The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1892-08-19
CHAPTER XIV


Now when UmslopOgaas and Jikiza
the Unconquered had come to the cattle
kraal they were set in its center.
Now the word was given. 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 fiat of his ak, making
"a great sound. The heart Of JikiZa
nearly burst with rage because Of the
,shame of that blow, and once more
rushed at UmslOpogaas, who lifted his
lshield to meet him. Then of a sudden.
lust when the great ak leaped on high,
Umslopogaas uttered Il cry as OF fear,
land turning fed, and after him rushed
I-Jikiza, blind with fury. Round and
l.about the kraal sped UmslOpogaas,
iscarcely spears length ahead of Jikiza,
= and he ran keeping his back 20 the sun
as much as it might be, that he might
watch the shadow Of Jikiza. A second
time he sped around. ever faster and
f,ister, drawing Jikiza after him.
Now when UInslopogaas knew by the
breathing of his foe and by the stagger-
ing of his shadow that his strength was
spent, he stumbled out of the path far
t. the right. and let drop his great shield
full in the way Of Jiliza's feet. Then 1t
came about that Jikiza. rushing blindly
on, caught his feet III tho shield and fell
headlong to earth. UmslOpogaas saw,
and swooped on him like an eagle on d
dove. Before men could 50 much as
think he had seized the az GrOanmaker,
and with q blow of the steel he held had
severed the thong Of leather which
bound it to the wrist of Jikiza. and had
sprung back, holding the great ak alOft
and casting down his own weapon upon
the ground. Slowly Jikiza gathered
himself from the ground, and as he rose
he grasped the little ax Of UmslOpOgaas.
and looking at it he wept But Um-
slopogaas held up the great Groan-
maker, the iron chieftainess. and eX-
amined its curved points of blue steel,
the gouge that stands behind it and the
beauty of its hGft, bound about with
wire Of brass and ending in n knob like
the knob Of q stick. us u hover looks
upon the beauty of his bride. Then,
before all men, he kissed the broad blade
and cried aloud.
Greeting to thee. my chteftainess;
greeting to thee, wife of my youth,
whom l have won III warI Never shall
we part, thou and l, and together will
we die, thou and l, for am not minded
that others should handle thee when l
nm gone"
Thus he cried; then turned TO Jikiza.
Where now is your pride, o Uncon-
QueredT" laughed UmslOpogaas. Flight
on. You are as well armed as l was
awhile ago, when did not fear to stand
before You"
Jikiza looked at him for Il moment,
then with q cure lie hurled the little ak
at him, and turning fed swiftly toward
the gates of the cattle lHraal.
Umslopogaas stopped and the little az
sped over him. With a roar he leaped
forward, and go fast did his feet fly that
the watchers scarcely could 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, light of downward
falling steel, and Jil1iza fell i'll the gate
way of the cattle kraal, snitten to death
by that mighty AK GrOanmaker, which
he and his fathers had held for many
years.
A great shout wentup from the crowd
of watchers, and there were many who
hailed Umslopogaas, naming him chief
and lord OF the People of the AK. But
the sons of Jliizn to the number of ten.
great men and brave, rushed on UmslO-
pogaas TO kill him. UmslopOgaas ran
backward, lifting up the Groanmaker.
when certain councillors of the people
flung themselves between them, crying,
.'HoldF
lis not this your law, ye councillors, "
said Umslopogaas, that having con-
qucred the chief of the People of the
AK, myself am chief"
THAT is our law, indeed, stranger,
answered an aged councillor, but this
also is our law, that now you must dc
battle, one by one, with all who come
against you"
Il have nothing to say against the
rule" said Umslopcgaas Now who
Is there who will come up against me 70
do battle for the ak Groannaker and
the chieftainship Of the People of the
AxY"
Then all the ten sons of Jikiza stepped
forward as one man, for because of the
death of their father. and because the
craftsmanship had gone from their race,
they cared little if they lived or died.
UmslopOSaas counted them. There
are ten, 10y the head Of Chaka" he cried.
Now if l must fight all these one by
one no time will be left to me this day
10 talk Of tho matter of Masilo and of
the maid ZinitS. Hearken What say
You, sons of Jtkiza the Conquered: If
find one other to stand beside mo 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
Inindsl'
80 be it." they said. and the council
ors assented.
Now Umslopogaas called aloud that
he whom he should choose and who
would stand back to back with him in
the fray, if victory We're theirs, should
be the first after him among the People
of the AK. 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 u great fellow who bears a
great club" said Umslopogaas. "How
are you named, fellow"
Il am named Wolf" said Galazi.
"Say now, Wolf, are you willing to
stand back to back with me in this fray
Of two against tcnT'
Better | love the wild woods and the
mountains breast than the kraals OF
men and the kiss of wives, Axbearcr,
answered Galazi. yet. because you
have shown yourself a warrior Of
might, and 20 taste again of the joy OF
hattie, | will stand back to back with
you, Axbearer. and see this MATES
ended"
"a bargain. Wolff" cried UmslopO
gaas, and they walked side by side t.
the center Of the cattle kraal.
Then the pair took their stand bacl
To back in the center of the kraal, am
people saw that Umslopogaas held tn
ak in n new fashion, its curved olad,
being inward, toward his breast, ant
the hollow point turned toward the zoe
The ten brethren gathered themselve'
together, shaking their assegais; five o
them stood before Umslopogaas and five
before Galazi the Wolf
Meanwhile an aged man drew near t.