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on the mountain。 Here； then； I must bide this night； for； though the
moon shone white and full in the sky； I dared not wend towards the
plains alone with the wolves and the ghosts。 And if I dared not go
alone； how much less should I dare to go bearing with me him who sat
in the cleft of the rock！ Nay； here I must bide； so I went out of the
cave to the spring which flows from the rock on the right yonder and
washed my wounds and drank。 Then I came back and sat in the mouth of
the cave； and watched the light die away from the face of the world。
While it was dying there was silence； but when it was dead the forest
awoke。 A wind sprang up and tossed it till the green of its boughs
waved like troubled water on which the moon shines faintly。 From the
heart of it； too； came howlings of ghosts and wolves； that were
answered by howls from the rocks abovehearken； Umslopogaas； such
howlings as we hear to…night！
〃It was awful here in the mouth of the cave； for I had not yet learned
the secret of the stone； and if I had known it； should I have dared to
close it； leaving myself alone with the dead wolves and him whom the
wolves had struggled to tear down？ I walked out yonder on to the
platform and looked up。 The moon shone full upon the face of the stone
Witch who sits aloft forever。 She seemed to grin at me； and； oh！ I
grew afraid； for now I knew that this was a place of dead men； a place
where spirits perch like vultures in a tree； as they sweep round and
round the world。 I went back to the cave； and feeling that I must do
something lest I should go mad； I drew to me the carcase of the great
dog…wolf which I had killed； and； taking my knife of iron； I began to
skin it by the light of the moon。 For an hour or more I skinned；
singing to myself as I worked； and striving to forget him who sat in
the cleft above and the howlings which ran about the mountains。 But
ever the moonlight shone more clearly into the cave： now by it I could
see his shape of bone and skin； ay； and even the bandage about his
eyes。 Why had he tied it there？ I wonderedperhaps to hide the faces
of the fierce wolves as they sprang upwards to grip him。 And always
the howlings drew nearer； now I could see grey forms creeping to and
fro in the shadows of the rocky place before me。 Ah！ there before me
glared two red eyes： a sharp snout sniffed at the carcase which I
skinned。 With a yell； I lifted the Watcher and smote。 There came a
scream of pain； and something galloped away into the shadows。
〃Now the skin was off。 I cast it behind me； and seizing the carcase
dragged it to the edge of the rock and left it。 Presently the sound of
howlings drew near again； and I saw the grey shapes creep up one by
one。 Now they gathered round the carcase； now they fell upon it and
rent it； fighting horribly till all was finished。 Then； licking their
red chops； they slunk back to the forest。
〃Did I sleep or did I wake？ Nay； I cannot tell。 But I know this； that
of a sudden I seemed to look up and see。 I saw a lightperchance；
Umslopogaas； it was the light of the moon； shining upon him that sat
aloft at the end of the cave。 It was a red light； and he glowed in it
as glows a thing that is rotten。 I looked； or seemed to look； and then
I thought that the hanging jaw moved； and from it came a voice that
was harsh and hollow as of one who speaks from an empty belly； through
a withered throat。
〃'Hail； Galazi； child of Siguyana！' said the voice； 'Galazi the Wolf！
Say； what dost thou here in the Ghost Mountain； where the stone Witch
sits forever； waiting for the world to die？'
〃Then； Umslopogaas； I answered； or seemed to answer； and my voice；
too； sounded strange and hollow：
〃'Hail； Dead One； who sittest like a vulture on a rock！ I do this on
the Ghost Mountain。 I come to seek thy bones and bear them to thy
mother for burial。'
〃'Many and many a year have I sat aloft； Galazi；' answered the voice；
'watching the ghost…wolves leap and leap to drag me down； till the
rock grew smooth beneath the wearing of their feet。 So I sat seven
days and nights； being yet alive； the hungry wolves below； and hunger
gnawing at my heart。 So I have sat many and many a year； being dead in
the heart of the old stone Witch； watching the moon and the sun and
the stars； hearkening to the howls of the ghost…wolves as they ravened
beneath me； and learning the wisdom of the old witch who sits above in
everlasting stone。 Yet my mother was young and fair when I trod the
haunted forest and climbed the knees of stone。 How seems she now；
Galazi？'
〃'She is white and wrinkled and very aged；' I answered。 'They call her
mad； yet at her bidding I came to seek thee； Dead One； bearing the
Watcher that was thy father's and shall be mine。'
〃'It shall be thine； Galazi；' said the voice； 'for thou alone hast
dared the ghosts to me sleep and burial。 Hearken； thine also shall be
the wisdom of the old witch who sits aloft forever； frozen into
everlasting stonethine and one other's。 These are not wolves that
thou hast seen； that is no wolf which thou hast slain； nay； they are
ghostsevil ghosts of men who lived in ages gone； and who must now
live till they be slain by men。 And knowest thou how they lived；
Galazi； and what was the food they ate？ When the light comes again；
Galazi； climb to the breasts of the stone Witch； and look in the cleft
which is between her breasts。 There shalt thou see how these men
lived。 And now this doom is on them： they must wander gaunt and hungry
in the shape of wolves； haunting that Ghost Mountain where they once
fed； till they are led forth to die at the hands of men。 Because of
their devouring hunger they have leapt from year to year； striving to
reach my bones； and he whom thou hast slain was the king of them； and
she at his side was their queen。
〃'Now； Galazi the Wolf； this is the wisdom that I give thee： thou
shalt be king of the ghost…wolves； thou and another； whom a lion shall
bring thee。 Gird the black skin upon thy shoulders； and the wolves
shall follow thee； all the three hundred and sixty and three of them
that are left； and let him who shall be brought to thee gird on the
skin of grey。 Where ye twain lead them； there shall they raven；
bringing you victory till all are dead。 But know this； that there only
may they raven where in life they ravened； seeking for their food。
Yet； that was an ill gift thou tookest from my motherthe gift of the
Watcher； for though without the Watcher thou hadst never slain the
king of the ghost…wolves； yet； bearing the Watcher； thou shalt thyself
be slain。 Now； on the morrow carry me back to my mother； so that I may
sleep where the ghost…wolves leap no more。 I have spoken； Galazi。'
〃Now the Dead One's voice seemed to grow ever fainter and more hollow
as he spoke； till at the last I could scarcely hear his words； yet I
answered him； asking him this：
〃'Who is it； then； that the lion shall bring to me to rule with me
over the ghost…wolves