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〃I have nothing to say against the rule；〃 said Umslopogaas。 〃Now who
is there who will come up against me to do battle for the axe Groan…
Maker and the chieftainship of the People of the Axe？〃
Then all the ten sons of Jikiza stepped forward as one man； for their
hearts were made with wrath because of the death of their father and
because the chieftainship had gone from their race； so that in truth
they cared little if they lived or died。 But there were none besides
these； for all men feared to stand before Umslopogaas and the Groan…
Maker。
Umslopogaas counted them。 〃There are ten； by the head of Chaka！〃 he
cried。 〃Now if I must fight all these one by one； no time will be left
to me this day to talk of the matter of Masilo and of the maid Zinita。
Hearken！ What say you； sons of Jikiza the Conquered？ If I find one
other to stand beside me in the fray； and all of you come on at once
against us twain； ten against two； to slay us or be slain； will that
be to your minds？〃
The brethren consulted together； and held that so they should be in
better case than if they went up one by one。
〃So be it；〃 they said； and the councillors assented。
Now； as he fled round and round； Umslopogaas had seen the face of
Galazi； his brother； in the throng； and knew that he hungered to share
the fight。 So he called aloud that he whom he should choose； and who
would stand back to back with him in the fray； if victory were theirs；
should be the first after him among the People of the Axe； and as he
called； he walked slowly down the line scanning the faces of all； till
he came to where Galazi stood leaning on the Watcher。
〃Here is a great fellow who bears a great club；〃 said Umslopogaas。
〃How are you named； fellow？〃
〃I am named Wolf；〃 answered Galazi。
〃Say； now； Wolf； are you willing to stand back to back with me in this
fray of two against ten？ If victory is ours； you shall be next to me
amongst this people。〃
〃Better I love the wild woods and the mountain's breast than the
kraals of men and the kiss of wives； Axebearer；〃 answered Galazi。
〃Yet； because you have shown yourself a warrior of might； and to taste
again of the joy of battle； I will stand back to back with you；
Axebearer； and see this matter ended。〃
〃A bargain； Wolf！〃 cried Umslopogaas。 And they walked side by sidea
mighty pair！till they came to the centre of the cattle kraal。 All
there looked on them wondering； and it came into the thoughts of some
of them that these were none other than the Wolf…Brethren who dwelt
upon the Ghost Mountain。
〃Now axe Groan…maker and club Watcher are come together； Galazi；〃 said
Umslopogaas as they walked； 〃and I think that few can stand before
them。〃
〃Some shall find it so；〃 answered Galazi。 〃At the least； the fray will
be merry； and what matter how frays end？〃
〃Ah；〃 said Umslopogaas； 〃victory is good； but death ends all and is
best of all。〃
Then they spoke of the fashion in which they would fight； and
Umslopogaas looked curiously at the axe he carried； and at the point
on its hammer； balancing it in his hand。 When he had looked long； the
pair took their stand back to back in the centre of the kraal； and
people saw that Umslopogaas held the axe in a new fashion； its curved
blade being inwards towards his breast； and the hollow point turned
towards the foe。 The ten brethren gathered themselves together；
shaking their assegais； five of them stood before Umslopogaas and five
before Galazi the Wolf。 They were all great men； made fierce with rage
and shame。
〃Now nothing except witchcraft can save these two；〃 said a councillor
to one who stood by him。
〃Yet there is virtue in the axe；〃 answered the other； 〃and for the
club； it seems that I know it： I think it is named Watcher of the
Fords； and woe to those who stand before the Watcher。 I myself have
seen him aloft when I was young； moreover； these are no cravens who
hold the axe and the club。 They are but lads； indeed； yet they have
drunk wolf's milk。〃
Meanwhile； an aged man drew near to speak the word of onset； it was
that same man who had set out the law to Umslopogaas。 He must give the
signal by throwing up a spear； and when it struck the ground； then the
fight would begin。 The old man took the spear and threw it； but his
hand was weak； and he cast so clumsily that it fell among the sons of
Jikiza； who stood before Umslopogaas； causing them to open up to let
it pass between them； and drawing the eyes of all ten of them to it。
but Umslopogaas watched for the touching of the spear only； being
careless where it touched。 As the point of it kissed the earth； he
said a word； and lo！ Umslopogaas and Galazi； not waiting for the
onslaught of the ten； as men had thought they must； sprang forward；
each at the line of foes who were before him。 While the ten still
stood confused； for it had been their plan to attack； the Wolf…
Brethren were upon them。 Groan…Maker was up； but as for no great
stroke。 He did but peck； as a bird pecks with his bill； and yet a man
dropped dead。 The Watcher also was up； but he fell like a falling
tree； and was the death of one。 Through the lines of the ten passed
the Wolf…Brethren in the gaps that each had made。 Then they turned
swiftly and charged towards each other again； again Groan…Maker
pecked； again the Watcher thundered； and lo！ once more Umslopogaas
stood back to back unhurt； but before them lay four men dead。
The onslaught and the return were so swift； that men scarcely
understood what had been done； even those of the sons of Jikiza who
were left stared at each other wondering。 Then they knew that they
were but six； for four of them were dead。 With a shout of rage they
rushed upon the pair from both sides； but in either case one was the
most eager； and outstepped the other two； and thus it came about that
time was given the Wolf…Brethren to strike at him alone； before his
fellows were at his side。 He who came at Umslopogaas drove at him with
his spear； but he was not to be caught this； for he bent his middle
sideways； so that the spear only cut his skin； and as he bent tapped
with the point of the axe at the head of the smiter； dealing death on
him。
〃Yonder Woodpecker has a bill of steel； and he can use it well；〃 said
the councillor to him who stood by him。
〃This is a Slaughterer indeed；〃 the man answered； and the people heard
the names。 Thenceforth they knew Umslopogaas as the Woodpecker； and as
Bulalio； or the Slaughterer； and by no other names。 Now； he who came
at Galazi the Wolf rushed on wildly； holding his spear short。 But
Galazi was cunning in war。 He took one step forward to meet him； then；
swinging the Watcher backward； he let him fall at the full length of
arms and club。 The child of Jikiza lifted his shield to catch the
blow； but the shield was to the Watcher what a leaf is to the wind。
Full on its hide the huge club fell； making a loud sound； the war…
shield doubled up like a ra