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head from his shoulders。 He would stand in my place； would he？the
place that I and my fathers have held for four generations by virtue
of the axe。 I tell you all； that presently I will stand upon his head；
and then we will settle the matter of Masilo。〃
〃Babble not so fast； man；〃 quoth Umslopogaas； 〃or if you must babble；
speak those words which you would say ere you bid the sun farewell。〃
Now； Jikiza choked with rage； and foam came from his lips so that he
could not speak； but the people found this sportall except Masilo；
who looked askance at the stranger； tall and fierce； and Zinita； who
looked at Masilo； and with no love。 So they moved down to the cattle
kraal； and Galazi； seeing it from afar； could keep away no longer； but
drew near and mingled with the crowd。
CHAPTER XVII
UMSLOPOGAAS BECOMES CHIEF OF THE PEOPLE OF THE AXE
Now； when Umslopogaas and Jikiza the Unconquered had come to the
cattle kraal； they were set in its centre and there were ten paces
between them。 Umslopogaas was armed with the great shield and the
light moon…shaped axe； Jikiza carried the Groan…Maker and a small
dancing shield； and； looking at the weapons of the two； people thought
that the stranger would furnish no sport to the holder of the axe。
〃He is ill…armed；〃 said an old man； 〃it should be otherwiselarge
axe； small shield。 Jikiza is unconquerable； and the big shield will
not help this long…legged stranger when Groan…Maker rattles on the
buffalo hide。〃 The old man spoke thus in the hearing of Galazi the
Wolf； and Galazi thought that he spoke wisely； and sorrowed for the
fate of his brother。
Now； the word was given； and Jikiza rushed on Umslopogaas； roaring；
for his rage was great。 But Umslopogaas did not stir till his foe was
about to strike； then suddenly he leaped aside； and as Jikiza passed
he smote him hard upon the back with the flat of his axe； making a
great sound； for it was not his plan to try and kill Jikiza with this
axe。 Now； a shout of laughter went up from the hundreds of the people；
and the laughter went up from the hundreds of the people； and the
heart of Jikiza nearly burst with rage because of the shame of that
blow。 Round he came like a bull that is mad； and once more rushed at
Umslopogaas； who lifted his shield to meet him。 Then； of a sudden；
just when the great axe leapt on high； Umslopogaas uttered a cry as of
fear； and； turning； fled before the face of Jikiza。 Now once more the
shout of laughter went up； while Umslopogaas fled swiftly； and after
him rushed Jikiza； blind with fury。 Round and about the kraal sped
Umslopogaas； scarcely a spear's length ahead of Jikiza； and he ran
keeping his back to the sun as much as might be； that he might watch
the shadow of Jikiza。 A second time he sped round； while the people
cheered the chase as hunters cheer a dog which pursues a buck。 So
cunningly did Umslopogaas run； that； though he seemed to reel with
weakness in such fashion that men thought his breath was gone； yet he
went ever faster and faster； drawing Jikiza after him。
Now； when Umslopogaas knew by the breathing of his foe and by the
staggering of his shadow that his strength was spent； suddenly he made
as though he were about to fall himself； and stumbled out of the path
far to the right； and as he stumbled he let drop his great shield full
in the way of Jikiza's feet。 Then it came about that Jikiza； rushing
on blindly； caught his feet in the shield and fell headlong to earth。
Umslopogaas saw； and swooped on him like an eagle to a dove。 Before
men could so much as think； he had seized the axe Groan…Maker； and
with a blow of the steel he held had severed the thong of leather
which bound it to the wrist of Jikiza； and sprung back； holding the
great axe aloft； and casting down his own weapon upon the ground。 Now；
the watchers saw all the cunning of his fight； and those of them who
hated Jikiza shouted aloud。 But others were silent。
Slowly Jikiza gathered himself from the ground； wondering if he were
still alive； and as he rose he grasped the little axe of Umslopogaas；
and； looking at it； he wept。 But Umslopogaas held up the great Groan…
Maker； the iron chieftainess； and examined its curved points of blue
steel； the gouge that stands behind it； and the beauty of its haft；
bound about with wire of brass； and ending in a knob like the knob of
a stick； as a lover looks upon the beauty of his bride。 Then before
all men he kissed the broad blade and cried aloud：
〃Greeting to thee； my Chieftainess； greeting to thee； Wife of my
youth； whom I have won in war。 Never shall we part； thou and I； and
together will we die； thou and I； for I am not minded that others
should handle thee when I am gone。〃
Thus he cried in the hearing of men； then turned to Jikiza； who stood
weeping； because he had lost all。
〃Where now is your pride； O Unconquered？〃 laughed Umslopogaas。 〃Fight
on。 You are as well armed as I was a while ago； when I did not fear to
stand before you。〃
Jikiza looked at him for a moment； then with a curse he hurled the
little axe at him； and； turning； fled swiftly towards the gates of the
cattle kraal。
Umslopogaas stooped； and the little axe sped over him。 Then he stood
for a while watching； and the people thought that he meant to let
Jikiza go。 But that was not his desire； he waited； indeed； until
Jikiza had covered nearly half the space between him and the gate；
then with a roar he leaped forward； as light leaps from a cloud； and
so fast did his feet fly that the watchers could scarce see them move。
Jikiza fled fast also； yet he seemed but as one who stands still。 Now
he reached the gate of the kraal； now there was rush； a light of
downward falling steel； and something swept past him。 Then； behold！
Jikiza fell in the gateway of the cattle kraal； and all saw that he
was dead； smitten to death by that mighty axe Groan…Maker； which he
and his fathers had held for many years。
A great shout went up from the crowd of watchers when they knew that
Jikiza the Unconquered was killed at last； and there were many who
hailed Umslopogaas； naming him Chief and Lord of the People of the
Axe。 But the sons of Jikiza to the number of ten； great men and brave；
rushed on Umslopogaas to kill him。 Umslopogaas ran backwards； lifting
up the Groan…Maker； when certain councillors of the people flung
themselves in between them； crying； 〃Hold！〃
〃Is not this your law； ye councillors；〃 said Umslopogaas； 〃that；
having conquered the chief of the People of the Axe； I myself am
chief？〃
〃That is our law indeed； stranger；〃 answered an aged councillor； 〃but
this also is our law： that now you must do battle； one by one； with
all who come against you。 So it was in my father's time； when the
grandfather of him who now lies dead won the axe； and so it must be
again to…day。〃
〃I have nothing to say against the rule；〃 said Umslopogaas。 〃Now who
is there who will come up against me to do