The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1892-09-30

slOpOSaaS.
Meanwhile the Wolf Brethren and
those with them were well away, and
were half way down the gorge that led
to the river before the companies of the
Slayers poured into it. Now they came
to the end of it and the foe was near.
Then Galazi stopped and spoke:
"Halt, we People of the AK" he said,
''and let us talk awhile with these who
follow till We find our breath again.
But you, my brother, pass the river with
the Lily in your hand. We viii join you
in the forest, but if perchance we cannot
find you. you know what must be done.
Set the Lily in the cave, then return and
call up the gray impi. Go now, my
brother"
sit is not my way to turn and run
while others stand and fight" growled
Umslopogaas. ''yet because of NADIA it
seems that must.
"Oh, heed me not, my love-" said
NADIA II have brought thee sorrow.
am weary; let me die. Stay me and
save yourselves.
For answer Umslopogaas took her by
the hand and fed toward the river, yet
before he reached it he heard the sounds
| of the fray.
| Now they had leaped into the foaming
river, and here it was well that the Lily
t could swim, else had both been lost.
But they won through and passed on to
the mountain flank. Here they walked
on in the forest, till at length Umslopo-
gaas heard the bowling of a wolf.
Then he must set NADIA on his shoul-
! ders and carry her as once Galazi had
carried another, for it was death for any
to walk on the Ghost mountain save the
| Wolf Brethren only.
| Presently the wolves hocked around
| him and leaped upon him in joy, glaring
with fierce eyes at her who sat upon his
! shoulders. NADIA saw them and well
nigh fell from her seat fainting with
/ fear, for they were many and dreadful
and when they howled her blood turned
| to ice.
But Umslopogaas cheered her, telling
her that these were his dogs with whom
he went a-hunting. At length they came
to the knees of the Old Witch and the
entrance of the cave.
Here you must bide, sweet" said
Umslopogaas when he had driven out
the wolves Here you must bide TIL
|
ished. See! Now will show you the
secret of the stone; thus far l will push
it, and no farther. Now a touch only
is needed to send it over the socket and
home-but then they must be two strong
men who can pull it back again. There
fore push it no farther, except IN the Mt
most need, lest it remain where 1t fall
whether you will it or not. Have nc
fear: here yoE. are safe"
Now NADIA wept, saying that she fear
G.! to he left and that she should never
See him moro, and her grief wrung hi:
heart. Nevertheless he kissed her and
went, closing the stone after him IN thai
fashion of which he had spoken. Wher
the stone was closed the cave was almost
dark, except only for a ray Of light thai
entered by hole little larger than {
mans hand that, looked at from within
was on the right of the stone. NADIA sal
herself so that this ray of light struch
full on her, for she loved light and with
out it she would pine us flowers do. Ant
as she sat thus, suddenly the ray went
out and she heard ii noise as of SON,
beast that smells at prey. She looked
and in the gloom she saw the sharp nos'
and grinning fangs Of a wolf that weTt
thrust toward her through the Ettl'
hole.
She cried aloud in her fear and tn,
fangs We're sndtched back, but presently
she heard Il scratching without the stOn'
and saw the stone shake. Then SIN
thought III her foOlisiiEeSs that the vol
knew how to open the stone and that M
would do this and devorr her. for sh'
had heard the tale that all these wolvc
were the ghosts of evil men, having th
understanding of men. So in her fea
and folly she seized the stone and dragge'
on as UmslOpogaas had shown her tn
way. 1t shook, it slipped over the socKe
ledge and rolled home like pcbbl
down the mouth of n gourd.
Now ! am safe from the wolves,
said NADIA. See, cannot so much a
stir the stone from within and still les
can they do so from without" and sh
laughed little.
When UmslOpogaas had shut the cav
he moved swiftly down the mountain
and with him went certain of tn
wolves-nOt all, for he had not summon
ed them Presently he heard a long
low howl far away in the forest. l
was the call of Galazi, who had escapes
the spears of the Slayers.
Swiftly he ran, calling in answer. IL
won the place. There, seated on q stOn
!
him surged the numbers of the gray pee
pie. He seemed somewhat weary Their
were flesh wounds on his great breas
and arms, the little shield was we'll mig
hewn to strips and the Watcher shove
signs of war.
''How went it, brother asked Um
slopOgaas.
''None so i'll, but all those who stoo
with me in the way are dead.
| ut
people on the foe and fight this fiSl
out, man to man, with no beast to spOi
it. HOi BlAod and Greysnout! He
Deathgrip! Ho! Wood Dwellers, gra
and black, at them, my children" Th
wolves heard. For the last time the
leaped forth upon the foe, tearing, han
rying and Staying till they themselvc
were slain of the spear, every one {
them except Deathgrip alone, who creI
back, sorely wounded, to die by Galaz
Umslopogaas, the son of T'Chaka, an
Faku, the captain of Dingaan, gaZed o
each other. They alone We're left aliv
upon the mountain, for the rest were a
dead.
Now for awhile the two circled aroun
and around, each waiting for a chanC
to strike. Presently the Slaughtert
lifted Groanmaker and slnOte the cal
tain, Faku, full on the breast, shatterin
his bones and sweeping him from I'll
ledge of rock onto the slope beneath
where he lay still.
But Faku was not yet dead. He 81
up and with his last strength hurled IL
! ak in his hand. The AK sped true an
! its sharp point struck UmslopOgaa
5 on the left temple, driving in the boz
r and making great hole. Then FAX
1, fell back dead.
CHAPTER XXI.