Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1892-07-28

were four full regiments of them; the |
plain was black with them and the air |
was rent with their shoutings, and like |
lightnings flashed their spears. On the |
farther side of the slope they halted and |
sent O herald forward to demand what |
the People Of the AK would have of |
them. The Slaughterer answered that |
they would have three things First,
the head of their chief, whose place Ga
lazi should ill henccforth; second, that |
fair maid whom men named the Lily; |
third, thousand head of cattle. If |
these things were granted then he would |
spare them, the Halakazi; if not, he |
would stamp them fiat and take all.
SO the herald returned, and when he
reached the ranks of the Halakazi he
called aloud his answer Then a great
roar of laughter went up from the Hala-
kazi-a roar that shook the earth. The
brow Of Umslopogaas the Slaughtcrer
burned red beneath the black when he
heard it, and he shook Groanmaker to-
ward their host.
"Ye shall sing another song before
this sun is set" ho cried, and strobe
along the ranks speaking to this man
and that by name, and lifting up their
hearts with great words.
Now the Halakazi raised a shout and
charged.
1t was soon done when onco it was
begun. Some were fed and some were
dead and this was the end Of that fight.
No, no. not Of all &c fight. The Hal
akazi were worsted i'll tho field, but
70 hn MI
there must the work be finished. Thither
then went the Slaughterer presently
with such Of his impi as was left to him.
Alas. many were Slain But how could
they have died better than in that fight?
Also those that were left were as good
as all, for now they knew that they
should not be overcome easily while Ak
and Club still led the way,
Now they stood before a hill mcasur-
Ing pcrchance three thousand PAGES
round its base. 1t was Of no great
height and yet unclimbable. for after a
man had gone up u little way the sides
of it were sheer, Offering no foothold to
the rock rabbits and lizards. No one
was to be stem without this hill, nor in
the great l;raal Of the Ialaka1i that lay
to the east OF It, and yet the ground
about this WAS tramplcd with the hoots
Of oxen and the feet Of men. and from
within the mountain came the sound Of
lowing cattle.
''icrc is the nest Of the Ualaka2i,"
Quoth Galazi the Wolf.
Here is the nest indeed, said I'm
elJpo@aas, but how shall we come at
branches to this tree"
But there is hole in the trunk" an
swcred the Wolf.
Now he led them little way till they
came to IA place where the soil was
tranpled at the entrance 10 cattle
kraal, and they saw that there was IL low
cave that led into the cliff like an arch
wGy such as Won white men build. But
this archWay was filled up with great
| blocks If stone placed upon each ether
/ in such fashion that it might not 10
forced from without After the cattle
were driven in it lad been filled up.
Not here may we enter, said Gala2i
I "illiuw me.
SO they followed him and came to tie
north side Of the mountain, ana there,
two spear casts away, soldier was
/ standing. But when he saw them he
/ vanished Of u sudden.
There IS the place" said Galazi, land
/ the iON has gone to Garth in ii,
Now they ran to the spot and saw a
little hole in the rock scarcely bigger
than an amt bears burrow and through
the hole came sounds and some light.
IA, l.. II
try new hu,Tow;' cried UmslopogaaS
- hundred head Of cattle to the man
who wins through and clears the way.'
Then two Young mcn spraug forward
who We're flashed with victory and de
sired nothing more than to make great
nalae and win cattle, crying;
Here are hyenas, Bulalio."
TO earth then" said CmslopogaaS,
land let him who wins through hold the
path awhile till others follow"
The two young men Sprang at the
hole, and he who reached it first went
down upon his hands and knees and
crawlcd in, lying on lis shield and hold
ing his spear before him, For little
while the light in the hole vanished, and
they heard the sound Of his crawling.
Then the noise Of blows, and once more
light crept through the hole, The man
WAS dead.
Then Umslopogaas creit into the hole,
taking no shield, but holding Groau-
maker before him, and at his heels crcpt
Galazi. Whom he had gone the length
Of six spears he stretched ont his hand
and, rs lie trusted to do, be found the
feet Of that man who had gone before
and died in the place, Then Umslopo-
Eaas the wary did this: He put his head
beneath the dead mans legs and thrust
himself onward till all the man was on
his back, and there he held him with one
hand, gripping his two wrists in his
hand. Then he crawlcd forward littie
space and saw that hey was coming 10 the
inner mouth Of the burrow, but that the
shadow was deep there because Of Il
great mass Of rock which lay before the
burrows shutting ont the light, This
, is well for me" thought UmslOpogaaS,