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nada the lily-第65节

小说: nada the lily 字数: 每页4000字

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narrow; my father; like the neck of a gourdthen Galazi stopped and

spoke:



〃Halt! ye People of the Axe;〃 he said; 〃and let us talk awhile with

these who follow till we get our breath again。 But you; my brother;

pass the river with the Lily in your hand。 We will join you in the

forest; but if perchance we cannot find you; you know what must be

done: set the Lily in the cave; then return and call up the grey impi。

Wow! my brother; I must find you if I may; for if these men of Dingaan

have a mind for sport there shall be such a hunting on the Ghost

Mountain as the old Witch has not seen。 Go now; my brother!〃



〃It is not my way to turn and run while others stand and fight;〃

growled Umslopogaas; 〃yet; because of Nada; it seems that I must。〃



〃Oh! heed me not; my love;〃 said Nada; 〃I have brought thee sorrowI

am weary; let me die; kill me and save yourselves!〃



For answer; Umslopogaas took her by the hand and fled towards the

river; but before he reached it he heard the sounds of the fray; the

war…cry of the Slayers as they poured upon the People of the Axe; the

howl of his brother; the Wolf; when the battle joineday; and the

crash of the Watcher as the blow went home。



〃Well bitten; Wolf!〃 he said; stopping; 〃that one shall need no more;

oh! that I might〃but again he looked at Nada; and sped on。



Now they had leaped into the foaming river; and here it was well that

the Lily could swim; else both had been lost。 But they won through and

passed forward to the mountain's flank。 Here they walked on among the

trees till the forest was almost passed; and at length Umslopogaas

heard the howling of a wolf。



Then he must set Nada on his shoulders and carry her as once Galazi

had carried another; for it was death for any except the Wolf…Brethren

to walk on the Ghost Mountain when the wolves were awake。



Presently the wolves flocked around him; and leaped upon him in joy;

glaring with fierce eyes at her who sat upon his shoulders。 Nada saw

them; and almost fell from her seat; fainting with fear; for they were

many and dreadful; and when they howled her blood turned to ice。



But Umslopogaas cheered her; telling her that these were his dogs with

whom he went out hunting; and with whom he should hunt presently。 At

length they came to the knees of the Old Witch and the entrance to the

cave。 It was empty except for a wolf or two; for Galazi abode here

seldom now; but when he was on the mountain would sleep in the forest;

which was nearer the kraal of his brother the Slaughterer。



〃Here you must stay; sweet;〃 said Umslopogaas when he had driven out

the wolves。 〃Here you must rest till this little matter of the Slayers

is finished。 Would that we had brought food; but we had little time to

seek it! See; now I will show you the secret of the stone; thus far I

will push it; no farther。 Now a touch only is needed to send it over

the socket and home; but then they must be two strong men who can pull

it back again。 Therefore push it no farther except in the utmost need;

lest it remain where it fall; whether you will it or not。 Have no

fear; you are safe here; none know of this place except Galazi; myself

and the wolves; and none shall find it。 Now I must be going to find

Galazi; if he still lives; if not; to make what play I can against the

Slayers; alone with the wolves。〃



Now Nada wept; saying that she feared to be left; and that she should

never see him more; and her grief rung his heart。 Nevertheless;

Umslopogaas kissed her and went; closing the stone after him in that

fashion of which he had spoken。 When the stone was shut the cave was

almost dark; except for a ray of light that entered by a hole little

larger than a man's hand; that; looked at from within; was on the

right of the stone。 Nada sat herself so that this ray struck full on

her; for she loved light; and without it she would pine as flowers do。

There she sat and thought in the darksome cave; and was filled with

fear and sorrow。 And while she brooded thus; suddenly the ray went

out; and she heard a noise as of some beast that smells at prey。 She

looked; and in the gloom she saw the sharp nose and grinning fangs of

a wolf that were thrust towards her through the little hole。



Nada cried aloud in fear; and the fangs were snatched back; but

presently she heard a scratching without the cave; and saw the stone

shake。 Then she thought in her foolishness that the wolf knew how to

open the stone; and that he would do this; and devour her; for she had

heard the tale that all these wolves were the ghosts of evil men;

having the understanding of men。 So; in her fear and folly; she seized

the rock and dragged on it as Umslopogaas had shown her how to do。 It

shook; it slipped over the socket ledge; and rolled home like a pebble

down the mouth of a gourd。



〃Now I am safe from the wolves;〃 said Nada。 〃See; I cannot so much as

stir the stone from within。〃 And she laughed a little; then ceased

from laughing and spoke again。 〃Yet it would be ill if Umslopogaas

came back no more to roll away that rock; for then I should be like

one in a graveas one who is placed in a grave being yet strong and

quick。〃 She shuddered as she thought of it; but presently started up

and set her ear to the hole to listen; for from far down the mountain

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;

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