San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1892-08-05
hat others should handle thee when I

Thus he cried; then turned to Jikiza.
"Where now is your pride, o Uncon-
quered?' laughed Umslopogaas. Fight
on. You are as well armed as | was
awhile ago, when did not fear to stand
before you"
Jikiza looked at him for moment,
then with curse he hurled the little AK
at him, and turning fed swiftly toward
the gates of the cattle kraal.
Umslopogaas stopped and the little AK
sped over him. With a roar he leaped
forward, and so fast did his feet fly that
the watchers scarcely could see them
move. Jikiza fed 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 Jikiza fell in the gate
way of the cattle kraal smitten to death
by that mighty ak Groanmaker, which
he and his fathers had held for many
years.
A great shout went up 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 Jikiza 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,
"Hold.'
''Is not this your law, We councillors"
said Umslopogaas, "that having con-
quered 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 do
battle, one by one, with all who come
against you"
Il have nothing to say against the
rule" said Umslopogaas. "Now who
is there who will come up against me to
do battle for the AK Groanmaker and
the craftsmanship Of the People of the
Ax?"
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.
Umslopogaas counted them. There
are ten, by the head of Chakav' he cried.
Now if 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
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?"
$50 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 were 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 a great fellow who bears
great club" said Umslopogaas. GLOW
are YOU ltllON.
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 tenn?
Better love the wild woods and the
mountains breast than the kraals of
men and the kiss of wives, Axbearer,"
answered Galazi. "Yet, because you
have shown yourself warrior of
might, and to taste again of the joy of
battle, will stand back to back with
you, Axbearer, and see this matter
ended"
ga bargain VIZ" cried Umslopo-
gaas, and T. side by side to
the center G. fraal
Then the their stand back
to back in til, Of the kraal, and
people saw thai ,luslopogaas held the
AK in a new fashion, it's curved blade
being inward, toward his breast, and
the hollow point turned toward the foe.
The ten brethren gathered themselves
together, shaking their assegais; five of
them stood before Umslopogaas and five
before Galazi the Wolf.
Meanwhile an aged man drew near to
speak the word of onset. 1t was that
same man who had set out the law to
Umslopogaas. he must give the signal
by throwing up a spear, and when 1t
struck the ground, then the fight should
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 Um-
slopogaas, 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
1t tnnched As the nOint of il kissed the