Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1892-06-30

,s'Es''. .s 'sss's=
FGll on its htGc the huge club fell.
Now when Umslopogaas know 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
to the right, and let drop his great shield
full in the way Of Jikiza's feet. Then it
came about that Jilliza, rushing blindly
on, caught his feet in the shield and fell
headlong to earth, Umslopogaas saw,
and swooped on him like an eagle on
dove. Before men could so much as
think he had seized the AK Groanmakcr,
and with blow Of the steel he held had
severed the thong of leather which
bound it to the wrist of JilIiza, 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 AK of Umslopogaas,
and looking al it he wcpt. But UNI
slopogaas held up the great Groan-
maker, the iron chicftainess, and ex-
amincd its curved points Of blue steel,
the gougo that stands behind it and the
beauty of its haft, bound about with
wire Of brass and ending in knob like
the knob of a stick, as a lover looks
upon the beauty Of his bride. Then,
before all men, he kissed the broad blade
and cried aloud:
directing to thee, my chieftaine5s;
gren)irg to thee, wife of my youth,
q H., l,o1
we part, thou and l, and together will
VIC die, thou and |, for | am not minded
that others should handle thee when
am gone"
Thus he cried; then turned . .Jilliza.
Where now is your pride, O Uncon-
Quored:" laughed Umslopogaas. Fight
on. You are as well armed as | was
awhile ago, when did not fear to stand
before YOU"
Jilti2a looked at him for moment,
then with Il curse lie hurled the little AK
at him, and turning fled swiftly toward
The gates Of the cattle kraal.
UmslopoGaas stopped and the little AK
sped over him. With Il roar he loaped
forward, and 50 fast did his feet fly that
the wG!chers scarcely could see them
move. Jil;i2a fed fast also, yet he
seemed but as one who stands still. Now
he reached the gate of the l;raal; now
there was IL rush, a light Of downward
falling steel, and Jikza fell in the gate
way of the cattle kraal, smitten to death
by that mighty AK Groanma;er, which
he and his fathers had held for many
years.
y 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 Jiiiza TO the number of ten
| great men and brave, rushed on Umslo-
pogaas to kill him. Cmslopogaas ran
backward, lifting up the Groanmakcr,
| when certain councillors Of the people
/ flung themselves between them, crying,
| Hold"
'Is not this your law, We councillors"
| said CmslopoGaas, that having con-
/ Querol the chief Of the People Of the
/ AN, myself am chief
That is our law, indeed, stranger, "
! answered an aged councillor, but this
also IS oar law, that now you must DO
| battle, ono by one, with all who como
against you."
Il have nothing to say against the
rule" said UmslopoSaas. Now who
is there who will como up against me to
do battle for the TX CirOanmaker and
the chieftainsh;p Of tho People Of the
| AMP
Then all the ten SONS Of Jiliza stepped
forward us one man, Tor because Of the
death Of their father, and because the
chioftainship had gone from their race,
they cared little if they lived or died.
Umslopogaas counted them. There
are ten, by the head of Chaba!" lie cried,
Now il | must fight all these one by
one no time will be left to mo 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 ono other to stand beside me in the
fray, and all of you come ON at once
against us twain-ten against two-to
Stay us or be slain, will that be to your
minds:'
80 be it," they said, and the council
ors aSscntcl.
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 lie called he walked
slowly down the line scanning the faces
of all, till he came to where Galazi
stood, leaning on the Watcher
"Hore is u great fellow who bears a
great club" said Umslopogaas, GLOW
are You named, fellows"