San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1892-08-05

ID,
but as for no great stroke. He did but
peck, as bird pecks with his bill, and
yet man dropped dead. The Watcher
also was up, but he fell like falling
tree and was the death of one. Through
the lines of the ten passed the Wolf
Brethren in the gaps that each had
made. Then they turned swiftly and
charged toward each other again. Again
Groanmaker pecked, again the Watcher
Numbered, and b! once more Umslopo-
gaas and Galazi stood back to back, I'M
hurt. But before them lay four men
dead.
The onslaught and the return were SO
swift that those of the sons of Jikiza
who were left stared at each other Won
dering. Then they knew that they were
but six, for four of them were dead.
With a shout of rage they rushed upon
the pair from both sides, but in either
case one was the most eager and out
stepped the other two. and thus it came
about that time was given the Wolf
Brethren to strike at him alone before
his fellows were at his side. He who
came at Umslopogaas drove at him with
his spear, but he was not to be caught
thus, for he bent his middle sideways.
so that the spear only cut his skin, and
as he bent tapped with the point of the
ak at the head of the smiter, dealing
death on him.
"Yonder Woodpecker has a bill of
steel and he can use it well, said the
councillor to him who stood by him.
"This is a Slaughterer indeed" the
man answered, and the people heard the
names. Thenceforth they knew UNI
slopogaas as the Woodpecker, or as Buff
falo, or the Slaughterer, and by no other
names. Now he who came at Galazi
the Wolf rushed on wildly, holding his
spear short. But Galazi was cunning in
war. He took one step forward to meet
him, then swinging the Watcher back
ward he let him fall at the full length
of arms and club The child of JikiZa
lifted his shield to catch the blow, but
the shield was to the Watcher what
leaf is to the wind. Full on its hide the
huge club fell. The shield doubled up
and he who bore it fell crushed to earth.
Now for a moment the four who were
left of the sons of Jikiza lowered around
the pair, feinting at them from afar,
but never coming within reach of ak or
club. One threw a spear indeed, and
though Umslopogaas leaped aside, and
as it sped toward him smote the haft in
two with the blade of Groanmaker, yet
-, 4 10 +hn
flank. Then he who had thrown the
spear turned to fly, and the others fol
lowed swiftly, for they dared to do bat
tie with these two no more.
at seems that none are left for us to
kill, Galazi," said Umslopogaas, laugh
ing aloud. "Ah, that was cunning
fight! Ho! you sons of the Unconquer-
ed, who run SO fast, stay your feet. l
give you peace. You shall live to sweep
my hutS, and to pillow my field with the
other women of my kraal. Now, coun-
cilors, the fighting is done, so let us to
the chiefs hut, where Masilo waits u.s."
and he turned and went with Galazi.
When he reached the hut Umslopo-
gaas sat himself down in the place
where Jikiza had sat that morning, and
the maid Zinita came to him with wet
cloth and washed the wound that the
spear had made. He thanked her. Then
she would have washed GalaZi's wound
also, and that was deeper, but Galazi
babe her to let him be, roughly, as he
would have no woman meddling with
his wounds.
Then UmslOpogaas spoke to Masilo the
Pig, who sat before him with fright
ened face, saying: sit seems, o MasilO,
that you have sought this maid Zinita in
marriage and against her will, persecut-
ing her. Now, l had intended to kill
you as an offering to her anger, but
there has been enough blood letting to-
day. Yet you shall give marriage gift
to this girl, whom myself will take in
marriage. You shall give a hundred
head of cattle. Then get you gone from
among the People of the AK lest worse
thing befall you"
So Masilo paid the hundred head of
cattle and fed toward the kraal of
Chaka
Umslopogaas became chief over this
people, and none dared to gainsay him.
From time to time, indeed, man ven
tured to stand up before him in fight,
but none could conquer him.
Galazi also was great among the peO-
pie, but dwelt with them little, for best
he loved the wild woods and the noun
tain's breast, and often, as of old, he
swept at night across the forest and the
plains, and the bowling of the ghost
wolves went with him.
But henceforth Umslopogaas the
Slaughterer hunted very rarely with the
wolves at night He slept at the side of
Zinita, and she loved him much and bore
him children.