Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1892-06-30
CHAPTER XIV.
uMsLoPoGAAs VENTURES OUT TO WIN
THE AK,

Umslopogaas became king of the
wolves, and he was q man full grown
o man fierce and tall and keen; slayer
of men, fleet of foot and Of valor une-
qualed, seeing by night as well as by
day. But he was not yet named the
Slaughterer, and not yet did he hold that
iron chieftainess, the AK Groanmaker.
Still this was foremost in his mind to
win the AK, for no woman had entered
there, who when she enters drives out
all other desire-aye, my father, even
that of good weapons. AT times, in
deed, Umslopogaas would lurk in the
reeds by the river looking at the lraal
of Jiliiza the Unconquored, and would
watch the gates of his kraal, and once
as he lurlled he saw man, great and
broad and hairy who bore upon his
shoulder q shining ak Halted with the
horn of rhinoceros. After that his
greed for this AK entered into Umslopo-
gaas till he spoke of little else.
Now it befell that as Umslopogaas
lurked one evening in the reeds, watch
ing the lilaal Of Jiliiza, he saw IL maiden
straight and fair, whose skin shone like
the copper anklets on her limbs, She
walked slowly on toward the reeds, en-
tered them and sat herself down within
a spears length of where Umslopogaas
lay hid and at once began to weep
speaking 70 herself as she wept.
"Would that the ghost wolves might
fall on him and all that is his" sho
sobbed; AYE, and on Masilo also. |
would hound them on, even if myself
must next know their fangs Better
to die by the teeth of the wolves than to
DO sold to this fat pig of Masilo. Oh,
if | must wed him | will give him IL
knife for tho brides kiss! Oh, that |
were lady of the ghost wolves"
Umslopogaas heard, and of Il sudden
reared himself up before the maid.
Tho ghost wolves are at hand, dam
sci, he said. "They are ever at hand
for those who need them"
Now tho l:aid saw him and screamed
family, then grew silent.
"Who are you;' she asked. Il fear
you not, whoever you arew
There you are wrong damsel, for all
men fear me and they have cause to
fear. am one of the wolf brethren,
whose names have been told of. am a
wizard OF the Ghost mountain. Take
heed now, lest kill you. 1t will be of
little avail to call upon your people, for
my feet are tleeter than theirs"
81 have no wish to call upon my poo
pie, Wolf Man." she answered. And
bn | 70, Ia
That is so, maiden" answered Uln-
slopogaas, looking at Ter beauty. What
We're the words upon your lips as to
Jiiiza and certain Masilo:'
1T seams that you heard thcm," an
swered the girl. what need to waste
breath ia speaking them again.
ono need, maiden. Now, tell me your
story; perhaps may lind way to help
YOU"
There is little to tell" she answered.
tIr is small tale and common. My
name is Zinita, and Jikiza tho Uncon-
quered is my stepfathcr. Now he would
give Inc in marriage to a certain Masilo,
fat man and an old, whom hate, he
cause Masilo offers many cattle for me"
SIS there. then, another whom you
would wed, maidcn;" asked Umslopo-
gaas.
There is none, answered Zinita, look
ing him in his eyes.
and is there no path by which You
may escape from Masilo:'
There is only one path Wolf Man
by death. If | die | shall escape; if
Masilo dies shall escape; but to little
end for shall be given to another.
But if Jilii2a dies, then it will be well.
What Of that wolf people of yours: Are
they Lot hungry. Wolf Man,
Il may not bring them here" an
swered Umslopogaas. is there 40
other Way:'
There is another way" said Zinita,
"if one can be found to try it." and
again she looked at him strangely, caus-
ing the blood to beat within him.
"Hearlien! do you not know how our peo-
pie are governed; They are governed by
him who holds tho ak Groanmakcr.
He that can win the AK in war from
the hand Of him who holds it, he shall
be our chief Bat if he who holds the
AK dies unCOnqucrcd, then his son takes
his place, and with it the AK. It has
been thus, indeed, for four generations;
since he who held Groanmakcr has al
ways been uncouqucrS'le. But have
heard this, that the great-Grandtather OF
JikiZa won the aX from him who held il
i'll his day; he won it by fraud, for
when tho TX had fallen on him but
lightly he fell over, feigning death.
Then the owner Of the AK laughed and
turned to walk away, But the fore
father of Jikiza sprang up behind him
and pierced him through with a spear
and thus became chief Of the People OF
the AK. Therefore it is the custom of
Jiki2a TO hew off the heads Of those
whom he kills with tho az"
Does he, then, slay many?" asked
Umslopogaas.
"Of late years few indeed, she said
"for none dare stand against him-no
not with all to win. For, holding the az
Groanmaiier, he is unconquerable, and
to fight with him is sure death. Fifty
and one have tried in all, and before the
hut of JilIiZl there are uilel fifty and