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hand has longed to pluck。 Let Bulalio and his people enter swiftly。〃
For awhile there was silence； then from far away； without the high
fence of the great place； there came a sound of singing； and through
the gates of the kraal rushed two great men； wearing black plumes upon
their heads； having black shields in their left hands； and in their
right； one an axe and one a club； while about their shoulders were
bound wolf…skins。 They ran low； neck and neck； with outstretched
shields and heads held forward； as a buck runs when he is hard pressed
by dogs； and no such running had been seen in the kraal Umgugundhlovu
as the running of the Wolf…Brethren。 Half across the space they ran；
and halted suddenly； and； as they halted； the dead ashes of the fire
flew up before their feet in a little cloud。
〃By my head！ look； these come armed before me！〃 said Dingaan；
frowning； 〃and to do this is death。 Now say who is that man； great and
fierce； who bears an axe aloft？ Did I not know him dead I should say
it was the Black One； my brother； as he was in the days of the smiting
of Zwide： so was his head set on his shoulders and so he was wont to
look round； like a lion。〃
〃I think that is Bulalio the Slaughterer； chief of the People of the
Axe； O King；〃 I answered。
〃And who is the other with him？ He is a great man also。 Never have I
seen such a pair！〃
〃I think that is Galazi the Wolf； he who is blood…brother to the
Slaughterer； and his general；〃 I said again。
Now after these two came the soldiers of the People of the Axe； armed
with short sticks alone。 Four by four they came； all holding their
heads low； and with black shields outstretched； and formed themselves
into companies behind the Wolf…Brethren； till all were there。 Then；
after them； the crowd of the Halakazi slaves were driven in；women；
boys； and maids； a great numberand they stood behind the ranks
huddled together like frightened calves。
〃A gallant sight； truly！〃 said Dingaan； as he looked upon the
companies of black…plumed and shielded warriors。 〃I have no better
soldiers in my impis； and yet my eyes behold these for the first
time；〃 and again he frowned。
Now suddenly Umslopogaas lifted his axe and started forward at full
speed； and after him thundered the companies。 On they rushed； and
their plumes lay back upon the wind； till it seemed as though they
must stamp us flat。 But when he was within ten paces of the king
Umslopogaas lifted Groan…Maker again； and Galazi held the Watcher on
high； and every man halted where he was； while once more the dust flew
up in clouds。 They halted in long； unbroken lines； with outstretched
shields and heads held low； no man's head rose more than the length of
a dance kerrie from the earth。 So they stood one minute； then； for the
third time； Umslopogaas lifted Groan…Maker； and in an instant every
man straightened himself； each shield was tossed on high； and from
every throat was roared the royal salute； 〃Bayete！〃
〃A pretty sight forsooth；〃 quoth Dingaan； 〃but these soldiers are too
well drilled who have never done me service nor the Black One who was
before me； and this Slaughterer is too good a captain； I say。 Come
hither； ye twain！〃 he cried aloud。
Then the Wolf…Brethren strode forward and stood before the king； and
for awhile they looked upon each other。
CHAPTER XXVIII
THE LILY IS BROUGHT TO DINGAAN
〃How are you named？〃 said Dingaan。
〃We are named Bulalio the Slaughterer and Galazi the Wolf； O King；〃
answered Umslopogaas。
〃Was it thou who didst send a certain message to the Black One who is
dead； Bulalio？〃
〃Yea； O King； I sent a message； but from all I have heard； Masilo； my
messenger； gave more than the message； for he stabbed the Black One。
Masilo had an evil heart。〃
Now Dingaan winced； for he knew well that he himself and one Mopo had
stabbed the Black One； but he thought that this outland chief had not
heard the tale； so he said no more of the message。
〃How is it that ye dare to come before me armed？ Know ye not the rule
that he who appears armed before the king dies？〃
〃We have not heard that law； O King；〃 said Umslopogaas。 〃Moreover；
there is this to be told： my virtue of the axe I bear I rule alone。 If
I am seen without the axe； then any man may take my place who can； for
the axe is chieftainess of the People of the Axe； and he who holds it
is its servant。〃
〃A strange custom；〃 said Dingaan； 〃but let it pass。 And thou； Wolf；
what hast thou to say of that great club of thine？〃
〃There is this to be told of the club； O King；〃 answered Galazi： 〃by
virtue of the club I guard my life。 If I am seen without the club；
then may any man take my life who can； for the club is my Watcher； not
I Watcher of the club。〃
〃Never wast thou nearer to the losing of both club and life；〃 said
Dingaan； angrily。
〃It may be so； O King；〃 answered the Wolf。 〃When the hour is； then；
without a doubt； the Watcher shall cease from his watching。〃
〃Ye are a strange pair；〃 quoth Dingaan。 〃Where have you been now； and
what is your business at the Place of the Elephant？〃
〃We have been in a far country； O King！〃 answered Umslopogaas。 〃We
have wandered in a distant land to search for a Flower to be a gift to
a king； and in our searching we have trampled down a Swazi garden； and
yonder are some of those who tended it〃and he pointed to the
captives〃and without are the cattle that ploughed it。〃
〃Good； Slaughterer！ I see the gardeners； and I hear the lowing of the
cattle； but what of the Flower？ Where is this Flower ye went so far to
dig in Swazi soil？ Was it a Lily…bloom； perchance？〃
〃It was a Lily…bloom； O King！ and yet； alas！ the Lily has withered。
Nothing is left but the stalk； white and withered as are the bones of
men。〃
〃What meanest thou？〃 said Dingaan； starting to his feet。
〃That the king shall learn；〃 answered Umslopogaas； and； turning； he
spoke a word to the captains who were behind him。 Presently the ranks
opened up； and four men ran forward from the rear of the companies。 On
their shoulders they bore a stretcher； and upon the stretcher lay
something wrapped about with raw ox…hides； and bound round with
rimpis。 The men saluted； and laid their burden down before the king。
〃Open！〃 said the Slaughterer； and they opened； and there within the
hides； packed in salt； lay the body of a girl who once was tall and
fair。〃
〃Here lies the Lily's stalk； O King！〃 said Umslopogaas； pointing with
the axe； 〃but if her flower blooms on any air； it is not here。〃
Now Dingaan stared at the sight of death； and bitterness of heart took
hold of him； since he desired above all things to win the beauty of
the Lily for himself。
〃Bear away this carrion and cast it to the dogs！〃 he cried； for thus
he could speak of her whom he would have taken to wife； when once he
deemed her dead。 〃Take it away； and thou； Slaughterer； tell me how it
came abou