaying of the Halakazi in Swaziland。 Now when I

heard this my heart leapt for joy; seeing that I had feared greatly

for the fate of Umslopogaas; my fosterling。 Dingaan also was very

glad; and; springing up; danced to and fro like a child。



〃Now at last we have good tidings;〃 he said; at once forgetting the

stamping of the fire; 〃and now shall my eyes behold that Lily whom my

hand has longed to pluck。 Let Bulalio and his people enter swiftly。〃



For awhile there was silence; then from far away; without the high

fence of the great place; there came a sound of singing; and through

the gates of the kraal rushed two great men; wearing black plumes upon

their heads; having black shields in their left hands; and in their

right; one an axe and one a club; while about their shoulders were

bound wolf…skins。 They ran low; neck and neck; with outstretched

shields and heads held forward; as a buck runs when he is hard pressed

by dogs; and no such running had been seen in the kraal Umgugundhlovu

as the running of the Wolf…Brethren。 Half across the space they ran;

and halted suddenly; and; as they halted; the dead ashes of the fire

flew up before their feet in a little cloud。



〃By my head! look; these come armed before me!〃 said Dingaan;

frowning; 〃and to do this is death。 Now say who is that man; great and

fierce; who bears an axe aloft? Did I not know him dead I should say

it was the Black One; my brother; as he was in the days of the smiting

of Zwide: so was his head set on his shoulders and so he was wont to

look round; like a lion。〃



〃I think that is Bulalio the Slaughterer; chief of the People of the

Axe; O King;〃 I answered。



〃And who is the other with him? He is a great man also。 Never have I

seen such a pair!〃



〃I think that is Galazi the Wolf; he who is blood…brother to the

Slaughterer; and his general;〃 I said again。



Now after these two came the soldiers of the People of the Axe; armed

with short sticks alone。 Four by four they came; all holding their

heads low; and with black shields outstretched; and formed themselves

into companies behind the Wolf…Brethren; till all were there。 Then;

after them; the crowd of the Halakazi slaves were driven in;women;

boys; and maids; a great numberand they stood behind the ranks

huddled together like frightened calves。



〃A gallant sight; truly!〃 said Dingaan; as he looked upon the

companies of black…plumed and shielded warriors。 〃I have no better

soldiers in my impis; and yet my eyes behold these for the first

time;〃 and again he frowned。



Now suddenly Umslopogaas lifted his axe and started forward at full

speed; and after him thundered the companies。 On they rushed; and

their plumes lay back upon the wind; till it seemed as though they

must stamp us flat。 But when he was within ten paces of the king

Umslopogaas lifted Groan…Maker again; and Galazi held the Watcher on

high; and every man halted where he was; while once more the dust flew

up in clouds。 They halted in long; unbroken lines; with outstretched

shields and heads held low; no man's head rose more than the length of

a dance kerrie from the earth。 So they stood one minute; then; for the

third time; Umslopogaas lifted Groan…Maker; and in an instant every

man straightened himself; each shield was tossed on high; and from

every throat was roared the royal salute; 〃Bayete!〃



〃A pretty sight forsooth;〃 quoth Dingaan; 〃but these soldiers are too

well drilled who have never done me service nor the Black One who was

before me; and this Slaughterer is too good a captain; I say。 Come

hither; ye twain!〃 he cried aloud。



Then the Wolf…Brethren strode forward and stood before the king; and

for awhile they looked upon each other。







CHAPTER XXVIII



THE LILY IS BROUGHT TO DINGAAN



〃How are you named?〃 said Dingaan。



〃We are named Bulalio the Slaughterer and Galazi the Wolf; O King;〃

answered Umslopogaas。



〃Was it thou who didst send a certain message to the Black One who is

dead; Bulalio?〃



〃Yea; O King; I sent a message; but from all I have heard; Masilo; my

messenger; gave more than the message; for he stabbed the Black One。

Masilo had an evil heart。〃



Now Dingaan winced; for he knew well that he himself and one Mopo had

stabbed the Black One; but he thought that this outland chief had not

heard the tale; so he said no more of the message。



〃How is it that ye dare to come before me armed? Know ye not the rule

that he who appears armed before the king dies?〃



〃We have not heard that law; O King;〃 said Umslopogaas。 〃Moreover;

there is this to be told: my virtue of the axe I bear I rule alone。 If

I am seen without the axe; then any man may take my place who can; for

the axe is chieftainess of the People of the Axe; and he who holds it

is its servant。〃



〃A strange custom;〃 said Dingaan; 〃but let it pass。 And thou; Wolf;

what hast thou to say of that great club of thine?〃



〃There is this to be told of the club; O King;〃 answered Galazi: 〃by

virtue of the club I guard my life。 If I am seen without the club;

then may any man take my life who can; for the club is my Watcher; not

I Watcher of the club。〃



〃Never wast thou nearer to the losing of both club and life;〃 said

Dingaan; angrily。



〃It may be so; O King;〃 answered the Wolf。 〃When the hour is; then;

without a doubt; the Watcher shall cease from his watchi

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