按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
answered him； asking him this：
〃'Who is it； then； that the lion shall bring to me to rule with me
over the ghost…wolves； and how is he named？'
〃Then the Dead One spoke once more very faintly； yet in the silence of
the place I heard his words：
〃'He is named Umslopogaas the Slaughterer； son of Chaka； Lion of the
Zulu。〃
Now Umslopogaas started up from his place by the fire。
〃I am named Umslopogaas；〃 he said； 〃but the Slaughterer I am not
named； and I am the son of Mopo； and not the son of Chaka； Lion of the
Zulu； you have dreamed a dream； Galazi； or； if it was no dream； then
the Dead One lied to you。〃
〃Perchance this was so； Umslopogaas；〃 answered Galazi the Wolf。
〃Perhaps I dreamed； of perhaps the Dead One lied； nevertheless； if he
lied in this matter； in other matters he did not lie； as you shall
hear。
〃After I had heard these words； or had dreamed that I heard them； I
slept indeed； and when I woke the forest beneath was like the clouds
of mist； but the grey light glinted upon the face of her who sits in
stone above。 Now I remembered the dream that I had dreamed； and I
would see if it were all a dream。 So I rose； and leaving the cave；
found a place where I might climb up to the breasts and head of the
stone Witch。 I climbed； and as I went the rays of the sun lit upon her
face； and I rejoiced to see them。 But； when I drew near； the likeness
to the face of a woman faded away； and I saw nothing before me but
rugged heaps of piled…up rock。 For this； Umslopogaas； is the way of
witches； be they of stone or fleshwhen you draw near to them they
change their shape。
〃Now I was on the breast of the mountain； and wandered to and for
awhile between the great heaps of stone。 At length I found； as it
were； a crack in the stone thrice as wide as a man can jump； and in
length half a spear's throw； and near this crack stood great stones
blackened by fire； and beneath them broken pots and a knife of flint。
I looked down into the crackit was very deep； and green with moss；
and tall ferns grew about in it； for the damp gathered there。 There
was nothing else。 I had dreamed a lying dream。 I turned to go； then
found another mind； and climbed down into the cleft； pushing aside the
ferns。 Beneath the ferns was moss； I scraped it away with the Watcher。
Presently the iron of the club struck on something that was yellow and
round like a stone； and from the yellow thing came a hollow sound。 I
lifted it； Umslopogaas； it was the skull of a child。
〃I dug deeper and scraped away more moss； till presently I saw。
Beneath the moss was nothing but the bones of menold bones that had
lain there many years； the little ones had rotted； the larger ones
remainedsome were yellow； some black； and others still white。 They
were not broken； as are those that hyenas and wolves have worried； yet
on some of them I could see the marks of teeth。 Then； Umslopogaas； I
went back to the cave； never looking behind me。
〃Now when I was come to the cave I did this： I skinned the she…wolf
also。 When I had finished the sun was up； and I knew that it was time
to go。 But I could not go alonehe who sat aloft in the cleft of the
cave must go with me。 I greatly feared to touch himthis Dead One；
who had spoken to me in a dream； yet I must do it。 So I brought stones
and piled them up till I could reach him； then I lifted him down； for
he was very light； being but skin and bones。 When he was down； I bound
the hides of the wolves about me； then leaving the leather bag； into
which he could not enter； I took the Dead One and placed him on my
shoulders as a man might carry a child； for his legs were fixed
somewhat apart； and holding him by the foot which was left on him； I
set out for the kraal。 Down the slope I went as swiftly as I could；
for now I knew the way； seeing and hearing nothing； except once； when
there came a rush of wings； and a great eagle swept down at that which
sat upon my shoulders。 I shouted； and the eagle flew away； then I
entered the dark of the forest。 Here I must walk softly； lest the head
of him I carried should strike against the boughs and be smitten from
him。
〃For awhile I went on thus； till I drew near to the heart of the
forest。 Then I heard a wolf howl on my right； and from the left came
answering howls； and these； again； were answered by others in front of
and behind me。 I walked on boldly； for I dared not stay； guiding
myself by the sun； which from time to time shone down on me redly
through the boughs of the great trees。 Now I could see forms grey and
black slinking near my path； sniffing at the air as they went； and now
I came to a little open place； and； behold！ all the wolves in the
world were gathered together there。 My heart melted； my legs trembled
beneath me。 On every side were the brutes； great and hungry。 And I
stood still； with club aloft； and slowly they crept up； muttering and
growling as they came； till they formed a deep circle round me。 Yet
they did not spring on me； only drew nearer and ever nearer。 Presently
one sprang； indeed； but not at me； he sprang at that which sat upon my
shoulders。 I moved aside； and he missed his aim； and； coming to the
ground again； stood there growling and whining like a beast afraid。
Then I remembered the words of my dream； if dream it were； how that
the Dead One had given me wisdom that I should be king of the ghost…
wolvesI and another whom a lion should bear to me。 Was it not so？ If
it was not so； how came it that the wolves did not devour me？
〃For a moment I stood thinking； then I lifted up my voice and howled
like a wolf； and lo！ Umslopogaas； all the wolves howled in answer with
a mighty howling。 I stretched out my hand and called to them。 They ran
to me； gathering round me as though to devour me。 But they did not
harm me； they licked my legs with their red tongues； and fighting to
come near me； pressed themselves against me as does a cat。 One；
indeed； snatched at him who sat on my shoulder； but I struck him with
the Watcher and he slunk back like a whipped hound； moreover； the
others bit him so that he yelled。 Now I knew that I had no more to
fear； for I was king of the ghost…wolves； so I walked on； and with me
came all the great pack of them。 I walked on and on； and they trotted
beside me silently； and the fallen leaves crackled beneath their feet；
and the dust rose up about them； till at length I reached the edge of
the forest。
〃Now I remembered that I must not be seen thus by men； lest they
should think me a wizard and kill me。 Therefore； at the edge of the
forest I halted and made signs to the wolves to go back。 At this they
howled piteously； as though in grief； but I called to them that I
would come again and be their king； and it seemed as though their
brute hearts understood my words。 Then they all went； still howling；
till presently I was alone。
〃And now； Umslopogaas； it is time to sleep； to…morrow night I will end
my tale。〃
C