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then there are stakes hardening in the fire of which we shall taste
the point。 If we are all killed in the catching； and some； it seems；
are missing already； yet they must be caught。 Say； my brother； shall
we draw on？ The impi is nigh。 Would that Faku； our captain yonder；
might find two others to take our place； for in this thicket I had
rather run last than first。 Well； here leads the spoora wondrous
mass of wolf…spoor mixed with the footprints of men； perhaps they are
sometimes the one and sometimes the otherwho knows； my brother？ It
is a land of ghosts and wizards。 Let us on！ Let us on！〃
Now all this while the Wolf…Brethren had much ado to keep their people
quiet； for their mouths watered and their eyes shone at the sight of
the men； and at length it could be done no more； for with a howl a
single she…wolf rushed from her laid and leapt at the throat of the
man who spoke； nor did she miss her grip。 Down went wolf and man；
rolling together on the ground； and there they killed each other。
〃The Esedowana！ the Esedowana are upon us！〃 cried the other scout；
and； turning； fled towards the impi。 But he never reached it； for with
fearful howlings the ghost…wolves broke their cover and rushed on him
from the right and the left； and lo！ there was nothing of him left
except his spear alone。
Now a low cry of fear rose from the impi； and some turned to fly； but
Faku； the captain； a great and brave man； shouted to them； 〃Stand
firm； children of the king； stand firm； these are no Esedowana； these
are but the Wolf…Brethren and their pack。 What！ will ye run from dogs；
ye who have laughed at the spears of men？ Ring round！ Stand fast！〃
The soldiers heard the voice of their captain； and they obeyed his
voice； forming a double circle； a ring within a ring。 They looked to
the right； there； Groan…Maker aloft； the wolf fangs on his brow； the
worn wolf…hide streaming on the wind； Bulalio rushed upon them like a
storm； and with him came his red…eyed company。 They looked to the left
ah； well they know that mighty Watcher！ Have they not heard his
strokes down by the river； and well they know the giant who wields it
like a wand； the Wolf King； with the strength of ten！ Wow！ They are
here！ See the people black and grey； hear them howl their war…chant！
Look how they leap like waterleap in a foam of fangs against the
hedge of spears！ The circle is broken； Groan…Maker has broken it！ Ha！
Galazi also is through the double ring； now must men stand back to
back or perish！
How long did it last？ Who can say？ Time flies fast when blows fall
thick。 At length the brethren are beaten back； they break out as they
broke in； and are gone； with such of their wolf…folk as were left
alive。 Yet that impi was somewhat the worse； but one…third of those
lived who looked on the sun without the forest； the rest lay smitten；
torn； mangled； dead； hidden under the heaps of bodies of wild beasts。
〃Now this is a battle of evil spirits that live in the shapes of
wolves； and as for the Wolf…Brethren； they are sorcerers of the
rarest；〃 said Faku the captain； 〃and such sorcerers I love； for they
fight furiously。 Yet I will slay them or be slain。 At the least； if
there be few of us left； the most of the wolves are dead also； and the
arms of the wizards grow weary。〃
So he moved forward up the mountain with those of the soldiers who
remained； and all the way the wolves harried them； pulling down a man
here and a man there； but though they heard and saw them cheering on
their pack the Wolf…Brethren attacked them no more； for they saved
their strength for the last fight of all。
The road was long up the mountain； and the soldiers knew little of the
path； and ever the ghost…wolves harried on their flanks。 So it was
evening before they came to the feet of the stone Witch； and began to
climb to the platform of her knees。 There； on her knees as it were；
they saw the Wolf…Brethren standing side by side； such a pair as were
not elsewhere in the world； and they seemed afire； for the sunset beat
upon them； and the wolves crept round their feet； red with blood and
fire。
〃A glorious pair！〃 quoth great Faku； 〃would that I fought with them
rather than against them！ Yet； they must die！〃 Then he began to climb
to the knees of the Witch。
Now Umslopogaas glanced up at the stone face of her who sat aloft； and
it was alight with the sunset。
〃Said I not that the old Witch should smile at this fray？〃 he cried。
〃Lo！ she smiles！ Up； Galazi； let us spend the remnant of our people on
the foe； and fight this fight out； man to man； with no beast to spoil
it！ Ho！ Blood and Greysnout！ ho！ Deathgrip！ ho！ wood…dwellers grey and
black； at them； my children！〃
The wolves heard； they were few and they were sorry to see； with
weariness and wounds； but still they were fierce。 With a howl； for the
last time they leaped down upon the foe； tearing； harrying； and
killing till they themselves were dead by the spear； every one of them
except Deathgrip； who crept back sorely wounded to die with Galazi。
〃Now I am a chief without a people；〃 cried Galazi。 〃Well； it has been
my lot in life。 So it was in the Halakazi kraals； so it is on Ghost
Mountain at the last； and so also shall it be even for the greatest
kings when they come to their ends； seeing that they； too； must die
alone。 Say； Slaughterer； choose where you will stand； to the left or
to the right。〃
Now； my father； the track below separated； because of a boulder； and
there were two little paths which led to the platform of the Witch's
knees with； perhaps； ten paces between them。 Umslopogaas guarded the
left…hand path and Galazi took the right。 Then they waited； having
spears in their hands。 Presently the soldiers came round the rock and
rushed up against them； some on one path and some on the other。
Then the brethren hurled their spears at them and killed three men。
Now the assegais were done； and the foe was on them。 Umslopogaas bends
forward； his long arm shoots out； the axe gleams； and a man who came
on falls back。
〃One！〃 cries Umslopogaas。
〃One； my brother！〃 answers Galazi； as he draws back the Watcher from
his blow。
A soldier rushes forward； singing。 To and fro he moves in front of
Umslopogaas； his spear poised to strike。 Groan…Maker swoops down； but
the man leaps back； the blow misses； and the Slaughterer's guard is
down。
〃A poor stroke； Sorcerer！〃 cries the man as he rushes in to stab him。
Lo！ the axe wheels in the air； it circles swiftly low down by the
ground； it smites upward。 Before the spearsman can strike the horn of
Groan…Maker has sped from chin to brain。
〃But a good return； fool！〃 says Umslopogaas。
〃Two！〃 cries Galazi； from the right。
〃Two！ my brother；〃 answers Umslopogaas。
Again two men come on； one against each； to find no better luck。 The
cry of 〃Three！〃 passes from brother to brother； and after it rises the
cry of 〃Four！〃
Now Faku bids the me