nada the lily(百合娜达)-第32章

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Halakazi。〃

〃Stay　awhile；　Umslopogaas；〃　cried　Galazi；　〃stay　till　we　are　men
indeed。　Then　we　will　seek　this　sister　of　yours　and　snatch　her　from　the
caves　of　the　Halakazi。〃

Now　the　desire　of　this　wolf…life　had　entered　into　the　heart　of
Umslopogaas；　and　he　said　that　it　should　be　so；　and　on　the　morrow　they
made　them　blood…brethren；　to　be　one　till　death；　before　all　the　company
of　ghost…wolves；　and　the　wolves　howled　when　they　smelt　the　blood　of
men。　In　all　things　thenceforth　these　two　were　equal；　and　the　ghost…
wolves　hearkened　to　the　voice　of　both　of　them。　And　on　many　a　moonlight
night　they　and　the　wolves　hunted　together；　winning　their　food。　At
times　they　crossed　the　river；　hunting　in　the　plains；　for　game　was
scarce　on　the　mountain；　and　the　people　of　the　kraal　would　come　out；
hearing　the　mighty　howling；　and　watch　the　pack　sweep　across　the　veldt；
and　with　them　a　man　or　men。　Then　they　would　say　that　the　ghosts　were
abroad　and　creep　into　their　huts　shivering　with　fear。　But　as　yet　the
Wolf…Brethren　and　their　pack　killed　no　men；　but　game　only；　or；　at
times；　elephants　and　lions。

Now　when　Umslopogaas　had　abode　some　moons　in　the　Watch　Mountain；　on　a
night　he　dreamed　of　Nada；　and　awakening　soft　at　heart；　bethought
himself　that　he　would　learn　tidings　concerning　me；　his　father；　Mopo；
and　what　had　befallen　me　and　her　whom　he　deemed　his　mother；　and　Nada；
his　sister；　and　his　other　brethren。　So　he　clothed　himself；　hiding　his
nakedness；　and；　leaving　Galazi；　descended　to　that　kraal　where　the　old
woman　had　dwelt；　and　there　gave　it　out　that　he　was　a　young　man；　a
chief's　son　from　a　far　place；　who　sought　a　wife。　The　people　of　the
kraal　listened　to　him；　though　they　held　that　his　look　was　fierce　and
wild；　and　one　asked　if　this　were　Galazi　the　Wolf；　Galazi　the　Wizard。
But　another　answered　that　this　was　not　Galazi；　for　their　eyes　had　seen
him。　Umslopogaas　said　that　he　knew　nothing　of　Galazi；　and　little　of
wolves；　and　lo！　while　he　spoke　there　came　an　impi　of　fifty　men　and
entered　the　kraal。　Umslopogaas　looked　at　the　leaders　of　the　impi　and
knew　them　for　captains　of　Chaka。　At　first　he　would　have　spoken　to
them；　but　his　Ehlose　bade　him　hold　his　peace。　So　he　sat　in　a　corner　of
the　big　hut　and　listened。　Presently　the　headman　of　the　kraal；　who
trembled　with　fear；　for　he　believed　that　the　impi　had　been　sent　to
destroy　him　and　all　that　were　his；　asked　the　captain　what　was　his
will。

〃A　little　matter；　and　a　vain；〃　said　the　captain。　〃We　are　sent　by　the
king　to　search　for　a　certain　youth；　Umslopogaas；　the　son　of　Mopo；　the
king's　doctor。　Mopo　gave　it　out　that　the　youth　was　killed　by　a　lion
near　these　mountains；　and　Chaka　would　learn　if　this　is　true。〃

〃We　know　nothing　of　the　youth；〃　said　the　headman。　〃But　what　would　ye
with　him？〃

〃Only　this；〃　answered　the　captain；　〃to　kill　him。〃

〃That　is　yet　to　do；〃　thought　Umslopogaas。

〃Who　is　this　Mopo？〃　asked　the　headman。

〃An　evildoer；　whose　house　the　king　has　eaten　upman；　woman；　and
child；〃　answered　the　captain。



CHAPTER　XV

THE　DEATH　OF　THE　KING'S　SLAYERS

When　Umslopogaas　heard　these　words　his　heart　was　heavy；　and　a　great
anger　burned　in　his　breast；　for　he　thought　that　I；　Mopo；　was　dead　with
the　rest　of　his　house；　and　he　loved　me。　But　he　said　nothing；　only；
watching　till　none　were　looking；　he　slipped　past　the　backs　of　the
captains　and　won　the　door　of　the　hut。　Soon　he　was　clear　of　the　kraal；
and；　running　swiftly；　crossed　the　river　and　came　to　the　Ghost
Mountain。　Meanwhile；　the　captain　asked　the　headman　of　the　kraal　if　he
knew　anything　of　such　a　youth　as　him　for　whom　they　sought。　The　headman
told　the　captain　of　Galazi　the　Wolf；　but　the　captain　said　that　this
could　not　be　the　lad；　for　Galazi　had　dwelt　many　moons　upon　the　Ghost
Mountain。

〃There　is　another　youth；〃　said　the　headman；　〃a　stranger；　fierce；
strong　and　tall；　with　eyes　that　shine　like　spears。　He　is　in　the　hut
now；　he　sits　yonder　in　the　shadow。〃

The　captain　rose　and　looked　into　the　shadow；　but　Umslopogaas　was　gone。

〃Now　this　youth　is　fled；〃　said　the　headman；　〃and　yet　none　saw　him　fly！
Perhaps　he　also　is　a　wizard！　Indeed；　I　have　heard　that　now　there　are
two　of　them　upon　the　Ghost　Mountain；　and　that　they　hunt　there　at　night
with　the　ghost…wolves；　but　I　do　not　know　if　it　is　true。〃

〃Now　I　am　minded　to　kill　you；〃　said　the　captain　in　wrath；　〃because　you
have　suffered　this　youth　to　escape　me。　Without　doubt　it　is
Umslopogaas；　son　of　Mopo。〃

〃It　is　no　fault　of　mine；〃　said　the　headmen。　〃These　young　men　are
wizards；　who　can　pass　hither　and　thither　at　will。　But　I　say　this　to
you；　captain　of　the　king；　if　you　will　go　on　the　Ghost　Mountain；　you
must　go　there　alone　with　your　soldiers；　for　none　in　these　parts　dare
to　tread　upon　that　mountain。〃

〃Yet　I　shall　dare　to…morrow；〃　said　the　captain。　〃We　grow　brave　at　the
kraal　of　Chaka。　There　men　do　not　fear　spears　or　ghosts　or　wild　beasts
or　magic；　but　they　fear　the　king's　word　alone。　The　sun　setsgive　us
food。　To…morrow　we　will　search　the　mountain。〃

Thus；　my　father；　did　this　captain　speak　in　his　folly；he　who　should
never　see　another　sun。

Now　Umslopogaas　reached　the　mountain；　and　when　he　had　passed　the
forestof　which　he　had　learned　every　secret　waythe　darkness
gathered；　and　the　wolves　awoke　in　the　darkness　and　drew　near　howling。
Umslopogaas　howled　in　answer；　and　presently　that　great　wolf　Deathgrip
came　to　him。　Umslopogaas　saw　him　and　called　him　by　his　name；　but；
behold！　the　brute　did　not　know　him；　and　flew　at　him；　growling。　Then
Umslopogaas　remembered　that　the　she…wolf's　skin　was　not　bound　about
his　shoulders；　and　therefore　it　was　that　the　wolf　Deathgrip　knew　him
not。　For　though　in　the　daytime；　when　the　wolves　slept；　he　might　pass
to　and　fro　without　the　skin；　at　night　it　was　not　so。　He　had　not
brought　the　skin；　because　he　dared　not　wear　it　in　the　sight　of　the　men
of　the　kraal；　lest　they　should　know　him　for　one　of　the　Wolf…Brethren；
and　it　had　not　been　his　plan　to　seek　the　mountain　again　that　night；
but　rather　on　the　morrow。　Now　Umslopogaas　knew　that　his　danger　was
great　indeed。　He　beat　back　Deathgrip　with　his　kerrie；　but　others　were
behind　him；　for　the　wolves　gathered　fast。　Then　he　bounded　away　towards
the　cave；　for　he　was　so　swift　of　foot　that　the　wolves　could　not　catch
him；　though　they　pressed　him　hard；　and　once　the　teeth　of　one　of　them
tore　his　moocha。　Never　before　did　he　run　so　fast；　and　in　the　end　he
reached　the　cave　and　rolled　the　rock　to；　and　as　he　did　so　the　wolves
dashed　themselves　against　it。　Then　he　clad　himself　in　the　hide　of　the
she…wolf；　and；　pushing　aside　the　stone；　came　out。　And；　lo！　the　eyes　of
the　wolves　were　opened；　and　they　knew　him　for　one　of　the　brethren　who
ruled　over　them；　and　slunk　away　at　his　bidding。

Now　Umslopogaas　sat　himself　down　at　the　mouth　of　the　cave　waiting　for
Galazi；　and　he　thought。　Presently　Galazi　came；　and　in　few　words
Umslopogaas　told　him　all　his　tale。

〃You　have　run　a　great　risk；　my　brother；〃　said　Galazi。　〃What　now？〃

〃This；〃　said　Umslopogaas：　〃these　people　of　ours　are　hungry　for　the
flesh　of　men；　let　us　feed　them　full　on　the　soldiers　of　Chaka；　who　sit
yonder　at　the　kraal　seeking　my　life。　I　would　take　vengeance　for　Mopo；
my　father；　and　all　my　brethren　who　are　dead；　and　for　my　mothers；　the
wives　of　Mopo。　What　say　you？〃

Galazi　laughed　aloud。　〃That　will　be　merry；　my　brother；〃　he　said。　〃I
weary　of　hunting　beasts；　let　us　hunt　men　to…night。〃

〃Ay；　to…night；〃　said　Umslopogaas；　nodding。　〃I　long　to　look　upon　that
captain　as　a　maid　longs　for　her　lover's　kiss。　But　first　let　us　rest
and　eat；　for　the　night　is　young；　then；　Galazi；　summon　our　impi。〃

So　they　rested　and　ate；　and　afterwards　went　out　armed；　and　Galazi
howled　to　the　wolves；　and　they　came　in　tens　and　twenties　till　all　were
gathered　together。　Galazi　moved　among　them；　shaking　the　Watcher；　as
they　sat　upon　their　haunches；　and　followed　him　with　their　fiery　eyes。

〃We　do　not　hunt　game　to…night；　little　people；〃　he　cried；　〃but　men；　and
you　love　the　flesh　of　men。〃

Now　all　the　wolves　howled　as　though　they　understood。　Then　the　pack
divided　itself　as　was　its　custom；　the　she…wolves　following
Umslopogaas；　the　dog…wolves　following　Galazi；　and　in　silence　they
moved　swiftly　down　towards　the　plain。　They　came　to